Wow!

uh, this is interesting...

This didn't come out of left field.

This came out of the parking lot on the other side of the river.

Wow indeed.

Interesting... never heard that bigger teams were interested in him in europe, im guessing it was the friendly against Real Madrid when he stopped Roberto Carlos's crazy freekick!

But yea could you reveal Mr. Goff those teams interested in him?

I don't care if his name is Joe Bazooka...

I'd hate to see Troy leave, unless he were headed to Europe.

As soon as I know what Euro clubs "might" be interested in him, I will share it. Sweden/Norway/Denmark, I would guess.

wow. kinda shocking. Perkins must have made it pretty clear he was going to push hard to go to Europe. Let's face it, US goalkeepers are the only US players that carry any kind of weight over seas right now. Interesting.

Hey, it also frees up $200K for LA to flout the salary cap more easily when MLS gives them a LA/RBNY exemption for another player.

LA also needs to clear cap space because Magic Zurawski from Celtic is supposedly a done deal. Something tells me there is another exception in that deal.

We don't need him. Certainly not at a big salary. Perkins can get the job done, though he has room for improvement. We'd be better off with a backup to Perkins who would compete harder for playing time.

What was Perkins making? He was over $100k right?
I do think this would improve our back line. Those bouncing balls in the box and clearences off defenders butts into the goal...
One mistake a game will not always burn you, but in the playoffs that is all it takes

I would be sad to see Troy leave. Sure he's had some notable mistakes that have handicapped the club - but Jens Lehmann he's not.

Joe is a very capable guy - and would be a welcome addition to any club - I just worry that DC is averaging up the age for the next year and perhaps harming the cap. I'd really dread another 2000-2003 stretch again.

But - I have faith in Payne and his decision makers. Outside of issues related to a stadium IN THE DISTRICT - the club has a solid financial base and should be able to avoid the major trip that those 4 campaigns were.

What's the mortgage banking business in Denmark like these days?

Considering the salary, this (along with Veron) would seem to leave no way to sign Gomez. The numbers just don't seem to work. We'd have to field only ten men.

Perkins is quality but is still improving his game. He made some tough gaffs that hit us hard in compititions last year. Cannon is a solid, quality goalie. Cannon is consistent and has helped lesser teams stay in games, and even win games, over the past few years. I don't think there is a team in MLS that would not want to have him.

This move tells me that DC wants to show big next year, real big and haul in a continental crown along the way to another MLS title. I love it!!

I love Perkins, but I am really in love with this move (if it pans out). Good luck Perkins on your Euro aspirations.

jgildea, Perkins was slated to make $87,500 this year.

This makes me nervous - who would we send to LA? LA desperately need defenders; I hope we're thinking of unloading Vanney and not Boswell, McTavish, Namoff, or Burch. All four of those are good players and good values. Maybe the Galaxy need the cap space (even though Donovan & Beckham's full salaries don't count, they still take up a good amount of the salary cap).

The apparent willingness to take on Cannon's salary might be a tacit admission by the front office that Gomez is gone.

The only thing that makes me feel even a little bit okay about this is that Kevin Payne is smart and Alexi Lalas is dumb as a bag of hammers, so - even if I don't see how - we're probably ripping the Galaxy off.

This could also signal the end of Vanney, with Cannon organizing the back line United can afford to go with a group of young defenders.

With all due respect to Cannon, it's a bad change for DC. It's not an appreciable upgrade, costs us more money, and ages the team. But if Troy has a chance with a good European club, more power to him.

Although the point about better defensive organization is well taken.

I think this is just a rumor to keep Goff from having and enjoying his break :)

I've always thought that a lot of people have over-stated the "perkins makes mistakes" thing. Like how tommy smythe was unable to mention perkins' name without following it up with a comment about the goal at chivas. As if perkins was the only player not up to the task on that night.

This off-season is starting to look like a complete overhaul instead of a tune-up....

What about meeeeeeeeeeeee?!??!?!?!

There are also reports in Argentina that DCU is pursuing forward Claudio Lopez (58 caps, two World Cups).

