Julian De Guzman: New Contract?

[AvroArrow]

I have been a fan Julian De Guzman, though I have to admit that he has not been the same player for TFC that I saw at some of the previous Gold Cups. Whether this is because of the players around him on the field or not is not the point of this post. Rather, I'm curious at what salary level he should be at after his current contract expires (assuming he wants to stay and TFC wants him). I believe the DP cap hit is 350,000, so a salary of anything lower frees up cap space. Should he be offered Carl Robinson money? Less? More?

[Heathen]

What's league minimum these days? I think both parties would be better off calling it quits and going their separate ways

[Redcoatsforever]

I think we ought to be able to hold onto De Guzman for around $400,000. Whether he stays or not, we need to use a DP slot on bringing in a proper defensive leader. Frings is doing great, but he's a midfielder by trade, and would contribute lots it he could move up more without worrying about what happens to the back line without him.

[Lowndes94]

There is no ways he's coming back as a dp. I think both teams should part ways and he can get money elsewhere.

[Grizzly]

Based on his MLS performance so far, I think he is a player in the $200 000 range. If he is not willing to take a salary like that especially after drawing a very large salary for years and not performing anywhere near DP level then TFC should let him go. I am not sure there will be a lot of interest in him elsewhere in the league especially with the low Canadian quota not really requiring Montreal or Vancouver to be interested in a MLS level Canadian player.

[Keegan]

He has two options:
1) Take a major pay cut and end his career in Toronto
2) Go to Europe for $$

It depends on how this year goes, but I think if TFC misses the playoffs he should definitely go to Europe.

[shawn_strat]

I'm sure he'll go to Europe.

[TheKottonmouthed]

I could see him in the MLS elsewhere, he could perform well on clubs like RSL, LA, NYRB, Seattle, Colorado.

[loyola]

I'm sure he'll go to Europe.

Realistically what are his options in Europe? What kind of clubs will be interested in Julian?

[A_Gagne]

I can see this playing out 2 different ways:

1) Unless TFC end up having a very positive end to their season I don't suspect there will be much will on the part of either party to continue his stint in Toronto. In that case I think 2nd Div Spain or Italy, or Switzerland/Belgium wouldn't be bad options for him. I don't know if he'd fetch anything remotely close to his current contract over there either, but at the same time I don't think it would be about the money. He's a very proud guy, and being singled out as a lighting-rod for frustrated fans (deserved or not) is sure to be taking it's tole on him.

2) At the same time though, he is also a proud Canadian and Torontonian and moving on would be an admission of failure in some respects. I think it would be hard to erase the past 2 years of fan anger in JDG's mind, but if it did look like the club was finally starting to turn the corner, I could see him wanting to stick around for a couple more years to see the job done, if the conditions were right. IMO that scenario would look something like: (a) it would be a prerequisite that team success would also have to translate into enhanced respect from the fans, (b) public backing of Julian by the coaching staff and other Sr. players, (c) a contract in the 250-350K range, and (d) most probably an implicit guarantee that he would be given a role with the organization after his playing career (a la Jim Brennen style).

I sympathize with JDG in some respects because his game doesn't lend itself well to being a fan favorite in North America. He's not a blood and guts guy that gets stuck in, and he's not a flash and dash goal scorer, his game is a little more abstract.