Sakiewicz: Union Working On "Complicated, Multi-Player" International Deal
by Ben Feldman on Aug 3, 2011 11:37 PM EDT
in News
Email
Print
Well here's an interesting subplot to the Union's 1-1 draw in Chicago, and particularly ahead of Saturday's home match against Houston: despite a report posted today on Major League Soccer's official website citing officials of Mexican side Veracruz that an acquisition of Carlos Ruiz's rights from MLS has gone through, Philadelphia Union CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz told Union play-by-play announcer JP Dellacamera that this is not the case. Indeed, Dellacamera got Sakiewicz to reveal the following nugget in a conversation between the two yesterday that was quoted several time during tonight's telecast on Comcast SportsNet:
The club is involved in a complicated, multi-player deal with multiple teams outside of MLS.
Vague, but oh so tantalizing. Dellacamera said that he specifically got in touch with Sakiewicz again today to ask if anything had changed since they last spoke, but Sakiewicz reiterated that Ruiz's rights still belonged to the Union and that no deal had been finalized just yet. So this, of course, begs several questions, starting with: what the heck is up? Does Veracruz believe they have completed a deal for Ruiz's rights when they haven't? Or are the Union trying to buy time to work on this mystery deal by holding back an announcement regarding Ruiz? Is it possible that this deal involves 21-year old Saprissa striker Josue Martinez, whose rights the Union apparently unsuccessfully tried to purchase last week?
We don't know the answers to any of these questions quite yet, but we'll keep our ears open. It looks like something substantial is about to take place, and probably sooner rather than later, given that the current international transfer window closes on the 14th. Stay tuned...
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Sick of waiting
I swear to god that if we go into Saturday and play another game without some inclination of this team’s actions or news that additions are made to this roster, I seriously will need to reevaluate my commitment to this team. I hate saying that, but there it is. This team had so much potential this year, and then they just gutted the roster and now are scrambling at the last second to try to put band-aids on it. If we were just still growing in year 2 or having a mediocre season, I’d be so much more acceptable than us having had the potential to run away with the East and then just imploding the season for money which went unused.
We were never "running away" with anything
Gutted the roster? Ruiz and Harvey leave and that’s “gutting”? We have to be realistic. Our shot at “winning” the East is largely made possible by the superiority of the teams in the West. And Ruiz was effective, but hardly playing at all-star level. And we still don’t know what in the world happened with him — he doubtless wanted out for whatever reason.
Gutted the Roster...too funny
Harvey,couldnt stay on the field as a Rapid. Ruiz, ten goals in 3 seasons w/ 3 teams. I dont see losing these guys as a bad thing. Holder, ah yes devastating, haha.
I dont understand these fans who are screaming out at Nowak and the U. Were you not happy when Danny, 1st Pick in the draft, was declared our starting striker for the next 2years? How about Letoux, in a slump now, but would you just drop him?
As a 2nd year team, this season is already a glowing success. Did anyone really think the U would be top of the east for even 1 week let alone most of the 1st half season? Anyone who vigilant questions our team at this point is a fair weather fan. Save your negativity for 2014 when we are expected to contend, until then stfu and enjoy the kids as they grow and become stars. Expecting hardware and big $$ all star DPs is counter productive and flat out ridiculous. As a Phils fan W 10k losses and an Eagles fan, I have no issues with how the U is goin. stay the course Petr.
Um.
Were you not happy when Danny, 1st Pick in the draft, was declared our starting striker for the next 2years?
When did that happen?
Missing the Point
It isn’t about collecting hardware and needing a big DP signing, it is about flushing the team’s potential for no gain. Harvey gone for money. Ruiz gone for money. Agorsor gone because he wasn’t a fit. Holder gone to free up an international roster spot.
No opposite to any of those moves. Sell, sell, sell, and no buy. Granted, the window isn’t closed yet, but to have not been able to put something together prior to the internation friendlies week and put your team in this precarious position with no depth and cluster of league matches is poor administration. Demonstrated by the fact that a red to Williams forced the team to have to use two out-of-position midfielders in their back 4.
I don’t understand this team allowing itself to be fined for being under the roster minimum. Knowing this, they let additional players go taking them further beyond the roster minimum. In all this, nothing has been added – it has all been subtraction. To deny that is to lie. It is a fact. We’re losing players and gaining allocation money. To this point, that allocation money hasn’t done anything.
I hope I’m just being over-reactionary and that in a couple days from now I’ll be kicking myself for these posts after a few banner moves that the team makes. I don’t even care about signing someone to a huge contract or looking for the edge to get us the cup, I just expect the team to at least be able to be competitive, and this squad is so depleted that I don’t believe it can in coming weeks.
