It's been mighty quiet in here......nothing going on to talk about? No rumors or anything to speculate about??
Whats going on??
Someone has had to have heard SOMETHING!!
yes, no, maybe???

Thought we were going to find out who the new coach is soon. Oh well, guess not. Anyone think, like I do, that the man has been chosen and they're ironing out the contract right now? That's what I hope is going on at least.

is there some time limit that doesnt allow the players to talk to any other teams. by now i think they would have allready talked to most of the players they want back??? somebody must of heard something....cmon spill the beans LOL

We have eleven or twelve players already secured for next season.

I don't expect to hear much of anything until a new Coach announcement is made. A few players who aren't secured are likely checking their options, but waiting to decide based on who the new Coach will be.

And I don't expect an announcement on that before the New Year.

Sorry.....it really is just this quiet right now.

Okay......lemme have those eleven or twelve names!!! If you know them.... Please!

Still under contract for 2002 season:
Dusty Hudock
Paul Conway
Colin Phillips
Todd Hoffard
Jon Akin
Mac Cozier
Seamus DOnnelly
Matt Farris
Kevin Anderson
John Wilson
Velko Iotov
Brian Alvero

NOT under contract:
Dan Calichman
Pablo webster
Ryan Trout
Gilberte jean Baptiste
Darren Warham
Jukka Rantala
Tim Sahaydak
Brian Piesner
John Ball

What I could dig up from old articles, etc.

Nice research roa1900.

I agree with Groomie in that we probably won't see any more contracts signed til we get a new coach although I would like to see something annouced before the new year begins. Training starts in Feb or Mar. IIRC.

I would guess alot of these guys are going get offers from other clubs and aren't going to wait too long to find out if they fit into the new coach's system or not.

I would definately like to see Calichman and JB back to help shore up the back line. I like Jukka too. Piesner because he is a great guy.

Here to hoping we here something soon from the club house.

Mikey

...I wonder if a new coach will be named by next week's meetings? If not, I'd hope it would be very soon after. Keep in mind, any new coach may have his own favorites that he'll want to bring in as well!

As for offers from other clubs....where? The number of A-League clubs is DROPPING AGAIN. I'd bet we're looking at a league of 16 or 17 teams for the 2002 season....

Added: Calgary, Hampton Roads*
Gone: San Diego, Hershey, Nashville*
Going D3?: Connecticut, Long Island - and that's if they come back at all.
AWOL: Montreal -still looking for ownership

So where will players get offers FROM? It's going to be another year where it will be a "Team" market. Players are looking at a tough market

Definately a teams market.
Players will be bending over this year.
Salaries will plummet, teams will be taking serious looks at local and part time players.

In one respect the owners have the upper hand but with less teams we get stronger squads and even more competitive games.

In fact the Battery will be at a disadvantage, they don't seem to have the ability to put together a Championship squad with all their previous resources and now with an even playing field!!
Maybe its not just the coaching staff who has the problem.
Maybe they need to clean house in upper management? From what I hear management had picked the players for the coach in the past!

At this point I'd like to see Calichman, Baptiste, Piesner, and Jukka back. Of course I'd add Darren to that list if I thought it was possible but... Anyhow, I'd love to have DC back if for no other reason than being able to call him slow for another six months and watching him show me up... again!

I feel quite a few of the players on the "uncontracted" list (Calichman,
Jean-Baptiste, Jukka) would be welcome on many A-league sides. And there were some rumors at the end of the season of Peisner going to Atlanta.

Last years MLS draft saw a number of
A-league player being picked up, albiet most came right back to the A-league.

I think we will see Calichamn back, He's a family man and reaching the end of his playing years, and he like Charleston.

JB: Not sure, I think he could pick up a number of offers, (Maybe even with the CUSL, if it ever happens)


Jukka: Likes Charleston but misses home, I think he would go back if given the opportunity.

Ball: Probably gone, to hot tempered, a good player but not good enough to keep around with his temper.

Trout and Sahaydak: Weren't they sent from MLS clubs? I don't remember if they were permanent moves or not.

