2025 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread

[Kjbert]

I would be fine with a Sands-Perea-Maxi + young 10 midfield situation next year. Parks has his moments, but when he is off it kills our movement into the final third.

Sands and Parks with unathletic CBs and unathletic FBs is a problem in MLS.

Sands and Perea? Fine. Probably need a game changer at the 10 to unlock the defense. But fine.

 

[Kjbert]

I’m ready to move on from Parks. Not consistent enough, and not a high enough ceiling, for such a key position on the team. Happy to stick with Sands but sounds like if he gets an offer he’s gone.

3 years left on his deal. He’s not pushing to go anywhere. From horse’s mouth. Better chance Sands is gone.

 

[Kjbert]

There are a few success stories, like Gabi Pereira and Taty, but yes -- there have been far too many misses. That's such an important part of the roster, you can almost use those guys as extra DPs. We need to figure out how to maximize that roster potential.

And Gaby’s best attribute was his fee to be sold.

 

[Kjbert]

The difference between Forsberg Red Bull and Forsbergless Red Bull was massive. Decisive. That’s what an attacking and/or creative DP in their prime can do for you. TAKE NOTE DAVID.

THIS. Forsberg is playing a different sport than Santi.

Really like Santi. But he’s a budget Maxi. Creates too little for others. But like his effort.

 

[moogoo]

THIS. Forsberg is playing a different sport than Santi.

Really like Santi. But he’s a budget Maxi. Creates too little for others. But like his effort.

santi is still too inexperienced. still trying to do everything himself instead of reading the game and creating chances for himself and his teammates. all too often he dribbles much when he doesn't need to, loses the ball and then wonders why the ref didn't call a foul and/or complains about something.

the difference between forsberg and santi is about 8 years of experience at the international and top league level. santi can improve, but he needs guidance and hopefully an open mind to make those improvements to his game. it's just a damn shame we had to use up a DP spot for him.

 

[ZYanksRule]

THIS. Forsberg is playing a different sport than Santi.

Really like Santi. But he’s a budget Maxi. Creates too little for others. But like his effort.

I like Santi as a winger. But he's not a gamebreaking 10. I wouldn't even call him a budget Maxi. Santi needs the ball at his feet. He isn't making the guys around him better.

 

[mgarbowski]

We have too many offensive players and not enough minutes, while also not having enough useful offensive players.

I did a very simple 17 game 1st half 2nd half minute split:
Together Bakrar, Jovan, Fernandez, Jones, and Ojeda played 1,210 fewer minutes in the second half of the season than the first.
Their minutes went to Martinez and Moralez, who played 1385 more in the second half.
Santi and Wolf were statistically 50-50 balanced 1st and 2nd half. Everyone else on offense including Magno was a rounding error.

Everyone wants the first 5 guys except Bakrar to get more minutes, but where can the minutes come from?
If Maxi returns, even mostly as a sub, he will not play significantly fewer minutes than this year (903) unless he is hurt again.
Martinez played 1498, and should play 2000 minimum absent injury or major falloff.
We're looking to add minutes but currently at about -500.
Transfer Bakrar (1349) and you now +850. But spread that among Jovan, Fernandez, Jones, and Ojeda and it barely registers.
Maybe take another 500 from Wolf which takes him down to about 2000 and you have + 1350 to work with. But spread that among the 4 kids and their new 2025 minutes merely become Jovan 600, Fernandez 1000, Jones 820, and Ojeda 1285. And Jones only got so few minutes because of the injury. You might want Jones up to at least 1400-1500 if he's fit and if you do that it's more like Jovan 425, Fernandez 825 and Ojeda 1080.
What's the point of having 3 young transfer maybe studs if you cannot play them??
Why do we have so many players in the same role such that multiple kids who need development cannot get minutes and yet nobody in the offense is a lock solid standout? -- (Martinez TBD, Santi close). This is roster malpractice. Seriously, if you wanted to play the kids more this year or at least do so next year where do the minutes come from? What the hell was the plan if Bakrar was actually good and Malachi does not break his leg? Because then there are even fewer minutes to go around.

Sell Bakrar at any cost unless the team and he are willing to keep him around playing 500 or fewer minutes as a fill in. Sell Fernandez if the Palmeiras offer is real. Do not take Magno back (at least not to get minutes).

The difference between haves and have nots in this league is a dominant No. 10. We had that in 2021 with Maxi, and we need to find our next one.

Yes. Get a real 10 and take Santi out of that role. Hell, sell Santi if you need the budget/DP space to get the 10. I'd prefer to keep him but we're a bit hamstrung I think. And we cannot just do a 1 for 1 replacement. We absolutely have to clear minutes out, unless you want to treat at least one or maybe two of Jovan, Fernandez or Ojeda as a Segal/Jasson type who just sits around most of the time long term.

 

[Kenny]

Santi is still only 24–not a kid anymore, but just barely entering his prime years. If he can continue to improve his maturity and his passing vision, his ceiling seems very high. A Bruno Fernandes type, if not quite that level.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I think part of that minutes crush involving Malachi is that no one expected him to be such a solid producer. His emergence in the first half absolutely created a roster crush.

