Thanks, Goff.

Does protecting Gomez mean that progress on contract going positively?

And any sense of who United would LIKE San Jose to take? Don't have to name names (though do if you can).

SJ should take Dyachenko - DCU's loss.

B. Carroll is the goner (unless SJ has seen enough of Dyachenko to promote him to senior roster status).

Perfect players to protect. That's the heart of the team.

When the league releases the protected lists, will they be posted on the MLS site?

I agree with all the protections, assuming that all of the players intend to stay with DCU. What's the point of protecting gomez if he goes and plays in the desert or Jaime if he just ends up retiring?

SJ is going to take Dyachenko or Carroll, and I hope its the latter. I see nothing but promise in Rod's future and it will be a shame if that pick we traded to reaquire him goes to waste.

I think it was a smart move to protect Boswell over Vanney, as I argued last week. As far as the rest - I'd have to look and see what other players are available from the other teams, but I think Brian Carroll would be the most attractive option. He's young, has a good amount of experience and does not have a crippling contract. I

I like the list. It's a shame to see Dyachenko exposed, but they seemed to protect the right 11 players. Looks as if there is some hope of Gomez returning. No one is taking Vanney at his age and salary so it's good to leave him unprotected. I think DC will get him back with a renegotiated lower salary.

I'm so upset and saddened the team decided not to protect Kpene. What were they thinking?

The defensive four are locked up. No surprise there. I think Rod is gone. Again. And I think we'll regret that.

Gomez, I don't understand. Moreno I don't understand. Both talented players, but Gomez is probably gone, and Moreno is fading.

I hope we don't lose Rod. I think that project can work with more playing time.

Good list - I could see them taking Dyachenko or Kpene, maybe Carroll. Maybe they need a different environment to succeed in.

If they don't take a DCU player, that's a big red flag about the depth of the team.

ML - or the wisdom of the SJ FO.

I like the protected list. If I was SJ I would pass on everyone else. Just goes to show that United had no depth this season, hence we wore out again, and thus were elmininated again from the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Kpene, maybe Carroll, are at risk.

I agree Carroll might be gone. He had an off year this past season but he's shown what he can do. I think Kpene is still very much unproven. Did he even score this year?

I agree with the list. I agree with the folks above -- Carroll or Dyachenko, probably Carroll.

Carroll had an up-and-down season, but I don't think that's permanent. He did a lot of good stuff in helping United win their last title. I see him rebounding. And I agree with Dyachenko's future. But the fact is, he needs to play to get better. Good for him and San Jose if Rod heads west.

As a Fire fan, I'm glad DC protected Boswell.

I heard from a good source at the MLS Cup, he was sitting behind me and my family, that Gomez and Emilio aren't going anywhere, hence the protection of Gomez.

I think SJ takes Carroll over Dyachenko. Higher pedigree, and likely a better fit in Yallop's old Earthquakes system.

At least, that's what I hope.

This bodes well for Gomez and Moreno. Add Veron (or someone like him) to the mix and we'll be poised for a powerful 2008 side.

I'm guessing (been guessing all along) that Carroll is off to the Quakes. Not a horrible fate -- he could use the tan.

Kpene and Dyachenko both have a lot of potential, but SJ will probably have better options up front. Carroll is the solid choice, and could easily come up with a standout year.

Incidentally, in case no one's made the call... I'm predicting Kpene's rise to stardom in '08. A little more guidance along with the confidence that comes with year-2 (ok, and an off-season semester in finishing school) and that kid could become another Emilio. No, really.

I wonder how most players around the league on the "unprotected" lists feel about being left unprotected (knowing that most of them are not leaving their respective teams)....

I wonder how most players around the league on the "unprotected" lists feel about being left unprotected (knowing that most of them are not leaving their respective teams)....
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They'd better get used to it, insofar as this will be an annual event for the next several years.

They'd better get used to it, insofar as this will be an annual event for the next several years.

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Yeah, you're right. I didn't think about that. I guess it'll just become "part of the biz" in MLS. Who knows? Maybe some might be even hoping to get a chance to see San Jose as hometown. If I were at Red Bulls for instance, I would want to leave. OR Colorado. Or RSL. Even Columbus.

I question protecting Jaime. At his age, loss of speed and size of salary I don't imagine that he is an attractive candidate for selection. I would have preferred to have Dyachenko protected. I realize that he was not consistent this year but has shown flashes of good play. Jaime has been a brilliant servant to the club: but, the hourglass is running out on him.

Yeah, you're right. I didn't think about that. I guess it'll just become "part of the biz" in MLS. Who knows? Maybe some might be even hoping to get a chance to see San Jose as hometown. If I were at Red Bulls for instance, I would want to leave. OR Colorado. Or RSL. Even Columbus.

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Unless you're a young player on a low salary. Salt Lake City and Columbus are a hell of a lot cheaper livin' than Silicon Valley.

they should drop Gomez and Boswell. Sorry, but neither perform when it matters, in the playoffs.

DCU should offer a trade to SJ where the quakes pick Wolniac from NY and send him to DC. He'd be a great 3rd striker for us.

I hate the expansion draft.

This list is a hugely encouraging sign that both Moreno and Gomez will be back next year.

