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Finding the Free - Take 2

Well, with the news out of England concerning which clubs are going up, and which are going down, along with the finalization of the lower leagues player movement starts. This is a time when clubs announce who will be cut loose, who will be resigned, and who will go on the transfer list.

In MLS while names like Henry and Owen tend to attract attention, it is much more likely that MLS finds guys that are Free Agents and tries to bring them over the Atlantic. While the MLS transfer window doesn't open again until July 15th it is in the next nine weeks when an enterprising GM must start to find that talent.

Star-divide

So start searching for those Frees again. I'm going to try and focus on Americans/Canadians (because having an open international slot in midseason is tough), but CONCACAF players will likely get some attention as well.

In fact my first two are both from T&T.

Stern John and Dennis Lawerence are now both Free

Lawrence is an older defensive giant (6'6) who has played for Crewe, Swansea, Wrexham and Defence Force. With the dearth of centerbacks in MLS he's one who deserves a look, or two.

Stern John has played a ton of American soccer, and made MLS good money on a transfer in the late 90s. From the previous linked piece he will likely stay in England, but he would be a solid addition for a club with offensive troubles.

When I say that clubs are cutting guys, I mean a TON of guys.

7 cut from Ipswich
10 cut from Crewe
Hartlepool cut 5

Championship, League One, League Two, Scotland, Ireland, Wales should all have guys in MLS pricing range, generally speak the dominant language of MLS, and would have the easiest time culturally.

Any Frees that intrigue you at this time?
Version One was in the 08/09 Transfer Window

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This is where having transfer fees count under the salary cap especially hurts. There are a lot of players who will be leaving relegated teams who will still be under contract. Some of them might consider playing in the US, but their transfer fees will make them unreachable. The universe of signable players would expand greatly if MLS would make that one rule change. That would allow MLS to sign players closer to their prime, who would make more of an impact on the game than the kind of player that is often signed now. In the long run, MLS would probably come out ahead, money-wise, because they would receive transfer fees down the line for players who moved on to other clubs.

by CarlosT on May 8, 2009 1:31 PM PDT reply actions  

Yes, but there are still decent players available on a Free.

Ljungberg, Keller are two

Stern John is still good enough to be in MLS. Signing more English Frees will help the league (MLS) make up for expansion.

by Dave Clark on May 8, 2009 1:34 PM PDT reply actions  

Oh, no doubt. I didn’t mean to imply that there are not quality players who available on frees at any given moment. I just think it’s better to have all those additional options on top of the players currently available to MLS. At any given time, there will be many more players looking to move that have transfer fees attached than are available for a free. Many of those players have fairly modest wage requirements that would fit in with MLS salary caps just fine, but the addition of a transfer fee, even one that just a couple hundred thousand dollars, could make signing that player impossible.

But life being what it is and not another thing, finding those impact players availabe on a free is part of what separate the high quality GMs in MLS from the mediocre ones. I don’t think the Sounders will be making any moves because we’ve got overstock problems on the roster as it is, but if we were looking for someone, I have a lot of confidence in Adrian’s ability to find that player and sign him.

by CarlosT on May 8, 2009 1:51 PM PDT reply actions  

I think it depends on how much money the Sounders still have to spend. If they have 3-400,00, then I think they may look for another forward or defender. One that can make an impant more than Sturgis or Jaqua. Otherwise they would just be signing someone for depth. Do you know how much they have left under the cap and how much allocation Dave?

by TL on May 9, 2009 2:43 PM PDT reply actions  

TL, I think we’re pretty good as far as money goes, but our problem is we don’t have the roster spots to sign anyone else at this point. We’re actually going to have to figure something out in order to bring Jarrod Smith into the team, because we just don’t have a senior roster spot available right now. If there are a couple of long term injuries, we might have room to add someone, but as of now there’s no space to add any players.

by CarlosT on May 9, 2009 3:33 PM PDT reply actions  

There is yes, 300-400k in cap room.

For roster space there is a developmental spot available (though I have reason to believe that it will be occupied on June 4th).

But, if you can add talent, you do it. And that’s true for any team, in any league. Yes it may mean that someone is cut, or traded for less than value, but think of it this way. Would you add Messi, or would you as GM think that you don’t have room to add a player?

