Joined: May 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 15,612 Location: The Sound of Soccer
Designated Player: 2009, or not? « Thread Started on Aug 21, 2008, 2:03pm »
The Sounders have a list of DP candidates, which I have not seen. I've been told they even have day / month / year projections about when these candidates could be acquired right beside their names, and the list currently has 9 names on it.
At least two of the dates by names are "January ____, 2009" during the winter transfer window.
If they don't have a DP in their first season it will be because the player they could get in January 2009 either fell through or wasn't a good fit with the rest of the accumulated players who will go on trial in camp on January 26th. So, where do you stand on the issue of having a DP in year one?
The Sounders have a list of DP candidates, which I have not seen. I've been told they even have day / month / year projections about when these candidates could be acquired right beside their names, and the list currently has 9 names on it.
At least two of the dates by names are "January ____, 2009" during the winter transfer window.
If they don't have a DP in their first season it will be because the player they could get in January 2009 either fell through or wasn't a good fit with the rest of the accumulated players who will go on trial in camp on January 26th. So, where do you stand on the issue of having a DP in year one?
If they can land someone of the quality that we desire as a DP, then do it ASAP.
Their presence will boost marketability, attendence, general buzz, and hopefully--performance on the pitch. All worthwhile reasons to get a DP.
However, they should not risk signing a DP not up to their standards, just for the sake of having one. And, unfortunately, this requirement may mean waiting a while longer before a DP is added to the ranks.
Who wins trophies? We do! (Formerly known as Seattle Sounders FC FTW!)
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 1,164 Location: Kent, WA
Re: Designate Player: 2009, or not? « Reply #2 on Aug 21, 2008, 2:51pm »
As anxious as I am for them to sign a really good DP, I would prefer they wait until just the right player and situation occurs. The Dynamo have shown you don't need a DP to win championships, so there's really no rush. Better to wait and get the right one for your club than to just get one for the sake of getting one.
P.S. I want to see that DP list - I'm very curious!
Re: Designated Player: 2009, or not? « Reply #5 on Aug 21, 2008, 4:25pm »
The most important thing is to get the right guy, whenever he's available. The right guy may not be the most technically gifted player, just the best fit, in keeping with the philosophy of the team. If that person is available prior to the start of the season, it would be a much better outcome than if he were added later. No pressure FO, no pressure.
Joined: Sept 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 401 Location: Tacoma
Re: Designated Player: 2009, or not? « Reply #6 on Aug 21, 2008, 5:16pm »
They might be looking at expanding it to 2 DPs per team correct?
If they can find a DP, any DP that fits well with the team and we know they will put their heart into playing for the team, then sign them.
It doesn't have to be a big name in my opinion. Hell, they could be only worth 1 million dollars a year, but if its worth taking that 400k cap hit, sign them. The next year we could get a 2nd DP slot, combined with the increase in the cap from the CBA that will be in place by the 2010 season... Well, we can get a quality player and can still get a big name signing later down the road when interest may be starting to drop.
They might be looking at expanding it to 2 DPs per team correct?
If they can find a DP, any DP that fits well with the team and we know they will put their heart into playing for the team, then sign them.
It doesn't have to be a big name in my opinion. Hell, they could be only worth 1 million dollars a year, but if its worth taking that 400k cap hit, sign them. The next year we could get a 2nd DP slot, combined with the increase in the cap from the CBA that will be in place by the 2010 season... Well, we can get a quality player and can still get a big name signing later down the road when interest may be starting to drop.
I agree in principle, but given the fan expectations and locker-room situation that would go with a DP -- I think they'd have to be the real deal or it could just end up as a mess. Anyway, I'd like to see one but hopefully not just a media attention idea -- if they've got a list like that compiled already, sounds good to me.
Joined: Dec 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 2,213 Location: Renton
Re: Designated Player: 2009, or not? « Reply #8 on Aug 21, 2008, 5:41pm »
The amount of initial interest in the team means that the organization can afford not to go for a desperate DP just in order to sell seats, they already have those.
They now just need the best fit for points on the table. The tickets sales will come with that.
Re: Designated Player: 2009, or not? « Reply #11 on Aug 22, 2008, 4:17pm »
That list that they have is still just a wish list. You cannot just go and buy a player. Some of the players on the list might say "no" to an offer from the Sounders.
But it's good that they are concrete about who are the potential players that they could talk to, and when they could talk to them.
And to answer the question: no need to sign a DP for 2009 if they don't find the right player for the right place.
Joined: Dec 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 2,213 Location: Renton
Re: Designated Player: 2009, or not? « Reply #12 on Aug 22, 2008, 5:47pm »
Price shouldn't be a factor.
With the pockets that these owners have and the guaruntee of over 20M$ in revenue in year one, do you really care if they pay players 35% or 62% of that revenue?
Re: Designated Player: 2009, or not? « Reply #13 on Aug 22, 2008, 10:36pm »
The argument that money does not matter since the owners are loaded is a little naive. No, scratch that, it's very naive. Price is always a factor. The question about signing a DP boils down to whether it will create more revenue than it costs. Of course this should be considered in terms of a longer time frame than just one year.
I don't care how many per cent of their revenue the owners use for players, but I bet the owners do. And I care about them making the right decisions so that the Sounders will be successful financially and on the field. Financial success important, because the very existence of the Sounders depends on it. I don't care about how much the owners make money per se, but I realize that they have to make money so that we can continue to have our Sounders.
Re: Designated Player: 2009, or not? « Reply #14 on Aug 23, 2008, 4:09am »
This team's deep pockets, support, and stadium makes our reach better than any team in the MLS. With the exception of NY and LA, Seattle is on a level playing-field in terms of city brand. As such, the DP rule plays into our strengths as much as any team's with the exception of LA. Conclusion, maximizing the DP rule to our advantage has to be super-high on our list.
The "good character" thing is hopefully just a PR front to a "no assholes" policy. If we limit ourselves to something like 20% or 50% of the player pool, rather than something more like 95%, then we'll sadly have to wait a couple years until the owners figure out that their "high" bar is a fantasy that will lead to lots of losing. I'm guessing that we're okay here as this is obviously the MO for the Seahawks.
In sum, the only acceptable excuse for not signing a DP in year one will necessarily be "playing for the MLS was a non-starter for most of the players we approached."
I am thrilled we have a list of 9 -- as I think that, assuming they have already been vetted as "MLS-ready", we will almost certainly land one.
For my money, it doesn't have to be someone in the stratosphere of David Beckham. I'd rather we spend less on name and more on quality. The impact of a single world-class, or even just top-league quality player on an MLS team given the salary cap is massive.
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