NYCFC Players Wanted Thread

[Marito]

Yeah, but I'm accounting for the fact that no better team wanted him, and there's clearly a reason for that? Maybe...

Yeah, but the BL is waaay above MLS level. If a better team had wanted him you would have had Bobby Wood starting for Dortmund, or Bremen, or Wolfsburg, or Bayern Munich, and he would be completely outside of our range. I mean, we have to poach failed BL players, or lifelong BL subs, or players from BL2 like Ring. Our latest star comes from the Romanian league, and didn't catch fire in Serie A for Pescara, the kind of team that belongs more in Serie B. I think we've seen enough of Bobby Wood to know he could be pretty good to excellent in MLS. I would totally support him as low-end DP that could be eventually bought down with TAM if need be. Falcao just turned 33 with lots of mileage because he's been a pro since 15. Bobby Wood is 26. I honestly don't know which way I would lean there.

 

[Kjbert]

I would lean towards Wood.

But I would take neither personally

 

[Marito]

Also without bashing Medina any further, B.Wood is at least on paper exactly the kind of player we don't have, even with Heber in the roster. A physical, pure striker who can play with his back to the goal and hold-up play, run channels, etc. Having Isi, Lewis, Taty and now Heber, Medina is surplus.

 

[Kjbert]

Also without bashing Medina any further, B.Wood is at least on paper exactly the kind of player we don't have, even with Heber in the roster. A physical, pure striker who can play with his back to the goal and hold-up play, run channels, etc. Having Isi, Lewis, Taty and now Heber, Medina is surplus.

Good post

 

[Fantazma]

Also without bashing Medina any further, B.Wood is at least on paper exactly the kind of player we don't have, even with Heber in the roster. A physical, pure striker who can play with his back to the goal and hold-up play, run channels, etc. Having Isi, Lewis, Taty and now Heber, Medina is surplus.

is cfg really going to pay the 4 million salary?

 

[Marito]

Bobby Wood's European career is comparable to Jozy Altidore's (who we all may hate but has been pretty successful in MLS) he was a legendary bust in Sunderland, literally topping lists of worst ever PL striker. Failed at Villareal. Did great for a season or two in AZ Alkmaar.

 

[NickA]

Bobby Wood's European career is comparable to Jozy Altidore's (who we all may hate but has been pretty successful in MLS) he was a legendary bust in Sunderland, literally topping lists of worst ever PL striker. Failed at Villareal. Did great for a season or two in AZ Alkmaar.

That's the catch 22 with American players going to Europe. We want them to go there and be successful but their market value over-inflates and they get priced out of playing in MLS later on.

Also without bashing Medina any further, B.Wood is at least on paper exactly the kind of player we don't have, even with Heber in the roster. A physical, pure striker who can play with his back to the goal and hold-up play, run channels, etc. Having Isi, Lewis, Taty and now Heber, Medina is surplus.

That's what they thought they had with Sean Okoli. We've had trouble filling that spot. Lots of swings and misses. I'd take Wood at the right price, just because of what you said...he doesn't overlap anything we have.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Bobby Wood's European career is comparable to Jozy Altidore's (who we all may hate but has been pretty successful in MLS) he was a legendary bust in Sunderland, literally topping lists of worst ever PL striker. Failed at Villareal. Did great for a season or two in AZ Alkmaar.

This is a good post, but it's kind of hard to compare given the different tracks they took.

Altidore was very young (18) when he went to Villareal, who were really looking to loan him out while he developed. They sold him to AZ Alkmaar when he was 21, and Jozy proceeded to light things up, getting 51 goals in 93 games over 2 seasons. He then went to Sunderland for 1.5 miserable years, only 1 goal in Premier League competition. Really bad, but Sunderland was a dumpster fire that whole time (and since). He's spent the last 4 seasons in MLS, where he is back to producing, with his big issue staying healthy. I think he is a solid DP level talent - worth the money. He is still only 29.

Wood didn't get sold to Europe and developed and loaned out. Instead, he was developed by a German team from the youth level. Did well for them in the 2.Bundesliga, and got sold up to the top division. He's done okay there, with 10 goals in 72 matches for 2 teams, but that's not great, and now he's featured for a team being relegated 2 straight seasons. Also, his production has trended down the last two seasons from his first at the top level (5 goals), and his performance in the 2.Bundesliga wasn't all that much better than in the Bundesliga, with 23 goals in 90 games.

The question is whether or not Wood is a DP. I think it's more of a borderline case. Certainly, anyone who can feature in a Top 5 European League might deserve that status, but it's not clear that remains in Wood's future, and you don't have the MLS success and Dutch league success that Altidore had to confirm that he will produce here.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Yeah, but I'm accounting for the fact that no better team wanted him, and there's clearly a reason for that? Maybe...

