Chicago Fire Waive Davis Paul - Doesn't quite open the roster spot you might think
by Tweed Thornton on Jun 29, 2011 5:21 PM CDT
in Fire Roster News & Analysis
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The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that they have waived rookie midfielder Davis Paul. Frank Klopas said, "We want to thank Davis for his contributions to the Chicago Fire and wish him the best of luck in his next venture". Everyone here at Hot Time In Old Town does the same. Davis Paul is a great guy who works hard and is a creative individual. He'll likely find some MLS or other soccer league team to play for but he also has a design company on the side conveniently named Davis Paul Design. From the interview he graciously did with us earlier in the year to everything else I've read and seen, he'll be missed in the organization. It's a shame things didn't work out on the field for him.
More on his time with the team and what his roster spot means after the break.
Paul was the 15th selection in third round (51st overall) of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. He long outlasted Elmhurst native Jason Herrick who the Fire selected 6 spots earlier (45th overall) but dropped early in pre-season. Paul seemed to continue to beat the odds when Carlos de los Cobos had him on the bench for every game to start the season and Paul put in a full 90 minutes against the Colorado Rapids in the Fire's first U.S. Open Cup Play-In game. This lead up to the Upland, California product starting against the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 17 before he was subbed off in favor of Patrick Nyarko to start the second half. After that, Paul somewhat mysteriously didn't show up on the bench at all except for the May 7th game against Vancouver and last night's game against the Rochester Rhinos. He also played in the first two Reserves League games but he never substituted in a MLS or USOC match.
Going forward the Davis Paul move won't have a significant impact on the field for now. As I wrote last month, Paul was taking up one of the No. 25 to No. 30 roster spots that must make under $42,000. The Fire don't currently have any players on the roster to fill those spots and they won't find any big name on the market that will play for that kind of money. The timing is significant because July 1st is the deadline for when contracts become guaranteed but it also comes at the same time when the U-16 and U-18 Academy seasons have wrapped up and the PDL season is winding down. Could another homegrown player be on the way? Might the team try and peel one of its PDL players into the big leagues? Time and us will tell you if and when it happens. The light of the transfer window madness is beginning to shine brighter with every window.
Speaking of which, Toronto FC made a big splash today by signing forwards Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans to Designated Player contracts. It's a large gamble for a troubled franchise but it just might payoff.
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I would love to see Pineda fill that spot...
But with him being so young I think he needs all the regular playing time he can get. Which won’t happen with the senior Fire team.
And, I hate Frings. I won’t ever forget the handball he had that should have been called in the 2002 WC.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Tradition. Honor. Passion.
I would like to see Pineda take the field at some point. Hopefully he’ll get some minutes in the Reserves League game that’s coming up.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jun 30, 2011 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions
Pineda alraedy has a senior team roster spot. He still plays with the academy, but he is available for selection to the 1st team.
Also,
I don’t think the roster spots 25-30 have to make less than the veteran minimum. That category of players is just one possible way to get off-budget.
You're right iron
Roster spots 21-30 don’t count against the budget cap. Spots 1-24 must earn veteran minimum of $42,000, whereas the minimum for spots 25-30 is $32,600. Any player occupying a spot 26-30 and earning less than the veteran minimum must be under 25. Also, two of these last spots may be left open and used as allocation money.
Correct on Pineda...
He does have a senior team spot. I said that a bit wrong, I just meant that I would like to see him get a spot in the 18. I know his development is the most important thing right now so he needs regular playing time, which he won’t likely get with the senior team. I really like his potential though.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Tradition. Honor. Passion.
by Ryan Sealock on Jun 30, 2011 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions
As always with the MLS salary rules, it’s a bit of yes and no. It’s listed on the website that way but in practice and what has been leaked from a mixture of minor slips around the league, there’s every reason to believe that GMs have to have a couple of players that make less $42,000.
Bottom line is ‘Have to’ might be too strong of a phrase to use in the context of any MLS Salary discussion (and this discussion is a good check on any definites for MLS) but it’s highly unlikely the Davis Paul’s roster spot opens up the door for a big name player.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jun 30, 2011 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions
That’s interesting to hear, I hadn’t caught on to any of that. I still don’t quite see why you would release a player who might have some potential and who costs next to nothing unless you had a way to use or fill that spot somehow.
It might have been mutual. It’s possible Paul wanted to go home and get regular minutes. The Fire don’t want to keep someone who doesn’t want to be here if they can add someone else.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jul 3, 2011 12:09 AM CDT up reply actions
quick thoughts
After that, Paul somewhat mysteriously didn’t show up on the bench at all except for the May 7th game against Vancouver and last night’s game against the Rochester Rhinos.
Wasn’t really mysterious. He was pretty bad in his only start for the team. He never earned his way back onto the bench since the players that replaced him have at least performed when given a chance. Say what you will about DLC but if you didn’t take your chance when you got it you no longer made the bench.
RE Toronto’s signing’s. So now they have 3 DP’s (Hi Julian de Guzman!) and arguably none of them are as good as De Ro. What I don’t get if they were chasing Frings why didn’t they give DeRo DP money? Pairing Frings and DeRo would have been a good idea. I don’t see Koevermans being worth the DP slot, which could make 2 DP’s they have that are not worth their spot or salary (aww poor de Guzman).
One other thing regarding Toronto, if Frings is here for a vacation he is going to get killed by one of the giant MLS center backs in short order. I wouldn’t expect him to be but I could be wrong.
Frings
I hope a Canuck stuffs 57 TimBits down his throat and he dies from powdered sugar suffocation.
by Toaddio on Jul 1, 2011 9:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Hahaha that's awesome...
I hate Frings too.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Tradition. Honor. Passion.
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