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Julian De Guzman: New Contract?


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I have been a fan Julian De Guzman, though I have to admit that he has not been the same player for TFC that I saw at some of the previous Gold Cups. Whether this is because of the players around him on the field or not is not the point of this post. Rather, I'm curious at what salary level he should be at after his current contract expires (assuming he wants to stay and TFC wants him). I believe the DP cap hit is 350,000, so a salary of anything lower frees up cap space. Should he be offered Carl Robinson money? Less? More?

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I think we ought to be able to hold onto De Guzman for around $400,000. Whether he stays or not, we need to use a DP slot on bringing in a proper defensive leader. Frings is doing great, but he's a midfielder by trade, and would contribute lots it he could move up more without worrying about what happens to the back line without him.

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Based on his MLS performance so far, I think he is a player in the $200 000 range. If he is not willing to take a salary like that especially after drawing a very large salary for years and not performing anywhere near DP level then TFC should let him go. I am not sure there will be a lot of interest in him elsewhere in the league especially with the low Canadian quota not really requiring Montreal or Vancouver to be interested in a MLS level Canadian player.

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I can see this playing out 2 different ways:

1) Unless TFC end up having a very positive end to their season I don't suspect there will be much will on the part of either party to continue his stint in Toronto. In that case I think 2nd Div Spain or Italy, or Switzerland/Belgium wouldn't be bad options for him. I don't know if he'd fetch anything remotely close to his current contract over there either, but at the same time I don't think it would be about the money. He's a very proud guy, and being singled out as a lighting-rod for frustrated fans (deserved or not) is sure to be taking it's tole on him.

2) At the same time though, he is also a proud Canadian and Torontonian and moving on would be an admission of failure in some respects. I think it would be hard to erase the past 2 years of fan anger in JDG's mind, but if it did look like the club was finally starting to turn the corner, I could see him wanting to stick around for a couple more years to see the job done, if the conditions were right. IMO that scenario would look something like: (a) it would be a prerequisite that team success would also have to translate into enhanced respect from the fans, (B) public backing of Julian by the coaching staff and other Sr. players, © a contract in the 250-350K range, and (d) most probably an implicit guarantee that he would be given a role with the organization after his playing career (a la Jim Brennen style).

I sympathize with JDG in some respects because his game doesn't lend itself well to being a fan favorite in North America. He's not a blood and guts guy that gets stuck in, and he's not a flash and dash goal scorer, his game is a little more abstract.

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It is not his fault he was given an outrageous offer. One of the few times in recent history that a Canadian player's agent has done a good job on a contract.

He could probably pull in half a million euros in Europe. I bet Hannover would take him back, for example. He still is respected in Spain, no one cares that he has not been sharp in Toronto. Depends as I see it on how he feels about staying in TO.

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I don't know guys, JDG has been steadily downhill with the exception of a slight blip within last year. I can't see TFC having any interest in bringing him back, even at 200k. For that reduced salary, there are better performing midfielders in MLS.

If MLS form is any indication, I think Bernier should be starting in his place for the MNT.

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It is not his fault he was given an outrageous offer. One of the few times in recent history that a Canadian player's agent has done a good job on a contract.

+1!!!... hey TFC fans, it's not your money, and at the end of the day it's really only the cap hit that counts... so everybody chill! :P

Also, the "doesn't preform at the level of a DP" stipulation somewhat perplexes me... lest we forget that the vast majority of DP's in the MLS have been somewhere between over-rated and epic flop.

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Ya but they would only want him for the money that TFC would give him, so doubt he'd be interested.

But he'll win games and not have the stress of being bitched about every game.

His options in Europe would not be good, Championship maybe, scanadivia, SPL?

If people think he's just gonna walk back onto a La Liga team that's insane.

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Also, the "doesn't preform at the level of a DP" stipulation somewhat perplexes me... lest we forget that the vast majority of DP's in the MLS have been somewhere between over-rated and epic flop.

Well, compare Julian impact on TFC with the one Frings had....Apple and orange TBH. Sadly, Julian is being perceive among the worst DP in the league.

