2018 Roster Discussion

[LionNYC]

They've always been pretty low value. Here's a quick list of guys taken in the first round of the last five drafts who I'd say are currently better than the average MLS player. I came up with 8/105, with maybe another 20 or so in competent starter range. Some of the younger guys might get there eventually, but still, you're looking at something like a 2/3 chance that a first round pick will be basically worthless.

2014 (19 picks): Steve Birnbaum
2015 (21 picks): Cyle Larin, Tim Parker, Cristian Roldan
2016 (20 picks): Jack Harrison, Keegan Rosenberry
2017 (22 picks): Lalas Abubakar, Julian Gressel
2018 (23 picks): none yet

I'd like to add...

2014: Andre Blake, BEN SWEAT
2015:
2016: Brandon Vincent
2017:
2018:

Yeah, the SuperDraft is becoming more meaningless.

 

[dummyrun]

Not gonna stick Danladi in there?

Nah, he was healthy most of the season and only managed 460 minutes on a bad team. Last year he was a competent starter, now he's back in might-get-there range. But I'm open to arguments for anyone I missed or underrated.

I'd like to add...

2014: Andre Blake, BEN SWEAT
2015:
2016: Brandon Vincent
2017:
2018:

Yeah, the SuperDraft is becoming more meaningless.

Considered those guys but I'd put them all in competent starter territory, not above league average for their positions.

 

[Kjbert]

They've always been pretty low value. Here's a quick list of guys taken in the first round of the last five drafts who I'd say are currently better than the average MLS player. I came up with 8/105, with maybe another 20 or so in competent starter range. Some of the younger guys might get there eventually, but still, you're looking at something like a 2/3 chance that a first round pick will be basically worthless.

2014 (19 picks): Steve Birnbaum
2015 (21 picks): Cyle Larin, Tim Parker, Cristian Roldan
2016 (20 picks): Jack Harrison, Keegan Rosenberry
2017 (22 picks): Lalas Abubakar, Julian Gressel
2018 (23 picks): none yet

Thank you for not including Lewis

 

[EganSoccerWords]

Because we're not putting the house on Caldwell?

I think its more of a moneyball proposition of whether it is wise to spend long-term cap dollars on a keeper, but I guess we will have to see how much $$ we are talking about.

 

[dummyrun]

Thank you for not including Lewis

I've still got high hopes for Lewis on the might-get-there list. Doesn't sound like he blew them away in Louisville, but fingers crossed he'll stick around another season to develop under Dome.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1051483338266107904

 

[Ulrich]

I've still got high hopes for Lewis on the might-get-there list. Doesn't sound like he blew them away in Louisville, but fingers crossed he'll stick around another season to develop under Dome.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1051483338266107904

And yet those stats are infinitely better than Wallace’s while playing for a crappier team.....

 

[ManhattanValley]

Did anyone watch Lewis while he was at Louisville? How did he do?

 

[dummyrun]

No team in New York has more reporters in its hip pocket than NYCFC.

That'd be pretty impressive considering there are only three reporters who cover the team.

 

[mgarbowski]

That'd be pretty impressive considering there are only three reporters who cover the team.

Not much for dry sarcasm, then?

 

[dummyrun]

Not much for dry sarcasm, then?

Sometimes I need it wet and sloppy.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Sometimes I need it wet and sloppy.

I don't recommend searching for "wet and sloppy" in the giphy tool.

 

[FredMertz]

No team in New York has more reporters in its hip pocket than NYCFC.

Crooks is a team employee for all intents and purposes -- no reason to expect him to be any more impartial than John Sterling.

 

[adam]

Crooks is a team employee for all intents and purposes -- no reason to expect him to be any more impartial than John Sterling.

Or Michael Kaye for that matter.

 

[adam]

I don't recommend searching for "wet and sloppy" in the giphy tool.

The new soccer chaos?

 

[Kjbert]

I don't recommend searching for "wet and sloppy" in the giphy tool.

The correct search would be for “That’s what she said”

 

[LionNYC]

NYCFC loanees Andre Rawls and Saad Abdul-Salaam are both in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs.

Andre's Orange County SC is the number 1 seed in the Western Conference and faces St. Louis FC on 10/20.

Saad's Phoenix Rising FC is the number 3 seed in the Western Conference and faces Timbers 2 on 10/19.

 

[LionNYC]

So, we're not going to target a LB at all over the offseason?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1051865753283162113

 

[Shwafta]

So, we're not going to target a LB at all over the offseason?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1051865753283162113

Since when was Ben Sweat not a part of the team moving forward? I'm confused?

 

[gbservis]

Since when was Ben Sweat not a part of the team moving forward? I'm confused?

I would guess the USMNT call up has prompted questions (likely from Sweat's own camp) about renegotiating his deal and paying him more than the $67,500 he made this season going forward and Reyna is just trying to get out in front of it by addressing it.

I don't understand what leverage the players have when they still have years left on their deals but the team seems to give substantial pay raises to guys the season after they have a considerable number of starts. I don't know how many years Sweat has left on his deal but they gave TMAC and RJ Allen massive raises a couple of summers ago when they still had multiple years left on their deals so the precedent exists. Assuming the pattern continues it wouldn't be surprising to see both Sweat and Ibeagha get considerable bumps.

 

[LeeNYCFC]

I would guess the USMNT call up has prompted questions (likely from Sweat's own camp) about renegotiating his deal and paying him more than the $67,500 he made this season going forward and Reyna is just trying to get out in front of it by addressing it.

I don't understand what leverage the players have when they still have years left on their deals but the team seems to give substantial pay raises to guys the season after they have a considerable number of starts. I don't know how many years Sweat has left on his deal but they gave TMAC and RJ Allen massive raises a couple of summers ago when they still had multiple years left on their deals so the precedent exists. Assuming the pattern continues it wouldn't be surprising to see both Sweat and Ibeagha get considerable bumps.

There are standard raises built in to the CBA for players under team control making < $150,000 who play in so many games the previous year. So they’re most likely following whatever was previously agreed to.