I'd be really upset if this happens, but after his performance against Chicago, I think San Jose would be crazy not to take Dyachenko. If they have scouts that have been watching the Reserve division play, then they should know that Dyachenko is the leader of the offense on that team, and will be well worth a senior roster spot next year.

Carroll is gone. He's an automatic starter in defensive midfield for the Quakes.

It makes perfect sense to protect Boswell, even if he doesn't turn around his slide into mediocrity and becomes a backup center back in 2008. Vanney doesn't really fit Yallop's idea of a center back, and is too slow to play anywhere else. Protecting a player you know 100% won't get taken is just stupid. We might as well leave SJ a selection of players that they are least happy with, right?

This is the exact list of players I would have protected. Carroll or Dyachenko will be taken; it just depends on whether there's less depth at defensive midfield or attacking midfielder/forward from the other teams.

I'd have to think an expansion team is looking to pick up someone who can play the most productive minutes given that they are starting with nothing.

From that perspective I think Carroll is a pretty likely choice...long term starter on a winning team.

Dyachenko and Kpene have more interesting up sides (younger, less known, more of a glamor position), but SJ doesn't have that luxury like an existing team does. Dyachenko is slightly more of a known quantity than Kpene, but he's still pretty uncertain.

So I say 3:1 odds that we lose Carroll over Dyachenko and almost no chance we lose Kpene.

I'm so upset and saddened the team decided not to protect Kpene. What were they thinking?

Posted by: 1-2-3 Kid | November 19, 2007 05:22 PM
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Um, they were thinking "700 minutes + 0 goals = no brainer"

I agree with the general sentiment. Carroll could plug in at D-mid and be a very productive starter from the start. Dyachenko could get more minutes and have a breakout year, but only maybe. Kpene probably won't get taken but there are clear signs of his good technical abilities, he just needs confidence and goals will come. Besides, assuming we get Veron, we'd want one less D-mid anyway. It'll be a better situation for all if SJ takes Carroll.

Yeah, we protected the "heart of the team." Trouble is, it's the heart of THIS YEAR'S team. If we lose Dyachenko we may regret not having protected NEXT YEAR'S team.

they should drop Gomez and Boswell. Sorry, but neither perform when it matters, in the playoffs.

Posted by: hacksaw | November 19, 2007 07:00 PM
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Okay, I agree that Boswell gave a pretty poor performance in the playoffs this year, but Gomez? He's probably the most clutch player on the team. In 2004 as a late season addition he sparked this team to the championship with some very important goals. Down the home stretch in 2006 Gomez almost singlehandedly carried the team while everyone else played like zombies and almost did it in the playoffs too (didn't he score the game-winning goal against NY in the first round?). And this year against Chicago he almost produced another Superman performance to drag us back into the game. And he's played exceptionally on several other occasions in international play as well. Clutch performance is the one thing you can definitely not criticize Gomez for.

I'm a little surprised that DC is leaving Dyachenko exposed again. Especially in that they have chosen to protect McTavish ahead of Rod. I would be shocked if S.J. took McTavish, but not shocked if they took Dyachenko. Of course, Carroll is more likely for a team that needs to put competitive talent out immediately, but D.C. rolled the dice last year with Dya...and lost. On the other hand, maybe Tommy and Dave aren't so enamored of him after another year of seeing him 'develop'.

-Assuming I can't afford Vanney's salary, I'd pick up Addlery if I were San Jose. He's got a unique combiation of strength and speed. He got less playing time than Kpene and Dyachenko, but when he was in, he proved that he is a goal scorer.

Carroll had an awful season--no goals, poor defending. Why would anyone want him except for a backup role? Would they be hoping he'd get younger?

McTavish is a no-brainer for United. He's United's best central defender (as measured by number of mistakes in the back, athletic ability, and number of goal-saving flashes of brilliance).

I kinda hope that Vanney gets picked up. That, and the probability that Boswell won't be back next season, means that United will surely pick up a superior center back.

I have to think that San Jose should be looking for immediate starters through the draft--not development types. That suggests to me that it would be Carroll over Dyachenko. (Although there may be a dose of wishful thinking in there.)

I disagree with leaving Dyachenko unprotected. I think his second half performance Chicago showed his value and potential for DC. If SJ is smart, he's gone.

On the other hand, the moves shows management's commitment to the DC family and players with a history with the team. I believe this is an important aspect to keeping DC an attractive place for the players. In other words, it makes sure DC is still a place people want to come to play.

...the probability that Boswell won't be back next season...
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Why would that be probable? It is not as if his European prospects are great at the moment, except in the lower echelons.

Mr. Goff said on Washington Post Live a couple weeks back that he would be "shocked" if United kept the same back line. He said they need a great center back. If Vanney leaves, then we have Boswell and McTavish. McTavish is the better of the two, and Boswell probably wants to play, and I can't imagine the F.O. loves his shenanigans off the field and his lack of loyalty (turning down a raise). . .

Perhaps it's just wishful thinking.

"Boswell probably wants to play, and I can't imagine the F.O. loves his shenanigans off the field and his lack of loyalty (turning down a raise). . ."

Boswell was enCOURaged by the front office to start that blog IIRC.

And I doubt that anyone questions Christian "I-sit-in-the-stands-at-away-games-and-bang-drums" Gomez's "loyalty," despite much more serious steps that might take him away.

I think there's many reasons to bet agaisnt the Boz, but those don't figure into the top 5.