It's Tuesday and time for our weekly list of talking points that you can comment on below. This week we have three questions to get your opinions on...
Should Sounders FC use their third and final "Designated Player" (DP) spot to sign Fredy Montero to a longer and larger contract?
Josh over at the Times posed the question to General Manager Adrian Hanauer here. "Fredy is definitely a maturing and developing talent. I love Fredy. I loved him for the first moment he played for us. I know the fans have been on him, they want him shipped out, but then they want a statue built for him. I see a superstar emerging and maturing. He's young still, so he's going to be inconsistent and not as mature as an older player. All that said I would love to keep Fredy Montero here in Seattle for as many years as possible. How we ultimately accomplish that, as a DP or not a DP, we'll work though internally. We're very interesting in retaining Fredy Montero here as long as possible." ---Hanauer
I am in the mood to build Fredy a statue, how about you? Is Hanauer right that he's young and it still could go either way? Or, should Seattle just take the chance that the current Fredy is the 'final Fredy' and hop on getting him re-signed, pronto? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
Montero up for MLS Goal of the Week: Vote here
Where is Alvaro Fernandez going to end up when he starts starting?
It is only a matter of time before Alvaro "El Flaco" Fernandez becomes a regular starter. When he does, where will he be positioned? Who loses a starting job to the skinny one? Tell us your ideas in the comments section below.
Four straight and still only 50/50? Will Sounders FC make the MLS playoffs?
The great website www.SportsClubStats.com at one time showed the Sounders, at 4-4-8, with a 9% chance of making the 2010 MLS playoffs. Now that Seattle has run off four straight wins to go 8-4-8 (W-D-L) I thought I'd check back in with them. Seattle's playoff chances are now at 47%.
Jump on in with your take. Will the Sounders make the 2010 playoffs even after their terrible start to the season?
You are always welcome to join the discussions at www.SeattleSoccerTalk.com!
Comments
Yes, give him the DP spot. Alone that will give us a bigger transfer if he still goes to Europe, but if he really likes it here, I want him here. Do this at the end of the year though. I don't want this happening now. We will lose people next year. Hopefully Evans and Jaqua which would be 361,875. You can pretty much put that into Montero's added DP hit against the cap and we are set (from what I remember it was close to 400k and he makes 180k). I think that would be huge boost too to see a kid go from people being upset at effort to DP. Give some hope to others around the league to raise their level of play to get to that status.
Is that a mocking tone I sense from Hanauer in that quote? ;) Fans are on the same rollercoater as the club and players are. Enjoy the ride, sir!
1. Yes.
2. Left wing. Goodbye Zakuani.
3. Yes.
Love Montero's play lately. I'd give him the DP spot if it is the only way to keep him here during this transfer window. Otherwise, DP him after the season depending on if his form holds.
There are way too many people that don't understand what the DP spot means, honestly. It's kinda ridiculous to give Freddy a raise of (at least) $155,000 in the middle of his contract. It's a dumb idea. Perhaps when this contract expires.
Giving him the DP spot would be good for Seattle and ultimately good for the sport in the US.
Hanauer appears to be a pretty good talent scout. That might be the limit of his abilities.
If Freddy Montero continues playing well, he will get picked up by a team in Europe. Im guessing that is his ultimate goal. I loved his celebration after his goal Sunday... showing pride for his club! I think he understands that Sounders fan want hardworking players. Wait till the end of the year and then make decision on DP spot. The winger issue is great! Heavier competition amongst players for starting roles is always a plus, economics 101.
In this case, the question could be clarified by adding this: Should Sounders FC use the DP spot to retain Montero if it is the only way to do so? There are of course other ways to keep Fredy beyond 2010, including a contract that falls just under the DP salary range but would be double what he is making now. But, if it came down to *needing* to use the DP to keep him, would you do it? Should the Sounders?
montero is still a kid. Yes he has been playing well lately, but he is still young and will be inconsistent, Give him some more time before we fork out more money for him, as well as the fee for having three DPs. Let him really earn that DP spot. Keep up the good work Montero!
I agree with anyone saying that he must wait until 2011 to get this upgrade. Hopefully this season will be a defining moment as to whether or not he's worth it.
Yes, Hanauer is mocking the fans, but I think only in as much as he knows longterm club decisions can't be made based on current popularity.
Um, hey Adrian... please explain Ljungberg to us again?
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