2020 Roster Discussion

[Gotham Gator]

Outside of playing in a Top 5 European league, I would think NYCFC is a really attractive deal. The big downside is travel. The upside is living in NY and doing so fairly anonymously.

Where a player stands on those two things is going to be rather personal, but for a guy who is just below the level of Bundesliga, La Liga, etc., it can be great.

 

[LionNYC]

Outside of playing in a Top 5 European league, I would think NYCFC is a really attractive deal. The big downside is travel. The upside is living in NY and doing so fairly anonymously.

Where a player stands on those two things is going to be rather personal, but for a guy who is just below the level of Bundesliga, La Liga, etc., it can be great.

Travel and taxes.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Really great news about Maxi. He's the engine of this team, and he will be just as hard to replace as Villa was.

 

[Annagram]

Travel and taxes.

I think taxes are pretty low in the US of A compared to Europe. Perhaps only the Russian league could compete with that. Otoh for taxes you get things in Europe that you have to pay for separately in the US, so there's not much difference. Unless we're talking about multi-million DP players, it does matter where you live. Living in NYC or London can be really, really expensive, whereas living in a smaller German town is nigh on free compared to NYC.

I would say that no international breaks in the MLS is a big downside, too. Ring even retired from international football (at 27!) after coming to the MLS.

 

[mgarbowski]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1179843006431662094

 

[Marito]

Travel and taxes.

Taxes compared to other MLS destinations. Compared to most of Europe you are paying less in taxes, even in NYC

 

[adam]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1179843006431662094

I would also wager Héber is not on a 1 year deal. Nor Mitri. Mata & Sweat were both recently signed to extensions too. We should have Taty, Isi & Sands at least 1 more season.

The only contracts in question are Ofori & Parks. It’s interesting they both play the same position and we could have a DP spot available if we can move Medina.

 

[LionNYC]

Taxes compared to other MLS destinations. Compared to most of Europe you are paying less in taxes, even in NYC

Yeah. Miami is a bigger draw compared to NYCFC of taxes.

 

[Davo15]

Great news just seeing this as I was at comicon all day yesterday. He's the brain center of our attack would have been very tough to replace.

 

[mgarbowski]

I would also wager Héber is not on a 1 year deal. Nor Mitri. Mata & Sweat were both recently signed to extensions too. We should have Taty, Isi & Sands at least 1 more season.

The only contracts in question are Ofori & Parks. It’s interesting they both play the same position and we could have a DP spot available if we can move Medina.

Yeah. Butler's list was for 2 years and covers about half of our best 11-12 including almost all of the spine and defense. As you note, we're pretty sure most of the forwards and wingers are here next year at least, so this could be -- in the best way possible -- the least interesting and active offseason for NYCFC, subject to the realistic (but not guaranteed) dream of replacing Medina.

But are you sure about Sweat? His last contract news was in January 2018.

New York City FC defender Ben Sweat signed a new contract with the club on Friday.​

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in this league,” Sweat said in a statement released by NYCFC. “New York took me in as a trialist last year and put a lot of trust and faith in me and I’m glad I could produce enough for them to keep me around for another couple of years.​

He could be using "couple" in a loose sense, but it usually means "2" which would end this year. Plus I've been assuming the club has been treating him like Tommy Mac and RJ Allen: low end players who overperform their contracts at the beginning get one but only one payoff year as a reward where they are paid in excess of their value, and then we cut you loose. My guess is Sweat doesn't return, because he would be due for another raise and the club will figure it can once again scour the ranks of free agent walk on fullbacks and find a backup for at or very near league minimum who will come reasonably close to replacing Sweat's contributions.

 

[moogoo]

Yeah. Butler's list was for 2 years and covers about half of our best 11-12 including almost all of the spine and defense. As you note, we're pretty sure most of the forwards and wingers are here next year at least, so this could be -- in the best way possible -- the least interesting and active offseason for NYCFC, subject to the realistic (but not guaranteed) dream of replacing Medina.

But are you sure about Sweat? His last contract news was in January 2018.

New York City FC defender Ben Sweat signed a new contract with the club on Friday.​

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in this league,” Sweat said in a statement released by NYCFC. “New York took me in as a trialist last year and put a lot of trust and faith in me and I’m glad I could produce enough for them to keep me around for another couple of years.​

He could be using "couple" in a loose sense, but it usually means "2" which would end this year. Plus I've been assuming the club has been treating him like Tommy Mac and RJ Allen: low end players who overperform their contracts at the beginning get one but only one payoff year as a reward where they are paid in excess of their value, and then we cut you loose. My guess is Sweat doesn't return, because he would be due for another raise and the club will figure it can once again scour the ranks of free agent walk on fullbacks and find a backup for at or very near league minimum who will come reasonably close to replacing Sweat's contributions.

