Julian Baudet To Rapids?

It was in the news yesterday that the Colorado Rapids have offered Crewe Alexandria's Julian Baudet a contract.

What could this mean for the Rapids? We won't know until he signs and his current contract is over. It's unlikely that Crewe, in a relegation battle in England's League One (Div 3) would let him go before his contract runs out this summer.

An arrival later in June would give Rapids coach Gary Smith plenty of time to sort things out with his roster to make room. It could be as simple as waiving a player. If Julian Baudet is signed, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Rapids make room for his arrival via a trade. Right now a few MLS teams could use another defender or three on their roster. And a couple teams, like LA and Seattle, have defenses that my grandma could get through easier than a Sawzall cutting through butter.

Or maybe Corey Gibbs will be leaving the Rapids this summer to head back to Europe?

As for Baudet, who knows if this is a good move or not. I don't many folks other than Crewe fans, or maybe some old Northampton or Oldham fans, have seen he play. Which is why I don't understand why View From The Couch fell for the temptation of evaluating the move. It's unfortunate to see.

Without the means to directly judge Baudet as a player, View From The Couch resorts to using this rationale :

A player that can't get out of League One when most MLS players that go to England end up in either the Premiership or the Championship is an indicator that he's average MLS quality at best.

There are several problems with this logic. The first is that one can gleam anything about Baudet based on his playing in England's 3rd division. This is then compounded by assuming that the few MLS players that have gone to England are representative of an average to good player in the MLS. But these players are the ones that are the exception to the rule. Of the few MLS players that are in England, most either haven't had time to prove themselves (Brad Guzan) are have not panned (Matt Pickens, Eddie Johnson, Duncan Oughton). Essentially this approach to judging Baudet is about meaningful as reading tea leaves (sorry, Jason).

View From The Couch is good blog for tracking the Rapids and gaining insight into events surrounding the team. It's just nice to have another blog to point to and disagree with about the Rapids.

Pablo to join Brad Guzan at Aston Villa?

We Want Rapidman has a nice look at Pablo Mastroeni's situation. With his contract up this December and with Pablo himself telling the press he is looking at making a move to Europe the speculation over where he could land has begun. Livorno, Atalanta, Aston Villa, and Cagliari are ones that were mentioned by Nick. Do you think Pablo will actually make the move this time? Will he end with Brad Guzan at Aston Villa?

If you find yourself saying "but Brad Guzan plays in the MLS for Chivas USA", well, you're a few hours behind the times. It's official today that Aston Villa has bought the young American goalkeeper for $1.5 million. The Offside Rules, par for course, has more information and an entertaining photo on it here.

Kenny Deuchar Underpaid? So is Bill Gates!

I ran across Martin Roger's list of MLS underpaid / overpaid players from last week. I didn't mind that he cited John DiRaimondo over Nick LaBrocca despite LaBrocca appearing in every game for the Rapids this year. Nor was it his puzzling claim that Brad Guzan has "gone right back to work for Chivas". Yes, Guzan's been playing but he's had a few howlers.

What caught my eye was Roger's listing Real Salt Lake's Kenny Deuchar as being underpaid. His reasoning? Deuchar is "a proven goalscorer". More so, his salary is "low for a British import". Please, Mr. Rogers, take some time to watch some games. What has Deuchar done in those to show you he's underpaid? 2 goals in 6 games? Something more than that?

Citing Kenny Deuchar as a "proven goalscorer" is either knowingly misleading or, worse for someone who is supposedly an expert on the game, flat out ignorance. In his entire career, Deuchar has only scored 6 goals in 15 games in the Scottish top flight. All of those games were this year for the Scottish Premiership in his career. At that they were for Gretna, a club that's gone from having financial problems to being on the verge of going out of existence. A club that a couple weeks ago put out a team almost entirely composed of loan players from England's lower leagues. A club that had loaned Deuchar out to lower league teams until later in the season when financial problems had worsened and Gretna was losing players on free transfers (couldn't afford wages; missing payments).

6 in 15 isn't bad but it's not prolific. What about Deuchar's other years? Those were spent in the lower leagues of Scotland and a bit of time in England's 3rd division. But he scored loads of goals there? Yes, he did. But what's important to point out that he only played a couple handful of games in Scotland's 2nd division. Kenny Deuchar only scored 2 goals in those games. All of his other games and all of his other 90+ goals were all scored in Scotland or England's 3rd division or lower.

