FCE keeper glut

[Jason]

Perhaps some of the more connected FCE supporters can provide a bit of insight for me regarding the FCE keeper situation. It seems that they have 4 keepers that they are trying to use right now. Parker has been the starter of late, and won NASL player of the week this past week I believe. They are obviously high on his ability as he is one of the few non-Canadians on the club that usually sticks with Canadians except if they find a player they really value. After his bad injury last year it also might have been easy to shuffle him off with the other guys they have available.

It's hard to argue with Parker's performance of late, but I am a bit mystified re: the backup. Has Smits been dressing as backup lately? Has he really supplanted Monsalve and Misiewicz? We know that both of these keepers come with some significant experience even though they are young. Are there injury issues? Can someone provide their impression of the depth chart? And can this reasonable continue? I have a hard time imagining either of these guys being too happy with not even making the bench of a NASL club. Even Smits commented that he did not really expect to see the pitch much this year.

Jason

[ahuber]

Parker, as of late, has done everything to deserve the starters role this season. He's got the experience and knows how to communicate with his back line better than the other keepers. He's done nothing that should take him out from being a regular starter. His injury was probably the big reason Smits and Misiewicz were signed, giving him as much time to heal as possible. After last seasons experience (having to play a NAIT keeper), the team wanted to make sure it wasn't a weak spot on the team.

With Monsalve, I think he took a step back in having an early ankle injury. He has seemed to be incredibly rusty and I'm thinking the team is trying to get him to shake that off by playing a lot of reserve games. I still think the team is pretty high on him. I still think he'll be the 1b keeper, where Parker is 1a.

Misiewicz strikes me as a project keeper. He's currently injured I believe and the team is alright with allowing players to take their time in rehab and recovery. Seems like they don't want any lingering issues with players. We've seen what he is capable of in the Olympic qualifiers and the first few games of the season, but was shelled against Minnesota. I think he needs a little more experience to help him communicate and organize his backline. He's very raw and will probably see a lot of time with the reserves when he's healthy again.

I think Smits is a long term project too. I think the team is aware that Parker, Monsalve and Misiewicz can be easily be lured away by bigger clubs in the coming season, and Smits can help bring some stability. He's capable of playing at this level and the team is clearly confident enough in him to come in on relief, as he stays on the bench. He's a good keeper to have around and seems to accept any role the team will give him.

After having to lean heavily on Rein Baart last season, I'm happy the team has this 'problem'. FCE is trying to find its way as a development squad for Canadian players, so having a few extra around to get some pro minutes bodes well for them now and down the road.

[Opie]

Yeah, I don't expect Parker to hang around long. And not only because he is getting better as a keeper. Some of his modeling pictures have gotten out on the internet and made a splash. In a bigger league, he could be a superstar with his male model looks. Basically he makes David Beckham look like Danny DeVito

A MLS team could make a lot of new female fans if they properly marketed him.

[ditty]

I thought Parker clearly won the keeper's job last year when Baart was suspended the first time. To me, there was clear favouritism shown to Baart, being that he was a Dutch veteran. Parker is definitely a solid NASL keeper.

[alberta white]

Yeah, I don't expect Parker to hang around long. And not only because he is getting better as a keeper. Some of his modeling pictures have gotten out on the internet and made a splash. In a bigger league, he could be a superstar with his male model looks. Basically he makes David Beckham look like Danny DeVito

A MLS team could make a lot of new female fans if they properly marketed him.

Unfortunatley,although he may stop the ball, he still wont stop the systematic crisis at TFC. Not unless he studied carpentry at college.

[Jason]

Parker, as of late, has done everything to deserve the starters role this season. He's got the experience and knows how to communicate with his back line better than the other keepers. He's done nothing that should take him out from being a regular starter. His injury was probably the big reason Smits and Misiewicz were signed, giving him as much time to heal as possible. After last seasons experience (having to play a NAIT keeper), the team wanted to make sure it wasn't a weak spot on the team.

With Monsalve, I think he took a step back in having an early ankle injury. He has seemed to be incredibly rusty and I'm thinking the team is trying to get him to shake that off by playing a lot of reserve games. I still think the team is pretty high on him. I still think he'll be the 1b keeper, where Parker is 1a.