We've all become attached to Perk, with his elan, and his mistakes. Perhaps a move to Europe will be what he needs to really learn the position. It's the thing that's missing from his game. We'd love to have him back when he wants to return. Meanwhile, Cannon is a force in goal. He will make us a stronger team in next year's playoffs. I hope that the cap issues can be worked out, and we can still hold on to Gomez. I'd like a trip out to LA for the MLS Cup.

LA is probably doing this to offload Cannon's salary so they'd have to be getting someone who has a low salary cap hit. My guess is its Boswell going to LA for Cannon. Then DC sells Perkins and uses the allocation money to buy down Cannon's contract. Therefore they'd probably come out of the deal with more cap space, a better goalkeeper, and maybe even some allocation money left over for some more player aquisitions.

Someone in the know must be pursuing him for a reason; maybe there's someone else involved with the trade or Perkins has an option elsewhere. Perkins will be a good goalie, but he needs more time. He can't make those kind of mistakes and expect to play in Europe.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what else is involved here. Maybe Gomez is going to LA.

Herr Goff,

Any peep of DCU interest in Bolivian Juan Carlos Arce? Arrarently free from Corinthians?

Are goalkeepers the only exception to the "Don't trade young for old or Big for little" rule given they tend to get better with age?

Cannon will never get beat cheating toward the wall, though.

There are also reports in Argentina that DCU is pursuing forward Claudio Lopez (58 caps, two World Cups) ... worthy of its own post.

Are you going to Cary to cover VTech?

Wow, haven't heard Claudio Lopez's name in a while. Has he done much since leaving Europe? If nothing else, he is a true left-footed forward who could play on the wing as well. It would probably seal Fred's move to CAM if Gomez is gone.

But wait, I thought Perkins was supposed to be such a good keeper, better than the Fire's Matt Pickens even. At least that's what crazy DCU fans said about 6 weeks ago.

Claudio Lopez will turn 34 early next season.

Claudio Lopez is definitely worthy of a separate post, Goff. Nice snag...

How "complex" can trades get, unless there's a third team involved? This could get interesting.

Wow. Interesting.

why all this specific concern about the "aging" of the team. This isn't a field player we're talking about. If anything, keeper in the one position where people can often play until they're 40 and still be world class.

I'd take Brad Friedel at 36-37 over Perkins any day, so Cannon at 33 isn't a big deal

So much for your vacation 2 years in a row Goff!

This is probably LA trying to free up some cap space...They really have no room to wiggle and they deseperatly need forwards to utilize Becks passing. I agree it's probably Boswell going to LA. LA may even pay some of Cannon's salary for the upcoming season ala Vanney last year. I'd imagine Perkins would go for about ~500,000-1 million euros. That money could be used to placate Gomez and or buying down some new strikers salary.

I have to say I did not expect this massive of a restructuring with the team. It seems like DCU is REALLY pushing to break the international barrier next year with all of these acquistions and trades. Look at it this way...we may be getting rid of people who crack under pressure and adding people who thrive under pressure.

A quick youtube search yielded this on Lopez...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikg76CUNAWg&feature=related

If Perkins is so good they should sell him to free up some cash to make a big signing. I think Lopez could be good for a season or two but 34 is pretty old and United has some good natural strikers(Luciano). Push for Veron who could help to develop a younger central mid.

http://www.futbolink.wordpress.com

What is San Jose's goalie situation? Could Perkins & Cannon be part of a multi-team trade ?

I'd take Perkins over Pickens everyday of the week.

Claudio Lopez scored 5 goals this season in 16 games for Racing. He is available on a free transfer at 33 years old.

The only way I could even CONSIDER Cannon being on DCU would be if he signs a no-muttonchop clause.

Other things interesting about Lopez: Racing is in major debt; and he was allegedly considering retiring earlier this year. Maybe a final payday for him?

This move works for all involved.

Cannon is quality. Perhaps the most consistent netminder in MLS. If he keeps in shape, he can give DC at least 3-4 years of top-class 'keeping.