I should also note, that no player from outside US/Canada can be added until July 15th, this is really the searching/feeling out period. If Adrian finds someone intriguing he convinces them to wait (English window is July 1) and has a few months to move talent.

by Dave Clark on May 9, 2009 4:32 PM PDT reply actions  

Darren Purse is a Free, with Sheffield Wed interested, a center back with heavy Eng Championship and Cup experience one would hope that MLS at least offers.

Marcus Hahnemann’s Reading will not be promoted, and now he might be available. While his transfer fee wouldn’t be the cost here, he would be subject to the allocation list. Oddly, FC Dallas fans don’t want him.

Brighton is releasing 14 players. Sam Gargan is 20 but has a knee injury.

by Dave Clark on May 12, 2009 7:51 PM PDT reply actions  

What about an Ipswich Academy graduate who is a 24 year old left back.

Roy Keane has dropped Matt Richards.

by Dave Clark on May 14, 2009 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

Ah, here’s a guy who struggled in the Premiership, but has had some success in the Champ. and League One historically. He would be a reclamation project, as he has had some stuggles in his recent time with Watford.

Steve Kabba has been released by Watford.

Still with time left in his prime, he could use a league like MLS, SPL or League One to rescue his career.

A former star, with a troubled history during his peak years has been released by Oldham Athletic. Lee Hughes was once a star with West Brom, and after being jailed for “causing death by dangerous driving” he had a fine 18 goal season with Oldham this last season. The 32 year old likely has another contract left in him, but almost certainly not in a top league.

by Dave Clark on May 15, 2009 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

So in the English Championship there are three players that are free at the end of this season.

Hahnemann has already been told he won’t be renewed.

Watford’s Jay DeMerit will be out of contract.

Romone Rose, a 19 year old sometimes listed as American and others as English is also out of contract after this season with QPR

by Dave Clark on May 15, 2009 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions  

The best thing we could do for ourselves is find a player with a consistently dangerous free kick. Currently, we’re unable to adequately punish opponents for fouling us, and we won’t be able to impose our game on matches until we can.

by CarlosT on May 18, 2009 11:43 AM PDT reply actions  

Carlos, i took a slightly different take on the needs, and actually think a tall wingback might be a better idea.

One, the club needs a second Riley.
Two, the club needs another tall player in set-peices

Zesh Rehman is about to be released by QPR. At 25 he’s already appeared the top four levels in England (Fulham USA for the Premier, yeah, that Fulham year), and has played for Pakistan, though raised in Britain.

Now, sure I have a soft spot for Central Asia and MidEast, and you are probably reading his wiki entry and looking at how he’s listed as a 6’2" CB. Except that he’s played the RB with QPR and Fulham. Sure primarily a CB, but some time at RB in an English 4-4-2.

Players at his level with both QPR and Blackpool make MLS wages.

by Dave Clark on May 19, 2009 8:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

Wingback I can definitely agree with; tall I see as optional. A wingback’s bread is speed, his butter is crossing, and his marmelade is ball control (I needed three items and I like marmelade) and while there are plenty of great wingbacks who are tall (as an Inter fan, Maicon and Santon immediate come to mind) there have been plenty of short wingbacks too. Actually a younger clone of Roberto Carlos with some Juninho Pernambucano thrown in would be my perfect player. Fast, good dribbler, makes dangerous runs down the sideline, sends in deadly crosses, and can put the ball in the upper ninety from 35 yards plus out. All those skills are independent of height.

As a team generally I don’t think we have a problem with height, with Jaqua, Marshall, Le Toux and others at six feet or more. We haven’t been able to take advantage of that height and I think in the long run better crosses and precision on free kicks are more valuable than another head to aim for.

by CarlosT on May 21, 2009 2:34 AM PDT reply actions  

I’m just of the opinion that Marshall is so rarely brought up on set pieces that its really Jaqua with a sprinkling of Le Toux as heads for which to aim. So I’d like another one so that on tight peices they can’t double all the tall guys.

And I think that left wingback is the place where the personel least fit the system. Its not that I don’t like Scott/Sturgis, its just that they aren’t the ideal for this team.

by Dave Clark on May 21, 2009 5:53 AM PDT reply actions  

Today’s Target is former English U-21 Left Back Dan Harding.

He was recently released by Ipswich Town, managed by Roy Keane.

by Dave Clark on May 21, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions  

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