I understand, yes ...overreaction yes also
I get what your sayin. But you can only dress 16 and we have. My point is voice your displeasure after the 14th cuz I fully expect the U to add players by then. I think its easy to sign pavl pardo types who are gone in a year or half. Its much more difficult to get good players who and planning to make their make mark and stay awhile. That guy Josue from Saprissa is a more complicated matter. My point is that its our 2nd year and ya cant expect it to come too quik these type of players take time.
and Buzz…its well known that Danny entered adidas gen status instead of signing Lorients reserve team contract cuz Petr said “he would get 1st team striker mins”. thats good enoughfor me
Questioning the moves is a fans perogative, but saying your reevaluating your support because of the lack of year 2 moves is fair weather. Petr will get something done, he hasnt let us down is the initail 14 months. Questioning moves ..ok no problem. Its the reevaluate your commitment as a fan I suppose that irks me
overreaction!
it’s what we(philly fans) do best!
I stopped at “Granted, the window isn’t closed yet”. I think we’re all a bit impatient, but there is still plenty of time to get deals done especially since we now know something is in the works. How many roster moves that’ll actually make a difference do you expect? We signed Paunovic so maybe 1 or 2 more “starting” caliber guys will be signed. Depth is great and all but if our top guys get hurt we’re pretty much screwed (same for any other team in MLS). Signings for the sake of filling out a roster won’t do much for us in the playoffs.
In addition to this we have guys like Marfan, Jack Mac, Okugo, even Torres that have been limited in minutes this year and have provided help when needed (see Williams Red Card).
I think we’ll be getting some help up top as well as RM, but after that I really don’t expect much.
and to say that someone who is raising their eyebrows at these roster moves and asking questions as to why we’re not making the best use of the number of roster spots and cap space that MLS make availble to the team is a ‘fair weather fan’ is completely and utterly ridiculous
someone NOT questioning these moves and decisions probably doesn’t care enough to be a fan
I know you probably wouldnt be posting here if you weren’t as I am. Doop til ya die. But your 1st post strikes me as fair weather.
Like a Barca fan saying.“what, we haven’t signed Cesc yet, wtf, I’m gonna need to reevaluate my commitment as a supporter”
I know lol we’re no Barca, but I do like the way things are going. Im also gonna back the U and the youth team just went undefeated. Im cool with the way things are goin, and Im sure come the 4th so will you.
I tend to agree. I mostly have faith in Nowak and company, but I’ve been disappointed with their management of the roster spots and budget. We already had a thin roster before they lost a bunch of players this past month, now we are just dangerously thin. Our players are going to be totally exhausted by the playoffs unless they get some people who can provide depth.
It’s fine to release Holder or sell Ruiz or Harvey but these are the kind of moves you make when you have a replacement more or less set — and if you don’t, you don’t make the deal. It’s not like we can sign 1 person and magically be on par with other MLS teams. We pretty much need to sign 4 or 5 guys to bring up our roster to comparable to our MLS peers in terms of depth and flexibility.
Think about this: we have 8 open roster spots. Eight! Sure, it makes sense to not use the bottom two of the off budget spots because you get allocation money for them being unused, but explain all the others>
I guess my reevaluate comment is what made me seem that ‘off’ I didn’t mean anything like not still supporting the team; I meant more along the lines of stop pissing off my family for blowing off ‘important’ events like birthdays and weddings if they occur on match days… ha… in my mind ‘quitting’ on the Union would mean spending less than 50 hours a week on BigSoccer, missing more than 2 home matches in a season, and making less than 2 road games
Totally understand. I come from Milford to every home game. If we dont sign anyone I would be more reluctant to make the trek. But dont fret….in Petr we trust, we’re gettin someone,someone good! Steady as she goes…no need to waiver. DOOP
New Union Fan
i started to get interested in soccer 5 or so years ago as my son started to play soccer – the past few years i started to watch MLS games every now and again – last year i watched Union games when i could and my son and i attended a game of the U. after seeing the Union live i was hooked! my 10 year old son is a huge fan and i have had a fun time this season growing as a soccer fan and a Union fan with him.
that being said – i have been a HUGE sports fan my entire life – but soccer and how soccer works is completely different from the more mainstream American sports.
i am sure that the Union FO knows what it is doing – but it gets frustrating seeing other MLS teams going out and bringing people in and so far the U hasn’t done anything to replace Harvey or Ruiz, the leading scorer.
but the last thing i want to see them do is bring in a big name – big pay 35 yr old for a half season or a season. the shape that the Fire is in what help is bringing in an old guy to play the second half of the season?
say what you will about Ruiz – he started off slow – he looked to be a much better player after the Gold Cup – but he is a finisher. i think that the past few games – including the friendlies – have shown that the Union has alot of talented young players – but at this time none of them are a finisher and to win games – to win playoff games you need someone t finish and score goals.
i was not expecting the Union to make the playoffs this season – but i think that the season would be a huge disappointment if they did not make the playoffs with how the first half plus of the season has gone.
the FO has to make sure that the decisions that they make on signings are the correct choices for the future – but they also have to worry about making the playoffs and making a good showing in the playoffs for the fans that they have picked up this season.
with watching the team evolve over the first two seasons i think that the FO knows what it is doing – lets just keep our fingers crossed that we get good, exciting, young talent!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Brotherly Game
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