I think if Fernandez leaves, that opens up some room. Santi at one wing as a starter, Alonso at the 9 with Jovan as his main sub, then you rotate Wolf and Ojeda. Then you sign a DP No. 10 and maybe use a U-22 spot on a defender.

Frankly, I don't need to see any more of Mounsef Bakrar. He's not the guy and I don't even want him as a backup. The second he comes into the game, it feels like we're never going to score. I don't really care what happens to his minutes, and would prefer we find a way to move him on.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Santi is still only 24–not a kid anymore, but just barely entering his prime years. If he can continue to improve his maturity and his passing vision, his ceiling seems very high. A Bruno Fernandes type, if not quite that level.

We've been waiting for Santi to improve his maturity for 4 years now. I'm not terribly hopeful on that side of his game.

 

[Kenny]

We've been waiting for Santi to improve his maturity for 4 years now. I'm not terribly hopeful on that side of his game.

But he has matured. He’s still young. I said if he continues to mature. He may not, but I’m not ready to give up on him just yet. I’m also not saying he’s untouchable, if someone comes in at the right price.

 

[mgarbowski]

I think part of that minutes crush involving Malachi is that no one expected him to be such a solid producer. His emergence in the first half absolutely created a roster crush.

I agree his emergence was unexpected. But he played fewer than 500 minutes, and the other kids’ minutes went down after he was hurt.
The crush was because Maxi came back which pushed Santi into a wing role for 900 minutes and we simply have to many wingers.

 

[Kjbert]

Santi is still only 24–not a kid anymore, but just barely entering his prime years. If he can continue to improve his maturity and his passing vision, his ceiling seems very high. A Bruno Fernandes type, if not quite that level.

I don’t know man. You really need to nail your designated players. One of ours is a defender. The other was so bad we sent him on loan. And he’s a MARGINAL DP.

Happy he’s on our team but he’s not near the level of what we aspire to.

 

[moogoo]

I agree his emergence was unexpected. But he played fewer than 500 minutes, and the other kids’ minutes went down after he was hurt.
The crush was because Maxi came back which pushed Santi into a wing role for 900 minutes and we simply have to many wingers.

pretty much this. Maxi coming back took all the minutes away from ojeda after Jones got injured. Cushing preferred to put a known quantity (santi) on the wing than throw ojeda on and see what he can do. I would have liked to see Wolf and Fernandez rotate more, but this seems to have come down to Fernandez's inability to grasp the mental side of the game.

Jones coming back will definitely not bode well for Ojeda. It will probably also mean that Maxi stays on the bench more, which may be his role next year regardless, though he did go to argentina and was not happy he did not play as much as he wanted. I hope that at his ripe age of 38, he understands that his role is as a super sub and guiding the youth.

I agree, sell fernandez if we get an offer. Sell Bakrar and Jovan if we get the chance. Bakrar has not produced and Jovan doesn't want to be here and/or doesn't fit our style of play. Bring up someone from the II squad if we have to, or find someone on the open market.

I think we need to focus on getting more dependable players in the midfield and depth in the defense.. Without good depth, cushing just won't rotate and we'll end up with an exhausted team by the end of the season again.

 

[Brooklyn Blue]

We have too many offensive players and not enough minutes, while also not having enough useful offensive players.

I did a very simple 17 game 1st half 2nd half minute split:
Together Bakrar, Jovan, Fernandez, Jones, and Ojeda played 1,210 fewer minutes in the second half of the season than the first.
Their minutes went to Martinez and Moralez, who played 1385 more in the second half.
Santi and Wolf were statistically 50-50 balanced 1st and 2nd half. Everyone else on offense including Magno was a rounding error.

Everyone wants the first 5 guys except Bakrar to get more minutes, but where can the minutes come from?
If Maxi returns, even mostly as a sub, he will not play significantly fewer minutes than this year (903) unless he is hurt again.
Martinez played 1498, and should play 2000 minimum absent injury or major falloff.
We're looking to add minutes but currently at about -500.
Transfer Bakrar (1349) and you now +850. But spread that among Jovan, Fernandez, Jones, and Ojeda and it barely registers.
Maybe take another 500 from Wolf which takes him down to about 2000 and you have + 1350 to work with. But spread that among the 4 kids and their new 2025 minutes merely become Jovan 600, Fernandez 1000, Jones 820, and Ojeda 1285. And Jones only got so few minutes because of the injury. You might want Jones up to at least 1400-1500 if he's fit and if you do that it's more like Jovan 425, Fernandez 825 and Ojeda 1080.
What's the point of having 3 young transfer maybe studs if you cannot play them??
Why do we have so many players in the same role such that multiple kids who need development cannot get minutes and yet nobody in the offense is a lock solid standout? -- (Martinez TBD, Santi close). This is roster malpractice. Seriously, if you wanted to play the kids more this year or at least do so next year where do the minutes come from? What the hell was the plan if Bakrar was actually good and Malachi does not break his leg? Because then there are even fewer minutes to go around.

