Terry Boss Out For Season: Weighing The Sounders' Options
by Jeremiah Oshan on Sep 9, 2011 4:24 PM PDT
in Sounders: News
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In what may be considered pretty close to a worst-case scenario, the Seattle Sounders announced that backup goalkeeper Terry Boss was placed on the Disabled LIst, meaning he'll miss the rest of the season. Boss suffered a concussion while playing for the Puerto Rico national team last Friday. It was his second concussion in the past six week, as he suffered a similar injury against Manchester United in the July friendly.
This leaves the Sounders without an experienced backup to starting goalkeeper Kasey Keller. Rookie Josh Ford, whose only experience is in Reserve League games, is the only other goalkeeper on the roster. This leaves the Sounders with a handful of options, none of which are ideal.
The option most people seem interested in is the possibility of signing Bryan Meredith, who has trained with the Sounders off and on throughout the year after being drafted in the third round of this most recent SuperDraft. Meredith helped lead the Kitsap Pumas to the PDL title, but has returned to Monmouth University in order to get his degree. Signing Meredith wouldn't necessarily be the best option, though, as it does nothing to address the Sounders' lack of experienced backups.
The other relatively easy option would be to bring in one of the league's pool goalkeepers. Currently, that pool is made up of Kevin Guppy, Chris Konopka and Chris Sharpe. Of those three, only Konopka has played for a MLS team this year, allowing two goals in a start for the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 13. He has previously played for the Kansas City Wizards and last year made 14 appearances for Ireland's Waterford United. Guppy spent several games with Chivas USA last year, making one appearance. This might be the cheapest option, but also does not really address the who veteran thing.
The other option would be to go outside the league and sign a goalkeeper. Probably the most interesting player who fits this mold is Marcus Hahnemann, who is still without a contract after being released by Wolverhampton. The big problem with this idea is that Hahnemann would have to go through allocation, and the Sounders currently occupy the final slot. Chivas USA, who currently occupies the top spot, does not need a goalkeeper, but would probably try to exact a princely sum from the Sounders.
Another possibility might be Jerzy Dudek, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper who had been linked to the Sounders earlier this year, and is also without a contract. Someone like Dudek would probably be expensive, but at this point in the season there's really no reason for the Sounders to save money. The big question would probably be whether or not the Sounders see him as a solution beyond this year and whether or not he'd be willing to sign a short-term deal.
Finding an experienced backup is probably the Sounders' preference at this point. Even though there are just seven MLS matches left, there are five other matches still on their schedule and that's not even including the playoffs. It seems highly unlikely, nor is it advisable, that the Sounders will want to use Keller in more than a couple of those non-MLS games.
What would you like to see the Sounders do?
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Hans Jorg Butt
Get Hans Jorg out of retirement. He’s Jens Lehman Jr. and I bet he’d come to seattle. No one else is gonna spend the dime to take him in the allocation process, but we have the money and it’s worth it because this could counterfeit our whole season.
I would like to sign Meredith
However, if he’s successful, the Sounders might have to protect him in the expansion draft.
Unlikely, yet intriguing option: Zach Thornton. An experienced player – who’s also injury-prone – I wonder what Chivas USA would ask for in return?
by James Bray on Sep 9, 2011 4:35 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
the sounders would not have to protect meredith
i’ll go ahead and guarantee that.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Sep 9, 2011 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I misspoke
What I meant to say was that if he was successful, he’d be an attractive option for Montreal. I’m pretty sure Montreal will bring Bill Gaudette up with them. And for the record, Gaudette is the king of time-wasting in North America. He’s the only goalkeeper I loathe.
by James Bray on Sep 9, 2011 5:06 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Is Brian Perk not available?
While that’s obviously a joke, I would be open to some sort of trade for another team’s backup (clock ticking…). If we’re going to go foreign, let’s get somebody for at least a year.
Why experience?
