Goff: DC to sign "local" player?

[garbaggio]

"Local" means "with local connections".

I didn't see this mentioned in the postgame thread, but thought it deserved to be discussed separately. In Steven Goff's Washington Post article on the game:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/20/AR2005082001375.html

he includes the following at the end


United Notes: The club has ended discussions about possibly acquiring Argentine midfielder-forward Francisco Guerrero, citing limited salary cap space and questions about whether he would fit into the team's system. United will likely sign a young player with local connections to fill out the roster before the Sept. 15 deadline.

So the interest in Guerrero has apparently dissipated and we might sign someone else. The article doesn't say the "local" guy is a forward but I know I'd like us to sign a pretty well-known local player that dropped to the very late stages of the draft (supplemental, maybe?) but has managed to score a few goals coming off the Dallas bench. Of course getting him would require some sort of trade (and maybe a roster cut?).

That's just my own speculation / wishful thinking. Anyone else have any ideas?

[monster]

"Local" means "with local connections".

I didn't see mentioned in the postgame thread, but I thought it deserved to be discussed separately. In Steven Goff's Washington Post article on the game:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/20/AR2005082001375.html

he includes the following of his article



So the interest in Guerrero has apparently dissipated and we might sign someone else. The article doesn't say the "local" guy is a forward but I know I'd like us to sign a pretty well-known local player that dropped to the very late stages of the draft (supplemental, maybe?) but has managed to score a few goals coming off the Dallas bench. Of course getting him would require some sort of trade (and maybe a roster cut?).

That's just my own speculation / wishful thinking. Anyone else have any ideas?
Abe is still on their roster. That would be trading for, not signing.

[Knave]

Where's Sergio Salas these days?

;)

[garbaggio]

Abe is still on their roster. That would be trading for, not signing.

Yeah, Goff probably would have phrased it differently if it involved a transaction with another team. I'm wondering if this is someone who's been practicing with the team or involved as a guest player in reserve games.

[Zman Gunner]

The clues for this player seem to fall into the usual vague references that we have grown to know and love in terms of our Annual August Argie Acquisitions.

Choices this time seem to be:
a) player born in DC area
b) player who played in DC area (i.e. ACC team)
c) player who played minor league in DC area (i.e. USL team such as Richmond or Virginia Beach)
d) Yank Abroad who fits any one of those categories and is looking to return to the US

I doubt that it would be a trade, but you never know - let's just hope that it is not the return of Devin Barclay. Thompson is doing well for FCD - I doubt that they would want to trade him given Johnson's injury status, Ruiz's penchant to attending Hooters openings in Guatemala, and no real other forward depth other than Mina. Given DC's reluctance to draft Thompson (bypassed him in the Superdraft, selected Nickell over Thompson in the Superdraft), I guess that they were never that high on him. On a side note, I thought that someone posted seeing a new player at practice this week who looked good - maybe that is the player to which Goff is reporting.

I sent this question to the Soccer Show guys for tonight's show - we will see if they have any insight on the mystery player.

[DCFAN96]

The clues for this player seem to fall into the usual vague references that we have grown to know and love in terms of our Annual August Argie Acquisitions.

Choices this time seem to be:
a) player born in DC area
b) player who played in DC area (i.e. ACC team)
c) player who played minor league in DC area (i.e. USL team such as Richmond or Virginia Beach)
d) Yank Abroad who fits any one of those categories and is looking to return to the US

I doubt that it would be a trade, but you never know - let's just hope that it is not the return of Devin Barclay. Thompson is doing well for FCD - I doubt that they would want to trade him given Johnson's injury status, Ruiz's penchant to attending Hooters openings in Guatemala, and no real other forward depth other than Mina. Given DC's reluctance to draft Thompson (bypassed him in the Superdraft, selected Nickell over Thompson in the Superdraft), I guess that they were never that high on him. On a side note, I thought that someone posted seeing a new player at practice this week who looked good - maybe that is the player to which Goff is reporting.

I sent this question to the Soccer Show guys for tonight's show - we will see if they have any insight on the mystery player.