Maybe they don't care in Europe about his play in MLS but I'm pretty sure that the people at Hannover look at recent club our NT games before signing someone who hasn't played in Europe for 3-4 years.

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maybe he'll end up in the Mexican Primera Division

IMO this would be one of the best leagues for him to feature. He wouldn't have to put up with too much physical play, more time on the ball and way better skilled teammates who understand proper off the ball movement. Unfortunately i just don't see any Mexican club bringing him in, they would much rather fill their foreign slots on SA's with an offensive bent.

Maybe he could land in Holland? That might be a good fit too...probably not good enough for a big club though and as a foreigner over the age of 21 he would have to be paid a min. of 450K Euros which makes that unlikely.

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Years ago, I got to know this coach/scout of Vfl Bochum, who were in BL 1 at that time when Dan Imhof was with them. They had this Japanese player named Shinji Ono who had a pretty good pedigree as one of the key players in Japan's WC run in 2002 and with Feyenoord. Anyway, I mentioned to the coach that I thought it was pretty impressive to have a player like that at the club. The coach replied that the only reason Ono wasn't at a bigger club was that it was common knowledge that he was chronically injured and wasn't nor would ever be the kind of player he was a few years prior. He said a lot of his mobility was permanently lost and that they just hoped his touch and passing would be compensate enough.

I've wondered if something similar isn't the case with JDG when I look at the drop off in the player he was say 5 years ago to now. It's like night and day. He was such a mobile, explosive player. When TFC signed him I was shocked he'd go from La Liga to MLS that soon, that he wouldn't have any offers from another La Liga or Prem or BL club. When his DP salary was revealed, it made it a little more understandable but I was still surprised that seemingly in his prime years he would choose to come back home and play in MLS. Maybe this has been revealed or discussed before but I haven't heard it.

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I don't blame him for getting the dp money. Great for him and great for Canadian soccer. He had some injuries, I'm pretty sure he has seldom been at 100% fitness. Hard to blame a guy for something he has little control over. A lot of TFC fans(not all) seemed to expect Julian to be a goal scoring machine or something. He has scored some beauties but he was never an offensive player.

I'd still try to sign him if I were TFC. He's not nearly as bad as the bandwagon jumpers seem to think that he is. In fact, I think he's one of the few players at TFC with any kind of composure on the field. Canadian or not, I like his game.

$400,000- 500,000 and a 2 year deal sounds about right.

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I don't blame him for getting the dp money. Great for him and great for Canadian soccer. He had some injuries, I'm pretty sure he has seldom been at 100% fitness. Hard to blame a guy for something he has little control over. A lot of TFC fans(not all) seemed to expect Julian to be a goal scoring machine or something. He has scored some beauties but he was never an offensive player.

I'd still try to sign him if I were TFC. He's not nearly as bad as the bandwagon jumpers seem to think that he is. In fact, I think he's one of the few players at TFC with any kind of composure on the field. Canadian or not, I like his game.

$400,000- 500,000 and a 2 year deal sounds about right.

Not exactly true. TFC fans who are criticizing his play are pointing at the midfield giveaways that led to counterattacking opportunities like the one Colombus scored on last week end or brain fart like the one that led to the PK against Santos. This is too many mistakes for a DP and captain for their liking and I can't really blame them. He was also nowhere to be seen in that 3-0 loss to SJ.

I haven't read one fan complaining about his scoring rate this year.

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maybe he'll end up in the Mexican Primera Division

That actually would not shock me. He played his best games in the past three years in the CL and usually looks at his best when playing central american sides. MLS is a pretty physical leagues by comparaison and that doesnt seem to suit him.

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A number of people have suggested contracts over 350,000. Unless there is a way to work it with allocation money, wouldn't that keep him as a DP?
yep

and it doesn't make any sense for TFC offer JDG anything over 200k, because having 3 DPs in the team is really hampering TFC's ability to sign some decent players. with 350k, you can get a good starter and a good depth player in MLS

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