2019 Roster Discussion

[mgarbowski]

He's 26. And this makes me worry the Scally injury is as bad as people on here are hearing.

Scally could also be 50-50 to return soon and for $50k this is insurance. Some time during the broadcast on Friday the Tolleson replacement said Scally was training with the team and I believe used the term "hopping around" to describe his activities.

 

[adam]

Scally could also be 50-50 to return soon and for $50k this is insurance. Some time during the broadcast on Friday the Tolleson replacement said Scally was training with the team and I believe used the term "hopping around" to describe his activities.

I remember that. But I also thought, you can hop around on crutches.

 

[mgarbowski]

Because LAFC and Atlanta have sold underperforming DPs for a loss to free up the spot. NYCFC have proven to be slow learners, but they do learn. This roster has been a major overhaul since year 1's mistakes and Medina & Mitri are copycat moves based off of ATL & LAFC. No reason not to hope they also copy their FOs by selling Medina, rather than have an albatross on the roster in a year when they can compete for a cup. How often will we have this chance again?

Who buys Medina at any price? He's a much more damaged asset than Horta for sure. Reports are LAFC sold half his rights for about 40-50% of what they paid for him. That's hardly a loss. It's a rental fee. If you honestly believe CFG could sell Medina for that little of a loss then this is a worthwhile analogy. Do you?

 

[Fantazma]

Because LAFC and Atlanta have sold underperforming DPs for a loss to free up the spot. NYCFC have proven to be slow learners, but they do learn. This roster has been a major overhaul since year 1's mistakes and Medina & Mitri are copycat moves based off of ATL & LAFC. No reason not to hope they also copy their FOs by selling Medina, rather than have an albatross on the roster in a year when they can compete for a cup. How often will we have this chance again?

who did Atlanta sell? LAFC seemed to be because Horta also wanted out and was wanted more minutes as he felt he was owed that ( at least from what i read) and caused some issues with bradley. so its easier to let him go, and he had a market in portugal because of his benfica past. Medina is chilling and is cool getting paid even if he is trash, there is no bad blood there.

 

[gbservis]

He's 26. And this makes me worry the Scally injury is as bad as people on here are hearing.

View attachment 10037


So this offseason we've:

1. Added depth at the wing
2. Found our backup RB

We still need to:
3. Move Medina and...
4. Replace with a DP that can START for this team.
5. (dreaming) LB. I know we have Mata and Sweat, but what's the old football adage: "If you have 2 QBs you have none"

I do wonder if Mata or Sweat could be sold. For those of us that watch them every week it seems absurd but there are selling points for both that could create a market among the many teams both in the MLS and outside of it that have less than stellar scouting depts. The case for Sweat is that he was a full time MLS starter, has a recent USMNT appearance and can also provide coverage at CB in a pinch. Sweat seems like just the type of player that lower tier MLS teams after go after, although the high point to see was right after his USMNT appearance over the summer. Mata is still a regular starter on the CR national team and was once thought of as a high upside prospect bound for Europe, maybe one of the SA clubs would take a flier on him?

A quality starter at LB is still my biggest wish. Mata has a good game here or there but he's not consistent or reliable enough to get us through the playoffs. Even within one of his better performances last game against SKC he made a stupid foul at the edge of the box to give away a free kick in a dangerous position within the last few min. It would be interesting to see how many free kicks we concede along the left side of our box vs. the right side. Both Sweat and Mata go to ground aggressively in completely unwarranted moments. Add in the professional fouls Callens is forced into coving for Sweat and Mata and the number is even higher.

 

[adam]

Who buys Medina at any price? He's a much more damaged asset than Horta for sure. Reports are LAFC sold half his rights for about 40-50% of what they paid for him. That's hardly a loss. It's a rental fee. If you honestly believe CFG could sell Medina for that little of a loss then this is a worthwhile analogy. Do you?

