MLS 2012 Offseason Transactions: Revolution Select Lee Nguyen In Waiver Draft

“Lee gives us added versatility in the attack,” Revs General Manager Michael Burns said in a team release. “He is an effective player on either wing or up top, and he has great potential in MLS.”

The midfielder/forward was once a standout at the University of Indiana, winning Freshman of the Year honors in 2005 and earning a contract with Dutch giant PSV Eindhoven. Nguyen showed enough promise to earn three United States national team caps, but his most recent one was in 2007.

“I’m very happy for this opportunity to play an important role with the Impact in its inaugural season,” Ferrari said in a team release. “I hope to help this team progress and succeed in its first campaign in MLS. I’ve only been here a short time, but I’m happy with the organization. The coaches and the players have been great to me.”

“Luis is a talented and experienced left back, and his presence will strengthen our defense,” Colorado Rapids Technical Director Paul Bravo said in a team release. “We’ve had a chance to see how he fits into the team throughout preseason, and we’re excited to officially add him to the club.”

Zapata played for Colombian giants Millonarios from 2001-08, but has failed to find a consistent home since then. More recently, he’s played in Venezuela and Bolivia before returning to play 18 matches for Colombian side Deportivo Pasto, who was relegated.

Maybe Backe was just trying to come up with a better way to say, “they weren’t worth the roster spot,” but it’s also quite possible that he honestly doesn’t feel compelled to keep more than that many players despite there being absolutely zero benefit to having fewer than 28. It’s not even a cost-saving measure, as MLS pays these guys, anyway.

It really does seem to be a comedy of errors.

“I am thrilled to stay with Sporting Kansas City,” Zusi said. “The culture, fans, atmosphere and organization are top-notch and our objectives are the same, to win championships. I know we will all work hard on and off the field and commit ourselves to reach our goals.”

The midfielder made 35 appearances for Sporting in 2011, scoring five goals and tallying 11 assists. His play also earned him a call up to the United States team for their January friendlies against Venezuela and Panama so it is safe to safe that the arrow is pointing up on the 25-year-old and the club are sure happy to be keeping him around.

“Sheanon has become an important member of our club and we’re very pleased to reward him with a new contract that reflects his value,” Union coach Peter Nowak said in a team release.

Williams broke into the starting lineup late in his rookie season of 2009 and has started all 40 matches in which he’s appeared since then. Last year, the Union were one of the top defenses in the league, allowing 1.06 goals per game and just 3.05 shots per game, which was the lowest mark in MLS history.

When healthy, Sebrango has shown a continued nose for goal. Last year, he netted six goals and one assist, but played just 771 minutes.

“It’s nice to be with an organization that has the same goals and ambitions as I,” said De Rosario. “D.C. United has a very rich history and one that we want to relive in the near future – hopefully we can start this year. It’s a great feeling to be associated with the United family. Ever since I came here, the organization and the fans have accepted me as part of the family, and I want to keep this family growing all across the DC area and relive those special moments.”

Goff also revealed that De Rosario would be the club’s highest-paid player, but he would not count as the club’s third Designated Player. That is because they will pay down De Rosario’s contract with allocation money, keeping Boskovic and Salihi the club’s only two Designated Players. D.C. chose to pay down De Rosario’s contract instead of Boskovic’s or Salihi’s because while the Canadian will be the highest-paid player, the club paid transfer fees for their two Designated Players, essentially making them more expensive in MLS salary cap math.

After leaving Europe, Johnson came back to North America looking for a club and agreed to a deal with Puebla in Mexico. The excitement didn’t last long, though, because he was released within days for what was reported to be poor fitness and diminished speed. Johnson without speed doesn’t sound like much of a soccer player.

For more on the trade, check out Seattle Sounders blog Sounder At Heart.

“Martín is a young, dynamic player with a great deal of potential,” Pareja said in a team release. “His creativity and technical ability will give us more options in attack, and we’re excited to welcome him to the club.”

For more on the signing, be sure to check out Rapids blog Burgundy Wave.

“We are absolutely delighted to have Franck signed,” Timbers head coach John Spencer said in a team release. “He is a player that is going to be a huge success in Portland and one that is going to provide a lot of excitement on the field for our fans.”

Songo’o is well travelled for such a young player, but has some quality pedigree. He has made one senior team appearance for Cameroon and has played extensively in the second divisions of Spain and England. He was most recently with Spanish second-division side Albacete. He’s also spent time with Spanish sides Zaragoza and Real Sociedad, while both were in the second division.