I think Sweat re-signs if his contract is up this year. As much as I criticize him, he's currently our only true left back backup. Considering Mata is injury prone and sometimes inconsistent, having someone who is familiar with the system is important. I think the club goes out and finds another left back, but keeps Sweat around to see who is better. Then drops the one who fails to impress. Sweat provides someone who knows our system and has proven to be somewhat effective in it. It'd be too risky to drop him and try to find someone else in the winter and go into CCL with a newbie that doesn't know how we play.

 

[dummyrun]

Yeah. Butler's list was for 2 years and covers about half of our best 11-12 including almost all of the spine and defense. As you note, we're pretty sure most of the forwards and wingers are here next year at least, so this could be -- in the best way possible -- the least interesting and active offseason for NYCFC, subject to the realistic (but not guaranteed) dream of replacing Medina.

But are you sure about Sweat? His last contract news was in January 2018.

New York City FC defender Ben Sweat signed a new contract with the club on Friday.​

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in this league,” Sweat said in a statement released by NYCFC. “New York took me in as a trialist last year and put a lot of trust and faith in me and I’m glad I could produce enough for them to keep me around for another couple of years.​

He could be using "couple" in a loose sense, but it usually means "2" which would end this year. Plus I've been assuming the club has been treating him like Tommy Mac and RJ Allen: low end players who overperform their contracts at the beginning get one but only one payoff year as a reward where they are paid in excess of their value, and then we cut you loose. My guess is Sweat doesn't return, because he would be due for another raise and the club will figure it can once again scour the ranks of free agent walk on fullbacks and find a backup for at or very near league minimum who will come reasonably close to replacing Sweat's contributions.

Sweat's extension started this season. From November 2018:

 

[adam]

Yeah. Butler's list was for 2 years and covers about half of our best 11-12 including almost all of the spine and defense. As you note, we're pretty sure most of the forwards and wingers are here next year at least, so this could be -- in the best way possible -- the least interesting and active offseason for NYCFC, subject to the realistic (but not guaranteed) dream of replacing Medina.

But are you sure about Sweat? His last contract news was in January 2018.

New York City FC defender Ben Sweat signed a new contract with the club on Friday.​

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in this league,” Sweat said in a statement released by NYCFC. “New York took me in as a trialist last year and put a lot of trust and faith in me and I’m glad I could produce enough for them to keep me around for another couple of years.​

He could be using "couple" in a loose sense, but it usually means "2" which would end this year. Plus I've been assuming the club has been treating him like Tommy Mac and RJ Allen: low end players who overperform their contracts at the beginning get one but only one payoff year as a reward where they are paid in excess of their value, and then we cut you loose. My guess is Sweat doesn't return, because he would be due for another raise and the club will figure it can once again scour the ranks of free agent walk on fullbacks and find a backup for at or very near league minimum who will come reasonably close to replacing Sweat's contributions.

Solid points all around, but think we can still have an interesting off-season. Also, there should be plenty additional cap space as the league grows & and for CCL purposes to upgrade the club.

1. Parks/Ofori re-signing/loaning, or replacing.

2. Transferring Medina and signing a new DP.

3. Replacing Sweat and relegating Mata to the bench (if we don’t sell him high after a relatively injury free season).

4. Upgrading the bench so we have better players who can fill in when we’re depleted from CCL, USOC, international duty and mid-week matchups. (Stuver/barraza, Rocha, GMS, Miller, JPT).

 

[Gotham Gator]

NYCFC 2020 DEPTH CHART
italics = not signed to 2020 contract

Striker: Heber, Castellanos
Wing: Mitriţă, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven
Wing/CAM: Moralez, Medina
CM: Ring, Parks, Ofori, Rocha, Torres, Haak
RB: Tinnerholm, Miller, Scally
LB: Matarrita, Sweat
CB: Chanot, Callens, Sands, Ibeagha
GK: Johnson, Stuver, Barraza

 

[adam]

NYCFC 2020 DEPTH CHART
italics = not signed to 2020 contract

Striker: Heber, Castellanos
Wing: Mitriţă, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven
Wing/CAM: Moralez, Medina
CM: Ring, Parks, Ofori, Rocha, Torres, Haak
RB: Tinnerholm, Miller, Scally
LB: Matarrita, Sweat
CB: Chanot, Callens, Sands, Ibeagha
GK: Johnson, Stuver, Barraza

Guys we should look to upgrade in BLUE. Out of Contract in RED.

