Goff - any word on the shirt sponsor deal?

Any color too on what it may do to the historical adidas logo on the front?

Here's one for the DC United team: Juan Roman Riquelme. He's on the outs with Villareal and likely to leave during the January transfer window for a very low fee. His salary requirments might break the bank, but think about it: Riquelme or Beckham, which one is on top right now? No question in my mind!

I have trouble imagining Emilio getting a huge contract to play at some big European/Latin American club. The only things he's got is the ability to finish, and the ability to avoid injury. He can't keep possession, he's not fast, he had one assist all season, and he's not exactly in his early twenties.

That being said, it'll be nice to have him back next year. :)

@UVA to RFK: But doesn't that make him the perfect MLS striker? ;-)

Since everyone else is sponsored by some sugary, caffeinated energy drink, will Seattle's shirt sponsor be Triple Venti Double-Pump Caramel Macchiato (with soy milk, because we wouldn't want to alienate the lactose-intolerant soccer fan)?

I Love Luci.

Emilio wouldn't have to go to a big European club to make more money than he makes here. He's not going to move to a Chelsea or Barcelona, but he could probably make some serious coin in a lower league or lower division. It seems like he likes it here, though.

Is it the Seattle Sounders that are coming to MLS or is it another franchise all together?

Here's one report that discusses the relationship between the new MLS franchise and the extant Sounders:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/09/28/seattle.mls/index.html

its verizon

Goff do you have a contract list of the DCU players?

Who is free after this season and if people like Burch, Perkins, Gomez and Moreno ask for more money can we still make it under the salary cap?

Also, is MLS going to have another special Toronto like pick draft for San Jose and wouldnt that need to happen very soon in order for them to be ready for next spring?

Lunesta

My money is on RonCo.

Goff,

Looking toward the off season, when is the expansion draft? Is Dec 1 the date on all of the players contracts for renewal or release? Any "for sure" releases or renewals?

"(with soy milk, because we wouldn't want to alienate the lactose-intolerant soccer fan)?"

How about the vegan soccer fan, wise guy?

If Garber will use MLS Cup as the occasion to introduce Seattle as the 15th member of the club for '09, will he also be in a position to announce number 16 at that time? If he is, this would presumably be either St. Louis or Philadelphia, and the other city will be left holding the bag. But then again, given the attractiveness of both of these cities to MLS, is there any possibility that one of the weaker extant franchises might be "encouraged" to relocate to whichever city doesn't get the expansion team?

"its verizon

Posted by: Julie | October 18, 2007 12:30 PM"

Are you sure...I hear it's Comcast.

Dude, it better not be Comcast. Did you guys read the WaPo story about the woman who took the hammer to the Comcast customer service office? Awesome. I encourage everyone to contribute to her legal defense reimbursement.

Thanks Section 410.

"It's in the Net[work]"

It's verizon. I just hope that DC will not run a poorly as Verizon after the shirt deal.

UVA to RFK - ummm isn't the point of soccer to score? You get someone else to hold the ball and let Luci do the finishing...DUH

Long term question ...

What happens to the blog in the DCU offseason, since that's what has driven most of the posts on here?

Does Goff pick a new team in Europe to follow around all offseason?

Hot stove MLS style!

There's no off season in futbol! Somebody's playing somewhere!

Is there an off season? Seems like thing go from a boil to a simmer...

I vote we follow Man-U and Boca.

Dude, the MLS offseason is like 8 weeks. Throw in some pre-draft and draft coverage and now you're only looking at filling 5 weeks of stuff. I'm sure the internets will be full of all kinds of rumors for Goff to dispell.

There is no offseason - we are in a battle for the stadium.

We have yet to use our DP.

We will have a shirt sponsor which will lead supporters to being filled with joy are burning said sponsor in effigy.

We'll be looking for someone to come in and learn how to eventually take Moreno's place.

There's MUCH to be discussed in the offseason.

Although, I'm sure Mr. Goff will want some time away from the Blog again so his eyes don't bleed from some of the posts.

Seems to me we started on here back in February. Unless I'm crazy, there were no games involving DCU at the time, and we were busy predicting that our defense would be shallow and terrible because they couldn't sign whats-his-name who went to Puerto Rico for more money. I'm sure the crazies on here will keep us entertained through the off-season.

This is the Soccer Insider, not the DC United Insider. With WC qualifying started there will be plenty to discuss in the up coming months. I wonder why teams keep recycling MLS coaches. Yallop, Kinnear, Schmid, etc...
I'm glad DCU took a chance on Nowak and Soehn.

The NCAA men's and women's postseason will provide things to discuss in November and early December.

CONCACAF Gold Cup games start in February, right? If DCU really wants to win that, wouldn't that make it an even shorter offseason to make sure the team is in shape for it and eliminate any excuses?

sorry, I meant champions cup.

The blog does not have an off-season. In addition to the above, there are: transfer windows (which MLSers will go abroad?), head coaching vacancies (MLS and, please Sunil, WNT), Becks and Landy with the current salary cap exemption set to expire, and CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.

Lots of stuff to talk about without making this about Euroclubs.

So is Becks available to play tonight or what? Galaxy press release says he is, but WaPo soccer roundup says he aggravated his balky ankle during training. BSPN execs wanna know (despite the fact that the game is on at a late East Coast hour).

...head coaching vacancies (MLS and, please Sunil, WNT)...
_______________________________________

Some people might be inclined to plead with Sunil to create a vacancy to be filled at the top of the U.S. Soccer org chart.

RE: Here's one for the DC United team: Juan Roman Riquelme

Hard to imagine a genuine Euro star coming so young, but that would be a nice tie-in with the idea that Boca is forming an arrangement with DC United.

Speaking of which, whatever happened to that arrangement that was supposedly being finalized?

Can we use the DP to bring in a new mayor?

Can we use the DP to bring in a new mayor?

Posted by: bbarrie | October 18, 2007 04:05 PM
-------------------

We should bench the current mayor and sub in a veteran mayor for the stadium issue.

Marion Barry would bring a whole new meaning to the term "designated player."

orange14: as much as I'd love to see Riquelme in the league playing for any team, he's always said he'd play at Boca for free. They pretty much always have the inside track on him.

I don't see how Yallop stays. Even if they do make the playoffs, he's shown that he is utterly incapable of handling a personality the size of Beckham and all the attention it brings. He's a good coach, he's just one that wilts under pressure.

Klinsmann to LA, Yallop to San Jose. Everyone says Yay!

I think they should move Chivas to San Diego. Thoughts?