I'm not going to begin to pretend I know what his present market value is, but he's still only 21? We purchased him for $4mm. Maybe we can get $1mm back on someone who sees potential? IDK. That would be a 75% loss, but it's still preferable to a buyout and should be done in the Summer window if we're going to do it. We can also pull a Mix and have another CFG team "purchase" him to get him off the NYC books. Let him try to develop at Girona or in Japan, where it doesn't mean he takes the potential place of one of the top 3 players on the team.

 

[adam]

I do wonder if Mata or Sweat could be sold. For those of us that watch them every week it seems absurd but there are selling points for both that could create a market among the many teams both in the MLS and outside of it that have less than stellar scouting depts. The case for Sweat is that he was a full time MLS starter, has a recent USMNT appearance and can also provide coverage at CB in a pinch. Sweat seems like just the type of player that lower tier MLS teams after go after, although the high point to see was right after his USMNT appearance over the summer. Mata is still a regular starter on the CR national team and was once thought of as a high upside prospect bound for Europe, maybe one of the SA clubs would take a flier on him?

A quality starter at LB is still my biggest wish. Mata has a good game here or there but he's not consistent or reliable enough to get us through the playoffs. Even within one of his better performances last game against SKC he made a stupid foul at the edge of the box to give away a free kick in a dangerous position within the last few min. It would be interesting to see how many free kicks we concede along the left side of our box vs. the right side. Both Sweat and Mata go to ground aggressively in completely unwarranted moments. Add in the professional fouls Callens is forced into coving for Sweat and Mata and the number is even higher.

Based on salary, I'd sell Mata (though I rate him higher). Sweat becomes a really good backup, rather than part time starter. Though I do think Sweat may have more value in MLS for a GAM trade.

 

[gbservis]

I'm not going to begin to pretend I know what his present market value is, but he's still only 21? We purchased him for $4mm. Maybe we can get $1mm back on someone who sees potential? IDK. That would be a 75% loss, but it's still preferable to a buyout and should be done in the Summer window if we're going to do it. We can also pull a Mix and have another CFG team "purchase" him to get him off the NYC books. Let him try to develop at Girona or in Japan, where it doesn't mean he takes the potential place of one of the top 3 players on the team.

I agree assuming the FO is willing to take the loss and sell him for far less than they paid I think team would be willing to take a chance on Medina. As you say he's only 21, maybe a team in a less physical league can talk themselves into him turning it around with a change of scenery.

 

[adam]

who did Atlanta sell? LAFC seemed to be because Horta also wanted out and was wanted more minutes as he felt he was owed that ( at least from what i read) and caused some issues with bradley. so its easier to let him go, and he had a market in portugal because of his benfica past. Medina is chilling and is cool getting paid even if he is trash, there is no bad blood there.

IDK why I was thinking ATL did it too. I guess I was thinking of how there was talk of selling Barco after all the clubhouse drama last year. Even if they didn't do it, I'm sure they would if they were in a Medina situation. We also have LAG buying out Dos Santos. The top teams take the L when they see the writing on the wall, lose a battle to win the war. Sticking with Medina is not helping this team and now that we signed GMS, he's 100% expendable.

 

[LionNYC]

Don't forget about Anders Christiansen and the fact we were going to spend like $1.5M in a transfer fee for a midfielder.

Remember than Ofori and Parks are both on loan.

 

[Schwallacus]

I remember that. But I also thought, you can hop around on crutches.

I've seen pictures on Instagram and Twitter (I believe) where they show Scally doing some individual work on the side with one of the trainers. Presuming he doesn't get tackled by a teammate a la Sands, he may be available for full training or selection within a few weeks.
I also have no idea how long of a recovery/training he will need recovering from a hip. I'll take it as a good sign he's out on the practice pitch doing drills vs. inside the weight room solely biking or jogging in one of those anti-grav machines.

 

[Fantazma]

IDK why I was thinking ATL did it too. I guess I was thinking of how there was talk of selling Barco after all the clubhouse drama last year. Even if they didn't do it, I'm sure they would if they were in a Medina situation. We also have LAG buying out Dos Santos. The top teams take the L when they see the writing on the wall, lose a battle to win the war. Sticking with Medina is not helping this team and now that we signed GMS, he's 100% expendable.

