Shalrie Joseph is set to Return to Century Link Field
Photo: Rick Morrison
Shalrie Joseph, the 34-year-old Grenadian midfielder is coming to Seattle. Joseph will occupy a Designated Player slot for Seattle, according to a club release.
Joseph had briefly trained with the squad in pre-season.
“We’ve always liked Shalrie. He fitted in on the field and with the guys. We expect he’s going to contribute significantly. He isn’t particularly fit right now. I think he would admit it,” said Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer in a teleconference call.
Hanauer added there was more to come:
Without jumping too far ahead, there’s a high likelihood that Djimi Traore will be with our team. I’d be lying if I said that we’re not also very interested in acquiring another forward. I’d (also) be lying if I said that wasn’t a player who could fill that DP role or position.
On Argentinian TV reports about the Malaga striker, Saviola, Hanauer poured cold water on the reports.
“We rate Saviola very highly but I believe he’s discovered by another team in the league. At this time there are no conversations about Saviola playing for the Sounders.”
Asked if the Joseph’s DP status meant the end of a search for a big name international striker or trading an existing one, Hanauer cautioned that there are still some avenues open to him:
“If we were to find another DP in the coming two weeks, then yes [they'd have to trade one].
Up until March 2, we can buy out a DP. After that we can’t. Each team can buy out completely one player up until the beginning of a season. That means if it’s a $50k or a $5m player, you come to an agreement that the player is not going to play for you again. You contact the league and negotiate a settlement.”
In the Joseph deal, Sounders have also acquired the No. 3 Allocation ranking, a 2014 natural second round SuperDraft pick and a 2015 natural second round SuperDraft pick from Chivas USA in exchange for Seattle’s No. 15 Allocation ranking.
“We’re happy to add a player of Shalrie’s experience to our team,” said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid in a club release.
“He’s been to MLS Cups before in his tenure with New England. He’s a player that has proven himself to be a leader in game situations and a player of his quality can only help us be a better team as we move into this season. “
Joseph had spent the bulk of his MLS career at New England Revs and had not made as great impact at his new club in California making just 12 appearances and playing 1080 minutes.
He was selected by the Revolution in the second round (14th overall) of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft and spent the best part of a decade there making 254 appearances and scoring 37 goals. His best season came in 2009 when he netted eight goals and eight assists.
He was a 2008 MLS All Star.
New Chivas coach José Luis Sánchez Solá indicated at the start of his team’s 2013 training camp that Joseph was not in his plans.
Joseph will join Sounders FC on Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona.
February 19, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Why put a DP tag on an unfit player? this seems like we come out way ahead in this deal except for losing a DP slot. This has to mean Tiffert or Rosales is on the way out right? I like Rosales’s play much more than Tiffert’s. Tiffert has shown me nothing that qualifies him as a DP but Rosales takes a knock and stays down these days. Tough decisions.
I personally think the DP should be an immediate impact player. Rosales was that, FM and FL were those. CT and out of shape SJ are not? Something is wrong here.
February 19, 2013 at 6:17 pm
I find it hard to pick a hole in that very sound analysis.
Anyone disagree?
February 19, 2013 at 8:04 pm
According to the corresponding SI.com article, Hanauer said using the DP slot was the only way to get the deal done with Chivas. Must be some new hard-nosed negotiation tactics in Goatville.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130219/sounders-acquire-joseph-from-chivas/?sct=sc_t2_a4
February 19, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Could this be a few months deal until the summer transfer window comes.. What happens to the Javier Saviano deal? Can they still sign Traore? Who is this new prospect at forward? so many questions still unanswered.
February 19, 2013 at 8:45 pm
Biggest question for me is how this team of mostly midfielders can play together.
February 19, 2013 at 9:02 pm
@hattrick
I don’t think this would be a few month deal. It would make no sense to sign him when he is out of shape simply to trade him away once fit come the transfer window. I believe this is the start of the FO to off load Rosales or most likely Tiffert in the summer and bring in a forward. There is no way this team is a contender without bringing in proven fire power. Estrada and Sammy “Doughboy” Ochoa aren’t going to be pairing with Eddie and leading this team to a cup.
Here is how I see our DP’s as it stands now.
Rosales-DP-32- Injury prone, hasn’t played in the playoffs yet. Incredible play maker when fit but can’t stay up even from minor knocks.
Tiffert-DP- 31- Hasn’t shown up as a DP since arriving in Seattle (imo). Hasn’t played a single minute of pre-season games. (My pick to be on the way out)
Joseph-DP- 34-Out of shape, wont be game ready by March 2. Tons of MLS experience.
All these guys are aging and mostly past their prime. Something has to change in the mentality of our DP signings otherwise we get what is happening now; me, freaking the EFF out all year long.
I realize this is a very gloomy look at the state of the team but Martinez, Alonso, Gspurning, and even (i hate to say it) Evans keep me hopeful.
February 20, 2013 at 6:56 am
Even as a Timbers fan in glad for him. It’s good that he will finally be playing for a successful club. He deserves it.
February 20, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Nothing drives home the fact that money does not equal quality/skill/production more than the DP rule.
The DP seems to be used mostly as a means of paying for players of a higher pay band (EU) than for buying a player whom is going to be a top three for your team but is just flat out more expensive than your cap allows.
From what I have seen, MLS can’t afford top notch EU talent, and there is more value in a top player from a cheaper pay band (US/South America) than from a bottom/middle/old player from a top pay band (EU). Ljunberg, Montero, Nkufo, and Rosales are just a few that fit that description, but there are many more.
February 21, 2013 at 8:19 am
Shalrie doesn’t really fit that model but I doubt he will be here as a DP all season. Strategary is afoot.