In a situation like this, there really aren’t winners, as the whole thing was a bit ugly. But the Dynamo seem to come out looking better than anyone else. They get the fan favorite they supposedly wanted all along and are able to enjoy whatever positive press they get when he runs out of the tunnel at BBVA Compass Stadium. For good measure, they get to do so while taking less of a salary cap hit on Ching’s salary than they would have if the Impact had never selected him.

Whatever gamble the Impact were making clearly didn’t pan out. Unless they received a first-round draft pick, which seems highly unlikely, they had to deal with plenty of negative press just to come out with a worse pick than they started with. Not having Ching in their starting lineup is not the end of the world by any means, but there were any number of players available in the expansion draft that will likely prove far more useful whoever they end up picking instead.

“Barry has been a proven playmaker at the highest levels of the game for both club and country,” Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie said in a team release. “He is a versatile box-to-box midfielder that can play in several positions, with the ability to create and score goals. Barry will be a great addition to our squad.”

The 33-year-old will most likely play as a central midfielder for the Whitecaps, although he has spent time all over the midfield and has even played a little forward. He’s shown an impressive scoring touch from just about every position he’s played, bagging 18 goals and 16 assists since joining Middlsebrough in 2010. He’s also made 16 appearances for Scotland since debuting in 2007.

“Simon did very well for us last season and we’re really happy to have him back,” Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop said in a statement. “He’s talented on the ball, will take guys on and not only will set teammates up, but will create his own chances. With a year under his belt in our league, he knows what to expect now and should be ready to once again be a key piece for us.”

Dawkins played 26 matches for the Earthquakes last season and played well enough that the club spent the entire offseason trying to bring him back, but Dawkins first went on trial to FC Twente. That trial didn’t go as well as Dawkins hoped, though, opening the door for a return to San Jose in 2012. The Quakes and Spurs agreed to another loan deal for 2012 last week, but it was not made official until Tuesday.

“We had the chance to have Saër in camp with us in Arizona and see him interact with our players both on and off the field,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said in a team release. “We believe he’ll play a valuable role for us this season. He’s scored goals consistently with each of his previous clubs, and we believe he has the ability to continue to do so in MLS.”

For more on the signing, be sure to check out Revolution blog The Bent Musket.

This is the second straight season in which Wondolowski has been given an extension and is just further proof that the Earthquakes see him as much more than a flash in the pan, despite the fact that he had scored just five MLS goals prior to the 2010 season. Since then, the 29-year-old has led the league in goals for two straight seasons and earned six caps with the United States national team. The rise is made all the more impressive when you consider Wondolowski has twice scored as many goals in a game (three) as he had in any season prior to 2010.

For the more on Wondolowski’s signing, be sure to check out Earthquakes blog Quake, Rattle and Goal.

The 26-year-old Kandji started to get that athleticism back towards the end of last season as he recovered from a torn ACL. He tore that ACL on the play that netted the Rapids the game-winning goal in MLS Cup 2010, but he showed signs of his old self at the end of the season. Exactly why the Rapids couldn’t make Kandji happy and integrate him into their team is unclear considering how thin they are at forward, but he was available and the Dynamo pounced.

Unlike most of the others in that group, Pajoy is expected to bring a bit more physicality. At 6-foot-1, he’s a big body and could provide the kind of size and scoring combination the Union have never really had.

For more on Pajoy’s signing, be sure to check out Union blog Brotherly Game.

Salihi was most recently with Rapid Vienna of Austria’s top division. During the team’s current campaign, he has scored 11 goals in 15 matches (all competitions). In three total years with Rapid Vienna, he has tallied 53 goals in 90 total matches (all competitions).

Salihi has been a big part of the Albanian national team. He has scored nine goals in 37 senior team matches. In 2011, he scored three goals in ten international games for Albania.

The 33-year old midfielder comes from Chilean side Santiago Wanderers. He has played in Europe with French side Metz as well as some time in Mexico and South America. During his time in Mexico he played for Necaxa, Veracruz and San Luis. While in South America, the Colombian has played for Colombian side Deportivo Cali as well as Brazilian side Bahia.

Moreno has also been called up to the Colombia national team 32 times in his playing career, where he scored seven goals between 2000 and 2007. He played with Colombia in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he was named one of the tournaments top players.

“Jose is a player we targeted during a recent scouting trip and we are excited to been able to complete a deal with him to bring him to New England,” General Manager Michael Burns said in a team release. “He’s a strong, target forward who has a lot of experience playing at the highest levels in both South America and Europe. We’re looking forward to his arrival as soon as the Visa process is completed.”

Moreno has been a well-traveled player since turning pro at 19. The Revolution will be his 11th different team and this is the ninth time he’s switched teams since 2006. He’s played for teams in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Ukraine and Romania.

For more on the Rodgers’ situation, be sure to check out Red Bulls blog Once a Metro.