2025 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread

[gbservis]

That's not unfair. And if we misfire again this summer, I'll be more than happy to join the chorus.

We are currently 10th with significant depth issues, just starting to enter the congested portion of the schedule where depth matters. It doesn't matter who they sign in the summer window, it's already too late. They have already repeated 2023 less than two years later, after telling us 2023 did not meet their expectations and they were "more committed than ever" to their goal of competing for trophies at every opportunity.

 

[Kenny]

We’ve got an enviable amount of fiscal firepower for the summer window. GAM, TAM, DP slots, you name it. I would think any sporting director would be salivating at an opportunity like this. We could probably entice one with a good track record to come aboard and lead the project.

Think it will be Lee though. Hopefully the drunkard’s walk* will provide a decent enough hit rate for Jansen to work with.

*Amazing book. Very influential on my personal worldview. The takeaway is not what you would think.

 

[gbservis]

Imagine you hired someone to build a shed. The first time they built it, it was so unstable they had to tear the whole thing down and start from scratch. To try again, they went out and spent another $2,100 of your money on new materials.

A few days later, you notice that $1,250 worth of those materials are missing. When you ask about it, they say, “Oh, those boards were too temperamental, so I just sent them away.”

Undeterred, they continue rebuilding the shed. But the second version is just as wobbly as the first. Still, they assure you: “Don’t worry, I'm going to keep working on it all summer. I’ll add some more boards, and eventually it’ll be perfect.”

Who on earth lets this ahole keep building their shed?

 

[KevinJRogers]

It doesn't matter who they sign in the summer window, it's already too late.

I can't agree with this. Were we in association football, the season would likely be a goner by the summer if current trends were to continue. But it's MLS, so the most important thing is getting in over the playoff line, and we can certainly do that by getting hot over the final third of the season.

As it is, we're not horrible when Keaton plays. In fact, we're quite good in most phases of the game when he's out there. But he needs help, most specifically a physical, experienced No. 10 in their prime to drive the attack and someone with a nose for the goal on the wing.

I suspect we'd be looking at a different situation right now had Santi stayed with us (and Malachi been able to come back by now, but let's leave that out). If I have one major critique of Lee and whoever at CFG is also responsible for our roster, it's not having a contingency plan in place for the sale of a key player.

For all we know, there is one and it can't be executed until the other leagues are done and our secondary window opens. It's a distinct possibility. We just can't tell from the outside.

Which brings up my second biggest critique: the lack of transparency with the fan base. The organization is doing a lot of selling on faith. That's not acceptable to me. If you're going to come with big price increases, especially for season ticket holders, you best have a championship contender as your value proposition.

 

[mgarbowski]

I don’t get the transparency complaint. No club pre-announces potential signings. Do we really want more vague promises of working every angle always looking to improve of course we’re seeking to replace [___] etc? What do people mean when they ask for transparency about future roster intentions?

What we lack is a robust semi-reliable network of journalists passing on leaks. But that’s not transparency.

If you're going to come with big price increases, especially for season ticket holders, you best have a championship contender as your value proposition.

Yes. There’s an even lower bottom line they’ve abandoned which is have a full roster all season. Needing to cycle through 5 day contracts just to suit 20 players every game is not acceptable. I forgave 2023 as a fluky perfect storm. Two out of three years is a pattern.

 

[mgarbowski]

WRT to the “when did David Lee take over and how much is his fault” discourse. Not to defend him, but you can’t ignore the effect of MLS roster rule changes especially U22, which roughly coincides with him taking over. CFG and Lee believe they have an edge in that area and have gone all in, but they suck at it, at least to date. Reyna never had that option/temptation.

Also, sort of defending here, but running a team in MLS is unusually hard. Atlanta makes one massive signing after another that everyone agrees is awesome until they somehow inevitably disappoint. The Galaxy went peak to valley in one season. Most consistent teams the last 5 years might be LAFC and the Union and they have 1 title between them. Crew have 2 titles in 5 years but 2020 was a covid fluke (they weren’t that good) and last 2-3 years they’re basically a product of coaching more than roster.

MLS combines a hard cap with multiple special rules plus a world wide player market. Neither other US sports nor foreign soccer leagues have all these complications.

My beef with Lee is you can’t be both slow to fill out a roster and then pick players who fail.

 

[gbservis]

I don’t get the transparency complaint. No club pre-announces potential signings. Do we really want more vague promises of working every angle always looking to improve of course we’re seeking to replace [___] etc? What do people mean when they ask for transparency about future roster intentions?

What we lack is a robust semi-reliable network of journalists passing on leaks. But that’s not transparency.


Yes. There’s an even lower bottom line they’ve abandoned which is have a full roster all season. Needing to cycle through 5 day contracts just to suit 20 players every game is not acceptable. I forgave 2023 as a fluky perfect storm. Two out of three years is a pattern.

Even if they were more transparent, it would amount to little more than empty words, and at this point, their words have lost all credibility. After the 2023 season, they admitted the squad didn’t meet expectations and promised to be aggressive in the summer, especially in addressing the offense. That was about as clear a message as they could send, and naturally, it got fans excited.

But what followed? They signed three 18-year-olds so raw they’ve struggled to make an impact against USL sides in the Open Cup two years running.

