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Wheeling and dealing MLS teams start dealing after U.S. loss to Columbia
Updated: Sunday February 04, 2001 9:36 PM
MIAMI -- It's a good thing the U.S. national team will add at least eight European-based players for its World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on Feb. 28 because Saturday's team did not show much offensively. The less said the better about the physical game in what turned into an international "unfriendly" at times. Forty-two fouls were called -- some of them vicious -- including 22 on the Americans. In fact, some of the most intriguing news came after the match following hours of speculation that D.C. United would be involved in several trades. With the MLS SuperDraft approaching on Monday, teams started wheeling and dealing at a furious pace on Saturday. U.S. international defender Carlos Llamosa, who wore the captain's armband against his country of birth in the 1-0 loss to Colombia, was traded to the Miami Fusion for defender Brian Kamler and the fourth overall selection in the draft. CNNSI has learned the following deals have also gone down: Another deal sent MetroStars goalkeeper Mike Ammann and the 15th overall pick in the draft to United for defensive midfielder Richie Williams and a player allocation. Ammann, however, has said he will not report to D.C. and would retire first. The MetroStars also released Costa Rican midfielder Roy Myers and newly acquired defender Francis Okaroh due to salary cap restrictions. They also sent defender-midfielder Ramiro Corrales to the San Jose Earthquakes for the 14th overall pick in the draft. A third deal in the works would send U.S. international defender Jeff Agoos from United to the Dallas Burn, according to sources. Agoos grew up in Dallas. Now, if the national team could trade for a goalscorer or two, everything would be fine. Still working the phones on Sunday nightOutside of soccer, the second favorite sport at the Umbro Select All-Star Classic at Lockhart Stadium on Sunday night was the use of cell phones. It seemed that every coach and general manager in Major League Soccer was on and off the phone all night trying to consummate deals as Monday's SuperDraft loomed on the horizon. In fact, if you looked behind the team benches, you would have seen D.C. United general manager Kevin Payne, coach Thomas Rongen and MLS vice president of player personnel Todd Durbin talking on their phones within a stone's throw of each other. Three well-known players switched teams on Sunday -- defender Jeff Agoos, forward Abdul Thompson Conteh and defender Zak Ibsen -- although much speculation surrounded a deal that had not been completed. The Los Angeles Galaxy was trying to sign forward Cobi Jones . If he agreed to a sizable contract as had been speculated, that would affect the Galaxy and it's ability to get under the league's mandated $1.7 million salary cap. The Galaxy would have to deal at least one high salaried player to make room. The most likely candidate would be veteran National Team defender Robin Fraser. The Colorado Rapids, Chicago Fire and MetroStars were interested, according to sources. The Miami Fusion also have inquired about Fraser's availability. United also was ready to sent goalkeeper Tom Presthus to the Columbus Crew for a draft choice after the three-time MLS champions acquired Ammann from the MetroStars. Ammann, however, has refused to report to United. As for the trades, the San Jose Earthquakes continued to wheel and deal, trading Conteh and the eighth and 10th picks in the draft to United for Agoos. They also dealt the 16th selection to the Galaxy for Ibsen. Don't be surprised if there are a few more trades and jockeying for position before the draft begins at 9 a.m. EST. On Sunday morning, the Women's United Soccer League held its supplemental draft here. There was no earth-shattering news from the draft, although the four-round event took all of 65 minutes to complete. Now, that's speedy and efficient. The first round of Monday's draft could take just as long to complete.
Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News. He was recently honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in the college division of its writing contest for Life is Beautiful, a column on University of San Francisco coach Steve Negoesco.
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