NYCFC in the Media Thread - 2017

[LionNYC]

Starting out the new year with an interview between ESPN FC and Patrick Vieira...

Two big key notes:

- Create more chances than we concede
- Mix Diskerud has to be at a place where he can play every week

http://www.espnfc.us/video/the-boot-room/203/video/3037543/vieira-nycfcs-philosophies-wont-change

 

[JayH]

Starting out the new year with an interview between ESPN FC and Patrick Vieira...

Two big key notes:

- Create more chances than we concede
- Mix Diskerud has to be at a place where he can play every week

http://www.espnfc.us/video/the-boot-room/203/video/3037543/vieira-nycfcs-philosophies-wont-change

And as far as Mix goes, he also mentioned that they had several options to consider. Not surprisingly and unfortunately, it doesn't sound like Mix and team have resolved whatever the differences were/are. Hopefully one of the options will be best for both.

And PV's polo is, what are the kids saying these days, lighted.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

And as far as Mix goes, he also mentioned that they had several options to consider. Not surprisingly and unfortunately, it doesn't sound like Mix and team have resolved whatever the differences were/are. Hopefully one of the options will be best for both.

And PV's polo is, what are the kids saying these days, lighted.

Based on the interview with that Norwegian paper, it seems like he's not going anywhere. And it seems like he's not backing down.

Fuck. Our management needs to get a damn clue and stop trying to bluff when the guy across the table is holding a royal flush.

 

[Kjbert]

Mix is a headcase

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Mix is a headcase

Seems like our front office is a head case. His behavior is entirely rational from a business standpoint.

What do they think they are going to do? Convince Mix they are a charity case so he'll tear up the contract they gave him that obligates NYCFC to pay him a very significant amount of money?

 

[Ulrich]

Based on the interview with that Norwegian paper, it seems like he's not going anywhere. And it seems like he's not backing down.

Fuck. Our management needs to get a damn clue and stop trying to bluff when the guy across the table is holding a royal flush.

He also has 4 aces up his sleeve that aren't needed. Does make you wonder who in the club's brain trust is being the most stubborn.

 

[LionNYC]

Mix is a headcase

You're being $750K and able to live in New York City for two more years guaranteed. What would you do?

Sure, you may not make the field and play. Of course, you want to play and make it back to the USMNT. But, you won't get paid anywhere else at that level and you won't live anywhere better than here.

 

[NYCFC_Dan]

So he cleared nothing up at all regarding Mix.

 

[mgarbowski]

It's rare for a player capable of being on his national team not to have an ego that would make him demand to get playing time and prepared to make trade-offs to get it. I understand why the club would try to make use of that as leverage. Apparently Mix seems to value the cash more than he wants to feed that ego. I might admire that, or at least respect the icy cold level-headedness of it. I'm really not sure. He also might have decided he isn't as good as everyone thought he was. The prime years are usually around 24-32. For some it is less. If he wastes the next 2 years on top of the last 2 he just gave up on half of it. He'll get a crap contract when it's over and he can't be getting many new endorsement deals. $750k a year for 4 years for a single guy living in New York nets maybe $1.5-2 million after taxes. If he played, and makes the national team, he could do so much better even giving up that guaranteed income.

He has every right to make that decision, but the only way it makes sense is if he doesn't think he's capable of doing better, which to me means he doesn't think he's can make the USMNT, even if he gets club time, and even with a new coach. He gets one career, and he's giving up half of his best years. That's telling me a lot.

 

[FootyLovin]

It's rare for a player capable of being on his national team not to have an ego that would make him demand to get playing time and prepared to make trade-offs to get it. I understand why the club would try to make use of that as leverage. Apparently Mix seems to value the cash more than he wants to feed that ego. I might admire that, or at least respect the icy cold level-headedness of it. I'm really not sure. He also might have decided he isn't as good as everyone thought he was. The prime years are usually around 24-32. For some it is less. If he wastes the next 2 years on top of the last 2 he just gave up on half of it. He'll get a crap contract when it's over and he can't be getting many new endorsement deals. $750k a year for 4 years for a single guy living in New York nets maybe $1.5-2 million after taxes. If he played, and makes the national team, he could do so much better even giving up that guaranteed income.

He has every right to make that decision, but the only way it makes sense is if he doesn't think he's capable of doing better, which to me means he doesn't think he's can make the USMNT, even if he gets club time, and even with a new coach. He gets one career, and he's giving up half of his best years. That's telling me a lot.

This. Don't think Mix is holding a full house. Both sides are holding high card jack. Mix is screwing himself as is team.

