2022 Roster Discussion

And even before this massive confidence-boosting experience, Tayvon Gray already had plenty of it.

It's really fun to listen to this kid answer questions.

lol. me too. he's just like "what do you mean? i just do what i do!"

I just wish someone would help him improve his balance and running form. He'd be so much better.
 
I think we are all overrating Grey TODAY. Chanot and Sands and Medina covered his butt a lot. And for how we play with width, he needs to spend the next two years working on crossing the ball.

But yes - I still think there’s a terrific player in there and if we’re in 4 competitions next season, you need him AND Anton
 
lol. me too. he's just like "what do you mean? i just do what i do!"

I just wish someone would help him improve his balance and running form. He'd be so much better.
What I also find oddly funny, is both him and Tinnerholm are often awkward in possession. As in, they look like they are out of control and may lose the ball at their feet, but somehow keep it.

I'm not really sure how to describe what I see from both of them, but they seem to only be the two I see it from.
 
I think we are all overrating Grey TODAY. Chanot and Sands and Medina covered his butt a lot. And for how we play with width, he needs to spend the next two years working on crossing the ball.

But yes - I still think there’s a terrific player in there and if we’re in 4 competitions next season, you need him AND Anton
I'm not sure Gray needs to work on crossing all that much. Tinnerholm has never really been much of a crosser.

Gray's ability right now seems to be getting to the endline or cutting inside and combining. That's exactly what Tinnerholm's bread and butter has been the last couple of seasons. Get to the endline and send in a low cross (Gray can and has done that) or cut inside, crack a shot or find a runner.

I do agree we're overrating Gray right now, but the kid is 800 minutes into his career. More minutes and a whole offseason as the #1 RB can do a lot. And with the head he's got on his shoulders, I'm excited to see what he can turn into.
 
What I also find oddly funny, is both him and Tinnerholm are often awkward in possession. As in, they look like they are out of control and may lose the ball at their feet, but somehow keep it.

I'm not really sure how to describe what I see from both of them, but they seem to only be the two I see it from.

I get what you mean. For Gray, he seems unbalanced most of the time and I think he actually is because he tends to fall over a LOT after taking people on 1v1.

for anton, he seems to have an unorthodox way of dribbling in close quarters. like his feet are clumsy looking compared to other "cleaner" dribblers but he's good enough at it that he doesn't lose control of the ball.
 
I get what you mean. For Gray, he seems unbalanced most of the time and I think he actually is because he tends to fall over a LOT after taking people on 1v1.

for anton, he seems to have an unorthodox way of dribbling in close quarters. like his feet are clumsy looking compared to other "cleaner" dribblers but he's good enough at it that he doesn't lose control of the ball.
Yes, exactly. You described what I was trying to say about Tinnerholm much better than I could
 
I'm not sure Gray needs to work on crossing all that much. Tinnerholm has never really been much of a crosser.

Gray's ability right now seems to be getting to the endline or cutting inside and combining. That's exactly what Tinnerholm's bread and butter has been the last couple of seasons. Get to the endline and send in a low cross (Gray can and has done that) or cut inside, crack a shot or find a runner.

I do agree we're overrating Gray right now, but the kid is 800 minutes into his career. More minutes and a whole offseason as the #1 RB can do a lot. And with the head he's got on his shoulders, I'm excited to see what he can turn into.

Are you suggesting that Gray is a better play than Anton in June of 2022?
 
Are you suggesting that Gray is a better play than Anton in June of 2022?

I don't think anyone's suggesting that, but I don't think anyone feels like Gray is incapable of starting in place of Anton until he's recovered.

Edit: Also nothing wrong with increasing his value at the same time.
 
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I don't think anyone's suggesting that, but I don't think anyone feels like Gray is incapable of starting in place of Anton until he's recovered.
Sure. We’re seeing that right now. But Anton was widely acclaimed as the best RB in the league before his injury.
 
Tajouri-Shradi is the most likely player to be selected and the only one (or one of two) I believe that is a realistic possible loss.

Charlotte's roster is limited, but they currently have far more defenders than attackers:


Of those defenders, they have a veteran left back in Fuchs that they likely paid a decent amount, and they just acquired Lindsey, a young right back from SKC. I suspect that for an expansion squad that they already feel committed at those positions. Assuming that is accurate, that has Gudi (out of contract), Malta and Anton as less likely to be selected.

Rocha, Vuk, Mizell and Torres all seem to be replacement level players.

That leaves Maxi, Shradi, Mitrita and Medina.

Maxi is the best, but they won't get him to agree to a contract, especially for one year. I also have to believe after years of service that NYCFC cleared it with him before leaving him unprotected. That happens all the time in other sports.

Mitrita would - I suspect - still be under loan parameters. At a high salary and available for only the end of the year, I cannot see him being the choice.

Medina is out of contract, and I cannot see Charlotte matching any offer from NYCFC or a South American club. Also, correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Jesus have a slow time adjusting to life in the U.S.? Granted, it is years later, but I cannot imagine there is a prime Paraguayan community in Charlotte.

That leaves Tajouri-Shradi. I appreciate all he has done - we all love those half cross, half shot free kicks that always seem to go into the back of the net. However, for NYCFC he has had an injury history, and I cannot see him supplanting the expected starters for next year. For Charlotte, he is likely at a salary that is worth a gamble on his health. They also need attackers.

I put it at 50/50 he is selected. If I am Charlotte, there are other names that intrigue me more for cost or age or production:

  • Hyndman, Emerson
  • Cruz, Allan
  • Rubio, Diego
  • Quintero, Darwin
  • Mabiala, Larrys
I am sure I missed others at first glance.

As predicted by Shwafta and others, Tajouri-Shradi it is.
 
We protected Barazza so that Charlotte could use Isi to acquire $400k in GAM. That’s after paying $250k of GAM for an international spot earlier in the week.

Seems…dumb.
 
We protected Barazza so that Charlotte could use Isi to acquire $400k in GAM. That’s after paying $250k of GAM for an international spot earlier in the week.

Seems…dumb.
Him getting traded like that made me wonder, could we not have pulled that exchange off before the draft? Not enough time?
 
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