On the verge of turning 28, Deuchar has been playing for a long time. Despite all that time he not only hasn't managed even one complete season in an arguably mediocre league, the Scottish Prem, but hasn't managed a complete season in the next division down. Even more sparse than his time in those leagues were his goals. Jason Kries and Real Salt Lake's fans may be hoping they've found a diamond in the rough. But so far the only thing that's for certain is that Kenny Deuchar is better than the last striker Real Salt Lake signed for $105,000, Luis Tejada.

>>Link for previous post pointing out Deuchar's lack of experience in upper leagues<<.

Catching Up With Player Moves - Part II

A couple weeks ago I posted the start of a comprehensive list to track all player moves before the season starts. I haven't noticed anyone doing this and it seemed an important thing to keep track of for future use. We tend to forget things like when last year the Rapids traded a major allocation to Toronto for Conor Casey with Toronto FC picking up part of Casey's salary for the year. There have been some more player moves since then. As always, please share any additions or corrections.

Chicago Fire Out:

• Jim Curtin (traded a conditional pick in 2010 MLS Super Draft to Chicago Fire)
• Matt Pickens (free transfer Queens Park Rangers in English Championship - Div 2)

In:

Chivas USA Out :

• Preston Burpo (traded to San Jose for 4th round pick in 2008 Super Draft)
• Jason Hernandez (expansion draft)

In:

• Jim Curtin (traded a conditional pick in 2010 MLS Super Draft to Chicago Fire)
• Alecko Eskandarian (traded to Real Salt Lake for allocation money)
• Attiba Harris (traded 3rd round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft to Real Salt Lake)
• Raphaël Wicky (free; last with Swiss club FC Scion)

Colorado Rapids Out :

• Jose Cancela (out of contract)
• Daniel Osorno (retired)
• Tony Sanneh (out of contract)
• Zach Thornton (waived)

In:

• Jose Burciaga (traded KC a 2nd round pick in 2009 MLS Super Draft)
• Chase Hilgenbrinck (free transfer; previously played with Ñublense in Chile)
• Christian Gomez (traded DC United first round draft pick and future considerations, rumored to be Colorado's DP slot for 2 years, for rights)

Columbus Crew Out:

• Marcos Gonzalez (sold to Chilean club Universidad Catolica for an undisclosed sum)
• Andy Herron (out of contract; traded MLS rights to Chicago Fire)
• Kei Kamara (traded to San Jose Earthquakes for Brian Carroll)

In:

• Brian Carroll (traded to Columbus Crew for Kei Kamara)

DC United Out:

• Brian Arguez (transfer; Hertha Berlin)
• Bobby Boswell (traded to Houston Dynamo in exchange for Bobby Boswell)
• Brian Carroll (picked by San Jose in expansion draft)
• Christian Gomez (traded to Rapids for first round draft pick and future considerations, rumored to be Colorado's DP slot for 2 years, for rights)
• Troy Perkins (transfer; sold to Norwegian club Valerenga)
• Greg Vanney (out of contract)

In:

• José Carvallo (transfer Peruvian club Universitario de Deportes; holds green card)
• Gonzalo Martinez (transfer from Columbian club Millonarios)
• Gonzalo Peralta (transfer from Argentine club Almirante Brown)
• Franco Neil (one year loan from Argentine club Argentinos Junior)
• Zach Wells (from Houston Dynamo in exchange for Bobby Boswell)

FC Dallas Out:

• Denilson (out of contract)
• Chris Gbandi (transfered to Norwegian lcub FK Haugesund)
• Clarence Goodson (expansion draft; out of contract)
• Carlos Ruiz (traded to Los Angeles Galaxy for allocation money & 2nd round pick in 2009 MLS Super Draft)

In:

• Duilio Davino (free transfer; previously with Mexican club Club America)

Kansas City Wizards Out :

• Jose Burciaga (traded to CO for a 2nd round pick in 2009 MLS Super Draft)
• Nick Garcia (traded to San Jose for 1st round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft)
• Eddie Johnson (sold to Fulham in English Premiership for $6 million)

In:

Houston Dynamo Out :

• Ryan Cochrane (top draft in expansion draft)
• Joseph Ngwenya (out of contract; signed by Austrian club SK Austria Karnten)
• Zach Wells (traded to DC United in exchange for Bobby Boswell)

In:

• Bobby Boswell (from DC United in exchange for Zach Wells)
• Tony Caig (free transfer; previously with Scottish club Gretna)

Los Angeles Galaxy Out :

• Chris Albright (traded to New England for allocation money)
• Joe Cannon (traded to San Jose for allocation money)
• Gavin Glinton (expansion draft)
• Cobi Jones (retired)
• Clint Mathis (out of contract and signed with Greek club Ergotelis)