LAG bought out gio in the offseason though, horta was technically a sale so happened mid season, which i dont see happening with medina because i really dont think there is a market for medina right now. this is why the offseason seems to be the place where they will strike, carrying the L till then.

 

[adam]

LAG bought out gio in the offseason though, horta was technically a sale so happened mid season, which i dont see happening with medina because i really dont think there is a market for medina right now. this is why the offseason seems to be the place where they will strike, carrying the L till then.

But the Summer window is the rest of the world's off-season. If we intend to take the L selling him, now is the time. Especially before he spends another 6 months sitting on the bench through the stretch run and playoffs to further devalue him. He's actually been getting some minutes the last few matches.

 

[sbrylski]

Wait, is consensus that we can't just have Man City buy him and loan him out elsewhere so he's not on the MLS books? I thought that would be an easy one. Send him to Girona or Torque.

 

[Fantazma]

But the Summer window is the rest of the world's off-season. If we intend to take the L selling him, now is the time. Especially before he spends another 6 months sitting on the bench through the stretch run and playoffs to further devalue him. He's actually been getting some minutes the last few matches.

yes, but im still of the belief that medina has no market, it may have gotten so bad that not even a team in paraguay will buy him ( but probably take him for free)

 

[Fantazma]

Wait, is consensus that we can't just have Man City buy him and loan him out elsewhere so he's not on the MLS books? I thought that would be an easy one. Send him to Girona or Torque.

but does Man city want to "buy him out" ? didnt they they pay for him to bring him here, then pay again just to move them to another network team? hes not here on loan like herrera where that is easier to do.

I just feel like buyouts tend to always happen in offseason, which is where it may happen.

 

[Marito]

You could argue that, besides purchasing Mix and sending a low-level prospect like Taty our way, CFG has not done for us what other "sister clubs" are doing for their MLS affiliates. Montreal's 4 goals this weekend were by Bologna loanees while we have been getting players lent to us by Benfica or Stuttgart. It is a bit disappointing that CFG would not consider sending us a surplus Man City LB that they, for sure, have misplaced in a drawer somewhere, and who could quite possibly be at a pretty good level for MLS.

BTW, Orlando sent their disappointing Young DP Josue Colman back to where he came from (Cerro Porteno in Paraguay) on loan this season. What does such a move achieve? YDP wages aren't a big hit against the cap. Was it just to avoid paying the salary? Anybody knows?

 

[Kjbert]

Man City May be facing a transfer ban and every dollar they spend is on their books. I don’t think it is reasonable for them to buy out Medina.

There is a market for Medina. It will come at a loss.

Considering you don’t get anything unless you go above the original purchase price, they probably would prefer to loan him out and let him walk for free when his contract ends.

 

[gbservis]

You could argue that, besides purchasing Mix and sending a low-level prospect like Taty our way, CFG has not done for us what other "sister clubs" are doing for their MLS affiliates. Montreal's 4 goals this weekend were by Bologna loanees while we have been getting players lent to us by Benfica or Stuttgart. It is a bit disappointing that CFG would not consider sending us a surplus Man City LB that they, for sure, have misplaced in a drawer somewhere, and who could quite possibly be at a pretty good level for MLS.

BTW, Orlando sent their disappointing Young DP Josue Colman back to where he came from (Cerro Porteno in Paraguay) on loan this season. What does such a move achieve? YDP wages aren't a big hit against the cap. Was it just to avoid paying the salary? Anybody knows?

Generally I agree they haven't done that much but they have helped a bit more than you are giving them credit for. Herrera was an MCFC loanee. They also loaned us Facey and Angelino year 1, both made solid contributions to a pretty terrible roster that would have been even worse without them.

 

[Marito]

Generally I agree they haven't done that much but they have helped a bit more than you are giving them credit for. Herrera was an MCFC loanee. They also loaned us Facey and Angelino year 1, both made solid contributions to a pretty terrible roster that would have been even worse without them.

That's true. I forgot about Yangel. Angelino they took back and sent to the Eredivisie. It would have been great if they had been willing to park him here for longer. Facey wasn't worth much IMHO.