2014 MLS Thread

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

Other than the injury, I thought he played a lot of first team minutes at Roma. This whole thing about him not getting enough playing time really doesn't add up.

Roma acquired Nainggolan so I'm sure Bradley felt his minutes may be less certain next year.

Originally Posted by Cheese

Defoe is a go

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=440691

You must be a new TFC fan. Nothing is a go... until they hold up the shirt in front of BMO or Kia, and play more than 37 minutes.

Just ask:

Toronto FC to sign Diego Forlan

Tal Ben Haim to Toronto (That link is off the official TFC site...embarassing)

After serveral months of negotiation, TFC Signs Max Urruti

Oh wait... TFC only bought a one way ticket to Portland for Max Urruti

I'm actually amazed they pulled off these acquisitions, if they happen. This team was the utter joke of the league last season. One of the biggest jokes of the sporting world. You couldn't be more in shambles than they were. Leiweke's reputation must be something else to actually come through with these guys. Of course, the container ships full of money help too...

[shermanator]

More important news for TFC, and our national team. Word on the street is they have entered into a partnership with the Wilmington Hammerheads of USL-Pro, and will loan Wilmington 4 players for the entire 2014 season. Young players like the afformentioned Hamilton, third string keeper Quillian Roberts, forward Emory Welshman and midfielder Manny Aparicio could be the ones loaned out.

More minutes for young Canadians = gooood.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Closer to home, however, it isn't looking so great. As Shermanator said, Vancouver is in a bit of pickle now. After firing another coach and having trouble replacing him (hard to believe that it has been 4 in less than 4 years, technically), and now the Camilo debacle, there isn't much to get excited about.

If Rosický doesn't re-sign with Arsenal, I'd love to see him in a Caps shirt. He'd be a beast in the MLS!

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

It's going to be interesting to see how these huge signings will influence the next CBA. When one player is making 100+ times the amount of another, that can create some issues.

Here is part of your answer with a reported Fox/ESPN $70 million/year US TV deal starting in '15 which is 2.5 times the current deal. That should bump up the $3million salary cap significantly.

Hopefully the production quality improves with Fox and the length is more like 4/5 years.

ESPN and Fox Sports have emerged as the front runners to sign a new rights deal with MLS, according to several sources. The sides are in advanced negotiations that would have MLS double its rights fees to an annual average of $70M per year for at least eight years.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/D...Media/MLS.aspx

[shermanator]

Defoe and Bradley are being officially introduced to TFC as we speak. Being shown live on TSN and Sportsnet. I would argue today is a big deal for soccer in this country.

[jofillips]

just wow to this deal - didnt defoe have a shot at making the england squad for the world cup??

[mac_82]

What a day for Toronto FC. Defoe + Bradley. After the Forlan fiasco I didn't want to let myself believe. Goosebumps watching that presser.

With the return of a older and less effective Dero, and Gilberto, things are looking up for the first time in a looooong time.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Laba though. Apparently final rosters don't have to be submitted until March.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Roma acquired Nainggolan so I'm sure Bradley felt his minutes may be less certain next year.



You must be a new TFC fan. Nothing is a go... until they hold up the shirt in front of BMO or Kia, and play more than 37 minutes.

Just ask:

Toronto FC to sign Diego Forlan

Tal Ben Haim to Toronto (That link is off the official TFC site...embarassing)

After serveral months of negotiation, TFC Signs Max Urruti

Oh wait... TFC only bought a one way ticket to Portland for Max Urruti

I'm actually amazed they pulled off these acquisitions, if they happen. This team was the utter joke of the league last season. One of the biggest jokes of the sporting world. You couldn't be more in shambles than they were. Leiweke's reputation must be something else to actually come through with these guys. Of course, the container ships full of money help too...

fan since day 1 and happy for today. Do YOU believe now?

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by mac_82

What a day for Toronto FC. Defoe + Bradley. After the Forlan fiasco I didn't want to let myself believe. Goosebumps watching that presser.

With the return of a older and less effective Dero, and Gilberto, things are looking up for the first time in a looooong time.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Laba though. Apparently final rosters don't have to be submitted until March.

TL was interviewed on the Fan today and pretty much suggested Laba would be dealt and was quite candid about "not being finished yet". Said dealing Laba will help fill other holes.

[Montana Moe]

The rumor mill has Portland announcing at least two signings tomorrow, CB Paparatto Norberto (Tigres - Argentina), and F Gaston Fernandez (Esudiantes - Argentina).

I guess if you're focusing on a certain country for player transfers, you can do a lot worse than Argentina. Diego Valeri seemed to work out well for them.

