I hope either A Dom is protected or B he isn’t picked up because i think that he will be a star in the future. Once he learns how to finish.

i think if he hasn’t learn to finish by now…there are some issues…

Nice try Buzz but here’s your list,

Serioux
Ruiz
Richetti
Saragosa
Cooper
Moor
Oduro
Toja
Dax
Burse
either Goodson or Alvarez depending who you think you can sign

Let Yallop have AA. he originally picked him and SJ is where he started. Plus he couldn’t even post his apology to FCD and their fans on any media IN THE TOWN IN WHICH HE PLAYS! (punk)

Jack, nice try but i believe you will find MY list is in fact the one I wrote above. Your list is the one you wrote two posts up.

18. Chris Gbandi – It sure looks like Morrow’s gonna give Wagner the nod, but Gbandi is too experienced to sit the bench. Unprotected last year, why would that change. Trade him to SJ for the no pick agreement.

Agreed, and I hope it works out exactly like that.

Wouldn’t we protect goodson? He turned out to be one of the best defenders in the league this year

Why the hell would you expose Goodson? Are you nuts? SJ won’t take Abe. He should be left unprotected.

Wouldnt it be best to leave Richetti as the unprotected SI? he is out of contract and might be difficult to sign. that, coupled with Saragosa coming off the knee surgery still leaves us with 3 holding mids and SIs at the same time.

i understand Richetti’s value, but if he’s unsigned and might be hard to re-sign, SJ wouldnt take him anyway. then we could protect someone like Goodson

They have some big decisions to make re: Carlos Ruiz. It may be better to leave him unprotected or just cut a deal with SJ to take him. Either way, if SJ takes him, FCD doesn’t have to make that decision for 2008. If SJ does NOT take him, FCD has a week to decide if they want to exercise the 2008 option or not.

In addition to that, if Dallas chooses not to keep Denilson, that gives them 2 open SI slots AND the DP slot. It also frees up Carlos’ salary. So with SI/DP open and lots of extra salary cap room, maybe Dallas can find that one special player they so desperately need.

But I doubt they’ll do any of that. I’ll guess they keep CR for another year. [sigh]

Buzz,
Is is there a strong possibility of Goodson not resigning is that why you say to leave him unprotected?

Also, Serioux seems to be a DCM more than a CB, do we look for a true CB in the offseason (to pair with Goodson or if he leaves replace??). if Serioux is a DCM then who goes out of Saragosa, Ricchetti, and Serioux, bc we wouldn’t need all three with Wallace and Dax avaliable there as well. I feel like with Saragosa possibly getting a green card (no more SI slot taken) and Pablo being as solid as he was last year, does Serioux becomes the odd man out????

Last thought- I feel like Yi (UCLA grad) might be a fit in San Jose????

That is what’s running through my head. Thoughts???

G & RP, let’s face it, the Dallas defense isn’t great. Goodson, while he had a good year, is not highly coveted. I don’t think FCD will protect him.

TT, Ricchetti isn’t out of contract. The club has an option for next season. And I believe the one after that.

Rich, IF you want to move Ruiz, you either do it before the Exp draft or you protect him and do it after. You never want to give the player away for free.

Conor, part of the reason I think it low risk to expose Goodson is his contract. This may be his only window to take a shot at a mid tier European team. Even if he does return he’s going to want a solid vet salary in the $100k+ range. Will an expansion team risk a pick on a guy who may leave or may want big Monera?

The rest of your comments I will get to in the next few weeks with the off season plan stuff. Sorry to tease you.

So assuming they decide to move Ruiz, could they do something with SJ like they did last time?

“Here, SJ, take CR, but you promise to not take anyone else in the Exp Draft, and we want some of your ‘new team’ draft picks in 2008.”

Something like that?

Hypothetically? sure.

Well buzz you put it out there and on the 21st you will be a genius or an idiot. It’s fun talking about it until then.

I doubt one expansion list will make me a genius or an idiot. Whichever I am was well established long ago.

I was leaning toward genius, btw.

Why thanks jack!

