There are a lot of people who don't like the summer transfer window, but I for one love it. It is a shot in the arm in the middle of the season and always presents an opportunity for teams to get better. For me it's almost like talking about excitement and speculation surrounding the trade deadline in other American sports. So let's begin the transfer talk--- what are the team's need at this point? And which of those needs can actually be corrected by getting one or two more guys? What position or specific guys do you think the team should go after?
-We need to know where we'll be playing Cahill at. If he's back in the midfield there's no doubt we need to go after a target forward(been saying this for the whole yr now), a clinical finish and a fox in the box. Our service is pretty good with Henry, Juno, Cahill, Steele, etc. Espindola really isn't a forward and I think he should be used as a winger more often. Losing Cooper has hurt us even if some of you guys are reluctant to admit. -I think our RB situation is fine. We won't be getting anyone better than Barklage or Kimura given the price. -RM/RW is a concern but Petke needs to mix it up a bit there. You can't play Alexander there weekly and expect him to suddenly discover the wheel. Get Sam a start, give Espy a crack at RM, Moreno or Bover, etc. -Another rotational CB is a must. We'll be seeing our CB situation being stretch given the Open Cup and suspensions/injuries. Other than that I'm content. My rankings of need: 1) Target Forward 2) Probational/ Capable CB
A player I would like to see back - JPA Captain for life.. Embarrassing how we didn't give him a goodbye or anything. Would be a useful sub for us in the last 20-25 minutes
I saw the game on tv-- at halftime they showed a clip of Amado Guevara and Juan Pablo Angel at midfield--it seemed as if they were being honored? Not sure what it was about..
In order of immediate need: 1. RM 2. RB 3. CM (if you play Cahill up top). FW (if you play Cahill at CM) We are really only 1 or 2 pieces away from as complete a team as you can build in MLS. What's most important is getting all those pieces firing on all cylinders at the right times and keeping everyone healthy. Edit: I'm still holding out hope that Peggy can come good. I'm losing faith in Sam though. Also losing faith in Barklage, Kimura, & Lade (only for the moment...I think Lade will be a good player in a few years).
We have the most goals scored in MLS (23). We don't need another forward. We've given up 19. Only 4 teams have given up more than that. We need midfield or defensive helped to control the game better and bring down that goals against stat. Adding a stellar RM would kill two birds with one stone. Ditto a stellar RB who can make that soul crushing overlapping run and pinpoint delivery into the box. Edit: Also, adding another forward won't solve anything if our control of the ball (and service) from the right side continues to be $hitty.
To be fair, when you adjust for the amount of games we're right in the middle of the pack in Goals Allowed Per Game. Gotta hope that Petke can get these guys to focus for 90 minutes like they had been for the previous 7 games... But yeah, much greater need at RM and RB than at striker. Barklage's form has taken a nose dive and Kimura was never supposed to be more than a serviceable backup. Alexander is out of position and Petke obviously has serious reservations about Sam's fitness and defensive effort.
Report: Former MLS MVP Amado Guevara wants to return to New York idk anything about him since I didnt follow the team back then. 37 years old wonder what he has left
Should be noted our roster is at 29 players. So they can only add 1 player...unless there is a trade...or they release someone...
Amado was one of the very few talented players this team has had in its history-- and more than that, he was a talented player at midfield--which has been something this team has lacked for many seasons. He is a true old-school Metro legend. Unfortunately the scoop on Guevara was that he was also a locker room cancer and was frequently getting into arguments with the coach and expressing his discontent to the media. If (and that's a big if) he signs again with the club in order to end his career, Petke will have to a do a delicate ego juggling act with him. However it cannot be denied he is truly talented and when he goes on a goal scoring streak or when he starts making the right passes from midfield to his forwards he is quite impressive.
This really is end of discussion as far as making any novelty signings just to let old players give a wave to the fans one more time before retiring. Would anyone actually take Angel or Guevara over a DP?
Honestly I feel we can do better. Terrific servants to the team but we need to work past them now. They are to old and probably not at MLS quality anymore (Which is what I thought of Angel while at Chivas and the Galaxy). I know they would come for non-DP money but even so I feel the money could be spent better. Right winger/Right midfielder, right-back, center-back. These need to be addressed first if we wan't a chance at MLS Cup.
If we had the roster spots and they were dirt cheap I'd say bring them in as bench fodder and one last hurrah. This organization has never been good about respecting its players. Would be nice to give them a proper end to their metro career. But we only have one roster spot available. A fantastic RM or RB is what we need.
That's maybe a bit dramatic, certainly we have a chance at a a good playoff run even with the current squad.
Is the best time of the year for transfers on the MLS, every body who are in the business at this time know all the players they have, what they need or who they need to move and whom the bring and because they know too the rest of the players of the others team on the league, they know what the others team need and they can make affective's trades based on this knowledges...
Wait so people want a 37 year old, but bashed the thought of getting Nesta last year? A guy that is a legend at CB, one of the best ever. Then bash pretty much any guy around 32+, but want a 37 year old Guevara or JPA back?
Well, thank goodness Mike and Andy don't think with their "wayback" rosy shades on. I like the sound of who they have picked for a summer trial. If either of them passes the muster, sounds like we're improving.
There are people in everything that have specials qualities to last a long, long time, but they are scarces, Henry, Beckham, Vaio, Nesta, etc. etc.... But Guevara and Angel are not in that class...... But my point isn't only age, the main thing here is that we are a young league that still in construction and bringing players for one or two years will not benefice us at all, we need to build a permanent CORE of player in which we can count year in and year out, it is OK if you bring some complements to decorate the cake, Henry, Beckham, Vaio and Nesta but not to fill it in, because will have a bad taste....
And this is the part of the conversation where we repeat to you for the billionth time that Roxburgh and Petke agree with you and are taking that philosophy to heart, but it takes more than one off season to accomplish it.