[Matty81]

Mo Edu apparently is coming back. I wonder how it gets decided which team will sign him. If TFC moves Laba and he is on a non dp deal that's a perfect fit with his history there, I think he liked the city and club a lot.

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Mo Edu apparently is coming back. I wonder how it gets decided which team will sign him. If TFC moves Laba and he is on a non dp deal that's a perfect fit with his history there, I think he liked the city and club a lot.

If he comes as a non-dp he goes through the league allocation process. I have no idea where TFC is in that queue but it should be somewhere high since they were so terrible last year.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by cSpooge

If he comes as a non-dp he goes through the league allocation process. I have no idea where TFC is in that queue but it should be somewhere high since they were so terrible last year.

You've got to think that any team would take him if he's on a non-dp deal. The O'Dea and Eckersley type deals for big dollars on non-dps aren't always the most desireable but for a USNT player it would probably be first team up, starting this season it should be DC with first option, then TFC or Chivas second.

Too bad the allocation process isn't clearer though, fans love discussing player moves and it's an understatement to say that the MLS doesn't do a great job with transparency. It is kinda confusing that a Brian McBride or Maurice Edu goes through the proper allocation process but (someone on a dp deal I guess?) Dempsey bypasses it and goes to Seattle.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by Matty81

You've got to think that any team would take him if he's on a non-dp deal. The O'Dea and Eckersley type deals for big dollars on non-dps aren't always the most desireable but for a USNT player it would probably be first team up, starting this season it should be DC with first option, then TFC or Chivas second.

Too bad the allocation process isn't clearer though, fans love discussing player moves and it's an understatement to say that the MLS doesn't do a great job with transparency. It is kinda confusing that a Brian McBride or Maurice Edu goes through the proper allocation process but (someone on a dp deal I guess?) Dempsey bypasses it and goes to Seattle.

The league announced this morning that Edu would go through the normal allocation process. Essentially, the rule is "USMNT players go through allocation unless MLS doesn't want them to."

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Matty81

You've got to think that any team would take him if he's on a non-dp deal. The O'Dea and Eckersley type deals for big dollars on non-dps aren't always the most desireable but for a USNT player it would probably be first team up, starting this season it should be DC with first option, then TFC or Chivas second.

Too bad the allocation process isn't clearer though,

Head scratcher but DC traded their no. 1 allocation pick and young promising CB Ethan White to Philadelphia for 31 year CB Jeff Parke. So Union looking at Edu or maybe Marco Pappa ex Chicago Fire.

last update: January 14, 2014



Below is the current MLS allocation ranking:

1. Philadelphia
2. Seattle
3. Toronto
4. Columbus
5. FC Dallas
6. D.C. United
7. Vancouver
8. Chicago
9. San Jose
10. Montreal
11. Colorado
12. New England
13. Chivas USA
14. LA Galaxy
15. New York
16. Houston
17. Portland
18. Real Salt Lake
19. Sporting KC

Link

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Cheese

fan since day 1 and happy for today. Do YOU believe now?

They could still Max Urruti on us

[Matty81]

3rd is not bad for TFC, there is some talk that Marco Pappa is coming back too, another very good player, so in a worst case scenario they will end up with the 1st allocation slot. Pappa is a winger so I'm not sure if TFC could use him or not, I got the feeling Dero and Rey would be the starting wingers this year, but even though I'm a big CMNT fan I think Dero might have lost too much speed to play out wide.

Seattle is negotiating to buy that Martinez guy on the wing from a central american club already though so I don't know that Pappa is a player they need/want either.

[seattleflamer]

^^^
It looks like TFC will shortly be first with Edu to the Union and Pappa to the Sounders.

SSFC have a lot of allocation space left to also get Martinez so boom...on paper a couple of nice complementary pieces in the midfield.

LINK

BTW, the Sounders have a ticket package that highlight/include TFC. What a difference a Monday makes.

[Montana Moe]

MLS is apparently balking at Edu's $1.2m offer from Philly, and may nix the deal.

[Matty81]

Caps apparently selling Camilo for 1.5 million to that Mexican club. They will get 1 million of that - I think they've made themselves look ridiculous by caving in, should have held his transfer certificate and let him come back or rot. Immediately caving was very weak especially for such a small fee.

Caps had so much promise a few years ago, from having the best academy in Canada stocked with great young players and plans for an amazing stadium on the water and a training centre and the ownership to sign big players. Few years later they play on a plastic pitch in a cfl stadium, train at Ubc and have one Canadian regular and a declining roster. I want to like them so bad but they are just epicly disappointing to me.