Seattle Sounders Transfer Rumor: Lucas Neill Agrees To Terms?

way i see this being possible if Seattle trades ianni away for better allocation order position. We may need a RB but we don’t need is another CB.

Love that the MLS is now seen as a “positive destination” for many international footballers.

Don’t love the fact that the MLS is seen as a retirement home for many international footballers.

Love that SSFC is apparently up there with NYRB and LAG as a “desireable destination” within the MLS.

Don’t love the talk of spending on this position when we have other, more glaring needs.

That’s the sound of me hitting the button and him being ejected.

I’d love to get a quality center back. The kind that makes folks know that absolutely nothin’ is getting through and the defense will always be in position to make a play. The kind who consistently makes the right pass to spring the offense. But it would cost us a bundle and folks would just scream if we spent that kind of money on a CB and not a glossy, high scoring forward or attacking mid.

I have noticed an increase in the “what’s offsides?” crowd this year, but those fans aren’t going to know any of the “names” anyway. The rest of us just want someone that’s going to help us get points. I’d love to see an early-mid twenties striker on the edge of their national team trying to prove they deserve a spot.

We don’t know how much his contract would be. Calling him ‘high priced’ and assigning him marketing responsibility is a bit premature b/c we don’t know anything about how much the team would be paying him yet.

Also, though the team really is built to succeed at Open Cup, CCL and MLS at the same time, Jaqua, Ianni, Noonan and Gonzalez combine for 502,000 worth of salary that hasn’t seen much daylight this season. Moving 1-2 of those guys if/when we brought in Tagoe as a DP and Neill would go a long way to free up some space.

that with a defense that simply can’t seem to find a way to put up back-to-back zeros, CB is a definite area that could improve. That said, this ain’t the guy.

Also, I keep floating this out there, but I don’t think we’ll have Parke indefinitely. He has stated time and time again over the past 3 seasons (yes, when he was playing with Vancouver) that he wants to end his career back east, preferably in NY or Philly. Given his age, I think our management will do their best to honor that request……. as long as it’s a value for value situation.

Remember a few weeks ago when Sigi and Adrian both said something to the effect of, “Well, offense is nice, but defense wins the league”? I thought at the time that they might be preparing to do something unexpected and bring in a big time defender during the window. This would fit the bill, but I don’t know a thing about Lucas Neill outside of his age and club.

It would free up the Sounders to trade a defender (maybe Parke?) to an MLS team with a surplus of strikers. This is where the master plan eludes me however, as I just can’t get excited about a player like Kei Kamara (inconsistent), Brian Ching (injuries), or any of the other decent MLS strikers I can think of on teams that need central defensive help. I suppose we could trade a defender for allocation money, and then use that to buy a striker.

…if the goal was not depth at center back but rather an upgrade at right back?

Backline players, esp. at CB, have to be good communicators. I’ve gotten the sense this season that, though Seattle isn’t woeful in the back, there are many times where there’s a mental lapse or such disorganization that guys like Montero have to come back and help with clearance.

Neill would address some of these leadership concerns—he’s the captain of his national team and has played in Europe for years.

I have a lot more of a problem securing aging forwards and CMs, but at CB, it’s not nearly as much of an issue.

any shot at Seattle doing similarly to what they did with Rosales’ contract and do the same thing with Neill.

Anyone know how long we have Rosales for? If it’s just this year then he should be re-signed before we spend money anywhere else.

I’m not opposed to changing things up in the defense. How about shipping Leo out? Any chance Colorado would take him for Nyassi?

At least those would be more fun :-P

It doesn’t add up for the Sounders or for Neill. The Sounders have some needs, but I don’t see Neill eliminating any of those needs and I don’t see the Sounders offering anything for Neill that he might especially want at this point in his career.

As a fan of attacking football, I do want a bone crushing 23 year old striker hungry to prove himself. But as someone who has watched this team all year, I have to admit that I get the argument for bringing weathered experience to the back line. As few clean sheets as we’ve gotten this year, we haven’t exactly been blanked by too many teams either. There’s a reason why we haven’t been losing and it’s because our team is still goal dangerous and with Zaks and OBW coming back eventually, I can understand signing a veteran back if we’re building to win trophies.

SIGN ME UP! /sarcasm