Misiewicz strikes me as a project keeper. He's currently injured I believe and the team is alright with allowing players to take their time in rehab and recovery. Seems like they don't want any lingering issues with players. We've seen what he is capable of in the Olympic qualifiers and the first few games of the season, but was shelled against Minnesota. I think he needs a little more experience to help him communicate and organize his backline. He's very raw and will probably see a lot of time with the reserves when he's healthy again.

I think Smits is a long term project too. I think the team is aware that Parker, Monsalve and Misiewicz can be easily be lured away by bigger clubs in the coming season, and Smits can help bring some stability. He's capable of playing at this level and the team is clearly confident enough in him to come in on relief, as he stays on the bench. He's a good keeper to have around and seems to accept any role the team will give him.

After having to lean heavily on Rein Baart last season, I'm happy the team has this 'problem'. FCE is trying to find its way as a development squad for Canadian players, so having a few extra around to get some pro minutes bodes well for them now and down the road.

I don't know how likely it is that these keepers will be lured away. I suspect they are under contract for a while. I heard Saiko say he is under contract for 2 more option years and with FCE's philosophy of wanting to tryito sell players down the road I would suspect the keepers are on similar deals. That of course doesn't mean they couldn't be sold, but it seems somewhat unlikely that they will be abandoning the club at the end of this year.

Jason

[alberta white]

^ Remember that MLS policy is not to pay a penny in Transfers. which considering that tis the way the system operates throughout the world seems a little small minded to me.

[Max]

From obvious reason I just can tell you what is with Misiewicz. Michal is struggling with leg injury. At first it was groin and now it is some kind of muscle issue.

[alberta white]

That can all be part of the same healing process. Favouring an Injury can result in another due to over tensioning to protect the first. seth Johnson when at leeds seemed to be constanly caught up in that cycle.

[ditty]

^ Remember that MLS policy is not to pay a penny in Transfers. which considering that tis the way the system operates throughout the world seems a little small minded to me.

I actually think this strategy has served them well. For a long time, though I don't think any longer, players signed contracts with MLS and were allocated to clubs. I'm pretty sure those days are over. But overseas players have come over on free transfers and that's generally suited the type of player who will come over from Europe. Within the league, player movement between clubs occurs more in the way of North American style trades rather than buying and selling. Salaries are rising, though with probably some of the greatest discrepancies in the world, and as revenues increase, maybe the policy will change. But I wonder if lower tier national leagues even in South America and Europe see much movement through transfer fees? I'm guessing some, but not very much.

[Jason]

I actually think this strategy has served them well. For a long time, though I don't think any longer, players signed contracts with MLS and were allocated to clubs. I'm pretty sure those days are over. But overseas players have come over on free transfers and that's generally suited the type of player who will come over from Europe. Within the league, player movement between clubs occurs more in the way of North American style trades rather than buying and selling. Salaries are rising, though with probably some of the greatest discrepancies in the world, and as revenues increase, maybe the policy will change. But I wonder if lower tier national leagues even in South America and Europe see much movement through transfer fees? I'm guessing some, but not very much.

I think the MLS policy of not paying any transfer fees to NASL or other lower league North American based clubs has been really unfortunate. I think it would really stimulate the growth of NASL or USL Pro if they had a good player that they could sell to MLS instead of losing him once his contract is over. Realistically, a good NASL player would not merit much of a fee, but anything would be valuable to these lower level clubs. And the possibility of sharing a bigger transfer fee if MLS sells him off to Europe could result in an occasional windfall. It would be rare, but it would definitely inspire lower league clubs to hunt for young prospects.

Jason

[alberta white]

I actually think this strategy has served them well. For a long time, though I don't think any longer, players signed contracts with MLS and were allocated to clubs. I'm pretty sure those days are over. But overseas players have come over on free transfers and that's generally suited the type of player who will come over from Europe. Within the league, player movement between clubs occurs more in the way of North American style trades rather than buying and selling. Salaries are rising, though with probably some of the greatest discrepancies in the world, and as revenues increase, maybe the policy will change. But I wonder if lower tier national leagues even in South America and Europe see much movement through transfer fees? I'm guessing some, but not very much.

Selling players up the line is almost obligatory in England. Some clubs like Crewe Alexandria seem to be in existance purley to service the upper League with young talent.

