Please the fans, or the players?

by Dave Clark on Jul 24, 2009 3:13 PM PDT in Democracy in Sports

Duane threw up a great post yesterday, that is getting a bit lost in the noise of Beckham and the upcoming weekend. It also, got a bit turned on its ear when the news came out that Fulham hasn't actually talked to anyone yet.

But it still deserves comment, because until MLS isn't a feeder league the question will always come up

Should a team making a run at 3 trophies, or two, or one, ever let a vital player go out on transfer during the MLS season?

Would a team in League One or the Championship making a run at the FA Cup and Promotion ship their best offensive talent off?

Is winning a trophy or two or three make up for possibly losing a clubhouse, and diminishing the chances at a future signing of a simiilar player worth it?

In this specific case the ideal would be for Sounders to agree with Depo Cali to transfer Fredy up to Fulham with Fulham loaning back to Seattle for the remainder of the season, but ideals rarely occur. I actually think that for MLS and Sounders to continue to approve that a club in the hunt for silverware should NOT transfer out, but other teams should. Especially in Seattle's case where Adrian Hanauer will face a vote of confidence in two years. How happy would fans be knowing that they gave up silverware in order for the team and a player to profit?

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I agree. The one idea you left out was that a transfer of Montero would mean deletion of his salary, an international spot and allocation money during the transfer window. Not that I think they should let him go, but if they had something lined up to get another DP slot and a veteran striker in mind from Europe, then that’s another option. Would be nice to do that and keep Montero though.

by TL on Jul 24, 2009 4:58 PM PDT reply actions

Correct TL the situation changes if there was an empty DP slot sitting around to throw at a English Championship level forward/winger out there, but there isn’t, and I don’t think that any of the Frees in the 200k$ amount could produce at the 7 goal/5 assist number in MLS without having the chemistry of a training camp and half a season.

So I don’t see that as an option.

But HOW many Cups this year make not signing a future Montero next season or the year after worthwhile? That’s the Hanauer conundrum. Because exercising the club’s rights and holding Montero back likely damages future chances at that level of talent.

Duane shared with me in an email that he thought letting Montero go was the right decision. I asked him if a League One club in a promotion race would give up on their season.

by Dave Clark on Jul 24, 2009 6:26 PM PDT reply actions

I think that Adrian should always do what is in the best interest of the club on the field. Adrian is too smart to worry about short term profit. He knows that winning the cup would make more money for the franchise in the long run than any transfer fee.

Since SSFC doesn’t own the rights of Fredy, they are left dealing with the whims of others.

Adrian should never shy away of trying to obtain other Fredy type players in the future. Fredy’s play has improved the club and you really can’t worry about what ifs (meaning possible transfers). You can only play that hand that you are dealt at each moment in time.

Let’s just hope that Fredy is here the rest of the season.

by Coug1990 on Jul 24, 2009 7:12 PM PDT reply actions

But, not selling Fredy could mean that he can’t get another Fredy like player because that player wouldn’t want to lose income by signing with Seattle.

by 214Crash on Jul 24, 2009 9:06 PM PDT reply actions