When: Saturday, September 27, 2:30 PM Where: BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario Television: Channel 55 (English), Channel 43 (Spanish) Radio: 850 AM (Spanish) It's been a while, but it's time to start the threads up again! Our schedules were really busy due to the resumption of college and Ike, but it's time to start cheering the Dynamo on down the stretch! Since we last left the Orange, they have moved into first place in the Western Conference (10-5-9, 39 points) and have been on a role. It remains to be seen how they'll react to so many games in such a short time between now and the end of the MLS regular season and the CONCACAF Champions Cup (which we opened with a 0-0 draw against Panama's San Francisco FC). Toronto FC (7-12-6, 27 points) is a team on the exact opposite course as the Dynamo. They began the season on fire, defeating what appeared to be a strong Los Angeles Galaxy (who have similarly hit the skids) squad twice, but have since cooled off to an absurd degree. It's always fun to watch Pat Onstad and DeRo play in front of their countrymen - even if there are rumors that Toronto will make a move for De Rosario at the end of the season - so this should be a good one.
During the San Fransisco game the commentators mentioned Toronto saving up money to try and get a big named Canadian player next season, while DeRo is under contract with us that won't stop Toronto from at least trying to pry him away. And if they make an offer that is too good to refuse (which I doubt they will) then he could be traded. But it's all speculation at this point.
Freeing up $ is more valuable than players in MLS trades. If we trade DeRo, I'd like to bring in a big-name player from overseas.
You got someone in mind? I think that, whether through a trade for DeRosario or through free agency, someone from MEXICO will come to the Dynamo since there is a major fan base for them here in Houston. Does anyone else agree?
I've hear rumors that Blanco and his entourage were originally interested in the Dynamo, but the team was not ready to clear the cap space for a DP.
^ Yeah, that was the rumor even after the FMF's Deportivo Club América (my favorite football club) wanted to do a Houston-based team here in Houston and failed before the Dynamo days. I wanted Blanco here so much. Anyway, what in the heck does Charlie Palillo know about the Dynamo? I can't believe he called this game... (I hadn't seen his play-calling before). He was decent and knew enough. Spoiler A tie at 1-1 is fine. We'll take it even on an own goal by Toronto. Great plays by Onstad to save a few Toronto shots were enough to keep one point. Let's stay ahead of those pesky Chivas.
I think as long as we have our current coach and front office we won't get any players because of their nationality or a designated player from anywhere. With the current salary cap having a bunch of solid players with good chemistry is more important than having one really good player with some scrubs. They may look for a latin role player like they did with Caraccio though, but if they don't feel like he's worth it they won't keep him around just because where he's from.
How did (or does) the salary cap play against a team like the Galaxy with that overpaid, good for nothing, midfielder named Beckham and Chicago with that awesome, season-turning, competitive player named Blanco? Do they get a free pass?
I'm confused..I am relatively new to Soccer. But if Blanco is awesome and competative...what does one have to do to be a whiny ref baiting flopper?
Well, with Blanco, you have the whole package in one player. He's an awesome ,competitive, whiny, ref-baiting flopper.
A team can have two designated players (a player that makes more than $400K a year), the first one counts $400K against the cap, the second counts around $325K against the cap. I think the cap is around 2.3 or 2.4 million this year. The Galaxy actually have 2 designated players, Beckham and Landon Donovan, so that's $725K against the cap for them leaving around 1.4 million for the rest of the team. They were in even worse condition earlier in the year but have dumped some of their higher paid players. Chicago just has Blanco as a designated player, who counts $400K against their cap.
Final Score: Houston 1 Toronto 1 The Dynamo escape Canada with a tie, keeping them above Chivas USA for first place in the Western Conference. It seems as though Toronto always plays really scrappy ball against us and any result we get is hard fought. The Dynamo benefited from one of the more embarrassing own goals that you will ever see, but Toronto tied the game up late in the second half to secure a result. The next game will be an away match against UNAM Pumas in the CONCACAF Champions Cup this upcoming Tuesday and our next MLS match will be against the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City on October 4th. The Dynamo have a tough rode from now until our inevitable MLS Cup victory due to the amount of games left to be played in such a short amount of time.
