Big Clubs Are Interested In Osvaldo Alonso: A Test In Sounders Fans' Faith

that is all.

that MLS is essentially a feeder league at this point, this is just a natural progression. While it’s always hard to lose players (especially ones I’ve loved as much as the Honey Badger), it should be a point of pride that we have done our jobs well—we’ve uncovered talent and further developed it to the point that the “big leagues” are interested. I feel pretty good about that. As long as we get value from the transfer, that’s all we can really ask. Because there should be reward for the team as well as the player.

From another standpoint, the Sounders have always presented as a team that is wanting to consistently show players in our system that we’re there for them and we’ll do what is best for them, even if it isn’t necessarily what we want (Friberg as an example). Personally, I like that. Counterpoint that with a Red Bull franchise that seems determined to stand in the way of Ream going to the EPL and getting the development he sorely needs. I’ll take the Sounders way….. but leaven it with some good business sense.

But the first ones to offer Alonso a fair contract. Didn’t Chivas or something make him an offer, but he chose to stay in USL?

Sure, the Sounders could find someone in Europe who would want Alonso, but IMO, MLS is a good enough league now where not only should the Sounders be looking for top dollar in a transfer fee, but Alonso should be picky about where he lands. Just as folks worry about whether or not, say, Altidore transferred out of MLS too early, Alonso (and his agent, of course) should be looking for a situation where he can get good wages and regular playing time, so that he has the opportunity to continue increasing his wages. If he stays in MLS, there is plenty for him to accomplish. He has yet to win MLS Cup, CCL championship, or the SS, and individual awards like MLS MVP or MLS Best XI might be nice, too.

Clearly by living in the US, he’s comfortable enough in an English-speaking country, but it could be his preference to transfer to, say, La Liga rather than the EPL. And while his wages would certainly be higher in Europe, so would his taxes, so again, it might make sense to wait a year to try to boost his value so he can earn more when he does move.

Seattle should absolutely be looking to upgrade in the middle. And at forward. And in the back. As we’ve seen this offseason, there are no guarantees about any players staying, and ‘positional logjams’ should not be a concern to AH—especially given the number of competitions this club competes in.

If that’s the problem this club is dealing with, then that’s a happy consequence of a deep squad. Load up, everywhere.

It is always about the money.

I think that the salary cap on the teams means that teams like Seattle could and should care LESS about the transfer fee.
Ownership is making a ton of dough already. So unless getting dollars out of the deal is their MAIN objective ( aka Mariners 10 years ago…btw that didn’t work very well long term ), they will need to hold onto players, over selling them for cash.
Now there are allocation dollars that can help there, but they are tempered by only getting a portion of the money in allocation and by the fact that anyone desired is probably willing to move because they make MORE money ( again it is always about the money )…..so replacing will cost more.

Not saying the Sounders shouldn’t move guys, even Alonso. Just saying it makes it a lot more difficult to add up.

All of them. This organization has proven to me that its motivated, focused, intelligent, and at times even ruthless. All the things I want in a team. I love Honey Badger (though he don’t care) but if he has options that will also open up options for Sounders FC. We want to be a world club. As Portland and Van continue to flail about looking every bit like first or second year clubs, I am watching Sounders FC lead the way towards MLS being a true world league. Now if we only could have relegation and promotion (no chance of that happening under the current system though).

Sounders being on the radar in Europe helps MLS and definitely helps the Sounders FC. We all, every one of us, help that when we show up and go mental, prove that we’re the true Soccer City USA, and prove support that is so above and beyond anywhere else in the USA.

I’m proud, like a proud parent, if we lose players to Europe, because I know that means we’re developing talent. Closer and closer to the goal of being a primary destination as a team, and as a league. If we can get the salaries where they need to be, Seattle’s getting there so fast already.

It’s painful in the short term, but it’s part of doing business and will really help the program in the long run.

If Seattle comes a place where we can sell players to high leagues as we grow and make good money, it may be tough to fill the spots left with other top notch players. I know there is ways around it in some cases, but is it possible this becomes a problem?

On Ozzie, as a business decision he’s got to like it, and I think we should too. I hate to lose a player like him but like others have said, in the long run this could help us out more than him staying. He is a beast for us and dominates in the MLS, he deserves a shot in a better place and the way I see it is “Once a Sounder, always a Sounder,” I’ll root for him wherever he goes.

The club shouldn’t even consider an offer at $3million. His value to the Sounder’s far exceeds that number.

There really was not anything of substance in that article. We knew before that article came out that English clubs are keeping an eye on Alonso. Best piece of evidence of that was his trial with Everton in the offseason last year.

There is no rumor about an Alonso transfer to England. There is just speculation that a club in England might be interested in getting Alonso. The only thing that speculation is based on is that English clubs have been looking at him, a fact that we have known all along.

So getting alarmed because of the recent speculation is silly. Still, anything is possible. We could hear about a transfer later today, or Alonso might end up spending the rest of his career with the Sounders. Something in between those two extremes is of course the most likely. Personally I’m not ruling out the possibility of getting to keep him for a few more years. Time will tell.

this would have to be huge. To grow up in Cuba, fear for your life by defecting, and playing well enough in the US to even be looked at by EPL clubs has to be an honor. Being asked to go would probably feel like winning the lottery.

I like him and I’d hate to see him go, but I’d get a kick out of seeing him achieve a dream. Besides, 4 years at Everton or Villa then he can come back and finish his career here!

If Alonso is sold for $3 million let’s say, and the Sounders get to use $650K allocation towards the cap, does that mean it has to all be spent in one year? When the Sounders started MLS play in 2009, as an expansion team they were allotted a certain amount of allocation dollars that could be spent over 2 years. I thought it was around 1 million, but don’t know for sure.

Can you buy down non-DP contracts? Gspurning’s let’s say? Let’s say like he signed for $220K a year for 3 years. With $650 allocation, could all that go towards his salary over the three years, effectively raising the cap by $220 for three years? Or does spreading allocation out across multiple years only apply to DP’s, which means allocation is extra valuable towards DP’s.

Along with most folks, I really wish there was a lot more transparency around how the financial side of player movement is done. Outside of "raise the salary cap", these financial pieces of MLS don’t seem to get much conversation. Who can have an intelligent conversation about it though? Ugh…

Does the 1/3 of the transfer fee the League receives go towards Garber’s yacht maintenance?

We don’t want to hold players ‘hostage’. As much as we love them, if they want to move on, we need to let them, and even encourage them. The Sounders are already a destination that many players would love or even dream to play, but we can and should encourage them to dream ‘bigger’ – at least until we are the biggest that they can dream of. That might take a couple of more years. :p

I know he’s young but he does have the ability to play a CDM role. Is he someone who could step in and grow into a solid player for us at that position if Ozzie were to leave?