I think that your problem with Denilson is how much he gets paid and not his soccer skills

I think Ruiz will be exposed. There is exactly a 0% chance that Dallas will pick him up for his option, because of the money involved. Morrow already made a comment that no players will come into camp out of shape this year, which by default means Ruiz won’t be on the team.

If you aren’t going to pick up his option, and every team in the league knows it, then they aren’t going to give you anything in a trade anyway. Therefore, he will be exposed in the draft, and Saragosa protected.

I have serious doubts about Ricchetti being here next year, unless he is an expensive right back.

Oduro would be protected over Thompson.

Isn’t Yi from Maryland? How does the fact that he went to College in Southern California have any thing to do with a team in Northern California wanting him or he wanting to play for them?

So our big plan for improving our back-line starts with us rolling with Wags at LB and quite possibly loosing Goodson. I can hardly contain my excitement. Say it ain’t so Buz.

[...] since (consciously or not) by 3rd Degree, who talked about who they expect their beloved FC Dallas to protect and expose, and The Fullback Files, who did the same for DC United. For the record, 3rd Degree helpfully [...]

i don’t think yi would mind going back to cali. the weather’s prob nicer than maryland

I agree with James. I think your F assessment of Denilson is too harsh. I think you’ve focused too much on the price. I understand that $$ is important and he certainly isn’t an A.. but I think you’re too harsh on the F grade. Personally I’d put him at C-.

He hasn’t integrated well into the squad or provided the impact that his salary demands, but he’s still probably the best dead ball player that Dallas has. i.e. best passer, free kick, corner kick taker and has plenty of creativity. I think he’s also had a positive influence on individuals like Arturo and Ricardinho.

At the end of the day Denilson still wants to play, and according to him he wants to play in the US. Dallas isn’t going to pay his current asking price, but I don’t see anyone else in the MLS waiting in line for him either. I don’t know the details of his contract.. but it could present an interesting dilemna for him.. does he try and cut a deal with Dallas or does he just leave with his tail between his legs and end up playing second league soccer in Brazil. I think his back is against the wall a bit here… maybe he sees it different.

Protecting out of contract players in very risky but you suggest protecting Alvarez but not Goodson. Are saying Alvarez is likely to resign and Goodson not so much? It would seem to be a high piority to figure out who’s going to be here next year within the next week. Any thoughts on trades (11-19), perhaps a deal gets worked out with SJ to not select any of our players like the TFC deal last year. Thoughts buzz?

I suggested protecting AA over Goodson because of how risky it was Yallop would take him. Also calculated in is how replaceable or valuable Goodson is compared to AA.

FCD will for sure try and do a deal to dictate who they lose to SJ.

Just a note about Denilson, if he does not stay here, we will play 1st league in Brazil, prior to signing with Dallas, he rejected 3 offers from Brazil A League

Possibly. I don’t know that team scouts had a really good insight into Denilson’s game in Saudi.

His recent spell at Dallas though has had much more publicity and coverage. While I have personally enjoyed watching him play, the majority of the feedback has been negative.

While other teams might still be interested, I think his bargaining power has probably been negatively impacted.

In the end he will ultimately do it what is best for him both personally and career wise. I’m just curious to see how it plays out. While he has stated his desire to remain here, I am less optimistic of it working out for him

Re: Denilson

From what I see, it’s not a lack of desire or effort on his part, it’s loss of a step. He does not seem as explosively quick as he was with Brazil. Dallas’ attack also doesn’t seem to spread the field enough for him to take advantage of the skills he does have. But then, the lack of width in the Dallas attack is the cause of a LOT of problems.

Agreed Barefoot. He does not appear to be nearly as quick as he used to be. His loss of speed has greatly reduced his effectiveness – it’s pretty hard to dribble past anyone if you can’t outrun them.

Initially I put it down to fitness level – I expected that it would return after 4 or 5 games. While I think he generally improved from game to game (the LA game was definitely an exception).. he always appeared to be lacklustre coming into the second half.

[...] way of comparison, I missed two names on our prediction of the list.  The first, Saragosa, we said would be protected if Denilson did not need to be, which is what [...]

Wow, goodson gone which was clearly a shock to both Steve & Buzz. At this moment SJ has a far superior backline to us. Great job of thinking this one through guys.