In:

• Clint Mathis (traded NY 3rd round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft for rights)
• Carlos Ruiz (traded allocation money & 2nd round pick in 2009 MLS Super Draft to FC Dallas)

New England Revolution Out:

• Pat Noonan (out of contract; signed with Norwegian club Aalesund)
• James Riley (expansion draft)

In:

• Chris Albright (traded allocation money to Los Angeles)

New York Red Bulls Out :

• Sal Caccavale (waived)
• Clint Mathis (out of contract)
• Joseph Vide (expansion draft)

In :

• Juan Carlos Osorio (coach; gave Chicago 1st round pick in 2008 Super Draft)
• Zach Thornton (free transfer)

San Jose Earthquakes Out :

• Brian Carroll (traded to Columbus Crew for Kei Kamara)
• Clarence Goodson (out of contract; signed with Norwegian club IK Start)

In :

• Preston Burpo (traded to San Jose for 4th round pick in 2008 Super Draft)
• Joe Cannon (traded allocation money to Los Angeles for Cannon)
• Brian Carroll (expansion draft; previously with DC United)
• Ryan Cochrane (top draft in expansion draft)
• Nick Garcia (traded 1st round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft to Kansas City)
• Clarence Goodson (expansion draft; previously with FC Dallas)
• Ned Grabavoy (expansion draft; previously with Columbus Crew)
• Ivan Guerrero (expansion draft; previously with Chicago Fire)
• Jason Hernandez (expansion draft; previously with Chivas USA)
• Kei Kamara (traded Brian Carroll to Columbus Crew)
• Chris Pozniak (expansion draft; previously with Toronto FC)
• James Riley (expansion draft; previously with New England Revolution)
• Joseph Vide (expansion draft; previously with New York Red Bulls)

Real Salt Lake Out:

• Alecko Eskandarian (traded to Chivas USA for allocation money)
• Attiba Harris (traded for 3rd round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft)
• Jamie Watson (waived)

In:

• Ian Joy (signed on a free; previously with FC Pauli in Germany)

Toronto FC Out:

• Chris Pozniak (expansion draft)

In:

Catching Up With Player Moves

Seeing Celtic's manager Gordon Strachan saying that he's not planning on making any new player signings reminded me of skepticism I had over Brad Guzan making a move to a British team before the winter transfer window closes. He doesn't meet the requirements. And I didn't think it was likely that a move to a team like Fulham would pass muster even on appeal as they already have 2 excellent goal keepers in Anti Niemi and Kasey Keller. The move for Celtic didnt' seem likely with it initially appearing that it was dependent on their Polish goalkeeper Boruc being sold to another team. It's looking like I'll have to eat a bit of crow now with many sources including Sporting Life reporting that Celtic is willing to sign Guzan even without selling Boruc and that, in fact, Guzan is in Glasgow to sign with the team. If that is the case, who is Chivas USA likely to turn to take over for Guzan? Their previous fill-in for Guzan, Preston "Stone" Burpo, is now in San Jose. My first impulse was to say "well, maybe they're trade Colorado for an old vet like Thorton". But Zach Thornton recently signed with New York.

And that lead me to see the need to start tracking who is in and out at different teams in the MLS. This is not a complete list right now. I know there are players missing off of it. It's a start and I'll keep adding to it. Please feel free to make note of any players in or out and what was behind the move (released, traded for a player, sold, et al.). That includes guys like Clint Mathis who went from NYRB to LA and before LA could sign him on for 2008, moved on a free to Greece. And I'm including San Jose despite all the players coming in from the expansion draft because, as we've seen with players like Goodson and Carroll, those picks can move on to another team before ever setting foot on the pitch for San Jose. For now I'm not going to note draft picks. Those will be tracked in summarizing the drafts and by who is on the roster come opening day in the end of March. Chicago Fire Out: Chris Armas (retired) Jim Curtin (traded to Chivas USA for a conditional pick in 2010 MLS Super Draft) Juan Carlos Osorio (coach; NYRB gave 1st round pick in 2008 Super Draft) Ivan Guerrero (expansion draft) Andy Herron (out of contract) Paulo Wanchope (retired)

In: Andy Herron (just his MLS rights; send 4th round pick in 2010 MLS Super Draft to Columbus)

Chivas USA Out : Preston Burpo (traded to San Jose for 4th round pick in 2008 Super Draft) Jason Hernandez (expansion draft)

