Stars Head Coach Manny Lagos Explains Team’s 2012 Roster Moves
Manny Lagos - photo by Jeremy Olson – www.digitalgopher.net
The Minnesota Stars released a statement earlier today stating that the team is exercising contract options on 18 players this season. Last year the Stars returned 16 players and many credited the consistency of returning players as one of the reasons for the team’s success.
Lagos spoke to IMS this afternoon and explained why some players were not listed on that release. He also warned that even though the team exercised their option on 18 players it doesn’t mean those players will all be on the Stars roster come the April kickoff of the 2012 NASL season.
(There is a full audio file of the interview with coach Lagos at the end of this article)
He explained that contracts are between the players and teams, but there are also league-wide contracts that mandate clubs to give notice to the NASL within 30 days of the end of their season if they will be exercising contract options on multi-year deals.
Several players were not mentioned in today’s press release simply because they did not have options that the team were required to disclose. Goalkeeper Joe Warren is one of those players who Lagos says was playing on a one-year contract. Even though Warren has expressed that he may be looking for work outside of playing soccer, the Stars head coach says he’s hopeful Warren will come back. “Like the fans I still remain hopeful that he’ll want to play again,” said Lagos.
Lagos stated that defender Kevin Friedland remains an important part of the club as a player, assistant coach and working in the front office. His contract was also a one-year deal as was Daniel Wasson’s, who made a big contribution to the Stars in 2010. Wasson tore his ACL before the Stars’ season started in 2011 and spent the summer rehabbing. “Obviously Danny had a great year two years ago. He’s such a veteran player. He’s done a tremendous amount of work to get back into shape. I think he’s got the drive to be on the roster next year.”
Jack Stewart was also listed as an option that the Stars picked up. Minnesota loaned the player to FC Dallas mid-season in 2011 and technically he is still on loan. But exercising their option on Stewart makes sure he is still part of the Stars roster. Dallas has a clause that would allow them to purchase the defender from Minnesota if they wish to make him part of the 2012 FC Dallas roster.
“I think were in the situation where there could still be a lot of changes on the roster,” said Lagos. “There might be guys potentially going to MLS. There are guys who move onto other teams or want to hang up their boots. We’re still in the phase of building our roster for next year and we’re still acutely aware that there is a lot of room for change.”
Defender Chris Clements, whose option was not picked up, had gone through periods of time in his two years with the Stars where he played regularly and other times when he seemed to fall out of favor and saw very few minutes. Lagos was asked about the defender from Allen, Texas. As he did in the press release, Lagos expressed that it was difficult making decisions not to exercise options on several players because they were all important to the team in a very special year that saw the Stars win the NASL Championship. “There’s always going to be tough decisions at this time of the season every year,” said Lagos. “Chris is and has been an outstanding pro. Sometimes we just have to make decisions about how we are moving forward as a club to try to improve and get better again.
“We’ve got a great base of players who have had a great year and contributed. We fully expect that they will come back bigger and stronger and even better next year. But as a club we have to realize every team in our league is preparing to try to take us down. We have to make sure we are committed to be even better next year to compete.”
Lagos says the team will be looking to get more speed in the roster and to pick up some forwards. “I think it’s going to be an exciting couple of months to try to build this roster to try to be competitive again,” concluded Lagos.
You can listen to the interview in its entirety below
Comments are closed.
It is sad to see that Chris Clements will not be returning to the Stars. I have had the pleasure of watching Chris play for many years. Coaching against his teams in Select Soccer in the Dallas Area and College at Tulsa was always a challenge. We wish him the best.
I think Coach Lagos has made the right decisions once again. Coaches who pay attention to stability within the roster usually have longer term success. 18 returning (unless some choose differently) is a great base. In addition, as one would expect from a good coach, Lagos has identified key areas wherein the Stars could’ve used extra help last season: speed all over the pitch & strikers who hopefully pull the trigger more often. Good job, coach!
It was encouraging to hear that Manny is considering young and OLD strikers. As an unemployed, washed up, never-has-been, this gives me the hope that my phone may ring and Manny will ask me to sign with the Stars!
I am very sad that Chris Clements was not renewed. I hope he gets another chance with the team. He was my favorite player because of his work ethic. He had good defensive skills and did a great job on supporting runs into the offense, but he still had the positional stamina and knowledge when to make the smart runs. He rarely got caught out of position. And he rarely got the recognition he deserved. While he didn’t play much in the playoff run, his great play early on certainly helped the team.