U still can get players that late I believe Carlos Ruiz was picked up at 16th or 17th by DC this year
U still can get players that late I believe Carlos Ruiz was picked up at 16th or 17th by DC this year
As far as I'm concerned, Payne fleeced Chivas USA.
Bocanegra is 34 and coming off a major injury. He might have a year left in the tank. Chivas USA looks to be going for a quick 'rebuild', and looks like Chivas Guadalajara is going to loan some decent players (esp this Erick Torres kid who is apparently the next Chicharito or something) but I don't think they are going to be good in 2014. So that 2015 pick is going to be a good one, and the int spot is nice.
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
Not sure what the point is here. Is there any footy league in the world with such a low & stringent salary cap? Very few I believe, and none of the big ones. Even those with some kind of "financial fair play" limits, or affordability rules (like Germany) have a much higher salary cap, and more flexibility than MLS. Roster limits are also higher in many leagues than in MLS. (Remember the huge roster numbers in some of the other leagues taking part in CCL?)Originally Posted by Richard
Guaranteed contracts matter in MLS because of the salary cap and the roster limits. If a guy isn't playing great or is injured, or you identify some other gap in your roster, you can't just go out & sign another player in MLS if you're up against the cap or the roster max, unlike most other leagues. And of course it's TFC's problem in particular, due to constant coaching/management & roster turnover, so Nelsen & Payne are dealing with a mishmash of players from multiple previous regimes. I think they used their one buyout allowed this year on Frings.
Anyway, Nelsen isn't saying he wants to move 17 players. Just that the 17 guaranteed contracts (some on very high salaries in MLS comparison as we know), limit his flexibility. And yes it's sad that TFC once again seems to need so much flexibility. Hopefully the roster will start settling down in 2014, so the players don't always have to wear name tags to identify each other.
For people like Ecks (especially if he becomes a PR), O'Dea, and Caldwell, the one option, if they really want to settle down here, is to give them a longer contract which may make them agree to a lower salary. Not a huge drop in salary like somebody suggested for Ecks, but still substantial. Of course there's also risk for TFC due to long contracts -- and MLS also seems to limit the contract length. Not sure what the MLS maximum is, probably one of those flexible/unofficial rules
Last edited by Auzzy; 07-02-2013 at 01:27 AM.
^ you think Ecks is worth more than 150-200k?
Richter does a similar job, and makes 34k. So show me why TFC would pay Ecks the 350 or so that he's been getting... Cuz he's from ManU? I like the guy, good player, works hard every game, never (other than now) injured - but doesn't offer much to justify the bucks.
Last edited by Ivy; 07-02-2013 at 07:23 AM.
Eks should be 120-140 that would be fair to both parties
Germany has an interesting league to look at because of its history and some similarities with MLS. Football wasn't always as big as it is now in Germany, gymnastics was much more popular than football until maybe the 1960's or 1970's. When the Bundesliga started, it had strict salary and roster rules, much closer to MLS than one would think. As football's popularity grew, eventually the league ditched most of their restrictions.
I don't ever see a time when MLS will ditch the salary cap, in fact the trend is to put at least some limits on club overspending in many leagues, so MLS is in many ways an ideal model. I do see the cap being significantly raised as revenues grow, and the league has already been relaxing some of the roster restrictions with respect to homegrown players.
Now back to topic, I think Payne did a nice bit of business. Chivas will regret giving up that draft pick.
Last edited by Oldtimer; 07-02-2013 at 08:16 AM.
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
psst: I think you're off a bit there, OT. Gymnastics was the number one sport in Germany back at the turn of the 20th century, but was replaced by footy early on. Professionalism was late to arrive (with formation of the Bundesliga in the 1960's) Before that, regional amateur and semi-professional leagues thrived.
a ha ha heh he hoo.. ha
I think its 3 years +2 for club option . Ecks does a lot more than Richter for sure although his crossing is lacking, I think we forget how good Ecks is getting up the pitch and helping the offense, he does have some good ball skills.
Toronto FC@torontofc1m #TorontoFC acquires midfielder Michael Thomas from Kansas City: http://ow.ly/mAnYY .. #TFC #MLS
One thing we know for sure, the leaky reporting coming from TFC is done. None of Ives, Larson and Rollins broke the story before the press release.
Not quite true... Larson said yesterday that a player would e coming from in the league imminently. I believe the exact tweet is on the last page of this thread
Getting up the pitch doesn't make you good at it. He isn't smart about when to go. And he runs into cul de sacs all the time. I actually think Richter is better at it. He is a bit smarter about when to make himself available.
True. But making a statement like that days before the transfer window opens doesn't exactly win you an award.
As for Thomas, looks like he makes around 60k. He's 1 of 2 bodies Nelsen stated they could afford without moving other players. Should be interesting to see what else happens.
Kurtis Larson@KurtLarSUN59s Grew up playing with Thomas. A good a guy and a decent depth signing for me. Capable of playing in many roles. #TFC #SportingKC
Ok, what does Michael Thomas bring? Winger? Holding Midfielder? Attacking? Why him, why now? What does this suggest concerning players to come?
Did he mention the player, the team, the draft choice? The front office is pretty open about moves just not specifics. Nelsen probably said a trade was coming.
Given Payne's history of signing MLS and American players this season, I don't expect much from Thomas (another bust).
What do you expect from him? If you think a guy with no MLS minutes this year is going to walk in and light it up, he'll be a bust. If you think he'll play off the bench maybe 10-15 minutes here and there, he'll probably fit the bill.
RPB Membership Team
So it's official, Caldwell has been signed to a deal - this season plus 2 more: http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2013/07...dwell-new-deal
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
I'll be interested to see what this guy is all about. Seems like a bit of peculiar trade.
He's from KC too, wonder how happy he is with this move.
Point is: this is useless trade and Thomas doesn't have much upside. 25 year journeyman making $60K shouldn't be end of our roster. You can get younger and cheaper players with upside instead of journeyman like Thomas to fill your depth.
I'd rather just sign an academy player over these journeyman players like Thomas.
I think he's the kind of player we need. Not too good, as he doesn't get any minutes at KC. But probably not too bad either. He played in Sweden for a bit, and played for KC so he likely has some skills. Not too good, not too bad, just the player we need. Like the kid George Costanza gave his scholarship to at the Susan Ross Foundation. Those are the kind of guys we need more of.
Even Larson stated the guy is a depth player, so yeah, not much is expected of the guy. I think we all have to wait for this transfer window for some impact players, i assume
How the heck does he qualify as a journeyman at 25 years old? Because he had a few trials?
Michael Thomas has been telling people he wants to be an architect
Lol, exactly.
5 teams and bunch of trials in 7 years.
EDIT: 4 teams in 3 years if you don't consider PDL to be professional league.
Last edited by TFC07; 07-02-2013 at 10:25 AM.
That's loser talk lol. Mediocre talent doesn't win you cups.
Like I said, we could get better, younger and cheaper players over journeymen players.
An esoteric and awesome reference.
Actually, have some depth of decent players instead of shit players is a better way to go. As is not having a player so heads and tails above everyone else that he gets frustrated/doesn't get the kind of service he was used to on a better side/doesn't gel with the team, etc. I would rather see more moves like this than go and get some world class DP. Not that I've seen Thomas play....but then again, neither have you.
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