Photo by John Gellebter/USA TODAY Sports
By DAN KARELL
The search for a new starting goalkeeper is underway in Kansas City for the second consecutive year.
Sporting KC announced a number of roster moves on Tuesday afternoon, including parting ways with goalkeepers Eric Kronberg and Andy Gruenebaum after deciding not to pick up their options. Together with Sal Zizzo, who also had his contract option declined, the three will be eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft beginning on Dec.12.
Toni Dovale, Michael Kafari, and Victor Muñoz also had their contract options declined.
Sporting KC also confirmed that midfielder Lawrence Olum’s contract had been mutually terminated, and the club will keep him MLS rights should he return to the league. Olum was seen in pictures on social media joining Malaysian club Kedah FA earlier this week.
Finally, the club revealed that Aurelien Collin, Kevin Ellis, Jacob Peterson and Soony Saad are all out of contract, but that the club is attempting to re-sign all four players.
Here are some more of Tuesday’s MLS news and notes:
RAPIDS DECLINE OPTIONS ON 13 PLAYERS IN CLUDING BUDDLE, WYNNE
After a disappointing stretch of results to end the season, the Colorado Rapids have opted to clean house.
The Rapids announced Monday that the club had opted not to pick up options on 13 players, including veterans Edson Buddle, Marvelle Wynne and Nick Labrocca. In addition, the club will part ways with defenders Gale Agbossoumonde, Thomas Piermayr and Grant Van De Casteele, midfielders Carlos Alvarez and Davy Armstrong, forwards Kamani Hill and Danny Mwanga, as well as goalkeeper Joe Nasco.
However, Rapids vice president of soccer operations Paul Bravo insisted that some of the listed players could be back in time for January training camp.
“This is an announcement we have to make prior to the upcoming November 26 deadline for notifying our players,” Bravo said. “Some of these players may be back with us by the time we begin training in January as many things could change between now and then.”
MANNEH, SALGADO GRADUATE FROM GENERATION ADIDAS, BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR EXPANSION DRAFT
If the Vancouver Whitecaps are to hold on to Kekutah Manneh and Omar Salgado, they club will have to protect them like any other player.
The club revealed Tuesday that the duo had graduated from the Generation adidas program and will now see their salaries count against the team’s cap. In addition, Manneh and Salgado will be eligible for selection in December’s Expansion Draft unless protected.
Teams must submit their list of protected list on Dec. 8 ahead of the Dec. 10 draft.
CREW TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL COLLEGE COMBINE
After identifying forward Adam Bedell last season, the Columbus Crew are set to utilize yet another College Combine.
The Crew announced Tuesday that the club will host the second annual College Combine event, which will allow the club’s technical staff to get a closer look at some of the region’s college prospects.
“We are lucky to be located in an area with so many quality college programs,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “As we experienced with Adam Bedell last year, the combine provides a great opportunity for players coming out of these programs to be evaluated by our technical staff and potentially earn a roster spot and playing time with the Columbus Crew SC First Team.”
The event is set to take place Dec. 14 at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center at The Ohio State University.
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What do you think of the Sporting KC and Rapids roster moves? Who do you expect the Whitecaps to protect in the Expansion Draft? What players should the Crew get a closer look at?
Share your thoughts below.
Remember how bummed the Gals fans were when Buddle left? It’s crazy that he scored so many goals in alternate seasons and disappeared in other, very odd?
Buddle got great service while at LA. Any above average forward could score 10 or more goals easily if they had guys like Beckham and Donovan serving the ball on a platter.
That makes very little sense, he had the same service each year at the Galaxy and could not translate that into 10 goals every season. Plus if the Rapids thought that was true, they would be looking to get him that service not just cutting him loose.
Toni Dovale
Sal Zizzo
Michael Kafari
Kamani Hill
Danny Mwanga
Victor Muñoz
Gale Agbossoumonde
….a good coach, mentor and training staff these players are diamonds in the rough….like RSL, LA GALAXY, SOUNDERS OR NEW ENGLAND
If players like Lee Nyugen can get cut from Vancuver or Dom Dwyer going from Norwich city to being loan by SKC to a USL PRO team or Dewayne de Rosario bouncing around from FSV Zwickau to Richmond Kickers to DC then is hope…….
bizzy,
“You’re telling me there’s a chance?”
There is always hope. It is true that your listed players still have time to eventually make it.
But what I think you are missing is, when your “Diamonds” were first making a splash, they were in front of the “Prospect” line. But for whatever reason, they lost their place in that line.
And in pro sports, you only get so many chances mostly because there are other athletes who will kill to take the job you just lost. And for some on your list, they get tags like “injury prone” which can follow them forever.
Those guys in the line behind them? They may be as good or better or maybe they are just less of an idiot than your diamonds were. Take Agbossomunde. In terms of the USMNT when he came up the US center backs of the future were George John, Gonzo, Ream, and maybe Cameron. Some of them have fallen by the way side but a lot of other young candidates, who have yet to get their shot, are well in front of him. Pro soccer is a dynamic thing and a career is promised to no one. Your diamonds have blown their first and maybe only shot. Maybe they get another one, or not.
Teams RSL, the Galaxy, the Sounders and the Revs find new prospects all the time and have only so many chances to hand out.
Lee Nguyen is a different case from these guys. He was scouted and played for PSV after 1 year of college ball. How many of the above would be that good at a similar stage? OK I remember Hill played in the Bundesliga and it all went downhill after he came to MLS.
Never saw the big deal with Mwanga; since his first year, did not see him do anything more than an an average MLS forward.
Lee Nyugen was cut from Vancouver for making homophobic comments, not because of playing ability.
If G-bomb would be OK with being a backup, I’d say come back to Columbus.
Nah, I’m a starter, straight up.
Hopefully, Joe Nasco can still go back to his job as a sheriff.
Lessons to be learned for USMNT fans. Just remember, there was a time when people were calling for Gale Agboss and Danny Mwanga to get starts for the Nats despite little or no track record. One great season or lots of hype, does not mean a player is capable of making it to the next level.
Agreed. Luckily both are young and can still turn things around. Now if only Klinsman would listen to you.
Fifawitz Buddle played for the MNT is there a lesson there?
Karma has come for Eric Kronberg. Good job karma.
Lol
What am I missing?
SKC, yeah we have Dallas on the phone for you. Philly is on line 2 also….
Lots of “name” players getting their contracts declined is interesting, with the CBA being up I wonder if some of these are in hopes of signing them post agreement? Amazing the #2 pick two drafts ago is already being cut loose, and the number 1 pick a few before that. College kids don’t get much leeway it seems these days.
Nick Sakiewicz got excited at the prospect he can add two more goalkeepers without having to trade.
You can never have too many goalkeepers.
+ 10000 – to bad it isn’t the 1800’s when you could actually “fair catch” the ball and place it on the ground to kick it.