just in case anyone missed it, yesterday FCD decided to address the transfer window with a FB Live video. Discuss amongst yourselves. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2380124838976661
Pretty obvious that making the playoffs rather than MLS Cup is the goal for this team. And it seems they decided (1) they’ve got enough talent for a relatively good shot at it, and (2) the return on investment doesn’t justify a new signing for perhaps a half-dozen matches at this point in the season. Now if you thought you had a good shot at a title, the calculation would be different. As much as I’d like it to be different, the reality is that FC Dallas has a rookie coach and the youngest team in the league, and a realistic assessment says a championship this year is a very long shot. Hopefully, the decision to forego any signings this window means more experience for the youngsters and more resources to deploy in the offseason.
What exactly was the case they made here? That the TD was s busy working the phone he could not find anyone? Oh, Coleman is coming back! That'll do it! There's the scorer this team needs. FCD just could not find they player they needed. The youth team is producing players who will soon be ready to play at an exceptionally high level. Just like Ajax. Everything is fine. FCD will evaluate their needs, scout the players who will fill those needs, and bring them in. Trust us. Maybe possibly unfcukinglikely. We have heard this all before. Last year,Arthur Blank showed us you win the MLS Cup. Buy it. The Supporter's Shield is far more important to me (and that is slipping away as well), still, it would be very nice to see that star on they jersey. Pity it will never happen. Dead but dreaming, Scipio Diabolus, vox fatum. Contra. Sacre Pacum. vox fatum.
I'm resigned to this. It goes both ways though. If thbey aren't serious about the best team in the league then they shouldn't try and keep promising HG's who have a real chance to advance to a good or great Euro career. Pomykal should go to Germany or Holland like most other really good US 18,19 and 20 year olds have.
During the half time of the very nice DC United game, at half time, Dan Hunt said he knew the team needs an attacker or two, and the team will find one. Trust us. I do trust them. To find striker who will play for less than $600,000, comes on a free transfer, and will not add one iota to the team. -SD
According to Danish media, MLS and FC Dallas made a $1.6 million offer on the 22-yo AGF Aarhus winger Mustapha Bundu during the summer transfer window, which was instantly rejected by the club that has set a $5.5 million price tag on him : https://www.transfermarkt.com/mustapha-bundu/profil/spieler/457728 https://beta.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/medie-agf-kraever-37-mio-kr-for-bundu
Oh my. For most of the season, the Cobra barely got a sniff of the field at FC Dallas. I thought he'd be gone for sure... Then lately, he's been starting more often than not and scoring at a nice clip. Now he gets a call-up to the Czech national team for Euro qualifiers, comes in as a second half sub today, and proceeds to score the winner against England, handing the Three Lions their first qualifying defeat in ten years!
Watched the Czech Republic friendly home to Northern Ireland today. It was a tale of two halves. The Czech defense was woeful. Down 3-0 at the half (really could have conceded seven), Ondrasek was brought on after the interval. It was a different Czech side, creating a lot of solid chances, and the Cobra was the difference. Eventually, they scored two about a minute apart, both assisted by Ondrasek. A 2-3 loss at home to Northern Ireland is an unimpressive follow-up to defeating England, but I have to say the Cobra was probably their best player today. Actually, I just checked the BBC ratings, and he's currently the only Czech over a 6 for the match: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50047899 Hope that translates to the playoffs...
Honestly find this to be a most confusing case. Look, I know myself and others have really dog piled on ZO and much of that was far more about the Hunts and Co making a big deal about signing a guy that didn't deserve the hype and promise they gave him to the fans. (again) But then he got here and he flat out stunk. I don't even mean in a Colmán kinda stunk. Colman was actually productive and showed promise in most every front - other than finishing. ZO was, stunningly bad - at everything. He was slow, bad passing, didn't look interested in winning headers and, of course, the finishing. And this wasn't limited to games - he was so bad in practice Luchi stopped even putting him in the 18 and wasn't even considered for NTX time. Let that soak in a second. So, here we are - Is ZO some newly reinvigorated playmaker? My sense is, no. If you look at what those moments are, they are pretty basic soccer opportunities you'd expect a guy of his resume to turn good. And where he wasn't before he is now. But, he's not yet scored on the road and I'm not sure any of his goals have been low xG type worldy's. But he has got his "head right w/ ball" and is at least being productive in those obvious moments. And that is progress. Is he the teams' proper #9? I still think he's too slow, but I also have no doubt the Hunts aren't really interested in looking for anything else for a while. But, he is a good story. A 30 year old, first time call up to his country and pumped out a winning goal vs England and helped his side with a couple of assists against NI. That's good stuff. Now, just prove something in Seattle on Sunday. That's where he can earn his paycheck. It'll be tough - that is a ton of travel.
What's really perplexing is that Ondrasek came to FC Dallas in good form. He finished just out of the top 10 in the Polish league in scoring during the 2018/19 season--despite playing only the first half of the season. I believe the led the league when he left for FCD. Then he just flailed upon his arrival. And now he's back to the form he must have had when he left Poland. I agree with his limitations. His pace won't instill fear in center backs. And I'm not sure he's the guy you want to go 90. But he finds space and finishes decently. As a sub sent on to bring some energy and commitment against tired defenders, he does offer something at this point.
I agree with Quaker. I do think that Cobra has a future with the club as a key reserve. A player who will mostly come into the match in the second half, but will also start several home games, where he has shown he can excell.
Hmm.. 500K (probably higher for yr two) would make him a top 5 salary and I'd like to think anyone in that range should be a regular starter and producer. Not just a warm body. .
I really don't understand why the Hunts don't want a forward as good as Fish and Blas were. We used to have decent to good forwards and then poof! for years now. I think Pepe will turn into a great forward but I don't think FCD will be able to hold onto him very long so it doesn't matter.
Cobra must not have impressed in practice early, and he certainly didn't impress on the pitch at the beginning of the season. But in the time he was playing, he posted a 0.84 goals per 90 average. That's actually really good. Like, top 5 in the league good (among players with a significant number of games/minutes). The guys with a better average are: Vela, Ibra, Martinez, and Heber. If he can produce even remotely that well over the course of a whole season, he'll be in the conversation for the Golden Boot.
I could see him splitting at least some minutes with Pepi next season. .84 is way beyond any FCD scorer in years. At his age and struggles away from home they may try to integrate Pepi and/or Ferriera so they can get Pax, Servania, and hopefully Roberts all on the field at the same time to create offense on the road.
It's really not too much of a stretch. He was on pace to challenge for the top scorer in a European league when he was traded to FC Dallas. It was Poland, but still...
Personally, I'd be a bit more on board with the idea of relying on Kobra as FCD's primary target forward if he had scored in more places than just Toyota Stadium and Stade Saputo. I'm happy about his late-season production, but I'm not anointing him QUITE yet.
I feel there there is a section of the fan base that ONLY have paid attention to the goals scored and for reasons I don't understand ignore the other 99% of the time he's on the field. Guys, he's not very good - overall - and certainly should not be the #9 for any team with any real MLS aspirations.