SSFC Going Forward into 2024

fuzzy
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 12, 2024 20:43:53 GMT Holden, airkeeper, and 1 more like this

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Post by fuzzy on Apr 12, 2024 20:43:53 GMT

Apr 11, 2024 23:19:26 GMT INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ said:

Apr 11, 2024 21:28:47 GMT Holden said:

I don't think we had an easy path. Honestly to me the biggest factor to us winning the CCC was that all of our starters were healthy and in form. Outside of your starting XI, the talent level of every MLS club falls off a cliff to where even one or two injuries completely derails your chances.

I also disagree that Philly and New England are two of the league's better clubs. That's waaay far from the truth in my opinion. I could name 6 or 7 other better clubs.

The biggest factor in the CCL win was that Pumas threw the game away. Like, I'm sorry, but if they don't give up those two penalties in Mexico, and come to Seattle with a 2-0 lead, there's just no way we're breaking them down. And then we got a huge stroke of luck when their guy punched Ruidiaz's shot - which I'm not even sure was on target - into his own net.

I wouldn't be so down on that series if I didn't have to hear the usual suspects say "BuT tHe cHAmPiOns LeAGuE!!!" every time I point out how bad Rusnak sucks or that the team has been crap for more than two years.

I am entirely with you on the second point. I personally object to "easy path" but it's more in the terms of no-asterisks, we won it cleanly. I'll also note it kind of pissed me off for a how RSL was, for a while, the banner team for making a CCL final when they played 0 Liga MX teams on their way there. Talk about an easy path...

But on the second point yes, that shit pisses me off to no end. We qualified for that CCL based on 2021 where we finished 3rd and were bounced in the first playoff game, not to mention this was a team clearly declining as referenced by we'd come off a season where we were in MLS cup (trounced by CLB) and then went on to have our worst season ever. Cups are fun because the best team doesn't always win, but 100% there's a vocal group of fans that are f'ing morons for thinking this team was somehow great in 2022.

I will also say I read the quote from the Athletic as more of a shot at MLS than Seattle specifically and I think that's deserved. In that light, I probably do disagree with the vocal Sounders fans here once again because I think they're taking something personal that isn't.

fuzzy
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 12, 2024 20:52:42 GMT airkeeper and searabbit like this

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Post by fuzzy on Apr 12, 2024 20:52:42 GMT

Apr 11, 2024 21:55:31 GMT Holden said:

Figured I'd post this here too, since the midseason rule change is relevant to our summer transfer window. theathletic.com/5404511/2024/04/10/mls-roster-rule-changes/

"Under the new rules, teams can have either three DPs and three U-22 players, or they can have two DPs and four U-22 players, plus $2 million in general allocation money (GAM)."

Interestingly, this incentivizes teams to only have 2 DPs instead of 3 (which is already the case), and continues to promote MLS's vision of targeting U-22 players and become a top selling league to Europe.

The biggest question I have about this right now is when do you get the GAM? Like, do you have to sign four U22s in order to get it or do you simply have two DPs or less and get it? What happens if you sign a 3rd DP?

That point aside, what I think is optimal is we actually *extend* Ruidiaz such that his remaining contract is spread between this season and next, likely with a small bonus, but we then buy him out in the winter. That way we can get down to two DPs and thus acquire the extra GAM. The alternative would be to buy down Rusnak which is probably more likely because it costs AH less actual cash. Personally I'm so down on this team I expect us to actually do nothing substantial with this, but given AH almost surely voted for these changes, I want to give him the chance to surprise me.

Does anyone know if GAM is actual money or simply salary cap money? As in, if a team aquires and uses the $2M GAM does the actual money spent come from the team or the league? I'll be more optimistic on it being spent if the latter, though there's an even more cynical view that AH could effectively put it in his pocket.

INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ Senior Member Posts: 3,717	SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 16, 2024 17:36:19 GMT sounderfan1974 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ on Apr 16, 2024 17:36:19 GMT Who knows if this metric has any merit, but it tracks with whT we are seeing in terms of attendance, performances, and results.

sounderfan1974
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 17, 2024 6:25:34 GMT

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Post by sounderfan1974 on Apr 17, 2024 6:25:34 GMT

Apr 16, 2024 17:36:19 GMT INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ said:

Who knows if this metric has any merit, but it tracks with whT we are seeing in terms of attendance, performances, and results.

