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| Friday, September 14, 2001 24:14 EST |
Once again, into the abyss
By Jeff Bradley
[ESPN The Magazine]
Here is the column I wanted to write today:
The 2001 Allocations and what to look for...
Nice ring to it, eh? But then I sat down to construct the story and I realized, there are so many things that still need to get spelled out, it's impossible to even speculate. Let's start by simply cutting and pasting the allocation section from the last Boot Room. Here goes:
A total of 10 allocations will be awarded for the 2001 MLS Season.
Chicago will receive one, a replacement for Ante Razov.
Colorado will receive one, a replacement for Jorge DiGiMaLimpar (that's Jorge Dely Valdes/Joey DiGiamarino/Anders Limpar).
Columbus gets one for failing to make the playoffs
D.C. United also gets one for failing to make the playoffs.
Kansas City will get one, a replacement for Miklos Molnar.
Miami gets one for failing to make the playoffs
New England gets one, a replacement for Jose Luis Morales.
San Jose will get a total of three. One for failing to make playoffs, one as the long-awaited replacement for Eddie Lewis and one as a replacement for Khodadad Azizi.
Now, from the top, I think you'll see what I mean. There are a lot more allocations than Senior International slots, so what is going to happen. Take a look:
Chicago (1): The Fire already have three senior international players on their roster (Sergi Daniv, Peter Nowak and Hristo Stoitchkov), so before anyone else e-mails me about 37-year old German defender Thomas Berthold, remember, until the Fire move one of those seniors, the only route they can go with an allocation is: American or Junior International. Also keeping in mind that Chicago is already tight against the cap, the Fire may end up saving that allocation or trading it to a team that's got a little more cap and foreign space.
Colorado (1): A little more clear, I guess, because with Jorge Dely Valdes and Anders Limpar out of the picture, the Rapids do have a vacant Senior International slot ... or do they have two? Junior Agogo was a senior last year, but with the league-wide number going from 12 to 24, does his status change? Assume not ... so anyway, the Rapids will certainly try to find a central, attacking midfielder to replace Limpar and hope that Agogo and Henry Zambrano can for a partnership up top. Remember last year, Zambrano said Agogo had tunnel vision on the field ... so they'll have to kiss and make up first.
Columbus (1): We've been hearing they want a sweeper and will draft Ugandan Tenywa Bonseu if he is available when they pick. But, by my count, they've got three Senior Internationals in John Wilmar Perez, Ansil Elcock and Mario Gori. Am I missing a recent green card here? Or is somebody getting shipped out of the league?
D.C. United (1): D.C. has three Senior International players (Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno and Raul Diaz Arce) ... so presumably they'll have to look young or American.
Kansas City (1): Been hearing talk of a German forward ... and knowing Kansas City, they'll find one with a Green Card to boot. Gary Glasgow is the Wizards' lone Senior. Question with the Wizards is cap room. They still haven't re-signed Preki because they want him at a lower price, one would guess so they have some spending money for that Molnar replacement. But if Preki doesn't re-up, who's going to do the playmaking for Bob Gansler?
Miami (1): Like D.C. and Chicago, the Fusion have three Senior Internationals (Diego Serna, Welton and Andy Williams). GM Doug Hamilton says their best allocation prospects have been young enough to qualify as Juniors.
New England (1): I've got them down for three Senior Internationals, as well, with Maurcio Ramos, Mauricio Wright and Leonel Alvarez ... but Alvarez has not yet signed. Remember it was New England last year that set the precedent for using an allocation for a Youth International player when they acquired William Sunsing.
San Jose (3): Unless Mauricio Solis has been moved without anyone telling me, the Quakes, who still have Ronald Cerritos, have one vacant Senior slot. That would mean they, too, have to look young or American.
So, what do we make of the allocation list? Stay tuned, hopefully, for some answers...
In tight space
Greg Vanney is mulling three offers right now. One from Spanish second division team Racing de Ferrol, one from MLS and one from another European League that I've been sworn to secrecy not to disclose. Vanney has a chance to become one of the highest paid defenders in MLS, but has made it no secret that he desires a chance to play in Europe.
The player to watch in the MLS combine, or so I'm told, is Bolivian Joselito Vaca, a young midfielder who will be available in the upcoming draft. He's being billed as the heir to Marco Etcheverry's No. 10 shirt in Bolivia. Could he be the No.1 to San Jose?
Speaking of San Jose? Did not sound like a vote of confidence for Lothar Osiander coming out of the Sharks-Quakes presser yesterday. If Osiander is out, MLS would be wise to put Dave Dir to work as San Jose's draft expert. Dir is widely regarded as the most tenacious and passionate American scout and would certainly be prepared.
Only trade rumor circulating this week is that Kansas City has been talking to Columbus about winger Jason Farrell. No mention of who the Crew would get in return.
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