MLS transaction deadline looming

We're getting close to the Sept. 14th MLS player transaction deadline, meaning teams have just three days to make additions to their teams ahead of the late-season playoff push. Unfortunately for MLS fans, teams generally don't make too many moves at this point in the year.

Here's my question to you. If you were GM for this week and you could make some moves, what moves would you make? Tell me your favorite MLS team and tell me what moves, be they trades or signings, that you think would help put your team over the top. Please try to be realistic. Don't tell me you're a Crew fan and you'd go get Kaka for the stretch run.

Let's hear them folks. Make some suggestions and maybe some MLS GMs can become inspired or have a good laugh (yes, some MLS GMs do read SBI).

Comments

[LAJames]

NYRB:

Reyna out, Zindane in

Colorado:

If they really want to have any chance of going anywhere they are going to need a reliable forward. There's got to be someone availble in the four corners of the globe...is Augustin Delgado still suspended by FIFA?

[LAJames]

I know what sticklers there are out there for spelling so:

I meant Zidane, just a typo.

[Jordan]

why get kaka when the crew needs wayne rooney

[Fuego Fanatico]

It's difficult because of roster constraints but if I ran the Fire I would try to trade the rights to Thiago (SI) for a domestic who can play RM - even if the player is something of a project. If the Crew wanted to flip Eddie Gaven or if the Red Bulls were willing to relinquish Mike Magee, that'd be good. Maybe even flip Thiago to COL for a player like Cunliffe who would be a YI. Add/subtract draft picks to even things out.

[Fuego Fanatico]

Oops, sorry. Cunliffe is with Chivas USA. I would still offer Thiago and picks.

[Dominghosa]

No Kaka for the Crew?
OK, then Diego Maradona, circa 1985 for Chivas USA.

[John]

An overview--I'm going to restrict myself solely to talent within MLS (b/c I don't think 4 days is enough to work out foreign signings and workpermit issues). Additionally, I"m not going to look at teams that need more than one piece (RSL, TFC, LAG). Here goes:

1. Columbus needs a possible finisher, so Garey and O'Rourke for Pavon. Pavon ain't much but with service from Grabavoy and Schelotto he might start looking like Jaqua in Houston. And LAG gets 2 cheap pieces to build with for 2008.

2. NYRB needs defense (depth or starters). Houston has injury and form issues with 3 key attackers: Holden, Ching and DeRo. So NYRB trades Mathis and Magee for Mulrooney. Mulrooney can play D-mid or outside defense while Mathis and Magee give Houston coverage and depth.

3. KC needs another attacker to help out EJ or at least they need a shot of addrenaline to try and turn around their fad. They trade Garcia and Arnaud to NE for Noonan and allocation money (NE has the money and won't use it plus Noonan is expensive). Or they trade Burciaga and Victorine to FCD for Ruiz (who has to go next year anyway if FCD keeps Denilson and the league doesn't give out a 2nd DP).

[cesba]

I think the Fire tried to trade Thiago, but found no takers. Probably because every team in the league knew they were going to release him as soon as Conde was available. Thiago was waived and can be picked up by any team with an open SI slot.

The Fire still need a right mid.....badly. Logan Pause is still starting in that position. They may be able to get someone decent by dangling Chad Barrett, who is now coming in as a sub for the Wanchope/Rolfe combo up front.

[Lakai]

Well can reyna be traded to chivas for amado????

or reyna traded to chicago to be with his lovely coach friend for anyone better then reyna ( i think thats anyone on chicago)

but for RBNY we should look in for next year

i think we get the DP tag off of reyna and get Jacek Krzynowek from poland a number 10 that we always wanted and probably has the best shot in the world from 25yds to 35yds out and a great leader

and get a brand new spanking defence clean house there and get fast strong defenders that can defend and a good goalkeeper not a sweeper who plays goalkeeper

[AlexS]

I don't think Houston would go for the Mathis/Magee for Mulrooney deal there John. While it is true that Houston is suffering from injuries, they are getting Ching and Holden back soon (knock on wood. Also, what's Mathis' cap total? Houston looked to be close to the cap last time I looked. considering the injuries, I think Houston has less depth they would be willing to give up at defender than midfield. We're at the end of our depth there (Missing Davis and Holden, DeRo on international duty last week) but overall there is far more depth at midfield than on defense. After Barret, Ianni, Waibel, Cochrane, and Robinson, there is only Mulrooney (who plays in midfield as well). If one person goes down, then there might be NO senior defenders left on the bench. I don't think Houston will give up a good cover man who gets spot starts in midfield for two, more one-dimensional players at a position they are already loaded in.