In: Jim Curtin (traded a conditional pick in 2010 MLS Super Draft to Chicago Fire) Alecko Eskandarian (traded to Real Salt Lake for allocation money) Attiba Harris (traded 3rd round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft to Real Salt Lake)

Colorado Rapids Out : Jose Cancela (out of contract) Daniel Osorno (retired) Tony Sanneh (out of contract) Zach Thornton (waived)

In: Jose Burciaga (traded KC a 2nd round pick in 2009 MLS Super Draft) Chase Hilgenbrinck (free transfer; previously played with FC Pauli in Germany)

Columbus Crew Out: Marcos Gonzalez (sold to Chilean club Universidad Catolica for an undisclosed sum) Andy Herron (out of contract; traded MLS rights to Chicago Fire) Kei Kamara (traded to San Jose Earthquakes for Brian Carroll)

In: Brian Carroll (traded to Columbus Crew for Kei Kamara)

DC United Out: Bobby Boswell (traded to Houston Dynamo in exchange for Bobby Boswell) Brian Carroll (picked by San Jose in expansion draft) Troy Perkins (transfer; sold to Norwegian club Valerenga) Greg Vanney (out of contract)

In: Gonzalo Martinez (transfer from Columbian club Millonarios) Franco Neil (one year loan from Argentine club Argentinos Junior) Zach Wells (from Houston Dynamo in exchange for Bobby Boswell)

FC Dallas Out: Denilson (out of contract) Clarence Goodson (expansion draft; out of contract) Carlos Ruiz (traded to Los Angeles Galaxy for allocation money & 2nd round pick in 2009 MLS Super Draft)

In: Duilio Davino (free transfer; previously with Mexican club Club America)

Kansas City Wizards Out : Jose Burciaga (traded to CO for a 2nd round pick in 2009 MLS Super Draft) Nick Garcia (traded to San Jose for 1st round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft) Eddie Johnson (sold to Fulham in English Premiership for $6 million)

In:

Houston Dynamo Out : Ryan Cochrane (top draft in expansion draft) Joseph Ngwenya (out of contract; signed by Austrian club SK Austria Karnten) Zach Wells (traded to DC United in exchange for Bobby Boswell)

In: Bobby Boswell (from DC United in exchange for Zach Wells)

Los Angeles Galaxy Out : Chris Albright (traded to New England for allocation money) Joe Cannon (traded to San Jose for allocation money) Gavin Glinton (expansion draft) Cobi Jones (retired) Clint Mathis (out of contract and signed with Greek club Ergotelis) In: Clint Mathis (traded NY 3rd round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft for rights) Carlos Ruiz (traded allocation money & 2nd round pick in 2009 MLS Super Draft to FC Dallas)

New England Revolution Out: Pat Noonan (out of contract; signed with Norwegian club Aalesund) James Riley (expansion draft) In: Chris Albright (traded allocation money to Los Angeles)

New York Red Bulls Out : Sal Caccavale (waived) Clint Mathis (out of contract) Joseph Vide (expansion draft)

In : Juan Carlos Osorio (coach; gave Chicago 1st round pick in 2008 Super Draft) Zach Thornton (free transfer) San Jose Earthquakes Out : Brian Carroll (traded to Columbus Crew for Kei Kamara) Clarence Goodson (out of contract; signed with Norwegian club IK Start)

In : Preston Burpo (traded to San Jose for 4th round pick in 2008 Super Draft) Joe Cannon (traded allocation money to Los Angeles for Cannon) Brian Carroll (expansion draft; previously with DC United) Ryan Cochrane (top draft in expansion draft) Nick Garcia (traded 1st round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft to Kansas City) Clarence Goodson (expansion draft; previously with FC Dallas) Ned Grabavoy (expansion draft; previously with Columbus Crew) Ivan Guerrero (expansion draft; previously with Chicago Fire) Jason Hernandez (expansion draft; previously with Chivas USA) Kei Kamara (traded Brian Carroll to Columbus Crew) Chris Pozniak (expansion draft; previously with Toronto FC) James Riley (expansion draft; previously with New England Revolution) Joseph Vide (expansion draft; previously with New York Red Bulls)

Real Salt Lake Out: Alecko Eskandarian (traded to Chivas USA for allocation money) Attiba Harris (traded for 3rd round pick in 2008 MLS Super Draft) Jamie Watson (waived)

In: Ian Joy (signed on a free; previously with FC Pauli in Germany)

Toronto FC Out: Chris Pozniak (expansion draft)

In: