Revolution Officials Deny Zerka Reports
by Steve Stoehr on Feb 3, 2012 9:31 AM EST
in Revolution Commentary
Email
Print
Sean Donahue issued a short announcement last night over at New England Soccer Today explaining that New England Revolution officials have denied the reports he gathered from his source concerning the way the Monsef Zerka contract situation was handled. Through the media relations department, the team asserts that they made efforts to keep the Moroccan winger at the club.
Despite these denials, Sean trusts his source completely, and after conferring with that person, has restated that the source stands by the reports "100%." The source also added the following, paraphrased in Sean's article:
Further, the source advises that Zerka wanted to remain with the Revolution. But after preliminary contract talks were conducted, the source asserts that the club repeatedly stalled during the negotiation process before it eventually notified him that it had decided to go in a different direction.
I'm a little bit closer to the situation than I'm willing to let on at this point, so I'll just say this: I trust Sean's integrity and I trust his source. It's not that I don't trust the Revs media department - my relationship with them has always been a good one - but I know Sean, and I know he doesn't just make things up. He has a hard time separating his own desire to be a totally impartial journalist long enough just to put together an opinion piece; he wouldn't suspend his professionalism like that. And I know his source would have knowledge of this situation, so take all of this as you will.
What I don't like is that these allegations make it seem as though the Revs are still negotiating contracts like it's 2004. We all remember what happened with Jeff Larentowicz when the Revolution (negotiations led by Mike Burns, the common denominator through everything, although Steve Nicol had personnel control) low-balled him and caused him to jump ship for Colorado. More recently, there was the Marko Perovic fiasco, and Rajko Lekic leaving the Revs at the negotiating table because they were unwilling to offer him more than a semi-guaranteed deal. Sometimes good business is going to make these situations look callous and inhuman; such is the business of sports. However, the Revolution organization already has a league-wide reputation as one of the most hardheaded and needlessly-cold negotiators in the league, a reputation that is going to continue to scare quality players away from Foxborough.
Either way, the Revs are saying none of this happened. A good source says it did. Journalism, am I right?
11 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I trust Sean over the F.O.
It comes down to identifying a pattern:
a) How often as Sean been exposed as lying, making things up or using a source that proved to be unreliable?
b) How often have the Revs been hardheaded and coldblooded cheap in their negotiations with players and how often have they openly lied to the public (e.g. SSS 12-24 months way, Caraglio is a DP, etc)?
I think exhibit b is full of example while exhibit a is quite empty.
It is another exampe of the Revs F.O. acting like the public is stupid and will likely get away with it.
After all, if the market they want is the once a year and the youth soccer moms, the quality of the team does not matter at all. That public cannot name a player other than Shalrie, Reis and Fagundez because of their hair style or their position (keeper). They have no idea how to judge the quality of a player. So why should the F.O. cares?
They will run event with the suburb teams and get an average attendance of 12K which is probably enough to make money opening the stadium that day. And get 60K+ for a US game and a big European team game. And charge STH for it.
They know that the people who cares (STH) will come regardless and complaint and whine but still renew and come. I am negative on a lot of things about the REvs and I still renewed it because let’s face it, nothing beat the experience of a live soccer game.
So I complain and critisize the team and the FO but I still show up at the game and root for them. I will be there on the 24th of MArch supporting what is basically a reserve team and cheer and yell if they score and get upset when they lose. I will them drive home wishing I was leaving in a different part of the country soccer wise.
When you build up a bad reputation...
no one will want to play for you. It’s sad, but true. We’ve only signed 1 of 3 re-entry draft prosepcts, and it’s looking more and more like all the off-season acquisitions we’ve made are loan-to-buy deals. Unless the academy has a few more Fagundez like studs coming through we may hear more people griping about contraction. Though I really don’t see contraction of this team happening for a variety of reasons.
by Abram Chamberlain on Feb 3, 2012 9:06 PM EST reply actions
In defense of loan-to-buy
Many deals in MLS are like that, you just don’t hear about the details. A lot of the Colombians coming in this offseason probably aren’t, but that’s an anomaly because the Colombian league is falling apart financially right now. For the most part, especially out of South America, it’s loan-to-buy deals.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation.
Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
by Steve Stoehr on Feb 4, 2012 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
My fear is
I guess, rational or not, I have a fear that Cardenas is better than advertised, or Moreno scores buckets of goals, and we get excited. Then we end up not seeing the buy half ever come to fruition.
by Abram Chamberlain on Feb 4, 2012 2:42 PM EST reply actions
I'll take it
If both Colombians are way better than expected and we have a great season, then I can live with it even they do not sign them. That would mean the scouting is either finally good or lucky.
Abram and Exiled
both bring up great points. On one hand I agree with Abram- Revs fans are now stuck between a rock and a hard place because we want these Colombians (and any future signings) to do well to better our team but the logical fear is the fans will become attached to the players, buy their jerseys, get their autographs, etc only to have the team at the end of the year decline the purchase option and give us a bunch of crap about “being in talks”. We obviously don’t want the internationals to perform poorly either. The best thing to take away from this cluster “you know what” with Caraglio, Lekic and Zerka is try not to be too attached (though it is hard) and wait a couple years on a player if you want a jersey with their name on it!
On Exiled’s side I also agree as it could show improved scouting under Heaps but it would be all for naught if the team doesn’t keep players after a year. MLS in general has to change this loan to buy if possible and definitely change this semi-guarantee thing. I’m going to cite Philly again by pointing out what they did to clear space to transfer Torres form America de Cali, the same club Lozano and Cardenas are from. If America de Cali has a thing for high transfer fees, forget Cardenas and Lozano now!
Loan to buy is by no means unique to MLS
It’s a very commonplace deal all over the world. Gets a lot of play in England as well. Torres was a loan to buy, I think, FYI. Not that I disagree with any of your points, I just wanted to make sure you were informed.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation.
Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
Thanks
I definitely appreciate you helping me with this stuff; I am still learning.
I’m just saying with the shirt sponsor money, allocation money and what not, why not purchase Caraglio? Granted I didn’t know what his club was asking, nor how much the Revs really have, nor if the Revs were impressed enough with Caraglio to make the move, but it seems like for MLS to continue its growth, not only do teams need to open their pockets but the salary cap must change. Right now, it doesn’t seem reasonable, no matter how much the Revs want them, that all three Colombians will be purchased at the end of the year.
I think he wasn't worth the number
And frankly, I’d agree with that assessment. 12 games, 3 goals? Sorry, I want more than that for a guy I have to pay for (the xfer fee will count towards the cap). The bigger issue, in my mind, is that he was brought in as late as he was. These loan-to-buy projects or experiment guys need to be brought in early so you can properly assess their value. Who knows what Caraglio might have been able to do with at least one season under his belt? I understand his injury and contract status made that impossible in 2011, but these sorts of things happen too often with this organization and I don’t like it.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation.
Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
My final thoughts on the subject for now:
I’m at least glad the Revolution actually announced to the fans that Jose Moreno is on loan. This way we can understand the likely-hood of him being a short term Revs player. The more information the team can give, the better, so as not to have frustrated fans at the end of the year wonder why the player isn’t coming back. I see no harm in the team telling us when a player is on loan, etc without giving out contract details.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Bent Musket
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
