However, get into the primeval darkness of midwest MLS and things start to break down. A prime example is what Galarcep reported regarding Robbie Rogers's contract situation. About a month ago, Galarcep stated more or less definitively that the Crew were going to lose Rogers because he was out of contract:
The Crew boasted some impressive depth, but stand to lose Robbie Rogers this off-season because he is out of contract, and will likely lose one solid player to the MLS expansion draft.
Ok then. Since that time, literally nothing confirming Galarcep's assertion has come out of Columbus. Just yesterday in fact, dirty hippie turned filthy soccer beat writer (just click on the youtube link in the article, ok?) Sean Michelle alluded that the only players out of contract in Crewland were Jed Zayner, Schelotto, and Jason Garey. Granted, he added the qualifyer "at the end of the month" but one would think that if Rogers was also out of contract at some other temporally close time he would have mentioned that tiny detail.
Now, it's not like I have any kind of airtight sources on this, but I'll just say that most of what's percolating through the Crew's grapevine is the exact opposite of what Galarcep said - that Robbie is indeed under contract. There's been speculation that he was unhappy about his playing time in the RSL series, but nothing apart from a cryptic tweet that could refer to anything has come from Rogers himself on the topic.
I'd been waiting to comment until something solid came out one way or another, but it looks like Michelle's short blurb is the best we're going to get at the moment. After I responded to that e-mail, someone else specifically asked me what was up with Galarcep's piece, and the best I can say is his report is still hanging out there with no confirmation, clarification or corroboration. The Crew haven't issued a straight denial of Ives's assertion, but Rogers name just hasn't come up in any relevant conversations.
At this point I think it's more than fair to put Galarcep on the spot and ask what his statement was based on and if he still stands behind it. If he does, then the Crew have some major explaining to do. If he doesn't, then why did he let such a statement sit out there for so long without a retraction or explanation?
It's things like this that get my goat with Galarcep, and quite frankly it's something we shouldn't even have to be talking about.
Fake Sigi out.
7 comments:
Do you have ANY sources?
When was the last time Sigi broke news?
All you seem to do is flame other people's work.
You're just now realizing what this site is about?
If you think all I do is flame, then you really haven't read too much of this blog.
-FS
Thanks Fake Sigi. I had forgotten all about this issue. I just hope Rogers keeps improving, if he stays with the Crew. If not, he might as well be another Szetela.
Glad to bring it up, if only to get it sorted once and for all.
I don't think Rogers is close to Szetela territory. He's had productive minutes for the USMNT this year, even if he did struggle at the club level. And don't forget how productive and crucial he was for the Crew last year. I think 2009 was a bit of a growing phase for him, and a lot of players go through it, so we'll see what happens next year. At this point I think he'll be more than fine.
-FS
You mean you're not part of the SBI Mafia? They even have t-shirts! *vomit*
God I hate Ives... long live Fake Sigi!
On the day of the World Cup draw, I was talking to Mark McCullers and asked him, straight up "Is Robbie out of contract?"
Mark just laughed and said "No."
I'd say thats a pretty airtight source.
So there you go. Thanks for the post.
As for the SBI Mafia, I think we should all get t-shirts too, and the have some sort of east-coast west coast thing. Or it could be like Speakerboxxx vs. The Love Below.
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