2021 Roster Discussion

ACLs and Visas Always Get Me Down

Reading the Doyle weekly wrap-up article and his entry on Josef Martinez has me concerned about Heber's return. In sum, Martinez is back and healthy but not moving well, or much at all.
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Then Doyle notes that Jordan Morris was not his full self for 3-4 months after he returned from his first ACL tear. For Heber, 3-4 months after his return is going to be September-October, maybe. Also, Martinez was hurt way back on February 29, 2020. It is almost 15 months later and he's not fully fit. Heber was injured almost 7 months later on September 23, and I don't even want to do that math. Now Martinez did have some complications and setbacks in his rehab apparently that made it take longer, but counter that with Heber being not all that good last year after the season resumed and before his injury, and well, it's not definite that he will be able to contribute much this year.

Meanwhile Amundsen took 58 days to get here because of visa issues, and Andrade:
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We can sign the best summer class in MLS history but when will they be allowed to come and start contributing, and will they lose fitness while waiting?
 
ACLs and Visas Always Get Me Down

Reading the Doyle weekly wrap-up article and his entry on Josef Martinez has me concerned about Heber's return. In sum, Martinez is back and healthy but not moving well, or much at all.
View attachment 11187

Then Doyle notes that Jordan Morris was not his full self for 3-4 months after he returned from his first ACL tear. For Heber, 3-4 months after his return is going to be September-October, maybe. Also, Martinez was hurt way back on February 29, 2020. It is almost 15 months later and he's not fully fit. Heber was injured almost 7 months later on September 23, and I don't even want to do that math. Now Martinez did have some complications and setbacks in his rehab apparently that made it take longer, but counter that with Heber being not all that good last year after the season resumed and before his injury, and well, it's not definite that he will be able to contribute much this year.

Meanwhile Amundsen took 58 days to get here because of visa issues, and Andrade:
View attachment 11188

We can sign the best summer class in MLS history but when will they be allowed to come and start contributing, and will they lose fitness while waiting?
I agree with you that the outlook for Heber isn't all that great for this season.

But ACLs can be weird. Zlatan and Adrian Peterson were arguably better when they returned (and immediately too). Not saying that will happen with Heber, and those are for sure the exceptions to the norm, but they are data points.
 
I agree with you that the outlook for Heber isn't all that great for this season.

But ACLs can be weird. Zlatan and Adrian Peterson were arguably better when they returned (and immediately too). Not saying that will happen with Heber, and those are for sure the exceptions to the norm, but they are data points.

And as to the Visa saga, Yefferson Soteldo took like a week to arrive or less after TFC signed him. To be fair, I have no idea if Soteldo was already in the States vacationing or what, but if he was still in Brazil with Santos, then damn, it´s the very same country and TFC got it done in 72 hours or so.
 
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I agree with you that the outlook for Heber isn't all that great for this season.

But ACLs can be weird. Zlatan and Adrian Peterson were arguably better when they returned (and immediately too). Not saying that will happen with Heber, and those are for sure the exceptions to the norm, but they are data points.
Agreed it's completely unpredictable. I would have expected Martinez to be one of the quick healers based on his strength, fitness, determination and work rate, but those things have a limited effect on the recovery.
 
And as to the Visa saga, Yefferson Soteldo took like a week to arrive or less after TFC signed him. To be fair, I have no idea if Soteldo was already in the States vacationing or what, but if he was still in Brazil with Santos, then damn, it´s the very same country and TFC got it done in 72 hours or so.
The data points are all over the place. I'd love to have someone at the Athletic or MLS digital do a summary table with player, country of origin, team and number of days to process visa. Even with that I'm not sure we would see a pattern.
 
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Not to mention that Heber is injury riddled. He’s not Zlatan or AP
 