United needs that condience with the last man. If anything, the way the backline has hung the GK out to dry so many times, we need a guy with that something "extra" that Cannon provides.

Troy was great when at his best, but there were some inexcusable lapses in concentration in key matches. A move to Europe would be best for him, to beat those bad habits out of him. He needs that change in order to get better. He did not improve this past year.

Finally, Cannon can serve as a better mentor to the second- and third-choice keepers, arguably moreso that GK/Asst coach Mark Simpson...Cannon has infinitely more experience and quality. A good guy perhaps to groom for a coaching slot as he comes to the tail end of his career.

Thumbs up!

Last I heard, Claudio Lopez was playing for America in Mexico City. Is he still there?

I'm not sure he's a good investment for United. In his glory days with Valencia and the Argentine national team, he relied on speed to get behind defenders. I don't remember him as a world-class finisher or passer. Any thoughts on whether he still has the pace to be effective?

OK, now he's with Racing. That's what happens when I take forever to post my comment :-)

That's a really foolish idea, IMO. Perkins may need some improvement, but he is still one of the best GKs in MLS, and he doesn't cost the Earth. We're going to replace him with a more expensive, older GK who "doesn't do well with weak defenses in front of him"? All we have these days are weak defenses. And one of the players people are talking about trading for him is Boswell, who though flawed, is one of the few decent Ds on our team?

And we're having trouble getting Gomez to stay or Veron to come? Sounds like we may need a shakeup in management...

Tremendous news. Perkins blows.

Lopez is old and would need good service. Too bad we don't have any flank play to provide him that besides Burch.

From a Galaxy point of view, we're desperately in need of a strong central defender and any type of quality at all at outside midfield.

If we dump Cannon, I personally think we need a goalie too because I don't think Cronin is up to it.

This strikes me as a salary dump on our part. I wonder what we'll get in return.

From a Galaxy point of view, we're desperately in need of a strong central defender and any type of quality at all at outside midfield.

If we dump Cannon, I personally think we need a goalie too because I don't think Cronin is up to it.

This strikes me as a salary dump on our part. I wonder what we'll get in return.

Posted by: Mike (From LA) | December 11, 2007 12:00 PM

Ronaldo, Sheva, and Ronaldinho.

DC Utd should get the bargain of the year in Benjamin Totori, 33 (24 in NZ league) goals last season for Young Hearts Manawatu. He was the NZ league golden boot winner.

This season with Waitakere Utd, he's got 3 goals in 5 games so far. Fast like Galindo, strong shooter with good technique, very good individual skill to beat players, and tactically astute to create for others. He
could be the replacement for Moreno.

Great! Cannon will be perfect with the team like United. Age doesn't matter for the keepers. Look at Khan at Bayern.

ROI for a Perkins-Cannon swap is not even close to being worth it. And I'm not sure sure it would any better even if LA included another player in a trade. For a good amount of money? Maybe.

Lopez? He USED to be great. Now, I'd hope DC can do better.

KHANNNNNNN!

Nice spelling. :)

The more I think about the possibility of a Cannon for Boswell with Perkins being sold deal the more it make sense. LA offloads a big salary for a cheap central defender(a position they desperately need to improve). DC gets a superior goalie whose contract gets bought down to turn into a cheaper better goalie allowing the savings to be spent on new players/raises to hold onto others(Gomez). If this all allows us to keep Gomez maybe its Dyachenko going to LA instead of Boswell. I know that would sound like a completely lopsided deal(in our favor) but then it would be right up Lalas' alley.

The only way I could even CONSIDER Cannon being on DCU would be if he signs a no-muttonchop clause.

Posted by: RFK 315 | December 11, 2007 11:51 AM
_____________

Oh Sweet Science, I had forgotten about that facial hair faux pas!

