I would agree, but I just was not convinced that EJ was going to be anything special. In fact, i'm not even convinced that he would be an upgrade from Saunders over the course of the season, although he probably was. Sean Johnson is straight up quality, and having him in the back will be an asset to our still struggling and still changing back line, which is critical. We've proven how costly it is to not have a competent and reliable keeper. This move gives us a top-tier (MLS level) keeper without sacrificing our DP slot. We simply were not going to end up with this big of an upgrade without burning that DP slot.
Official: Sean Johnson to NYCFC
- Thread starter NickFromAstoria
- Start date
Maybe it's just me, but I truly think your greatly underestimating the value of a competent keeper. If our goal was to go into next season with EJ and Saunders, or either of them as the starter and some cheaper backup, it was a terrible plan. We need a competent keeper, and ones at the level of SJ will not come at this price too often!
I wouldn't assume it was a ton of GAM and TAM we gave up. It wouldn't surprise me if Chicago refused to trade him to us and Reyna told his buddy Bocanegra they can make $50K by getting him for us.
In another thread
T
Tom in Fairfield CT posted a Sean Johnson highlight video. Fun to watch, but I think as instructional is looking at his goals conceded. Here's a list of links to all his goals against in 2016. In bold are goals that might be particularly of note because of bad defense, or poor organization or a pure Johnson gaff. Every GK will have bad plays in their reel. So take these as you will.
Also of note is that Johnson and Lampson seemed to swap the starting role every couple of games throughout the middle of the season. Not sure how much of this was due to SJ returning from injury vs competition.
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...red-bulls-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/65783
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...-fire-vs-portland-timbers/details/video/66845
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...do-rapids-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/68189
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...do-rapids-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/68220
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hia-union-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/80156
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hia-union-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/80157
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hia-union-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/80170
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hia-union-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/80177
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...oronto-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/81824
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...evolution-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/83638
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...ire-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/84450
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...ire-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/84558
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...o-fire-vs-orlando-city-sc/details/video/86095
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...o-fire-vs-orlando-city-sc/details/video/86105
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...chicago-fire-vs-la-galaxy/details/video/87020
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...chicago-fire-vs-la-galaxy/details/video/87060
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87362
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87371
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87381
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87391
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87403
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87412
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hicago-fire-vs-toronto-fc/details/video/88469
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hicago-fire-vs-toronto-fc/details/video/88497
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...chicago-fire-vs-dc-united/details/video/89002
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...chicago-fire-vs-dc-united/details/video/89014
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...k-city-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/89638
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...k-city-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/89637
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...k-city-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/89647
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...k-city-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/89657
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...unders-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/90227
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...s-crew-sc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/90415
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...s-crew-sc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/90451
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...s-crew-sc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/90456
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...-fire-vs-columbus-crew-sc/details/video/91126
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...-fire-vs-columbus-crew-sc/details/video/91145
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...vs-new-england-revolution/details/video/91281
Also of note is that Johnson and Lampson seemed to swap the starting role every couple of games throughout the middle of the season. Not sure how much of this was due to SJ returning from injury vs competition.
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...red-bulls-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/65783
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...-fire-vs-portland-timbers/details/video/66845
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...do-rapids-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/68189
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...do-rapids-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/68220
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hia-union-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/80156
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hia-union-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/80157
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hia-union-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/80170
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hia-union-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/80177
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...oronto-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/81824
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...evolution-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/83638
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...ire-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/84450
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...ire-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/84558
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...o-fire-vs-orlando-city-sc/details/video/86095
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...o-fire-vs-orlando-city-sc/details/video/86105
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...chicago-fire-vs-la-galaxy/details/video/87020
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...chicago-fire-vs-la-galaxy/details/video/87060
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87362
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87371
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87381
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87391
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87403
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...dc-united-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/87412
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hicago-fire-vs-toronto-fc/details/video/88469
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...hicago-fire-vs-toronto-fc/details/video/88497
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...chicago-fire-vs-dc-united/details/video/89002
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...chicago-fire-vs-dc-united/details/video/89014
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...k-city-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/89638
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...k-city-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/89637
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...k-city-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/89647
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...k-city-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/89657
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...unders-fc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/90227
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...s-crew-sc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/90415
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...s-crew-sc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/90451
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...s-crew-sc-vs-chicago-fire/details/video/90456
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...-fire-vs-columbus-crew-sc/details/video/91126
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...-fire-vs-columbus-crew-sc/details/video/91145
http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...vs-new-england-revolution/details/video/91281
I'm not discounting the need for a good GK, but SJ was benched last season as the incumbent and there's a lot of mixed reviews of his ability to distribute.
We have effectively added a $350k GK to our roster if both GAM & TAM are the bare minimum. I'm not sure that SJ is a $350k value. I'm sure we paid ATL whatever amount they paid CHI and then at least $50K more, and I seriously doubt they got SJ from CHI for only $50K.... that would effectively make SJ $400k+. For that money, I'd rather go with Lurch and use the extra $$ for another field player that can play Vieira's style.
I'm not so sure it would be that much. Think about it this way - if ATL wants Guzan, they pretty much needed to unload Johnson no matter what they got back. They definitely couldn't afford to pay 1.25 mil for keepers.
Not sold on this move. He needs to be an absolute difference maker for his salary and what was given up.
