Yeah I had to google all these guys. Lots of talent in South America so hopefully this guy is good, but these team is such an unknown quantity.
I'm reserving judgment, but I agree. I'm more excited about our non-DP signings like Stojanovic and Sekulic honestly. Gimenez seems to have the best pedigree, but he's a tier 3 DP.
Naturally. But it’s all we have here so we can’t speculate on much more. Obviously I hope all three are fantastic, or the team gels to be better than the sum of its parts. It just seems like we’re going to have to be better than the sum of our parts to have real success.
As someone who didn't know what country Velez Sarsfield played in until two months ago, I have to agree.
I think it's because, despite our up and down history, we've always had some fairly big "names" landing in Chicago every few years. None of the current signings are familiar to the average fan, but that doesn't mean they won't be by the end of the season. I think one of Heitz's strengths is his knowledge of the Europa League level player. We're used to old Champions League players being DPs in MLS. I think younger, less well-known, players plying their trade in the sides that populate EL teams are a better fit for MLS budgets. They also have more upside in that their time in MLS most likely is not because they're at the end of their careers. I'm very optimistic for this season. Let's see how long it takes for the team to beat it out of me.
Nikolic and Katai were unknowns to most of us (albeit far better known than our 3 new DPs). Beric looked pretty dangerous in the 2 preseason matches I watched. Yeah, he didn't finish, but I'm fairly confident he has the ability. The point is, we gotta have faith. Or not, lol.
No, they are underwhelming for sure. Specially if you were expecting Chicharito or ... Pizarro. Pulido blows and KC severely overpaid. https://www.transfermarkt.us/major-league-soccer/toptransfers/wettbewerb/MLS1 I'll tell you this, while Basti was a great player and has a lot of talent, I bet the Fire will get more out of Gimenez than Basti. Yes, mostly because he was misused, but Basti was also (physically) done. I think Beric and Gimenez plug important holes down the middle of the field, ie. the spine of the team. Who knows how Aliseda will turn out. But I'd rather have a team of young up and coming players than retirees. Winning and good football is more important (to me) than big names.
Basti last year was a waste of a DP spot. He was good, but he was "MLS defender making 200k good" and the drop off from even his 2018 self was noticeable. From what I saw on Saturday, Beric could end up a fan favorite if he gets a couple scores early. He did a ton of dirty work out there and ran his ass off. Just needs to get a little sharper on the finishing.
"Will he be a good player for the Fire? Who knows." "Is Gimenez a good signing for the Fire? Yes, definitely." -Have you watched him play sufficiently to make this "definite" assertion? Who knows if he will be a good player but he is definitely a good signing? The cognitive dissonance of this is astounding. When did I say "everything the Fire does is wrong"? I have been cheer-leading for Manseuto (except when they have screwed up) since the announcement. When did I say a single thing about Gimenez that was untrue? How is what I said being a "Debbie Downer"? He has had two minutes with the National Team. I think calling Gimenez an Argentine National Team Player is a bit disingenuous, if not actually incorrect. I have been Optimistic about our signings, late as they have arrived, but I am not really "nut ride" any of these players until we see if they any are "good players" (to use your term).
For the last two seasons, Fire played less than the sum of its parts based on nothing, this team feels like the opposite
Only blind sycophants (e.g. Don w/Cakes' regime) are nut riding now. Plenty of room to hop on board if warranted.
What "young up and coming players"? Beric is 28 Gimenez is 28 Sekulic is 28 Stojanovic is 26 Hell, Medran is 25 Not to mention that Shuttleworth is 32 and our last two signing for 2019: Bornstein is 35 Azira is 32 Do you REALLY think this team is built for "winning and good football"? Seriously, do you think that? This team was just ranked yesterday at 25th (out of 26 teams). Personally, I think the Fire will be better than 25th, and I have a very good feeling about both Heitz and Wicky and their ability to build a team.
Look, if you are going to judge something aposteriori, then sure. But apriori, this looks like a good signing. It is not cognitive dissonance, it is just basic fairness to someone's job. Gaitan has 16 caps for Argentina at 32 and you can't keeps his balls off your mouth. Gaston has 1 and he is 28. Again, Gaston might not be Makelele, but for MLS and the Fire he is a good signing.
Aliceda is 19. Navarro is 20. And under 28 signings is better than 31+ Basti, Nik and Gaitan. Ranked by whom? On what methodology? This team won't even be complete for the next 3 weeks. And if we are going to take wild ass random rankings here they are ranked 6th https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/mls/ Heitz has been on the job for a little over two months, including winter break. I think he is doing fine and will do better with more time and going forward. In any event, you can go back to pouting about not getting the big names you wanted, nobody cares much.
I think Heitz was a good choice regardless of how he turns out. Hindsight is 20/20 but I think he was a good choice. I wish the Fire were doing a better job pumping out positive propaganda about these new signings.
Not to mention the Sloninas and supposedly Jimenez. Team is definitely looking to the Atlanta buy young SA talent and sell on after a successful run. I wholeheartedly embrace it. If, for no other reason, I can delude myself that our players are on an upward trend instead of over the hill. It makes it much easier to be optimistic when things aren't going well.
Okay, I am done with this conversation. You want to crap all over me, that is fine. I really don't care. I will be there on March 21st, sitting in my season tickets, cheering the Fire (hopefully to victory), as I have since the very day the Fire have been in existence. We will see if any of the new signings turn out to be any good. I hope that they do, as I always hope that they do. (except for Manbun and Alan f'n Gordon. Really, f those guys). Also, as I have said, I think Heitz and Wicky were good signings to lead this team. However, after having the Fire team that I have followed since 1997 pissed upon by ownership and management for most of the past 12 years, I will check my enthusiasm until I see, in the immortal words of the recently returned @Chris M., "results, motherf*ckers." If the players turn out to be good, I will gladly buy you a beer and celebrate. If the new players turn out to suck, I will gladly buy you a beer and commiserate.