Mullets=good
Muttonchops=bad

K

'With all due respect to Cannon, it's a bad change for DC. It's not an appreciable upgrade, costs us more money, and ages the team.' -- Grunthos

This was my initial reaction as well, though I'm not very familiar with Cannon. I think everyone will acknowledge Perkins has played pretty darn well for us the last two years. Yeah, he's made a few mistakes we wish he hadn't but he's also single-handedly won us some games- he's consistently been pretty darn good. One can only conclude that United's management does in fact feel this is an (important) upgrade. I for one will trust their judgment on this one.

I'll tell you why this really has me excited. If United felt they needed to upgrade a goalkeeper we all (or most all) thought had been playing quite well for us - what does that tell you? It tells me aren't they screwing around.

Good riddance, Troy. It's your gaffe against Chivas in Guadalajara that cost United the game.

"Interest overseas" presumably means he'll end up in the Bulgarian 2nd division as a backup keeper.

From earlier:

Politics???? Please Goff, save us!!!!!

Thanks for waking us up, Goff.

Wow, this is pretty big. Looks like my son will need another jersey next year to go with his Rimando and Perkins.....
I like it though. It signals a drive for success this year.
There are upgrades out there and Payne and co are trying to make them.
What more could I ask for? Shevchenko maybe?

Let me get this straight: DC is unwilling to give Gomez two years because of fears about his aging and a decline in play.... yet they've got no problem and getting a forward who turns 34 next season?

Am I missing something? What the heck is going on up on the 4th floor....

Perkins made a mistake in -one- game, so throw him out? What is this, the day after that game? Seems to me he recovered from that gaff quite nicely to have a very good season.

Perkins gone for Cannon? Massive, massive upgrade.

If Gannon plays half as well for us as he does against us, I'm all for it. Perkins is a quality MLS keeper, but Gannon is definitely a better fit for our young defenders.

I don't see a Gannon-Boswell with allocation money from a pending sale as a viable option for the FO to make with so many other deals on the table right now. There's no guarantee that Perkins can be offloaded to Europe mid-season. A Boswell trade would only happen with a TON of allocation money since he's so cheap against the cap. It sounds terrible, but DCU needs to pull a BCarroll with Boswell -- pay him nothing now, let him try out in Europe, and sign him after he can't find a good home.

The rumors in Argentina about Lopez could be just that, rumors. Perhaps his Agent is floating them to garner interest.

I am really hoping that United's offseason rebuilding strategy is "throw it under the bus." Perkins has been a big part of this teams success the last few years. Cannon is good but the team can't afford to ditch every part of the team we think is having a few problems. Keeper upgrade is fourth on my list, after Defense, Offense and Mid-Field... Where is my damn WINGER!

I don't like this at all. Trading away young, cheap players is not the way to go. Besides, Perkins wasn't the problem last season. We lost because we couldn't score when it mattered the most.

Jeff M, Perkins made $87,500 last season. Are you sure he isn't due any bump for '08?

Isn't throw it under the bus. I really need to use the preview button...

Is it possible that if Perkins gets enough good experience over in Europe he will have the chance to play for the Nats?

Cannon will be a great add but a stronger defense and replacement for Gros would be even better.

WNT camp news from a different blog:

"As to the mini-camp roster and the World Cup players that aren't on it:

Stephanie Lopez is getting married next week. (As a side note, Lindsay Tarpley is also getting married next week, but will participate in some of the camp.)
Angela Hucles is on a humanitarian aid trip in Africa and will miss the mini-camp with Pia's blessing.
Pia joked that Kristine Lilly was old and needed the extra rest. She expects her in the January camp regardless of her plans for 2008. She "absolutely" wants Lilly on this team.
Marci Jobson has taken the head-coaching job at Baylor University and has officially retired. I am scheduled to talk with her later today.
Tina Ellerston is expecting her second child. She has not retired and will attempt to come back after her child is born.
Sundhage indicated that we could see a few personnel changes from the Word Cup roster, but that there is not time for a complete overhaul.

Her perspective on the team's play in the World Cup was that the attack was too direct and one-dimensional."

http://www.fairgamemag.com/eng/fair_game_blog/pia_preview

I'd take Perkins over Pickens everyday of the week.