[Matt L]

Take a look at...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Unattached_footballers

If a team wants an athletic, powerful defender for the stretch run (NYRB, Chivas), then they should sign Trabelsi ASAP if their rosters allow.

[A Diddy]

There's no way RBNY let's go of Mathis. Not with Mr. Unreliable Van Den Bergh and youngster Richards as the only other attacking midfield options.

[sublicon]

Yeah, great idea...get rid of out #3 goalscorer, who needs Mathis or his goals anyway.

Sheer brilliance.

Matt L - thanks for that, I'll go over it with Bruce.

[matt]

I'm a fire fan and I would love to see Hecules Gomez come play RM and add some speed while we wait for Justin Mapp to recover. We need someone aggressive to help take heat of Blanco and HG started the season strong out wide for the babbling brooks. I think playing at sea level might help him a lot. the only question is whether or not he has a green card.

[NewFoundMadness]

I like John's Ruiz for Burciaga+Victorine trade, FCD definitely needs a stronger backline. Hell, why not a Ruiz for Jimmy Conrad swap, unless of course you believe that Serioux can improve at his Center Back position.

If FCD could find a quality defender in another trade, I'd trade Serioux back to TFC for...uh...who do they have?
;-)

[bill]

matt,

Herculez Gomez is USA born and raised. He played for Bob Bradley at the Copa America!

Bill

[John]

1. Thiago was offered around the league. No takers.

2. You're probably right that Houston wouldn't want to move Mulrooney. And there are lots of reasons why NYRB wouldn't want to move Mathis or other players.

But right now, there are a bunch of teams: NYRB, Columbus, Colorado, Chicago, KC that are under pressure to pull a deal. B/c those teams haven't played well of late (other than Chicago) and could miss the playoffs if they hit a bad series combined with each team has at least one hole that has been apparent all season (Chicago, no-one on the right side, Columbus--no finisher, NYRB--defensive quality and depth). So this is a combination of the final push for the playoffs and positioning the team to be successful in the playoffs.

I think Arena needs to make a deal for a defender. What does he have that is tradeable? Magee won't get much. Mathis could draw something (b/c of the cap deal with RSL and Colorado). And if it's not one of those two, than it's someone like Dane Richards. Colorado is stupid if they don't move for a finisher. They had great depth until they lost Marshall and Szetela. Maybe Rogers could entice some people. And KC really out to do something to try and stir things up. They've got a bunch of complimentary players (Victorine, Garcia, Burciaga, Arnaud) that could be attractive in part b/c some (like Arnaud and Victorine) are very versatile.

[matt]

thanks bill, I think I may have lost conciousness for a moment while writing that. The whole concept of the FIre actually going out and getting players is heady stuff and something that's going to take some relearning, so please forgive my disorientation. Still, I think Gomez could really help the team

[John]

BTW, I meant to say Columbus rather than Colorado in the last post. It's obvious that colorado (or at least Clavijo) is stupid, period.

[weezy]

ruiz for burgiaga and victorine might be a little much, victorine is leading KC in assists and Bruciaga is one of the best attacking fullbacks in the league

[The Nick]

There are some interesting guys on that list.

Igor Biscan 29yo
Francesco Colannese 36yo
Flavio da Conceicao 33yo
Marian Hristov 34yo
Saliou Lassissi 29yo
Ray Parlour 34yo
Alessandro Pistone 32yo
Michael Reiziger 34yo

Lassissi is interesting. A 29 year old defender who has Serie A experience with Roma. Biscan is the other major interest. Pistone is still relatively young at 32, but injuries are a big issue with him.

[J]

DC needs a 3rd forward, while multiple teams need a winger. I'd trade Gros plus a draft pick or allocation for Hernandez, Gomez, or Barrett. Hell, I'd trade a draft pick for the rights to Thiago. There's no reason why a team like NE hasn't made a move for him. He's cheap, talented, and is a decent SI to fill out a roster with.

[dotThink]

RBNY - call a mulligan. trade everyone 'cept Angel & Altidore for 20 different guys.

[matt]

Gros and a pick for Barrett? Done!

[BoB]

I've heard a tiny rumor about Boswell to Chicago and I'm all for that. Let's get him in here.