Striker: Heber, Castellanos
Wing: Mitriţă, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven
Wing/CAM: Moralez, Medina
CM: Ring, Parks, Ofori, Rocha, Torres, Haak
RB: Tinnerholm, Miller, Scally
LB: Matarrita, Sweat
CB: Chanot, Callens, Sands, Ibeagha
GK: Johnson, Stuver, Barraza

I'd be OK if we kept Rocha since he seems to be a Swiss army knife player, but only want him around as a break glass in emergency situations.

We also will probably lose 1 of these players to the expansion draft (can protect 12 and HG exempt). 1. Heber, 2. Taty, 3. Mtiri, 4. Isi, 5. Maxi, 6. Ring, 7. Tin, 8. Chanot, 9. Callens, 10. Seba, 11 Johnson, 12. Mata. Available: GMS, Medina, Rocha, JPT, Miller, SWEAT, Stuver, Barraza. I think Sweat is gone in the expansion draft. Like another hard working LB, he's someone you can build a team around.

 

[Fantazma]

Guys we should look to upgrade in BLUE. Out of Contract in RED.

Striker: Heber, Castellanos
Wing: Mitriţă, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven
Wing/CAM: Moralez, Medina
CM: Ring, Parks, Ofori, Rocha, Torres, Haak
RB: Tinnerholm, Miller, Scally
LB: Matarrita, Sweat
CB: Chanot, Callens, Sands, Ibeagha
GK: Johnson, Stuver, Barraza

I'd be OK if we kept Rocha since he seems to be a Swiss army knife player, but only want him around as a break glass in emergency situations.

We also will probably lose 1 of these players to the expansion draft (can protect 12 and HG exempt). 1. Heber, 2. Taty, 3. Mtiri, 4. Isi, 5. Maxi, 6. Ring, 7. Tin, 8. Chanot, 9. Callens, 10. Seba, 11 Johnson, 12. Mata. Available: GMS, Medina, Rocha, JPT, Miller, SWEAT, Stuver, Barraza. I think Sweat is gone in the expansion draft. Like another hard working LB, he's someone you can build a team around.

i can see that, Sweat going to Miami, closer to family etc.

 

[mgarbowski]

Sweat's extension started this season. From November 2018:

View attachment 10330

Something about that is off. The last public official notice about a Sweat contract was the one I posted and we also have the club video about it here:

That features the same quote from Sweat about being signed for a couple of years as of January 2018. I find it very unlikely that (1) the club granted him an additional extension that same year but (2) neither he nor the team publicized it. I can believe that the Athletic is still right on the major details, and the deal he signed in January 2018 was for 3 years from the start with 2018 and 2019 both being at $200k. Either way we'll find out in the next few months.

 

[mgarbowski]

Guys we should look to upgrade in BLUE. Out of Contract in RED.

Striker: Heber, CastellanosWing: Mitriţă, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven

You really think both that it's time to give up on a player who joined the team mid-season and played about 500 total minutes, and that the club might agree? Even if you are convinced he's an unredeemable failure already it's a waste of time and brain cells to even contemplate because they're never giving up on him that fast.

 

[adam]

You really think both that it's time to give up on a player who joined the team mid-season and played about 500 total minutes, and that the club might agree? Even if you are convinced he's an unredeemable failure already it's a waste of time and brain cells to even contemplate because they're never giving up on him that fast.

We've been following the guy on and off now for over a year. Members on the forums have said that before NYCFC he tends to disappear for stretches, he's proven that so far in NY. Will the club give up on him, NO. You're 100% correct. But it's a horrible use of a roster spot right now from a salary to production standpoint. We could get a Rocha/Miller/Sweat type to accomplish the same for 1/10th of his salary.

 

[moogoo]

We've been following the guy on and off now for over a year. Members on the forums have said that before NYCFC he tends to disappear for stretches, he's proven that so far in NY. Will the club give up on him, NO. You're 100% correct. But it's a horrible use of a roster spot right now from a salary to production standpoint. We could get a Rocha/Miller/Sweat type to accomplish the same for 1/10th of his salary.

GMS isn't going anywhere. The club spent too much time getting him. He hasn't been around long enough to make an impact. Who knows? Now that temps are 50s/60s he'll become super Scotsman and become a hero.