Posted by: IMHO | December 11, 2007 11:50 AM

-- and twice on matchday.

As Goff said Cannon is probably the top goalie in the history of the league(outside of the year Friedel played for Columbus), so all of you saying this isnt an upgrade at the position need to stop and think about that a bit. Assuming this is tied to Perkins being sold DC comes out way ahead in terms of the salary cap after buying down Cannons contract and possibly others and with a better keeper. The difference in salary is something like $100K and Perkins would likely be sold for around $1million given the exchange rate. So in the end DC gets a better keeper, more cap space, and more allocation money to bring in players to fill the cap space. All they have to give up is a player with one year left on his contract that will either leave MLS in a year or get a significant pay increase. This deal would be one of the biggest no brainers ever.

RK - Perkins had 3 horrible plays this year, not just 1:
1) Chivas wet ball
2) Beat goal side on Beckham Free Kick in Superliga
3) Beat Goal side AGAIN in MLS play

Tommy Howitzer is definitely an upgrade.

Goff, any idea on whether El Piojo will come in as a DP? Or just as a foreign acquisiton? No DP money?

I love Perkins, but I know Cannon's the better organizer in the back. I hope someone outside of Scandinavia (besides Everton, work permit situations) wants Troy.

I love Boswell, but I hope it's the rights to Jay Needham and a future draft pick on the table for Cannon, and not #32.

Lopez... Well, I'm not going to type what's on my mind, but I think I see the interest.

Arce could probably do very well in MLS, but I don't think we can afford him without temporarily extending the cap through allocations.

But what'd I give to see DCU linked with a young player right now!

Chingada, great scouting: turning on FSC to watch the World Club Championship. And nifty googling work. Winning the Golden Boot in what is basically the antipodean version of the Isthmian League, complete with part timers, isn't much of an accomplishment. If he were any good by the age of 33, he would be AT LEAST playing in the Aussie A-League.

But by all means, sign him and pay him Moreno's salary. The rest of MLS will thank you.

Looking, agreed, but people want to hang him just for the first.

Like paying a jillion dollars for Claudio Reyna was a mark of genius.

Good catch, Mac; $87,500 was, indeed, Perkins' 2007 salary and he's probably due for a bit of a bump in 2008. But that bump will probably be negligible in the big picture.

Pay him Moreno's salary and the rest of MLS will thank you? Damn right, especially the NJ fans who have watched him embarrass their franchise for eleven years.

That'll learn me for not checking here sooner.

This deal is obviously very complicated. Several people have said we should trade away Boswell, but I think that's a bad decision. Even with our current players, we need more center backs; trade Boswell and we need to get two. And then there's whether Perkins would go abroad, which is not guaranteed. There's also the matter of Cannon's salary. An extra $112K+ might make the cap very tight for us, and this team needs to add depth. If we go top-heavy, we will find the number of competitions even more difficult than last year.

That said, if we can make it work, it is an improvement. Cannon was off for half of last year, but was back to his old standard of carrying a bad team from the All Star break on. Perkins is a good keeper, but he did make crucial mistakes in both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Superliga. I feel he will continue to keep getting better (due to his high-intensity offseason workouts), but it's going to be awhile before he can do as Cannon has done many times with bad teams, which is simply lock up a shutout.

As for Claudio Lopez, I feel like that's a move that wouldn't work. As SSMD pointed out, Lopez was always very reliant on his speed. He's 33 now. I would worry much more about him than Veron in terms of giving 100%. The money we'd have to pay him, I believe, would be better spent on Gomez or someone else.

Mastodon Juan: You failed at reading comprehension. He scored 33 goals last season, of which 24 were from the NZ league play. 24 goals in 21 games is nothing to sniff at, esp, in a league where Nick Van Sicklen counldn't even hang with.

Did we all miss the superliga? Cannon took La by the hand and led them to the Final. Cannon was shaky at the begining of the year (new team, young backs) but man what a shot stoper, there is no Goalie who has ever played in the league that has been better then he is in MLS action. Friedel is a great goalie, but not even his great year in columbus tops Joe cannons 2 goalie of the year awards.