I totally get the preference for experience in goal and the degree to which Keller organizes the backline is often under rated. But as we don’t have experience as a real option, it is a bad move to try and force the situation. Instead, we should go for the best talent regardless of experience.
agree
Why not just use this opportunity to go out of league and get next years start Goal Keeper a little earlier than planned?
Considering the fact that the transfer window is closed
Doesn’t that mean he’d have to be out of contract?
Keller OK anyway
I guess a more important point might be that Kasey Keller won’t hardly loose a beat if he has to start every remaining game. It might not be ideal but I know he can do it – if he stays healthy…. Im not concerned about him just getting worn down though. Kasey is our leader and our rock anyway so this is something he’s going to handle.
We have 2 games per week for 4 straight weeks
With the travel to Central America I think it would make the best use of Keller to use him in all remaining games except 9/14 @ Herediano and 9/27 @ Comunicaciones. If he doesn’t travel those two long trips that saves a lot of wear and tear.
Mike MaGee anyone?
Seriously though package Nate and Estrada for the number one alocation spot and tell Marcus to get his butt to Seattle. This is a tough position and who knows what the FO has up their sleeves.
Is it wrong to stand for 90 minutes in your living room during away games?
by v_twinsam on Sep 9, 2011 4:50 PM PDT via iPhone app reply actions
so just send two guys we don't want for the top allocation spot?
Somehow, I doubt it’s that simple
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Sep 9, 2011 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Very tough break
and I hope Boss is going to be alright. We’ve been pretty fortunate this season, despite the two major losses. This one stings a bit, because of the timing.
What would happen if . . .
we signed Marcus on a DP contract for the remainder of the year?
Total cost we be over $400,000
1) we would pay MLS $250,000 for the third DP slot.
2) Marcus cost be a $167,500 against the cap/allocation money.
3) He would probably have to protect him in the Montreal expansion draft as opposed to if we wait and sign him after the expansion draft.
4) we would have to drop a player or move them onto the injury list.
Can anyone think of any additional impacts?
Personally, I think it’s worth it.
I thought we already paid the $250K “luxury DP tax” when we made Montero a DP and already had NKufo and Flaco as DP’s.
Is it wrong to stand for 90 minutes in your living room during away games?
by v_twinsam on Sep 9, 2011 8:22 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions
We signed Meredith
http://www.prostamerika.com/2011/09/09/bryan-meredith-signs-for-sounders-48817/
Looks like we signed him according to ProstAmerika
Note the report of a signing doesn't list a source?
So I asked the team if this is true. The response was that they haven’t signed anyone yet.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
by Dave Clark on Sep 9, 2011 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Prost Amerika
“You heard it here first” even though it only might be, maybe, wouldn’t that be cool if it were and we scooped everyone, true.
I'm assuming Prost spoke with Meredith himself
It’s possible they’ve come to an agreement but that it just isn’t signed yet because he’s still out on the east coast at Monmouth. That’s about the only explanation that I can come up with that would justify publishing that he is now a Sounder before the ink hits the paper. I haven’t been too impressed with PA lately, though.
by Randy Meeker on Sep 9, 2011 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions
true
i really have no reason to believe this “prost america” post is false…
by RalfZakuani on Sep 9, 2011 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Unsourced is a huge issue
The general rule is that if your source isn’t even willing to be referred to obliquely you sit on the information until you can at least get a second one with the same information.
Without that you can be stuck in a situation where “they’re talking to me” becomes “he’s signed.”
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
After not voting for Rosales
PA is in the doghouse right now and this doesn’t make things any better. For someone that touts journalistic integrity, I can give a pass for not voting for Rosales, but there’s not even “a source with knowledge of the negotiations”.
by Randy Meeker on Sep 10, 2011 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
That or they are completely talking out of their ass
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Sep 10, 2011 7:47 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dragavon!
Sadly I believe he has had injury problems. His dad was my coach for a while in high school and taught Chemistry at my high school so I was sad to see his career sputter out.
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