Brian Ching Selected in Expansion Draft by Montreal Impact

by Zach Woosley on Nov 23, 2011 2:39 PM CST

Well, here we go.

Brian Ching has been selected in the expansion draft by the Montreal Impact. In order for Ching to finish his career in Houston, something he's stated he wants to do, the club will have to work a deal with the Impact to reacquire him. Will they do it, who knows.

There's the sentimental part of me that says give Montreal allocation money or a DP slot, hell even a player, to get Ching back for one more season. Sentimentality is not always the best choice though. The business side of me says let Montreal pay Ching's just below the DP line guaranteed contract and watch him get elective season ending knee surgery. Ching sits out the season, retires and joins Houston's front office and robs Montreal of nearly half a million dollars.

Look, we all love Brian Ching, but let's not forget the fact he's a 33-year old forward with injury problems. Sometimes you have to separate the emotion from the business of sport, but I'll be the first to admit that is not easy. The Dynamo made a calculated risk to expose their captain and team icon to selection by an expansion team and they got bit in the ass. I expect they had a contingency plan if this were to happen but who knows where this goes at this point.

You can genuinely make a solid case as to why the Dynamo should do whatever it takes to get Ching back and while letting him go is a smart business decision.

Needless to say, there are a ton of upset Dynamo fans right now with anger directed at Impact head coach Jesse Marsch (who helped keep Ching off the 2010 US World Cup team), the Impact organization and the Dynamo organization. In the end, Montreal called Ching's bluff. Brian has said before the draft he would retire before playing in Montreal, Marsch admitted talking to Ching this morning and being told that again by the man himself, but proceeded to select him anyway.

Shrewd move honestly. Now to get Ching back in orange next season, the Dynamo will have to pay up. Otherwise it'll be on Ching's shoulders whether to stand by his statement or go ahead and play for the Impact in 2012.

The next few days should certainly be rather interesting.

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Brian Ching, a nation is cheering for you to retire!

Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.

by Benjamin Massey on Nov 23, 2011 2:42 PM CST reply actions

This is just angering.

by DD77DD on Nov 23, 2011 2:48 PM CST reply actions

Noooooo

My anger at these guys is just…unable to be put into words. I can already imagine the greeting they will get here in our new stadium for screwing us like this.

by HernanEscobar on Nov 23, 2011 2:49 PM CST reply actions

I think this could take a while to play out

I have no doubt that Ching will never set foot on the field for the Impact. Ching’s salary and the fact that Marsh knows Ching won’t play give the Dynamo some leverage when negotiating to get Ching back. In other words the Dynamo can wait until Marsh starts getting nervous about having to pay a large salary for a guy who suddenly needs season ending surgery and work out a low impact deal….at least that is what I’m hoping.

I was a little nervous when I started thinking about it earlier today, but I expected to Montreal to do the right thing. Smart business move if you remove the human factor, but sometimes the “smart” business move can backfire on you down the road when you need a favor.

"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds

by papabear on Nov 23, 2011 2:50 PM CST reply actions

Montreal have nothing to lose in this

Picking a player in the expansion draft does not mean that you have to sign that player. Therefore Montreal can sit back and wait until the Dynamo is willing to offer something worthwhile for Ching.

by AAAA on Nov 23, 2011 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

Well, they have “the useful player or asset they could have selected” to lose.

Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.

by Benjamin Massey on Nov 23, 2011 9:25 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly

Marsch has now reveraled himself to be (1) a moron (2) a poor steward of his franchise and (3) a douchebag.

At least he’s the best he can be in those three areas. Aim high Jesse!!

"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie

by Martek on Nov 23, 2011 9:46 PM CST up reply actions

I also like the surgey idea

Shrewd, except for the karmic payback

And it’ll come- like a cannon!

by playtherapy on Nov 23, 2011 2:52 PM CST reply actions

Team Names

I’m sure most of you notice my propensity to call FC Dallas by their appropriate name, FC Frisco.

Montreal gets a name too…Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys.

--
"You live and learn. At any rate, you live." -Douglas Adams

Managing Editor of Dynamo Theory
Yo si le voy, le voy al naranja!

by Zach Woosley on Nov 23, 2011 2:57 PM CST reply actions

Jesse Marsch is a

C U Next Tuesday

"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie

by Martek on Nov 23, 2011 8:15 PM CST up reply actions

yes FC Frisco have been our rivals since day one, but i already hate the impact more than i hate them. Smart business move or not, that was an asshole move that might have ended Ching’s soccer career

by Mendoza1011 on Nov 23, 2011 3:09 PM CST reply actions

agreed

I already hate them, and they haven’t even played a minute on the MLS pitch

by DD77DD on Nov 23, 2011 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

dito

by RedAce on Nov 23, 2011 7:42 PM CST up reply actions

Mistake comes from Dynamo management

Montreal is being accused of having taken Ching knowing full well that he would retire. However, the real blame lies with the Dynamo who attempted to game the system by having Ching threaten to retire if chosen by Montreal. It was an underhanded strategy to protect 12 players instead of 11.

Montreal is entering the MLS and it’s important for them to build the best team possible as fast as they can. It would have been stupid not to select the best player available, even if it’s only for his trade value.

If we allow such attempts to circumvent the rules, other teams are sure to follow. They will find more loopholes and it will destroy the already fragile MLS. There are rules and they have to be respected. Houston should have protected Ching; they have nobody to blame but themselves. Stop whining about Montreal’s decision. You should really be furious with your own team for not having shown any respect for their best scorer.

In fact, I don’t understand why Brian Ching isn’t upset with the Dynamo. The only logical explanation is that that he discussed the strategy with the organization beforehand and that’s disgusting.

by Mark843843 on Nov 24, 2011 1:20 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Hmmm

Anybody think the FO bamboozled fans and hoped Ching would get picked all along to clear some serious cap space for new signings? We do need another attacking midfielder and some reinforcements up front.

This way, the team didn’t cut or release Ching, they “lost” him to Montreal. Could be a clever move.

--
"You live and learn. At any rate, you live." -Douglas Adams

Managing Editor of Dynamo Theory
Yo si le voy, le voy al naranja!

by Zach Woosley on Nov 23, 2011 4:15 PM CST reply actions