I mean, Hertha is pretty big. I think the idea was they wouldn't suck so hard.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Yeah, but the BL is waaay above MLS level. If a better team had wanted him you would have had Bobby Wood starting for Dortmund, or Bremen, or Wolfsburg, or Bayern Munich, and he would be completely outside of our range. I mean, we have to poach failed BL players, or lifelong BL subs, or players from BL2 like Ring. Our latest star comes from the Romanian league, and didn't catch fire in Serie A for Pescara, the kind of team that belongs more in Serie B. I think we've seen enough of Bobby Wood to know he could be pretty good to excellent in MLS. I would totally support him as low-end DP that could be eventually bought down with TAM if need be. Falcao just turned 33 with lots of mileage because he's been a pro since 15. Bobby Wood is 26. I honestly don't know which way I would lean there.

Also, Shwafta, there was rumored interest from Liverpool, and I think maybe Dortmund t00, for Bobby around mid-season his first year with H[amburg]. It was really only after the wheels fell off there and again at Hannover that he's fallen down the perception ranks.

 

[NickA]

The question is whether or not Wood is a DP.

The question is what are we considering a DP nowadays. Based on our current DPs? Yes, he is probably DP worthy for us.

 

[ManhattanValley]

I support us signing him, but only for the tabloid pun potential

NYCFC GETS WOOD

WOOD BLOCKS TRANSFER

WOOD CATCHES FIRE IN THE BRONX

TORRENT AXES WOOD

CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE 'TRI (this is a Mitrita reference, OK?)

 

[Shwafta]

Also, Shwafta, there was rumored interest from Liverpool, and I think maybe Dortmund t00, for Bobby around mid-season his first year with Hertha. It was really only after the wheels fell off there and again at Hannover that he's fallen down the perception ranks.

He never played for Hertha lol. I think you're thinking of Union Berlin, which was second division. Yes, there was interest from bigger clubs, but the fact is that smaller teams signed him. Hamburg, then Hannover. He never played for a club higher than Hamburg, which is arguably the best club he played for.
I'm not saying he wouldn't be good, I'm just saying we have to consider that he hasn't been doing too well for those clubs, except for the BL2 teams where he did well. I'd say MLS would fall bottom-tier Bundesliga, top-tier Bundesliga2, meaning he might fit in well, but it's a gamble.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

He never played for Hertha lol. I think you're thinking of Union Berlin, which was second division. Yes, there was interest from bigger clubs, but the fact is that smaller teams signed him. Hamburg, then Hannover. He never played for a club higher than Hamburg, which is arguably the best club he played for.
I'm not saying he wouldn't be good, I'm just saying we have to consider that he hasn't been doing too well for those clubs, except for the BL2 teams where he did well. I'd say MLS would fall bottom-tier Bundesliga, top-tier Bundesliga2, meaning he might fit in well, but it's a gamble.

Hamburg. Damnit. I knew that didn't seem right. Just got my H's messed up. Was thinking about the blue and black logo and still said H[ertha].

Hamburg is probably the more important club historically, anyway. So I don't think your correction materially alters my point.

Also, I don't think you can say "MLS" = X place in the pecking order anymore. But the league debate can be kind of endless and pointless. Many people who assert things like this don't consider exactly how good the top teams in a league are and the level of defensive quality necessary to not give up 8 goals to Bayern every time you play. You're telling me every team in MLS is going to rip through Dusseldorf or Augsburg? No way.

 

[Shwafta]

Hamburg. Damnit. I knew that didn't seem right. Just got my H's messed up. Was thinking about the blue and black logo and still said Hamburg.

LOL Even in your reply correcting yourself you used the wrong name... It's okay, I got what you meant. I think he'd be a good addition, just not DP level imo. He might Jozy it up, but I don't think he will.

 

[Yankeedom]

I think Dom Dwyer is a good MLS comparison for Wood (although I think DD is a bit better). If all things were equal (salary, tax hit, overall price, whatever I'm missing, etc.) I would take Wood over Medina.

I don't want Wood as our "big" summer-signed DP, but again, if the question was a simple: "we can literally swap out Medina for Wood; would you do it"? I would.

 

[The Toe]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111433511074848768

 

[Marito]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111433511074848768

He's 2.5 years younger than Falcao, and by the eye test I would say there are now more Mexicans than Colombians in NYC, especially in the Bronx. So just in terms of rekindling the flagging popularity of the club, getting headlines and butts in seats, merchandising, etc. I guess he would be more profitable. So maybe that's not an absurd price for reasons outside soccer.

 

[NickA]

He's 2.5 years younger than Falcao, and by the eye test I would say there are now more Mexicans than Colombians in NYC, especially in the Bronx. So just in terms of rekindling the flagging popularity of the club, getting headlines and butts in seats, merchandising, etc. I guess he would be more profitable. So maybe that's not an absurd price for reasons outside soccer.

He would definitely help on the profit end. The team has to be hurting merchandise-wise after Lampard, Pirlo, Villa. I think any big name would help, though his nationality is bigger than his play imo.

 

[Kjbert]

It’s a possibility.

The ball is in Chicharito’s court.