#mobilepost

 

[Midas Mulligan]

It's rare for a player capable of being on his national team not to have an ego that would make him demand to get playing time and prepared to make trade-offs to get it. I understand why the club would try to make use of that as leverage. Apparently Mix seems to value the cash more than he wants to feed that ego. I might admire that, or at least respect the icy cold level-headedness of it. I'm really not sure. He also might have decided he isn't as good as everyone thought he was. The prime years are usually around 24-32. For some it is less. If he wastes the next 2 years on top of the last 2 he just gave up on half of it. He'll get a crap contract when it's over and he can't be getting many new endorsement deals. $750k a year for 4 years for a single guy living in New York nets maybe $1.5-2 million after taxes. If he played, and makes the national team, he could do so much better even giving up that guaranteed income.

He has every right to make that decision, but the only way it makes sense is if he doesn't think he's capable of doing better, which to me means he doesn't think he's can make the USMNT, even if he gets club time, and even with a new coach. He gets one career, and he's giving up half of his best years. That's telling me a lot.

So here's what you're saying: give up all control and take a crap contract now. Or make good money for two years, choose the team you want a crap contract with and go from there.

Neither is great. But with one, you have guaranteed $.

FootyLovin To me, the club is still being stupid-est. Mix may be acting like a shit. But if he's not part of the team, his obligation is to himself. If the club won't pay him out and let him move and won't play him, they are punishing everyone on the squad and in the stands (us).

 

[FootyLovin]

So here's what you're saying: give up all control and take a crap contract now. Or make good money for two years, choose the team you want a crap contract with and go from there.

Neither is great. But with one, you have guaranteed $.

FootyLovin To me, the club is still being stupid-est. Mix may be acting like a shit. But if he's not part of the team, his obligation is to himself. If the club won't pay him out and let him move and won't play him, they are punishing everyone on the squad and in the stands (us).

That assumes the club feels Mix is / would be significantly additive. Not convinced R/PV see it that way. And not just as a skill thing but possibly chemistry etc. just don't know.

#mobilepost

 

[Midas Mulligan]

That assumes the club feels Mix is / would be significantly additive. Not convinced R/PV see it that way. And not just as a skill thing but possibly chemistry etc. just don't know.

#mobilepost

I think I was unclear. I don't mean play him. I mean pay him and let him leave. They are cutting off everyone else's nose to spite Mix's face.

 

[mgarbowski]

So here's what you're saying: give up all control and take a crap contract now. Or make good money for two years, choose the team you want a crap contract with and go from there.

Neither is great. But with one, you have guaranteed $.

Like I said, I at least somewhat admire, or at least respect, the calculated nature of it. But it's not a profession where giving up 2-4of your most productive years just to get paid goes without substantial cost. This is unique as far as I know. I've seen players hold out and try to get a better contract, or to get traded, but never show up just to stay where he is and collect a paycheck while in their prime. It's literally a George Costanza move.

 

[adam]

Like I said, I at least somewhat admire, or at least respect, the calculated nature of it. But it's not a profession where giving up 2-4of your most productive years just to get paid goes without substantial cost. This is unique as far as I know. I've seen players hold out and try to get a better contract, or to get traded, but never show up just to stay where he is and collect a paycheck while in their prime. It's literally a George Costanza move.

 

[Ulrich]

Like I said, I at least somewhat admire, or at least respect, the calculated nature of it. But it's not a profession where giving up 2-4of your most productive years just to get paid goes without substantial cost. This is unique as far as I know. I've seen players hold out and try to get a better contract, or to get traded, but never show up just to stay where he is and collect a paycheck while in their prime. It's literally a George Costanza move.

Not really. By showing up and doing everything he's been asked to do, he comes out looking like the persecuted one. And as Midas Mulligan said, if he doesn't play for NYCFC again, his next club contract will be middling just as it would be transferring now without a lot of suitors - best to get these two years of substantial pay and bank it. Also by staying, there is always the chance he plays again and his stock goes back up. It's win-win for him to stay and lose-lose to head out the door.

 

[mgarbowski]

Not really. By showing up and doing everything he's been asked to do, he comes out looking like the persecuted one.

That's not really a victory for him. With extremely rare exceptions like Curt Flood, nobody admires a pro athlete for being a martyr. His options are to go play somewhere and win adulation or be pitied as a victim, and I don't think you are advancing his cause by noting he chose persecution.

Adam Nemec had a choice to (1) drop his guaranteed contract, be released, and go play somewhere, or (2) get paid for taking up space on our roster. He chose to play and Mix is choosing to show up and get paid. That's not a good contrasting look for Mix.

