Olsen's main goal in the offseason was to acquire "winners". While I've never loved Rolfe, I think that this is another step in that direction. It frightens me that someone with such a loose grasp of reality was able to acquire a medical degree.
Yet the team continues to suck and I am rarely ever wrong about our moves. I'm the Dr. House of DC United. I just hope you're not Cuddy.
Just saw this. I was too busy at work yesterday to even notice this had happened. I really only have one thing to say about it ..... Josh Wolff 2.0.
We are SO unfair to the kids from last year. Last season was not the fault of the kids. We only started heavily playing the kids after the team had totally collapsed. We had vets out there for the period of time that determined our pitiful place in MLS. We simply went young to give them some experience in a seadon that was already over. This team is poised to have another disappointing season, with mostly vets at the helm. It simply isnt about young or old at this point. Its a matter of sheer talent. And we dont seem to be accumulating much of that ... at least not that we see on the field.
How are we unfair to the younger players? Let's be clear, they're not kids. They are adults, with maybe the exception of Seaton. They were given a shot at playing and earning more time. Some earned it, others didn't. The ones that aren't playing are being given a shot at developing in a lower league. This is how it is done worldwide. We are only three games into the season with some progress made each game. I wouldn't go and say that we're poised to have another season like last year. Whether it's disappointing or not is up to your expectations. Mine are sufficiently low enough that an improvement from last year to a mediocre team will make me smile.
Neither Olsen nor Kasper have any interest in building for the future. They are trying to win some games now, because they won't be around much longer, if they don't. So, this is what we get.
I don't know how the money and future moves will shake out from this, but as of right now today money, this is a good move. Rolfe fills a need short term that no one else on the roster can fill (Apparently. Me personally, I'd promote Seaton, but that is an aside). So, short term, it's a no brainer given Rolfe's ability level and the (apparent) drop off between Silva and Pontius and our bench. However, if this means there's no money to pick up a difference making midfielder later this summer and/or Pontius is done forever, THEN IT IS A BAD move. It is very unlikely Rolfe replaces Pontius' likely production in the future even if he does short term. It is even more unlikely he can replace the value of midfielder X who we should be looking for to sign in the summer window. Lately, it always seems to be all stopgap for DC decision-makers. Even when they seem to plan for the future, like Jeffery, Seaton, Martin, Birnbaum, Kemp, Doyle, etc. They give them a short run, then look for an older head like Arnaud, Espindola, now Rolfe, Parke, Fernandez, etc. to put those guys back in their place learning the game from such "masters". Yeah, I'd like to apprentice from those "masters" . Meanwhile, guys like DeLeon and Silva (and I would say Kitchen too, but I still have hope for him to rise above!) have won the lottery and can't fumble their way out of the lineup even though they don't seem to have grasped the nature of the game either and really should have by now.
It seems logical but also situates Olsen and Kasper as extremely selfish and destructive figures in this club. Moreso than any case I have made against them. So let's say they milk another year with this old squad of misfits- what then? They lose half of these guys next year for another rebuilding year and start over from there? It also means that Olsen and Kasper are more short-sighted than even I am willing to admit- that they cannot see that youth in the league when properly mixed with veteran talent creates stable and productive rosters. I'm more willing to accept that they are just broke and not wanting to spend money and I would prefer to think they are just stupid, rather than mortgaging our future on a short term ploy to get another contract.
well there's what you're "willing to accept" and what you "prefer to think"...and then there's reality feel free to delude yourself
Is reality what is "likely" or is reality more complex. While plausible, I am not sure a single assumption about Olsen and Kasper's behaviors- ascribing them to short-term personal interest- explains everything or even mostly everything. It makes sense on face value to say that they just want to win enough games to win another contract for themselves, future be damned, and they feel the best way to do it is with aging players that in some cases aren't even able to start for their bottom table teams the year prior to acquisition (Arnaud, Rolfe etc.). However, even at "DC United prices" you can win with younger guys that were available to us (particularly with allocation or lotteries). In other words, every coach/GM is looking to do 'good enough' to keep their jobs, but they all still act differently to get there. Columbus is taking a different track than we are in many ways, and so is Dallas, and they have similar money to spend. I'm willing to accept that they want to keep their jobs, but a move like Rolfe fits the current ethos of the club that was developed even before Olsen and Kasper were in the hotseat (i.e. the international market is poison; veteran MLS players have a lot more left in the tank to offer than they likely do; a system of favoratism where nonperformers are given opportunities without actually proving themselves; the belief that limited success is evidence of potential greater future success etc.).
Look bitches - Porter is in Richmond. Win, win, win all around. If getting Rolfe made that happen he is already season MVP. James
Rolfe as sub vs. NE - clinical finish on a far post run, rewarded by an excellent cross from Espindola. When was the last time ANYONE can use those collective words to describe a DC United finish in MLS play, in recent history?? Fine, he may be short term, too expensive, etc... right now, I'll take his example and embed it in the collective offensive memory of this team on how to play.
I hearby suspend (albeit temporarily) my hesitation regarding the acquisition of Rolfe. I reserve the right to change my mind again based on future performances.
Epic. Rolfe scored the first goal of his professional career here at RFK against us, and now scores here again for us.