Warham: too much of a soap opera to write here. He may be offered to stay now that Dicks is gone.

Piesner, See above

Webster, no idea really

Anyone remember the young lad from Peterbourgh United? They couldn't get his work permit before the end of the season, but I hear he was impressive and they were going to try and get him for the 2002 season.

Boy, what a long post. I'm going through some serious soccer withdrawls. At least the USMNT are playing tomorrow

Mikey

[ 11-10-2001: Message edited by: Mikey ]

I hear that Calichman is thinking of going back to California and doing some coaching. He will be missed in the back. Maybe we can beg Spooner to come back! Rochester would love that.

So, Velko has a contract through 2002. I was under the impression when he came to Charleston that he signed a 2 year deal, which expired at the end of this past season... just wondering...

I hate to see teams leave the league, but I think in a way the A-League is too large. By reducing the number of teams there will be an increase in the overall quality of the league. The teams that will be gone next season (except for Hershey) were clubs that had major problems. I think the new franchises in Calgary and Hampton Roads will definitely help the league.

Hey, speaking of Hershey, anyone thought about a Mitchell-Conway pairing up top for the Battery next year? Or maybe grabbing Kyle Swords? Hmmmm.... this could get interesting.

[ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: Bill ]

what is the holdup....resign baptiste--calichman and peez.

Since we're all getting our wish lists in to Santa early, I'd like to get Temoc back. We all know he didn't fit into Coach Dicks scheme, I'd like to think he'd still be considered for future Battery employment. Homegrown talent is an important piece of the marketing puzzle. Here's a good article on him from the USL website:
http://www.uslsoccer.com/eng/stats/teama...edId&id=1337064

One excerpt from the article:



I know I miss him, let's get him back.

[ 11-13-2001: Message edited by: JBG - Bribe Taker ]

New coach was announced... Chris Ramsey's the name. Who has all of the good information?

Hey, since someone was talking about a Christmas wish list.. how about a healthy Ivo back in the midfield to compliment the existing corp? I know he hasn't been healthy for a while... and he and Coach Dicks don't see eye to eye... but wouldn't it be fun to have him back? Where is he anyway? :rolleyes:

I could deal with Ivo & Temoc returning.

I heard Temoc signed with Rochester.

Someone else on Atlanta's board also said Temoc was heading up north. This same person though said the Piesner has signed with us. He also said that there's a rumor that the 'Backs might pick up a quality Battery defender. hmmmm..... who might that be? Baptiste? Warham?

Looks like the Whinos are going to be even stronger. Temoc should fit well into their system.

the word is that the peez has signed with charleston. done deal

It would have been crappy to see Peez head back to our arch rival Silverbacks -- glad to hear that he will remain in a Charleston uniform.

No argument he is a VERY good player but I'm not quite so sure about the fit in Rochester -

1. Their system is defense 1st...for EVERYONE!
2. How will they line up with both Stoian AND Temoc in the midfield?! Very similar players in that the teams they play on have the offense run through them.

Rochester plays a 4-4-2...with both guys in the midfield they might consider going to a 3-5-2 to have someone anchor the defensive mid behind them?!

I see your point... I was thinking that since Rochester plays well defensively it may allow Temoc the freedom to focus on what he does best -- create scoring opportunities... how this will work or whether it will break down the defensive cohesiveness of the Rhinos in midfield remains to be seen... but at least for the Rhinos they will not have to play against Temoc. I believe the Battery plays Rochester twice in 2002.

What's the status of this Temoc/Whinos rumor??

I went on the Rhinos very active website about 3 days ago and asked. Eighty-three people have viewed the post, three people have responded, 2 saying they wanted him, one saying they didn't need another MF, no one confirmed or denied the signing. So, maybe he's still up for grabs? One can hope.


http://www.rhinossoccer.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=1&topic=220

I guess it almost official now. The Rochester newspaper is reporting today that Temoc is close to signing with the Rhinos. Although, they've resigned both Steenkamp and Mladenov for 2002, who I believe are their central midfielders. So, Temoc's going to have to compete to crack their starting lineup.


http://www.rochestersports.com/columns/0103story1.html