If they want to regain the fans' respect, it’s going to take meaningful action, not more promises or “transparency” about their plans. Because right now, why would anyone believe them?

 

[gbservis]

WRT to the “when did David Lee take over and how much is his fault” discourse. Not to defend him, but you can’t ignore the effect of MLS roster rule changes especially U22, which roughly coincides with him taking over. CFG and Lee believe they have an edge in that area and have gone all in, but they suck at it, at least to date. Reyna never had that option/temptation.

Also, sort of defending here, but running a team in MLS is unusually hard. Atlanta makes one massive signing after another that everyone agrees is awesome until they somehow inevitably disappoint. The Galaxy went peak to valley in one season. Most consistent teams the last 5 years might be LAFC and the Union and they have 1 title between them. Crew have 2 titles in 5 years but 2020 was a covid fluke (they weren’t that good) and last 2-3 years they’re basically a product of coaching more than roster.

MLS combines a hard cap with multiple special rules plus a world wide player market. Neither other US sports nor foreign soccer leagues have all these complications.

My beef with Lee is you can’t be both slow to fill out a roster and then pick players who fail.

The beauty of MLS is that any capable team can win it. My biggest beef with Lee and CFG is their willingness to throw entire seasons away. It might not work out consistently, but at least the ambitious teams in the league go for it every year.

 

[ZYanksRule]

We are currently 10th with significant depth issues, just starting to enter the congested portion of the schedule where depth matters. It doesn't matter who they sign in the summer window, it's already too late. They have already repeated 2023 less than two years later, after telling us 2023 did not meet their expectations and they were "more committed than ever" to their goal of competing for trophies at every opportunity.

That is the most frustrating aspect of this season for me. The hypocrisy of their actions and their statements is insulting to those of us who have stood by them through these crazy 10 years of stadium mishaps and adventures. The least you can do is be honest and transparent about your goals

 

[FootyLovin]

approaching two years later, every player from rebuild 1 is gone

This really is extraordinary that both starters and bench 100% have turned over.

I do disagree with you about credit for Martinez. I think it is perfectly okay to credit Lee with finding a quality player, even if that player adapted to a new role. And it is perfectly okay to credit Lee with Martinez and still be #LeeOut.

 

[ZYanksRule]

This really is extraordinary that both starters and bench 100% have turned over.

I do disagree with you about credit for Martinez. I think it is perfectly okay to credit Lee with finding a quality player, even if that player adapted to a new role. And it is perfectly okay to credit Lee with Martinez and still be #LeeOut.

They signed Alonso as organizational filler. They had no idea what they were getting. That's not a scouting masterclass, it's a happy accident. It's not a shrewd signing, it's luck.

 

[FootyLovin]

Circling back to the O and F discussion a few days ago, I think I’m even more annoyed if they have the talent but just don’t play with the same aggression in game that they show in practice. While that too can be a youth issue, it’s frustrating to see young talented guys be given a chance to step up and rather than fail, they shrink.
Same with Talles. OK, they asked him to play a new position, but he never even tried. It’s not like he played 5-10 games in center, back to goal, holding defenders off with his arms, and failed. He just Bartleby’d and lost his job until they sent him home to Brazil. Guy is bigger than Taty and chose not to be physical.
Try! Do things! You can just do things!

I don't think of this as an effort issue.

From a neuro / psych viewpoint there are ways that practice and confidence intersect with pressure and performance. I may be really good at juggling a soccer ball, but put me in front of 10 people watching me and suddenly my falls apart. The adrenaline rush hurts my performance. Take someone incredibly practiced and skilled in that area and put 20k people in the stands watching them and they get better. The adrenaline focuses their energy and improves their performance.

I can totally buy that O and F both suffer from having built enough skill, repetitions, etc to perform well in low pressure situations. But they haven't yet built the repetition base to perform well when they are amped on adrenaline.

Of course, the high skill end doesn't always work perfectly as anyone seeing the yips play out can attest.

 

[FootyLovin]

They signed Alonso as organizational filler. They had no idea what they were getting. That's not a scouting masterclass, it's a happy accident. It's not a shrewd signing, it's luck.

I get seeing it that way.

I'm comfortable crediting Lee with Martinez and still believing that his hit rate and his speed of action are sufficiently lacking to move on from him.

And FWIW, his other signings include Gray, Thor, Jasson, Amundsen, Morales, Magno, Santi, Pereira, O'Toole, Freese, Perea. I'm comfortable crediting him with a job well done on all of those and still wanting him out for the above reasons.

 

[mgarbowski]

I don't think of this as an effort issue.

From a neuro / psych viewpoint there are ways that practice and confidence intersect with pressure and performance. I may be really good at juggling a soccer ball, but put me in front of 10 people watching me and suddenly my falls apart. The adrenaline rush hurts my performance. Take someone incredibly practiced and skilled in that area and put 20k people in the stands watching them and they get better. The adrenaline focuses their energy and improves their performance.

I can totally buy that O and F both suffer from having built enough skill, repetitions, etc to perform well in low pressure situations. But they haven't yet built the repetition base to perform well when they are amped on adrenaline.

Of course, the high skill end doesn't always work perfectly as anyone seeing the yips play out can attest.

To clarify: I don’t think it’s effort either. I think it’s more being fearless and willing to do things that you’re not comfortable with or certain of.