GedionZelalemNew York City FCM$81,375.00$81,375.00
Juan PabloTorresNew York City FCM$90,000.00$104,500.00
AntonTinnerholmNew York City FCD$600,000.00$650,000.00
GudmundurThorarinsonNew York City FCD-M$400,000.00$400,000.00
IsmaelTajouri-ShradiNew York City FCF$577,500.00$618,985.00
JamesSandsNew York City FCM$150,000.00$200,000.00
TonyRochaNew York City FCM$85,444.00$85,444.00
KeatonParksNew York City FCM$350,000.00$350,000.00
MaxiMoralezNew York City FCM$2,500,000.00$3,285,000.00
AlfredoMoralesNew York City FCM$600,000.00$662,250.00
CodyMizellNew York City FCGK$81,375.00$81,375.00
AlexandruMitritaNew York City FCF$700,000.00$700,000.00
JesusMedinaNew York City FCM$1,050,000.00$1,170,833.00
VukashinLatinovichNew York City FCM$63,547.00$63,547.00
SeanJohnsonNew York City FCGK$510,000.00$510,000.00
AndresJassonNew York City FCF$63,547.00$80,691.00
SebastienIbeaghaNew York City FCD$150,000.00$177,125.00
JustinHaakNew York City FCM$81,375.00$81,375.00
TayvonGrayNew York City FCD$95,000.00$114,788.00
ChristopherGlosterNew York City FCD$197,000.00$207,000.00
ThiagoDe AndradeNew York City FCF$180,000.00$199,600.00
MaximeChanotNew York City FCD$785,000.00$785,000.00
ValentinCastellanosNew York City FCM$300,000.00$324,806.00
AlexanderCallensNew York City FCD$700,000.00$764,000.00
LuisBarrazaNew York City FCGK$81,375.00$81,375.00
HeberAraujo dos SantosNew York City FCF$785,000.00$788,750.00
MalteAmundsenNew York City FCD$240,000.00$278,700.00
NicolasAcevedoNew York City FCD-M$135,000.00$151,000.00
 
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No major shocks, but Gudi is paid significantly more than Amundsen which might explain some things. In fact Amundsen's pay is closer to Gloster than to Thor. Morales makes too much to think that we signed him to be a role player.

Meanwhile, Jesus Medina is still listed as a Young Designated Player on the MLS website.

Having precisely zero official statements to the contrary, I consider this to be established fact until proven otherwise. Maybe, maybe, the plan is to buy him down midseason since we're not signing any new DPs until then anyway. I don't even know if that is allowed, but if it is, it makes sense, because the DP pay is off-budget and unlimited, while the TAM needed to buy him down is a depleting, limited asset. So use only what you need for the half season.
 
No major shocks, but Gudi is paid significantly more than Amundsen which might explain some things. In fact Amundsen's pay is closer to Gloster than to Thor. Morales makes too much to think that we signed him to be a role player.

Meanwhile, Jesus Medina is still listed as a Young Designated Player on the MLS website.

Having precisely zero official statements to the contrary, I consider this to be established fact until proven otherwise. Maybe, maybe, the plan is to buy him down midseason since we're not signing any new DPs until then anyway. I don't even know if that is allowed, but if it is, it makes sense, because the DP pay is off-budget and unlimited, while the TAM needed to buy him down is a depleting, limited asset. So use only what you need for the half season.
Gudi makes way too much for his abilities. Maybe 250-300K solely for his left foot, but I think most of us would like to see Amundsen at LB sooner than later. Good for Gudi though, make that cash when/where you can.

I thought Thiago was going to be TAM or some much larger sum of cash? His paycheck is making me rethink his potential to vastly help our offense up front.

Aside from Gudi, I think most of the contracts are fair with most people performing up to or slightly beyond their wages. Maybe ITS has recessed, but attackers do tend to grab larger paychecks.
 
We are paying our LBs a combined $900,000 in cap charges this year.
 
No major shocks, but Gudi is paid significantly more than Amundsen which might explain some things. In fact Amundsen's pay is closer to Gloster than to Thor. Morales makes too much to think that we signed him to be a role player.

Meanwhile, Jesus Medina is still listed as a Young Designated Player on the MLS website.

Having precisely zero official statements to the contrary, I consider this to be established fact until proven otherwise. Maybe, maybe, the plan is to buy him down midseason since we're not signing any new DPs until then anyway. I don't even know if that is allowed, but if it is, it makes sense, because the DP pay is off-budget and unlimited, while the TAM needed to buy him down is a depleting, limited asset. So use only what you need for the half season.

It's a shock to see Gudi being paid that much period. What is this team thinking?
 
No major shocks, but Gudi is paid significantly more than Amundsen which might explain some things. In fact Amundsen's pay is closer to Gloster than to Thor. Morales makes too much to think that we signed him to be a role player.

Meanwhile, Jesus Medina is still listed as a Young Designated Player on the MLS website.

Having precisely zero official statements to the contrary, I consider this to be established fact until proven otherwise. Maybe, maybe, the plan is to buy him down midseason since we're not signing any new DPs until then anyway. I don't even know if that is allowed, but if it is, it makes sense, because the DP pay is off-budget and unlimited, while the TAM needed to buy him down is a depleting, limited asset. So use only what you need for the half season.

The site also says that Jasson is unavailable. But that cannot be true given that he's played MLS minutes this season.

It also says that Chris Gloster is a homegrown player. What?

Something is wrong.