Once upon a time, mostly because of attendance records, the Sounders were the darlings of MLS. Since then, we've been surpassed in that regard by numerous clubs. Above and beyond that is the fact that the Sounders have long ago decided not to sign any big name players. I know that they are an outlier, but there's no question Miami is #1 due to a certain player. While the Sounders FO will say that the club has been one of the most competitive in MLS since their inception, it takes more than that to "get clicks" online.

What I'm surprised about is where the Timbers are in this list- #12 with twice as much interest out of state than the Sounders. Ouch.

INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 17, 2024 15:52:20 GMT via mobile Holden and sounderfan1974 like this

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Post by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ on Apr 17, 2024 15:52:20 GMT

Apr 17, 2024 6:25:34 GMT sounderfan1974 said:

What I'm surprised about is where the Timbers are in this list- #12 with twice as much interest out of state than the Sounders. Ouch.

That one is actually pretty easy to explain, since they are right on the border with Vancouver.

Last Edit: Apr 17, 2024 15:52:36 GMT by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ

INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 17, 2024 18:47:56 GMT fuzzy likes this

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Post by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ on Apr 17, 2024 18:47:56 GMT

I don't know anything about this guy, but it seems like we shouldn't be looking for staff from Vancouver and pre-Messi Miami.

Apart from Davies falling into their lap, what are the great success stories from the Whitecaps academy?

Holden
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 17, 2024 18:53:30 GMT sounderfan1974 and fuzzy like this

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Post by Holden on Apr 17, 2024 18:53:30 GMT

Apr 12, 2024 20:52:42 GMT fuzzy said:

Apr 11, 2024 21:55:31 GMT Holden said:

Figured I'd post this here too, since the midseason rule change is relevant to our summer transfer window. theathletic.com/5404511/2024/04/10/mls-roster-rule-changes/

"Under the new rules, teams can have either three DPs and three U-22 players, or they can have two DPs and four U-22 players, plus $2 million in general allocation money (GAM)."

Interestingly, this incentivizes teams to only have 2 DPs instead of 3 (which is already the case), and continues to promote MLS's vision of targeting U-22 players and become a top selling league to Europe.

The biggest question I have about this right now is when do you get the GAM? Like, do you have to sign four U22s in order to get it or do you simply have two DPs or less and get it? What happens if you sign a 3rd DP?

That point aside, what I think is optimal is we actually *extend* Ruidiaz such that his remaining contract is spread between this season and next, likely with a small bonus, but we then buy him out in the winter. That way we can get down to two DPs and thus acquire the extra GAM. The alternative would be to buy down Rusnak which is probably more likely because it costs AH less actual cash. Personally I'm so down on this team I expect us to actually do nothing substantial with this, but given AH almost surely voted for these changes, I want to give him the chance to surprise me.

Does anyone know if GAM is actual money or simply salary cap money? As in, if a team aquires and uses the $2M GAM does the actual money spent come from the team or the league? I'll be more optimistic on it being spent if the latter, though there's an even more cynical view that AH could effectively put it in his pocket.

It's all unclear, purposefully. In fact, the Athletic article is the only source that these changes have been finalized. MLS has not made a statement on it, and their roster rules page hasn't been updated.

Then again, the MLS site wasn't updated with the 2024 rules until the season had already started...

It's my understanding that GAM comes from the league at the start of the season, and is most commonly used to buy down contracts, reducing the salary budget charge. For instance, we use a lot of GAM each year to buy down Morris, Roldan, and Yeimar's budget charges so that they do not take up DP status.

No clue on the timing of the $2M GAM awarded for the 2 DP structure. Also, what happens to that $2M GAM if a club decides to sign a 3rd DP? Is it taken away?

fuzzy
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 17, 2024 21:21:11 GMT sounderfan1974 and INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ like this

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Post by fuzzy on Apr 17, 2024 21:21:11 GMT

Apr 17, 2024 18:47:56 GMT INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ said:

I don't know anything about this guy, but it seems like we shouldn't be looking for staff from Vancouver and pre-Messi Miami.