I'm thinking 3 team deal. Perhaps SJ is acquring the rights to Gomez? They have the salary cap room to sign him. Not sure what LA would want, perhaps one of SJ's defenders?

Don't like this move (Joe in, Troy out). Seems pretty unnecessary. I don't like the Veron move either. I'm a curmudgeon. I don't like any of the moves and I don't like standing pat. Veron was good in the Copa, I admit that, but I hate a "big" signing that's likely to only be here/effective for 2 years. In baseball I've always favored the A's and the Twins for their ability to find talent under the smallest of rocks. I wish United could/would do that. And, if we want to make a big splash, sign someone with some years left in the tank who will score. I like scoring. That I'm not curmudgeonly about.

"He scored 33 goals last season, of which 24 were from the NZ league play. 24 goals in 21 games is nothing to sniff at, esp, in a league where Nick Van Sicklen counldn't even hang with. "

Maybe in DC, Nick Van Sicklen is considered the equivalent of Thierry Henry, but here in reality, he was a scrub for DC and couldn't make the cut in a league even worse than MLS Reserves. So outstanding play in a semi-professional league is just not enough to believe you found the new Moreno while sitting on the sofa in your underoos, eating four bowls of Honey Bunches of Oats.

You're all high if you think that Perkins is better than Cannon. No chance. This is football and Troy's a professional and he knew this day would come. You can't be a naïve, tumbleweed in the six-yard box and continue to play for the best side in MLS.

Here are some obvious candidates for 2007 Perkins Howler Of The Year

* His gaffe against Chivas in CONCACAF

* His lame attempt to defend the Beckham goal in the SuperLiga (what dummmy doesn't know Beckham will try the upper left corner when the wall is configured to his right?)

* The 1st goal vs. Dallas on July 14 where he completely mistimed the jump and let Ruiz score an easy header

* The 3rd goal vs. Dallas on July 14 he called the defender off the ball and then completely whiffed on the catch letting Toja score easily.

* Letting John Wolyniec score easily for Red Bull NY on July 22. He should've been more assertive in that box.

And don't get me started on the playoffs.

Wow, those are some bright unis on Marseille...

Ok, I just saw this rumor.

http://lared.com.gt/detalle_noticia.php?id=6659

Basically, it says that Carlos Ruiz is being traded to LA. Perhaps this explains the "complicated" part of sending Cannon to DC. Maybe DC is sending Dallas something in a 3 way trade?

On Totori,

The kid is from the Solomon Islands. He is 21 years old. He has only 4 caps with the Solomon Islands men's team.

He scored 24 goals last season (33 in all competitions). From what I have read about the New Zealand league, it is nothing to write home about.

But anyone who can score goals that frequently is worth at least nod of appreciation. If his form from last year continues into this year, I'd imagine he would be picked up by an australian team. If he does well there, then the MLS could look at him.

This is obviously a ploy to get the Soccer Insider's numbers back up.

Steve's always got that "More later...." teaser just hanging there.....

When's the last time the Twins or the A's won something?

How can Ruiz go to LA? Wouldn't that give them 3 DPs? Only 2 allowed, unless the league makes yet another exception to benefit LA.

When's the last time the Twins or the A's won something?

Posted by: ITrustKevinPayne | December 11, 2007 03:00 PM
-----------------------------------------------

Minnesota Twins: 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002 AL Central Champs
Oakland As: 2006, 2003, 2002 AL West Champs

The problem, of course, is that while they can win consistently, they can't spend the big $$$ to deal with the Yankees/Red Sox when it comes playoff time.

MLS, with the salary cap, is different.

that's good news for DCU fans he has cost you guys seriously in some huge competitions. he jsut doesn't have the edge to stay mentally tough in big games when he has to, he is a good regular season performer with little at stake, but the addition of joe cannon would put them on another level. i love to see teams improving themselves over breaks, that's what they're meant for, unlike my revs who never add anyone and will have to remain content with second place until they do

Speaking of "More later..." teaser - What ever happened to that Troy Roberts trade that was mentioned?

