Robbie Rogers Comes Out

Looking like you hit the nail on the head on this one, interesting give and take between Lalas and Twellman. They both agree that the league will more than likely make sure a trade is done to LA, but bring up some interesting points. WIll Chicago get fair compensation for a 25 year old, All-MLS, whose profile and marketability has gone way up?

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14362 ... nc?cc=5901

 

Thd league needs to stay out of whatever negotiations take place unless they are willing to do away with how they currently restrict the movement rights of all Americans returning to the MLS.

 

I agree in that rules are rules and I'm kind of annoyed with Rogers for publicly claiming he will only come out of retirement if he plays in LA. He is being a diva and leveraging his new found support and marketability. I also suspect he is being insincere. However, I have no problem with the league being involved if its role is insuring Chicago gets fair value for Roger's rights. As a matter of precedent, Chicago had to give Toronto FC Chad Barrett (their leading scorer), allocation money, and their first round draft pick for McBrides rights. That aint peanuts. Chicago traded Dominic Oduro (one of their leading scorers) for a young midfielder in Dilly Duka and Rogers' rights. They obviously thought Rogers rights carried considerable value. In my mind Chicago needs to get a solid forward like Magee or defender like Delagarza from LA as a minimum but probably more. If the league is going to continue with this rule about USA players, they need to send a message that you cant use coming-out or more importantly retirement in order to play where you choose. If they dont, Herculez will be the next one to take advantage and KC will pay the price.

 

Fair is fair. If the only way Rogers ends up back in the league is with L.A. and if the powers that be want it to happen, then Chicago should be rightly compensated. I don't know that I'd go quite as far in calling Rogers a diva. He apparently was this close to leaving the game altogether, and if this is what it takes for a talented player to be brought back into the fold, I think I'm ok with it.

My question is...is this actually a good move for the Galaxy? Magee would be like-for-like, but he's become something a of a folk hero around here, so would hate to see him go. Delagarza makes sense quality-wise, but then you end up with three players in similar roles (Rogers, Magee and LD) and a gap in the back line that will be even worse when Omar eventually moves on, which doesn't seem the best use of resources. Which takes me back to Mike Magee and the simple question, would I rather have him or Rogers? I honestly don't know (which is why I'm not Bruce Arena, I suppose). I just hope that if the Galaxy signs him, it's because they honestly think the squad is better with him in it.

 

I just think Rogers would be comfortable in almost any MLS city; he would just be more comfortable in LA. He lived in Leeds after all. Even when Robbie was with the Crew he did some belly-aching about wanting to be in California so is he now using his unique situation to get special treatment and what he wanted all along? If special treatment for the gay guy leads to resentment from players and fans, that's not the ideal scenario for MLS being home to the first openly gay male athlete.

Anyway, I didnt realize Magee was a like for like. I thought he was more of the roaming center forward rather than a pacey winger. Regardless, Chicago needs a proven MLS goal scorer.

 

Interesting to see how this plays out as far as compensation is concerned. The resentment Rogers would get from fans by engineering a move would be from the Chicago fans. Nothing will get fans' ire up like 'I don't want to play for your club'. Eli Manning was drafted by the Chargers, refused to go there, and got the trade to New York. He never got grief from that move from opposing fans until the Giants visited San Diego. The laid back Chargers crowd let him have it by abusing him every time he touched the ball for 4 quarters. Not sure about how the players would take it. Generally ,professional athletes are happy anytime a peer can take control of where they play because it might happen once in their career.

 

I agree, it's not a perfect comparison with Magee. Mike's been playing wide or as a withdrawn striker for the Galaxy. Not super fast, but has a uncanny sense of positioning and strong instincts away from the ball. In any event, has been occupying the same area of the pitch that Robbie likely would.

 

Reports are swirling that the deal is done and the Galaxy will, in fact, send Mike Magee to Chicago for Rogers' rights. Can't say it's a shock. I say again, I hope Arena truly believes the Galaxy are a better squad with Rogers than Magee. Will be sad to see Magee go, regardless. He's the kind of player I love to pull for. Not the biggest, fastest, or even the most talented. But a tough competitor with that impossible-to-explain knack of getting into the right position at the right time and scoring clutch goals.

No hard feelings here, though. Will be cheering for Rogers when he puts the shirt on and will continue to wish Magee well (outside of when he's playing his old employers, of course).

 

Saw the highlights of his first game and funny that he joked that he was hoping that it would be 4-0 Galaxy when he was got subbed on and that was the score.