TBH, I'm not as anti-Mix as I am pretending to be. I'm arguing because the people who like Mix write as if it is self-evident that he has both the upper hand and the more sympathetic look.* I really think there's too much we don't know to take sides. Apart from the AHABS stuff about what goes on in practice, etc, we also do not know whether the club or Mix have made an offer of compromise on his contract. Maybe Mix said release me and pay me for 2017 and I'll release you from paying for 2018 and the club said no. Or maybe the opposite. To some people that wouldn't make a difference. For me it would tend to make me think better of whoever made the offer. Without knowing that and all the other inside stuff I can't really be certain. It's kind of like a divorce. I don't know what's going on inside this marriage.

* Plus it's what I do.

 

[Ulrich]

That's not really a victory for him. With extremely rare exceptions like Curt Flood, nobody admires a pro athlete for being a martyr. His options are to go play somewhere and win adulation or be pitied as a victim, and I don't think you are advancing his cause by noting he chose persecution.

Adam Nemec had a choice to (1) drop his guaranteed contract, be released, and go play somewhere, or (2) get paid for taking up space on our roster. He chose to play and Mix is choosing to show up and get paid. That's not a good contrasting look for Mix.

TBH, I'm not as anti-Mix as I am pretending to be. I'm arguing because the people who like Mix write as if it is self-evident that he has both the upper hand and the more sympathetic look.* I really think there's too much we don't know to take sides. Apart from the AHABS stuff about what goes on in practice, etc, we also do not know whether the club or Mix have made an offer of compromise on his contract. Maybe Mix said release me and pay me for 2017 and I'll release you from paying for 2018 and the club said no. Or maybe the opposite. To some people that wouldn't make a difference. For me it would tend to make me think better of whoever made the offer. Without knowing that and all the other inside stuff I can't really be certain. It's kind of like a divorce. I don't know what's going on inside this marriage.

* Plus it's what I do.

Don't put words in my mouth, he didn't choose "persecution," he chose to honor his contract. It just so happens that by honoring his contract and being the company man, the company comes off looking like the bully. Since you're in the business, you of all people should understand the importance of a finely crafted contract.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

That's not really a victory for him. With extremely rare exceptions like Curt Flood, nobody admires a pro athlete for being a martyr. His options are to go play somewhere and win adulation or be pitied as a victim, and I don't think you are advancing his cause by noting he chose persecution.

Adam Nemec had a choice to (1) drop his guaranteed contract, be released, and go play somewhere, or (2) get paid for taking up space on our roster. He chose to play and Mix is choosing to show up and get paid. That's not a good contrasting look for Mix.

TBH, I'm not as anti-Mix as I am pretending to be. I'm arguing because the people who like Mix write as if it is self-evident that he has both the upper hand and the more sympathetic look.* I really think there's too much we don't know to take sides. Apart from the AHABS stuff about what goes on in practice, etc, we also do not know whether the club or Mix have made an offer of compromise on his contract. Maybe Mix said release me and pay me for 2017 and I'll release you from paying for 2018 and the club said no. Or maybe the opposite. To some people that wouldn't make a difference. For me it would tend to make me think better of whoever made the offer. Without knowing that and all the other inside stuff I can't really be certain. It's kind of like a divorce. I don't know what's going on inside this marriage.

* Plus it's what I do.

I agree with all of that. But really, let's say they are all assholes and all the worst actors imaginable and Mix only gives a shit about cashing a paycheck. there's still only one party who is incentivized and has the means and ability and really, the obligation, to fucking end this misery. And it isn't Mix.

Secondly, I'm not a Mix defender. I'm a "stop the idiocy" proponent. If he's getting paid, fucking play him when the next options are shit and shitola. If you're not going to do that, buy out the damn deal.

But, if all that doesn't appeal to you, I would argue that the club doesn't even believe Mix to be trying to cash a check. Otherwise, they wouldn't act as though they have leverage. They must believe that not playing is killing him. Otherwise, why beat him over the head with it.

And finally, yeah. We don't know who has offered what. But believing our FO is only capable of acting rationally is a step beyond what I am willing to go. Granted, all of this is based on what I am able to observe. But given that, Mix has never given me reason to doubt his effort on the field. Contrarily, Our FO has definitely given me reason to doubt their judgment.

 

[mgarbowski]

Don't put words in my mouth, he didn't choose "persecution," he chose to honor his contract. It just so happens that by honoring his contract and being the company man, the company comes off looking like the bully. Since you're in the business, you of all people should understand the importance of a finely crafted contract.

I think my characterization would be acceptable in a summary judgment brief but fair point about this more personalized back and forth. Apologies.

I definitely honor the enforcement of contracts. I also know sometimes you win more by compromising than by enforcing the terms of your deal.