2020 Roster Discussion

I want a ball-hawking, pass-making, ass-kicking center mid. I want that guy to be 18-20 years old.

I want Yangel Herrera on steroids. I want us to pay enough of a transfer fee and salary that he is a young DP and to eventually sell him for 4x that much.

I never want to lose the midfield again.
Because players like this are just standing around, chopping wood, and waiting to be called into action.

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I don't think the data backs this up. Here is our winter signing calendar the last 4 seasons. The only impact signing that happened after Feb 15 in any of those years was Heber. We pretty much always have our important signings in and done by early Feb. (Red is a resigning.)

ETA: Red is a departure.

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I agree if we look across all players the data says we add players earlier than perceived. If we add the admittedly subjective criteria of sub setting it by key additions and the value of having key players go through a full training camp I think there are still problems that the coaching staff is rightfully frustrated about. Maxi, Mitrita, Heber, Herrera, Ofori, Sweat, Ibeagha, MedozaS were all players targeted for key roles that needed to learn and be integrated into the system that showed up well after camp started. Many of them the only explanation of the delayed timing is the acquisition process. Maxi was sitting on a bench on Mexico, Sweat and Ibeagha sweat were both USL signings. I understand it takes time to work through options but I think Dome does have a case to be frustrated about how long it takes especially with the Heber situation.
 
I think Dome whining about taking too long to sign a striker is weird considering a) the guy we got was great and b) he spent those first few weeks saying we would be fine anyway

(a) Fortuitous outcomes don't validate bad processes. (b) He talked for over a month about needing a striker. Did you expect him to tell the press his team wouldn't succeed?
 
(a) Fortuitous outcomes don't validate bad processes. (b) He talked for over a month about needing a striker. Did you expect him to tell the press his team wouldn't succeed?

a) Agree with you there. But you can also argue that if your ninth* best option turns out as well as Heber, then your underlying processes are fairly robust. Or that the processes themselves (in this case, transfer negotiations) aren't nearly as significant as other factors (scouting networks, coaching methods, tactical development). It seems like a lot of energy to be spent on something that worked out well.

b) He talked for ages about needing a striker, but also constantly stressed the need for patience, and the need to wait for the right player. Now just because we got the right guy doesn't mean it didn't also take too long, or that someone else would have been better. But it does mean that I think Dome's weird for complaining about it only once it was largely immaterial to our season.

* I personally doubt that Heber was only Plan I, which sounds more like hyperbole to me, but we're never gonna know
 
My read on this is that he's complaining now that it's no longer material to his job security, but we'll see.
That’s probably the correct read since he was already under the microscope with CFG earlier in the season when they were looking for the reason to remove him with the slow start - throwing gasoline on an open flame would be foolhardy.
 
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When does the team have to announce waivers, cuts and option decisions?

More generally, do we have an off-season schedule yet
I found atlanta's schedule which has a lot of things that work for us too- intriguingly today has:
List of players available to Re-entry, Stage 2, are released. These are players who haven’t qualified for free agency and who have not agreed to a new contract with their current club but may want to stay in the league.
 
I found atlanta's schedule which has a lot of things that work for us too- intriguingly today has:
Thanks. Very helpful. I’m going to assume the schedule announcements are moved up 2-3 weeks from past practice due to the shift. Last year home openers were released December 17 and full schedule January 7.
 
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Thanks. Very helpful. I’m going to assume the schedule announcements are moved up 2-3 weeks from past practice due to the shift. Last year home openers were released December 17 and full schedule January 7.
Interestingly would mean we would get the schedule before the new year- would be cool
 
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Below is one of several local articles that all say the offer from an MLS Club is $10 million plus a portion of any subsequent transfer fee.

 
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Below is one of several local articles that all say the offer from an MLS Club is $10 million plus a portion of any subsequent transfer fee.


it's difficult to imagine any MLS club being able to compete with any club in europe, let alone fairly large ones.

my guess is the MLS club is not us considering we don't even have a head coach now..