Mastodon Juan,

Benjamin Totori is 24. He scored 33 goals last season.

Chingada,

Nice scouting! I really hope we make an offer to this guy.

Ruiz isn't a DP -- he and Landon and one other had some special rule passed just for them, this winter.

RK - Perkins had 3 horrible plays this year, not just 1:
1) Chivas wet ball
2) Beat goal side on Beckham Free Kick in Superliga
3) Beat Goal side AGAIN in MLS play

Tommy Howitzer is definitely an upgrade.

Posted by: Looking Dangerous | December 11, 2007 01:19 PM

--------------

Sorry, but is "Goal side" FIFA approved terminology? What in the world is that supposed to mean? I think "near post" is what you are trying to say.

Ruiz, Donovan and Johnson were grandfathered so that they are "quasi" DPs, in that their entire salaries aren't included in the cap. LA would have 3 such players with this trade, which would violate the intent, if not the letter, of the DP rule.

Why do people keep saying offloading Perkins is a question mark? There is no way they will make a trade for another high level keeper without a plan for getting rid of Perkins. Either they will already have an offer from abroad or they will have another MLS trade arranged. There is no chance DC United will get stuck with both Perkins and Cannon. Our front office isn't stupid like LAs.

And then I go check back to the main page and Goff confirms that there is an offer on the table for Perkins!

Re: Cannon trade. If Alexi Lalas is making the deal, then expect the Gals to get Eddie Pope, Mark Lisi and Juan Berthy Suarez...

sarcasm off.

On Totori:

Solomon Islands, eh? If the front office is at least curious to see if he can develop, it's worth giving him a trial.

Round trip plane tickets to New Zealand + One week's housing. Not too much for a look, especially if he's willing to fly coach.

The reason Perkins makes so-called mistakes is that it's tough to play goalkeeper and cover your central defenders' positions at the same time, which Perkins has been continually forced to do. He is 50 times the pure athlete that Joe Cannon is. Of all the club's needs, this is the absolute last. The only valid excuse would be Perkins getting big bucks in Europe, which should surprise no one.

I think people are forgetting the fact that DC tried to get Cannon before (back in 2004 or 2005). This wouldn't be as inconsistent as people would like to believe. DC likes to target players and then get them when they're available, oftentimes years after the first interest was made (see Gomez, Emilio, and Addlery).

And there's no way this isn't an upgrade for DC. Cannon has mad bad teams look stellar and has a couple of GotY awards. There is no other keeper in MLS that I covet more than him when it comes to organizing and shotblocking. The man is just phenomenal.

I'd take Perkins over Pickens everyday of the week.

Posted by: IMHO | December 11, 2007 11:50 AM

-- and twice on matchday.

Posted by: DCBird | December 11, 2007 01:14 PM
___________________________________________

I forget, who was the winning goalkeeper in the first round of the playoffs bouncing you once again? ;)

Look at all these comments. Goes to show how good a soccer town D.C. is and how solid interest is in the MLS, especially with a juicy story like this one. I think Perkins is one of the best young goalkeepers in the MLS whose only getting better and it would be great to see him shipped off to Europe for a nice transfer fee.

By the way, non-GKs like Adu and Michael Bradley are doing well in Europe now. True, it will probably take time for more Americans to make lasting impacts there (as much because of the lasting perceptions of Americans as soccer players as because of their talents) but they're slowly making a dent. It'll be interesting to see how Jozy Altidore does once he makes it to Europe as well.

Now if this stadium thing could move forward...

this is great news. I'd yell at him everytime he'd kick the ball out of bounds during the entire season. he must of did this every other game. (HE SUCKS)

It's funny when people start offering the strangest of opinions. Joe Cannon, if htis deal can be resuscitated, would be a huge upgrade over Perkins. However, to the one poster who suggested that Cannon is better than Friedel, that is a jaw-dropper. There may be a better goalie in the world than Brad Friedel, but if there is, it isn't Joe Cannon.