The Soccer thread (Part II)

I doubt he'll go to San Jose, since L.A. won't leave him unprotected. I'm sure the plan is for him and Beckham to run the Galaxy going forward for the next 4 1/2 years.

I think Donovan has always come across well when he appears in front of the camera, but what spoke to me was the urgency he showed during Saturday's games, especially after his goal.

He needs that fire more consistently, otherwise the criticism will continue. It's not that he's unlikeable. It's that he's been inconsistent in the past, although he seems to be getting there more this year.

 

they had better find a way to get their hands on another designated players slot then because I don't think they will be getting ride of Beckham ...

 

The Galaxy have got him for $900,000 a year without having to use a DP for him, and right now that's fine with the salary cap.

 

All reports said that Donovan was grandfathered into the team without the use of a DP this year. Next year, the Galaxy will need to use one on him.

The same would go for Marcus Schopp of Red Bull NY. Schopp, however, cannot remain with the team as RBNY is already using 2 DPs and Schopp sucks balls.

I wouldn't bet against a league rule change that allows LA to keep Donovan. I just think that it would be pretty screwed up if one occurs.

 

Is there a league maximum then? If there isn't, why would they need a DP for Donovan if they can fit the rest of the sqaud under the cap?

 

word on the street is that MLS is considering amending the rules. What a shock

 

There is a team maximum. Also, LA cannot, technically, fit the roster under the cap. MLS made an exception for LA and Chicago (not surprising) in the middle of the season. They said that because Beckham and Blanco are only on the roster from the midpoint of the season on that only half of their salary will count against the cap.

Since I believe player maximums are at 500K, Beckham only counts 250K and Donovan 500K.

Did MLS take off 25% of Angel's salary from the cap since he came after a quarter of the season? No. But that is because it isn't an AEG owned team.

This is part of the reason that LA was able to bring in Xavier.

Next year the league will need to change the rules (as WCG points out) or LA will need to acquire another DP slot.

 

I can see why as a fan you'd be annoyed by this, but isn't this something that's going to help the league long-term?

Of should Donovan go to San Jose to become the face of that franchise as a DP?

 

I'm only annoyed that the league's credibility will continue to be called into question every time the Golden Team makes a mistake and needs to be bailed out.

Lalas is a clown and doesn't belong in the position he is in. He's the one that screwed up that team. He's the one signing washed up former steroid users. Nobody can argue that he's improved the squad as he was no where near the Beckham signing. ... sorry for the rant...

The point is, I don't want MLS to become NASL. I don't want the league to bend the rules so that LA can become the Cosmos. The salary cap is there to prevent losses. The DP is there so that teams can increase marketing opportunities.

RBNY gave up a league MVP for the ability to sign Angel. (I don't miss Guevara and I knew he was gone, but when he was traded it was seen as value given up.) So what happens one year later? LA gets bailed out and the rules are bent. Teams that followed the rules are punished while LA just gets rewarded for ineptness.

You can't grow a league and make it better by allowing one team to become better. We saw that story before.

 

I personally think Xavier's absence really hurt L.A., he's played well since he arrived. But that's been it as far as positive players being brought in, while quite a few have left and become productive with other clubs.

Now, if Donovan were to become a DP over the winter but that were it, would that be ok? It seems to me you're implying this is the thin end of the wedge, and that MLS will accomodate L.A. and Lalas no matter what they want to do. I'm not sure that's the case.

 

According to the rules that MLS has laid out, Landon becomes a DP after this season. In order for LA to keep him Lalas would need to trade for a DP slot.

I'm of the thinking that Lalas won't be able to do that because other teams will hold them up for the spot. Everyone knows that LA needs the DP spot. It isn't a secret. So, what can other teams acquire from LA to give up that DP? Looking at that roster I would rather take a satchel of used practice balls.

So, what is Lalas' move? Also factor in that he needs to shed salary since his team will be over the cap.

This is why I believe (based on past precedent) that Garber will bow to Anshultz and create some new loophole that allows LA to keep Landon.

Put it this way... In the offseason RBNY asked the league if they could fly chartered planes at their own expense. The league said, "No. That would be giving you an unfair advantage." Beckham comes in and, magically, LA has charter flights! RBNY front office is pissed off. Does the league relent and say that RBNY can have it too? No.

Sure, I can't know for certain if the league will make an exception for Landon. However, history and the circumstances around show that they might have to.

 

as good as donovan is, he is one player, I personally think it would benefit L.A. and San Jose to trade him to the new franchise after the expansion draft for four solid players picked up and a large allocation, giving L.A. some quality players to put around Beckham and the financial flexibility to add more while giving San Jose a star to base its marketing strategy around all the while keeping Donovan happy because he stays in California: win, win, win