Friday Orange Slices: Trialist Abound

Well, it’s because each MLS team is only given a limited number of claims rights. What I mean is that I believe each team is only allowed to place their claim on 5 or 6 players each season without having to sign them. What this means is that when the Dynamo trial 2 or 3 guys at a time, they don’t necessarily want to place their claim on any of them until they can scout them in practices. Why do that?

If another team catches wind of a trialist and perhaps has an interest, unless a claim is placed on the player, the second team may then subsequently place a claim to said player. It is very possible this is actually what has happened with the Cruz2.0 to FCD issue, though granted FCD had claims to him previously.

But yeah, that’s why they don’t name names all the time. The lesser trialists, it’s not such a big deal, but when they begin going after decent international talent (perhaps the European?), then they need to remain mum so no other team swoops in and takes advantage.

Portland needs defensive help, especially a CB and we got a log jam there. The Wiz of Boz seems to live on the bench as does Freeman. Boz weighs in heavily @ 210k. The longer these players sit, the more they lose value. Freeman is 150-161k (Ginge, which value counts against the cap- base or guaranteed salary?).

Coop is @ 250-267.5k. Not good value for the salary, but he would definitely upgrade our front line, and can shoot from distance.

What’s interesting is Martek’s long fuelled rationalization about why we gifted (my choice of words, some day Julius James will be a trivia answer) De Ro to Toronto was to make salary cap room for Boz, the lynchpin for our central defense. That was in 2009. Dunno if that was the FO’s thinking, but if it was, that plan hasn’t been too successful. Both Boz and Freeman have “long term” contracts with options as does Coop, so I’m assuming they run 3-4 yrs.

What do you think of a straight up trade Boz for Coop? If this is a rebuilding yr, would love to throw Freeman into the mix for picks, surely to be low rd if Portland continues to plummet in the standings. I’m ambivalent about the former, though I think it would strengthen the squad, but thumbs up on the latter (both Dfers for Coop plus 1st rd pick, if possible).

Thoughts???

Damn, Tony Tchani was available? Would have loved to get him, move Cameron back to CB, trade Boz, Freeman, and possibly another CB. Getting the ball out of the back, with a quick transition to attack would help immensely.

While Cameron can be a good DM, he’s a phenom CB.

Sigh, too late. Back to static offense. Sometimes we mirror the USMNT, which at times seems to run a perpetual 1/2 court basketball offense- the old pick and roll deep in the paint. Against Toronto, Martek rolled his eyes, lamenting we resemble the Celts in the fading Bird-McHale-Parrish ‘twilight’ yrs.

http://www.imscouting.com/players/bjorn-lindemann/

IM Scouting has him listed as a left midfielder…

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/07/15/new-trialists-s%C3%A1nchez-lindemann-camp-dynamo

RE: Lindemann

“Lindemann has been with VfL Osnabrück — who were relegated from the German second division this past season while being coached by American former pro Joe Enochs — since 2009, mostly playing as a central midfielder with a knack for going forward. The 27-year-old (pictured above left) tallied five goals and three assists in all competitions for Osnabrück last season and is open to continuing his career in the US.

"I think I have a good head for passing and a good shot, and I have good conditioning," Lindemann said. "It’s a new situation here, coming in the middle of the season. I just hope I can bring some technique and passing to help the club."

Barrett remarked on some of the positives he saw in the newcomers.

"We were playing a possession game and while we weren’t doing a whole lot, it was hot and we saw them putting in the effort to get on the ball and fight through the heat," Barrett said. "With the travel, that’s a positive sign.""

I see two things, he played CAM basically and is comfortable passing and moving with the ball, and both players pushed through the heat — indicating to me they actually push themselves instead of being fat flops.