Helmis Matute, an Arlington native who is currently playing in Iceland I believe. He caught on with Chivas USA for a while but decided to leave due to the small salary that comes with a developmental spot. Plays DM also played LB during his HS/College days. I think he played with JMU. Just a guess.

[Zman Gunner]

Yeah, Goff probably would have phrased it differently if it involved a transaction with another team. I'm wondering if this is someone who's been practicing with the team or involved as a guest player in reserve games.


Let's hope not in terms of reserve team guest players - the ones that are currently available (Eric Quill-M now with Metros, Felix Brillant-M now with Virginia Beach) include Gus Kartes-M (ex-Mutiny), Tim Sahaydak-D (ex-Fusion), Allen Handy-D (ex-Boswell team-mate at FIU), Ryan Futagaki-M (ex-Fire), and Jake Traeger-D (ex-Crew). It is hard to get too excited over anyone on that list.

[DCSharksFC]

didn't ryan futagaki train w/ the team for the past few weeks?? he was an all american at ucla, don't know of ne local connections

[DCU9ted]

Chino Alegria!

[Zman Gunner]

Helmis Matute, an Arlington native who is currently playing in Iceland I believe. He caught on with Chivas USA for a while but decided to leave due to the small salary that comes with a developmental spot. Plays DM also played LB during his HS/College days. I think he played with JMU. Just a guess.

I would guess that the player to be signed is not developmental player material as we would need to move someone (i.e. Walker, Kuykendall) to the senior roster to accomodate such an acquisition - not sure DC is willingly to give either of those guys a senior roster spot - the only players who have been promoted to the senior roster (Perkins last year, Boswell this year) were starters when they got the big, minimum $ senior roster contract. Since Matute was a Supplemental pick - I doubt that we would give a player like that a senior roster spot when we did not give such a senior roster spot to a player (Nickell) that we drafted ahead of Matute in the Supplemental draft.

[Cweedchop]

We will be talking about this player on The Soccer Show tonight on WJFK 106.7 from 6-8 pm..

We have some inside info on the name of this kid and a few other details. We have known about this for awhile but were told to sit on this. Since Goff has said something, we can only assume it is fair game now.

[Zman Gunner]

We will be talking about this player on The Soccer Show tonight on WJFK 106.7 from 6-8 pm..

We have some inside info on the name of this kid and a few other details. We have known about this for awhile but were told to sit on this. Since Goff has said something, we can only assume it is fair game now.


It does indeed ssound like fair game. Can someone post the name here - I do not get to hear the Show until it gets posted on the DC Anthem website. Thanks.

[NattyBo]

According to the guys on the soccer show, this is a 17 year old Brazillian who was impressive and that DCU is planning on using a discovery on.

[JoeSoccerFan]

per soccer show - the nickname is neto

[Sandon Mibut]

What is the local tie, that some us have been to Brazil?

[NattyBo]

He lives in the area now. Still in highschool, but apparently played central midfield and "dominated" in more than one team practice. This is per what I heard on the show.

[JoeSoccerFan]

What is the local tie, that some us have been to Brazil?


Brazilian Bar-B-Q on rockville pike?

[onefineesq]

I have known about the kid for 2 weeks. I have gone to 3 practices in the last 2 or 3 weeks, and I was able to witness the Brazilian player myself. He is small, but lightning quick with GREAT ball skills and vision. He was dominating the scrimmages against some of our better players (including Boswell). I happened to be standing around when one of the DC front office guys was whispering to 3 media people who were standing near me. He told the guys to keep it under wraps, since they didn't want anyone else in the league to find out about the kid before they made a final decision. I just kept my trap shut for the last 2 weeks because I wasn't going to screw over my own team (even though I'm not media). The guy is about 17 years old, and recently moved into the area, from what I gathered from the overheard convo. Trust me when I say that this kid has skill. Short, but strong, can hold players much bigger than him on his back, with pace, and can pass. Great pickup for the long-term. Great.

[ursula]

NOW I'm excited.

[GoDC]

If he only has one name he has to be great.