Sell Bakrar at any cost unless the team and he are willing to keep him around playing 500 or fewer minutes as a fill in. Sell Fernandez if the Palmeiras offer is real. Do not take Magno back (at least not to get minutes).

Yes. Get a real 10 and take Santi out of that role. Hell, sell Santi if you need the budget/DP space to get the 10. I'd prefer to keep him but we're a bit hamstrung I think. And we cannot just do a 1 for 1 replacement. We absolutely have to clear minutes out, unless you want to treat at least one or maybe two of Jovan, Fernandez or Ojeda as a Segal/Jasson type who just sits around most of the time long term.

Nice breakdown. Short answer seems to be sell an attacker or two (Fernandez, Bakrar) and get a fullback or defensive midfielder or two. I'd prefer to get a left back to compete with O'Toole and a deputy (or replacement) for Sands. Center backs are always good to have, but let's give Haak a run as a starter. I can live with a Martins, Haak, Risa trio (though it would be nice to have someone who can score when we have a corner).

 

[CCMore]

Nice breakdown. Short answer seems to be sell an attacker or two (Fernandez, Bakrar) and get a fullback or defensive midfielder or two. I'd prefer to get a left back to compete with O'Toole and a deputy (or replacement) for Sands. Center backs are always good to have, but let's give Haak a run as a starter. I can live with a Martins, Haak, Risa trio (though it would be nice to have someone who can score when we have a corner).

I agree about OT. He’s really come into his own this year but if he goes down, who’s the next man up? You’re either taking Gray or Illenic off the bench to play on the wrong side, or literally Sands as an inverted outside back.

I think Haak has shown glimpses of greatness as a CB. I like him there but I still think it’s a risk. He’s not been a starter in MLS consistently before. But with his ability on the ball, he could be a 6 if Sands leave. I’d be intrigued to see a formation quirk we haven’t seen since the Deila days where on Offense Haak would be a 6 and on defense the center of a 3 atb. Give him cover on Defense and freedom on Offense and a lot more freedom to OT and Gray/Mitja.

 

[CCMore]

pretty much this. Maxi coming back took all the minutes away from ojeda after Jones got injured. Cushing preferred to put a known quantity (santi) on the wing than throw ojeda on and see what he can do. I would have liked to see Wolf and Fernandez rotate more, but this seems to have come down to Fernandez's inability to grasp the mental side of the game.

Jones coming back will definitely not bode well for Ojeda. It will probably also mean that Maxi stays on the bench more, which may be his role next year regardless, though he did go to argentina and was not happy he did not play as much as he wanted. I hope that at his ripe age of 38, he understands that his role is as a super sub and guiding the youth.

I agree, sell fernandez if we get an offer. Sell Bakrar and Jovan if we get the chance. Bakrar has not produced and Jovan doesn't want to be here and/or doesn't fit our style of play. Bring up someone from the II squad if we have to, or find someone on the open market.

I think we need to focus on getting more dependable players in the midfield and depth in the defense.. Without good depth, cushing just won't rotate and we'll end up with an exhausted team by the end of the season again.

I also find it damning that even when throwing the kitchen sink into the game last night, Cushing brought on Perea to play the wing before Fernandez or Ojeda.

 

[moogoo]

I also find it damning that even when throwing the kitchen sink into the game last night, Cushing brought on Perea to play the wing before Fernandez or Ojeda.

yea but i think we can say we expected it because it's not the first time he's done it.

i thought it was pretty pointless for him to bring on any of them later in the game because they were never going to make anything happen. not with the way the red bulls were defending. nobody thought any of them were going to save us. if anything, i kinda felt like it was game over.

 

[CCMore]

yea but i think we can say we expected it because it's not the first time he's done it.

i thought it was pretty pointless for him to bring on any of them later in the game because they were never going to make anything happen. not with the way the red bulls were defending. nobody thought any of them were going to save us. if anything, i kinda felt like it was game over.

Let me correct myself, true it was expected for last night. I should have said that in general over the last few games where Cushing has put Perea on the wing over actual wingers, THAT is pretty damning. This season, whenever I saw the blonde head of Fernandez on the field I knew the game was over. He’s just not a good player. He can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t know how to use it, it’s a complete waste. I think if Fernandez had some sense for the game he would be talked about in the same breath as say Diego Luna for young player of the year.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Let me correct myself, true it was expected for last night. I should have said that in general over the last few games where Cushing has put Perea on the wing over actual wingers, THAT is pretty damning. This season, whenever I saw the blonde head of Fernandez on the field I knew the game was over. He’s just not a good player. He can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t know how to use it, it’s a complete waste. I think if Fernandez had some sense for the game he would be talked about in the same breath as say Diego Luna for young player of the year.

I think he's the perfect example of the mistake we've been making in roster building lately. We're trying to find guys with incredible talent who either haven't put it together, or have played at such a low level as to make their actual in-game acumen completely unknown.

Yes we have some very skilled players who have high potential, but if they don't know how to play structured first-team football, it's not going to work. I would like the front office to stop looking at potential and find ready-made players who can really light this league up. There's no reason we can't be an Eastern Conference version of what the Galaxy are, especially once we have our own stadium and real revenue coming in.