Note the likes of David Platt, Geoff Thomas, Rob Jones, Neil Lennon and the new wonder kid at Man united, Nick Powell.

Heck they even take Man U cast offs and turn them into half decent chippy Welsh Midfielders, like Robbie Savage.

[Opie]

I think the MLS policy of not paying any transfer fees to NASL or other lower league North American based clubs has been really unfortunate. I think it would really stimulate the growth of NASL or USL Pro if they had a good player that they could sell to MLS instead of losing him once his contract is over. Realistically, a good NASL player would not merit much of a fee, but anything would be valuable to these lower level clubs. And the possibility of sharing a bigger transfer fee if MLS sells him off to Europe could result in an occasional windfall. It would be rare, but it would definitely inspire lower league clubs to hunt for young prospects.

Jason

It is not MLS's job to stimulate the growth of the NASL and USL. MLS is a business whose main job is keeping costs down. Paying transfer fees for mediocre talent that ends up in their league anyway is a wasted expenditure. It is much smarter for MLS to spend that money in signing young American and Canadian prospects to contracts instead of them heading to Europe. Like Darren Mattocks for example.

The best talent in D2 ends up in MLS anyway. Etienne Barbara was the 2011 NASL MVP and is now with the Whitecaps. Yordany Alvarez was the 2011 USL-Pro MVP and is now with Real Salt Lake. The creme of the NASL/USL crop always ends up in MLS. Without transfer fees. So MLS is not going to change things.

[alberta white]

It is not MLS's job to stimulate the growth of the NASL and USL. MLS is a business whose main job is keeping costs down. Paying transfer fees for mediocre talent that ends up in their league anyway is a wasted expenditure. It is much smarter for MLS to spend that money in signing young American and Canadian prospects to contracts instead of them heading to Europe. Like Darren Mattocks for example.

The best talent in D2 ends up in MLS anyway. Etienne Barbara was the 2011 NASL MVP and is now with the Whitecaps. Yordany Alvarez was the 2011 USL-Pro MVP and is now with Real Salt Lake. The creme of the NASL/USL crop always ends up in MLS. Without transfer fees. So MLS is not going to change things.

I think your correct in suming up MLS as a business. But a business that neglects its R and D has a habit of falling behind the curve. I also have a problem that I know it to be a business first rather than a sporting competition.

Although I have seen a fair amount of Barbie to accept that he's half decent, and capable of playing in a reasonably high level in Europe. The comment about waiting for mediocre talent to become free feels like justification for a classic piece of race to bottom economics.

Only Five of the Current USA squad play in North American. The MLS model is hardly keeping the cream of North American talent back home.

[madmonte]

It is not MLS's job to stimulate the growth of the NASL and USL. MLS is a business whose main job is keeping costs down. Paying transfer fees for mediocre talent that ends up in their league anyway is a wasted expenditure. It is much smarter for MLS to spend that money in signing young American and Canadian prospects to contracts instead of them heading to Europe. Like Darren Mattocks for example.

The best talent in D2 ends up in MLS anyway. Etienne Barbara was the 2011 NASL MVP and is now with the Whitecaps. Yordany Alvarez was the 2011 USL-Pro MVP and is now with Real Salt Lake. The creme of the NASL/USL crop always ends up in MLS. Without transfer fees. So MLS is not going to change things.

Just found it funny that you said American and Canadian prospects, then proceeded to use a Jamaican, and Cuban, and a Maltese guy as your reference points. But I get the point regardless about NASL guys being looked at by MLS, and the MLS keeping costs down, which they DO indeed have to do.

[Opie]

Just found it funny that you said American and Canadian prospects, then proceeded to use a Jamaican, and Cuban, and a Maltese guy as your reference points. But I get the point regardless about NASL guys being looked at by MLS, and the MLS keeping costs down, which they DO indeed have to do.

Probably should of used Andrew Wenger or Salgado. Although Mattocks hasn't been capped yet for Jamaica. He received a number of good offers from Europe coming out of college and MLS was forced to up their offer to him so he would sign and be eligible for the draft. That was my main point. The money should be spent on players like that.

The points about Barbara and Alvarez wasn't about American and Canadian prospects. They were just used as an example to show that the best players in the NASL and USL end up in MLS without transfer fees.