Apart from Davies falling into their lap, what are the great success stories from the Whitecaps academy?

Teibert?

I'm with you; in /any/ business hiring someone with loads of experience but no impressive accomplishments tells me the Hiring Manager just didn't want to deal with the problem and wanted someone who can step in and just do a functioning job asap. I'm sure this guy can achieve that but it's a pretty uninspiring bar.

sounderfan1974
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 17, 2024 22:56:16 GMT Holden likes this

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Post by sounderfan1974 on Apr 17, 2024 22:56:16 GMT

Apr 17, 2024 18:47:56 GMT INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ said:

I don't know anything about this guy, but it seems like we shouldn't be looking for staff from Vancouver and pre-Messi Miami.

Apart from Davies falling into their lap, what are the great success stories from the Whitecaps academy?

I don't know. If the Sounders could get Chris Henderson back, I'd take him in a heartbeat!

My question about Dalrymple is what exactly is his job? Aren't there already enough staff working to develop Academy/Defiance players?

Holden
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 17, 2024 23:06:14 GMT airkeeper, sounderfan1974, and 1 more like this

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Post by Holden on Apr 17, 2024 23:06:14 GMT

Apr 17, 2024 22:56:16 GMT sounderfan1974 said:

Apr 17, 2024 18:47:56 GMT INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ said:

I don't know anything about this guy, but it seems like we shouldn't be looking for staff from Vancouver and pre-Messi Miami.

Apart from Davies falling into their lap, what are the great success stories from the Whitecaps academy?

I don't know. If the Sounders could get Chris Henderson back, I'd take him in a heartbeat!

My question about Dalrymple is what exactly is his job? Aren't there already enough staff working to develop Academy/Defiance players?

Lead of Hamstring Development would be worth its weight in gold.

I see this as an extra pair of scouting eyes for our youth pipeline squads. Someone who can offer a different perspective than a coach - both to players and to the front office.

INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 19, 2024 15:46:42 GMT sounderfan1974 likes this

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Post by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ on Apr 19, 2024 15:46:42 GMT

Apr 17, 2024 22:56:16 GMT sounderfan1974 said:

My question about Dalrymple is what exactly is his job? Aren't there already enough staff working to develop Academy/Defiance players?

Per the article:

"In his role with Sounders FC, he oversees the professional development of players with an emphasis on strengthening the pathway of the club’s highest-potential athletes, both on and off the field."

INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ Senior Member Posts: 3,717	SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 19, 2024 18:38:18 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ on Apr 19, 2024 18:38:18 GMT Craig Waibel has absolutely no idea what he's doing.

INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ
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SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 19, 2024 22:28:45 GMT sounderfan1974 likes this

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Post by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ on Apr 19, 2024 22:28:45 GMT

One thing that I found when reading about PDLV was that apparently the Sounders had been scouting him for 6 years. That made me think, maybe Waibel was just digging through Henderson's ancient files and PDLV was the only target who was still viable.

And that made me wonder . . . do we even have a scouting department anymore? Since winter 2020, almost all of our signings have been MLS journeymen or academy/Defiance players. The only exceptions are PDLV (on Henderson's radar 6 years ago) and Leo Chu (so shitty that it's possible he either wasn't scouted properly or was some agent scam).

Waibel is an idiot, but if he doesn't have a scouting team it would explain a lot of what's been going on for the last few years. Lagerwey had to deal with Hanauer's parsimony but he had the scouting team to find bargains like Kim or Torres or Goose. Maybe Waibel doesn't have that, and that's why he's signing Heber and Nathan and Musovski.

TSchulz Administrator Victory, or death! Posts: 8,610	SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 20, 2024 18:11:53 GMT Holden, airkeeper, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by TSchulz on Apr 20, 2024 18:11:53 GMT

sounderfan1974 Senior Member Posts: 4,037	SSFC Going Forward into 2024 Apr 20, 2024 19:34:23 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by sounderfan1974 on Apr 20, 2024 19:34:23 GMT Apr 20, 2024 18:11:53 GMT TSchulz said: It will be interesting to see who his replacement will be.