I don't think he is on the level of a Hamid, Robles or Blake. I'm not even convinced he's consistently on the level of Stefan Frei either. I know he dealt with an injury this year but this is a risky move.
I don't think he is on the level of a Hamid, Robles or Blake. I'm not even convinced he's consistently on the level of Stefan Frei either. I know he dealt with an injury this year but this is a risky move.
I'm very happy with this. Either you pay pennies for another Saunders or you pay for a solid keeper like Johnson who hasn't even entered his prime yet.
The people who were complaining about Saunders' statue like reflexes will be over the moon with Sean.
The people who were complaining about Saunders' statue like reflexes will be over the moon with Sean.
I didn't think anyone could accuse
Ulrich of discounting the value of a keep based on his posts blaming Saunders for many, many bad goals and results.
Lol I meant in terms of what else comes from this deal. If nothing then I have a feeling we may have overpaid. Does Saunders stay/go? How much did we give up? Do they take Mix?
At the moments it's hard to say that this was a good deal because we really don't know what the deal was.
Yeah I kind of knew that but it was just sitting there.
Couple of misplays by our boy. One missing a punch on a cross, one slipping and throwing to the wrong guy. My takeaway from those videos is thank God I'm not a fire fan. Their defense is horrendous. The Valeri goal starts on a clearance that went straight up. Lol. We'll be fine, he is an athletic freak and if vartughian can get Saunders to improve in possession, he can certainly coach up Johnson.
I'm going to say this is a great move.
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Excited about this, lived in Chicago for 3 years and went to a bunch of Fire games. Sean Johnson is a great keeper, commands his box, very vocal, incredible reflexes. He's great at distribution, his long kicks are consistently accurate. The only thing we don't know is how he will do with the ball at his feet, he's never been asked to play in a system like ours. I think he is capable of it but we just have no way to know at this point.
Just read that Rawls and Eirik extended... Saunders out?
Why I cannot understand this move at all...
- Two trains of thought of why this deal happened. Either 1) Vieira wanted Johnson on this club to play goalkeeper. 2) Atlanta needed to unload Johnson and the amount of GAM and TAM paid was actually low. Maybe Diskerud agrees to go there too in this deal in a handshake agreement post allocation draft since he has a no trade clause. We don't know though...
- We paid GAM & TAM (probably a decent amount) to bring Sean Johnson here. You can only have one goalkeeper on the field. We have higher priorities including shoring up our defense and adding to our midfield. If we keep possession and have a wall of defense, our goalkeeper doesn't matter as much.
- I'm sure Sean Johnson is a better keeper than Saunders, but we don't know if he's better than the ceiling of Johansen. (I'm obviously a big Johansen fan). Unless Vieira is giving up on playing out of the back in 2017, this is a massive question mark. Since he's competing for the number one spot, we may have an even more expensive backup on the bench.
- According to Chicago Fire fans on Reddit, Johnson is not good at playing out of the back.
- Sean Johnson is not a top five MLS keeper currently. I'd rate Robles, Ousted, Howard, Bingham, Rimando, Hamid, and Blake above him. Maybe even Frei after last night.
- This deal only works if Mix Diskerud's salary comes off our books during the allocation draft. If Mix is still on our roster as of Tuesday night, what the actual fuck does this deal do to signing new players?
I woke up later today, looked at my phone, and said, "fuck..."
- Two trains of thought of why this deal happened. Either 1) Vieira wanted Johnson on this club to play goalkeeper. 2) Atlanta needed to unload Johnson and the amount of GAM and TAM paid was actually low. Maybe Diskerud agrees to go there too in this deal in a handshake agreement post allocation draft since he has a no trade clause. We don't know though...
- We paid GAM & TAM (probably a decent amount) to bring Sean Johnson here. You can only have one goalkeeper on the field. We have higher priorities including shoring up our defense and adding to our midfield. If we keep possession and have a wall of defense, our goalkeeper doesn't matter as much.
- I'm sure Sean Johnson is a better keeper than Saunders, but we don't know if he's better than the ceiling of Johansen. (I'm obviously a big Johansen fan). Unless Vieira is giving up on playing out of the back in 2017, this is a massive question mark. Since he's competing for the number one spot, we may have an even more expensive backup on the bench.
- According to Chicago Fire fans on Reddit, Johnson is not good at playing out of the back.
- Sean Johnson is not a top five MLS keeper currently. I'd rate Robles, Ousted, Howard, Bingham, Rimando, Hamid, and Blake above him. Maybe even Frei after last night.
- This deal only works if Mix Diskerud's salary comes off our books during the allocation draft. If Mix is still on our roster as of Tuesday night, what the actual fuck does this deal do to signing new players?
I woke up later today, looked at my phone, and said, "fuck..."
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Rawls can be cut without effecting the cap. However, there's no way Saunders is around he's too expensive.
Potential landing spot: Sell him to Puerto Rico FC Melo is right there in midtown give him a call and ship that man back home.
Keep in mind, Sean Johnson is 27, keepers often tend to really hit their stride in their early 30's. So we don't even know what the ceiling for SJ is, but we do know that he is already far better than EJ.
You name the top four keepers in MLS, the difference being, they are not going to be given up by their teams. SJ was considered top 3 young American goalkeeper two years ago.
This is more of a homerun the more I think of it.
