About six weeks ago, when we traded Suarez, Broome, and Chivas to LA, there was a lot hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth about how we had given away the store, that those three players would blossom under Fat Sigi's tutelage, and so on. After a month, it looks as if it was more or less and even trade for us at the worst, and quite possibly that we might've done better. First, let's look at what LA got. Keep in mind that LA has played five league matches since the trade: Suarez - 1 GP, 1 GS, 98 minutes. Astute observers will note that that appearance was this past Saturday, a game in which Suarez committed the foul which led to New England's penalty kick. (And contrary to what Ty Keough says, it was a foul. Suarez walloped Kamler from behind.) Broome - 2 GP, 0 GS, 36 minutes. Chivas - 2 GP, 2 GS, 123 minutes, 1 goal. That goal came in his first appearance. "But Dustin," I hear some of you saying. "With Sigi coaching them, they're going to become terrific players." Are they? Suarez is 26 and in his third year. Chivas is 26 and in his fourth year. Broome is 27 and in his fifth year. None of these guys are diamonds in the rough anymore. They are what they are. Suarez is still a head case who thinks he should be the next Roberto Carlos. Chivas is still a nice dribbler with questionable fitness. And Broome, who is the one player I most miss, is an overachiever. Will Sigi have them playing competently? Yes. But will we rue the day that we traded them? I don't think so. Meanwhile, let's look at what we got in return: Ezra - Has been a regular starter in Suarez's old spot on the right side. And I gotta say that he's been a lot less of a liability on the right side than Suarez was. Yes, he likes to get forward a lot, but he seems to get caught out of position a lot less than Suarez. Glinton - You know, I'm not sure how I should feel about what he's given us. No, he's not scored yet, but he has given us some quality time off the bench. I like what I see in him. 1st round pick - All right, let's all get one thing straight: LA is NOT a very good team this year. This pick is NOT going to be at the bottom of the first round. At worst, this pick is going to be at the middle of the first round, since I don't see LA finishing any better than fifth. Of course, there is the one caveat that that's still good enough to get them into the playoffs, where they could go on a great run and win the championship, in which case the pick will be at the bottom of the 1st round. But I don't see that happening. Bottom line: I think that this trade was at worst a push, and at best, a winner for us. And depending what happens with the 1st round pick, it might be a big winner for us. I know that we're loathe to give credit to Jeffries for ANYTHING this season, but we gotta give him credit for one thing -- he's still a very shrewd trader. Maybe he shouldn't be fired, maybe he should be "kicked upstairs" to be Director of Player Personnel.
Pickups in 2003: EZ Glinton Curtis Dunseth Davis Two #1's Losses: Chivas Broome Suarez Cerritos The #4 pick overall in 2003 (McGee) I say the Burn have the advantage considering they have two #1's in 2004. Defense: EZ/Dunseth better combo than Broome/Suarez Midfield: Davis has an edge over Martinez Fowards: Curtis/Glington combined provide more than Cerritos alone Then you add two #1's. The team was definitely made better with the moves. Too bad they can't be converted to wins.
Let's face it, Suarez, Chivas and Broome were traded because they let jeffries know vocally they were fed up with the direction the team was going. I do know that their quality of play had deminished this season due to this frustration and lack of focus. I do know the quality of play they each possessed the previous two seasons with the Burn. I still think these three players will return to the form they once had. Not only did we lose three players who helped us get to the playoffs but we've lost three players that were very much part of the heart and soul of this team. You cannot replace that with just any player. Right now it's to early to tell. It will take awhile for the players to settle in but as far as I'm concerned we lost three quality players that I've enjoyed watching over the years they've been with the team and we lost them because of coach who's not a coach at all. He has no idea that he is the problem and not the players who no he is.
