Question: if Rangers have already made a decision to not buy Sands, can we recall him (with their assent, of course) before the loan ends in April?
2023 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread
- Thread starter Shwafta
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Don't know. My semi-educated guess is it could happen. But he has contracts both with Rangers and us, so at a minimum he also would need to assent. The MLS transfer window is open so that would not present an obstacle, and honestly I'm not sure if the transfer windows even apply to the returns of loaned players to the original club. It just seem unlikely there would be a rule that loans must continue even if all 3 parties want it to end, especially again if the transfer window is open as it is.
I didn't see anything in the MLS roster rules about a player's right to refuse a loan move. Would that be in the CBA? Or would it have to be written into the loan agreement or Sands' contract with Rangers?
As a practical matter the unwritten standards of how to treat player preferences are usually more important than the legalities. With he exception of moves within MLS, clubs the world over seem almost never to send a player somewhere he does not want to go, and only refuse to transfer as a negotiating ploy for a higher fee. Intra-MLS moves are different because of the single entity arrangement: Miami? Columbus? Vancouver? Why they're exactly the same, of course. I don't think that applies to loans outside of MLS however.
Also, worth noting that Harvey leaves open the possibility that NYCFC finds another move for Sands even if Rangers don't exercise the option.
Gotcha. I was aware of the "be nice" tradition, of course (which is only right and proper). I was just thinking through the legalities of it and whether it was at all possible to bring him back before April. It seems possible then as long as he's cool with it, yes?
He's not the striker we need, though. And we have a lot of young talent in the back. I can envision a scenario where we let the loan run and see where we are in a few months. But if we don't re-sign Callens and Johnson, we may need him.
didn't read through the whole thread, but the first part in the tweet thread says talles is U22? that's not correct is it? he's a YDP, but not a U22 like Andrade.
He's referencing the fact that in order to use all three U22 Initiative slots, you have to have a DP under 22 years old.
if he were smart, he'd go where he plays consistently and in big games at his best position. if that means coming back to MLS, then so be it. would be cool to see him in the championship but he's not even a shoe in starter for rangers... seems unlikely he'd get much playing time in a good championship side and playing for a mid-table championship side is no better than playing for us, imo.
Wouldn't coming back to play for us be seen as a downgrade, and as he failed in Europe? If he came back to play for us, would he get another chance to go across the pond?
Walker Zimmerman started 4 games at the World Cup.
Jordan Morris didn’t catch on over there (I know, injury). I don’t think it’s a failure.
And we can use his help.
Sure -- Sands can make a lot of money and be very successful as a career MLS player. But my perception is that he wants to play in Europe. If he comes back to us, will he get another chance? Personally, I would imagine they are going to send him on another loan if Rangers don't buy him.
i don't think it's seen as a failure. just wasn't the right fit and that happens. but no one is going to bring him to a good side in europe if they don't see him playing and playing in big games.
arguably, a fairly successful CFG side in MLS is more interesting to watch than some midtable side in the championship or some other lower euro league. he'd get more playing time at his best position and get more eyes on him as a result. that's the only way he'd get back to europe if that's his goal and the only way he's going to see the WC2026 roster.
i can't think of anybody off the top of my head, but surely there are players who have come from europe and then went straight back after performing well.
The argument on Sands is that Rangers won't want to trigger their exclusive option at the pre-set transfer fee of $6 million. Perhaps that's true, but it's speculation. Even if it is true, it doesn't preclude the two sides agreeing on a lower price.
Sands has gotten a good amount of time this season. He started all 4 Champions League qualifiers. He started 4 of 6 Champions League group stage games, missing 1 because of a red card suspension and was then not in the squad the week after that. He's appeared in 15 of the team's 21 league games, starting 10. Some of the games he was out were due to fixture congestion when they were still playing UCL.
But there's also the period after his red card against Napoli; he was left on the bench for 5 of the team's next 6 games, coming on at halftime of the other.* I can't imagine that he was being punished for the red (which wasn't entirely his fault), but there it is. Then things totally turned around; he appeared in the next 10 games, starting in 9, including 2 Champions League games.
And that leads us to the current situation that suggests problems. He's been on the bench for the last 4 games, including 2 where he was an usused sub. Notably, they have been operating under a new manager the last 6 games.
So, where does that leave things? I get the sense that they do rate him, but haven't really figured out how they want to use him. He's popped back and forth between CM and CB and spent periods out of the Starting XI. Rangers are going to have to make some decisions about how they want the team to set up and play, and the new manager will inform this. Whether Sands fits that plan will probably have more to do with whether they pull the trigger than anything else.
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*- This doesn't include the game where he served his suspension.
Sands has gotten a good amount of time this season. He started all 4 Champions League qualifiers. He started 4 of 6 Champions League group stage games, missing 1 because of a red card suspension and was then not in the squad the week after that. He's appeared in 15 of the team's 21 league games, starting 10. Some of the games he was out were due to fixture congestion when they were still playing UCL.
But there's also the period after his red card against Napoli; he was left on the bench for 5 of the team's next 6 games, coming on at halftime of the other.* I can't imagine that he was being punished for the red (which wasn't entirely his fault), but there it is. Then things totally turned around; he appeared in the next 10 games, starting in 9, including 2 Champions League games.
And that leads us to the current situation that suggests problems. He's been on the bench for the last 4 games, including 2 where he was an usused sub. Notably, they have been operating under a new manager the last 6 games.
So, where does that leave things? I get the sense that they do rate him, but haven't really figured out how they want to use him. He's popped back and forth between CM and CB and spent periods out of the Starting XI. Rangers are going to have to make some decisions about how they want the team to set up and play, and the new manager will inform this. Whether Sands fits that plan will probably have more to do with whether they pull the trigger than anything else.
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*- This doesn't include the game where he served his suspension.
Sands returning would simultaneously address our depth issues in the center midfield and at centerback, which became a problem when he was loaned out and have only gotten worse.
What about the 2 II CB's that is definitely good enough for depth imo. We should expect Owusu or Benalcazar to make the jump, maybe not to everyday starter but definitely better than LAtinovich
We have deep depth at CB, but not middle depth. Not the guy who sits immediately behind the starters and leaves little or no dropoff when he comes in.
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