If that's the case, before they opened their pieholes, maybe Ryan Suarez should've played his position a bit more competently and not gotten beat so many times and maybe Chivas Martinez should've shown up to training camp in shape. Both players did their part to contribute to the Burn's decline this season, and that being the case, maybe they should focus on improving their own game instead of running their pieholes. I don't give Mike Jeffries much credit for anything this season, but if Ryan Suarez was yapping about the direction of the team while he was getting beat game in and game out for goals, then I applaud Mike Jeffries for shipping him out. At one point earlier this season, I counted five straight goals that were scored against the Burn that came as direct result of Suarez's being out of position. Being a vocal leader is one thing, but if your play is absolute dogcrap, maybe you should keep your mouth shut and focus on your own game. About the only one of them I really miss is Paul Broome. He was a solid performer and provided depth at left back. Honestly, I can definitely imagine that Ryan Suarez will be the only one of the three to still be in MLS next season. Paul Broome is a solid performer, but he's the type of player -- a veteran, solid performer -- that's been squeezed out because of the salary cap and replaced by cheap, young talent. And much of that applies to Chivas Martinez as well. He'll be in his fifth year in the league by next season, and while he's not earning big bucks, he'll be earning more than some rookie or developmental player and he's isn't exactly unexpendable. Call me crazy, but those guys -- with a combined 257 minutes in five games (average of 17 minutes per game per player) -- aren't exactly proving Jeffries wrong at this point in time.
Ever work for a boss who was incompetent or was having do your job the way he thought you should do it but was all wrong! I know I have and I probably did do my job as well as I should have because of that boss and yes I got fed up and moved on! All I'm saying is hey, I would rather have Ryan, Chivas and Broome her than Jeffries, in a heart beat!
I have to agree with Dustin on this one, you can't blame MJ for everything. I think if we can get everyone to get on the same page then it'll work better because I don't see Chivas-Suarez-Broome ever being on the same page with the gals. I can't wait till they lose in the first round.
When watching a few minutes of the LA-Revs game on ESPN2 this weekend, I was excited to see Ryan get the start... and then just minutes into the match I saw him do what plagued him in Dallas.... Get the ball in the back.... dribble forward 10 yards... make a couple of fancy skill moves.... Look up... Kick a searching, deep ball forward to someone who almost is always NOT a team mate. To be fair I also saw Ryan make some wonderful defensive plays including covering someone elses mark to save a goal. I realize he also gave away the game tying PK, but Ryan should focus on defending and stop trying to be a creative defender.
Exactly what I saw and it was this part of his game that was most frustrating when he was in Dallas. I don't miss that part at all. I didn't like the trade at first. 6 weeks later the team is still face down on the turf. We've got a few first round picks to use or trade and improve the talent level of the team. Which is all fine and good. But the team is not any better off. Jefferies does a good job of getting talent in here. My biggest concern is what he does with them once they get here. He is about as inspiring as Ben Stein. I think making him player personnel director is fine and if HSG can stomach that extra paycheck (which we know those cheap bastards can't) and bring in a better coach, the team will be better off. The trade is a wash - the draft pick and how that pans out will decide if the turnover was worth the effort.
I will let Father Time be the judge on this one. I know what your saying about Suarez but I can also remember the times he dominated the pitch. And Chivas, how many guys have we had that can go one on one better than he. And hustle, Broome can give you all that with speed and desire. I have'nt seen much the guys we got from LA either. EZ is the best of the bunch but has'nt showed a whole lot yet and Glinton has been, for the most part, a Ghost.
Sure I'll give Jeffries some credit for some decent trading. EZ, Dunseth, Curtis are all quality players. Throw in a few good picks and we can almost dream of a better season next year. Of course that dream will come to a crashing halt if Jeffries is still on the sidelines on opening day. As Northside mentioned, the problem has never been the players he brings in, but what he fails to do with them once they are here. As far as Chivas and Suarez, I look at them kind of like talented players that stayed in college too long. What they "learned" is mostly a dead loss at this level. After a year of real coaching, I bet they look like competent players again. Broome, on the other hand, is a player whose ego seems to have grown faster than his ability based on one season starting. I don't consider him a loss at all except maybe as cheap bench depth.
The talent part is what's good about Jeffries finding players for the team. It's the 1. motivation, 2. team chemistry, 3. tactics and 4. communication that Jeffries lacks. I don't see that for him from his interviews. Rhine might say the team continues to be upbeat about it (from MLS Wraps). But they don't sure play like it. Mike might be good as a scout but as a coach I don't believe he can deliver the positive results.
While Jefferies might get some credit for personal, I wouldn't give him too much. I remember Swift saying that they needed to "remake" the team with more speed. How could MJ have assembled such a slow squad and not recognize how uncompetitive it would be? He's not a first year coach. Did he really believe he could play "ole" ball and spray passes around a big field? Just now he realizes he needs guys like Glinton, Curtis and Johnson to open up high pressure teams?