I said I was done with this conversation, but I guess I have to respond one more time, since you are being such an asshole. Don't be such an asshole. Thanks, now I am done.
The biggest signing of the offseason was a DM. The problem is that his position is about as sexy as the left tackle on an NFL team. He might win you a title, but his face isn't going to be the one on the billboards.
I think it’s relatively easy to plug a player, team, system, etc. They could easily talk about how this awesome player (even if it’s a DM) and how that position strategically fits into a championship run. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yeah, him too. I thought about that AFTER I posted, but in some ways, I do like my example. Few outside of US Soccer geeks like us knew Chris Armas when we traded for him (Danny something or other. What a great trade!). Yet he grew into the anchor of the team and one of its more recognizable faces. Welcome Gaston! Put him on the billboard!
Not when we signed him. In fact, it was still an open question if he even COULD play for the National Team. He had played for Puerto Rico national team in the Shell Cup at the time we acquired him and not the US. There were big questions about whether that appearance was in a FIFA sanctioned competition. In all honesty, he should have been tied to Puerto Rico as that tournament was used as a qualifier into the Gold Cup.
I still do not understand how they are not. I know that sometimes they vote it down and other times Congress does, but good Lord. I am in favor of either granting our territories statehood or severing ties.
Give it a look see: https://www.chisportsnation.com/202...what-do-their-acquisitions-mean-for-the-fire/
I’m aware of that but he also received his first cap in 98 the same year he starting playing for us. The point being is armas was a far more recognizable player to the average fan then Gimenez currently is. I don’t understand how that’s a controversial point.
It’s not controversial. My point was that you can start to market around great players when you sign them, even if they are new to the scene. I’m guessing not a lot of people knew who Diego Valeri was in Oregon before he was signed. Or Giovinco in Toronto or Ignacio Piatti in Montreal. Come to think of it, for those being honest, most Fire supporters in that first year had probably never heard of Piotr Nowak (outside of the Polish fans, of course).
I mean, this is all true, and it's why I have to at fans who insist that the team needed some big name signing. It doesn't show a lot of faith in the soccer market in this city.
Did you really just compare gimenez to giovinco in terms of name recognition? One comes from one of the biggest clubs in the world and had caps for Italy. Also what’s one thing those 3 have in common that gimenez doesn’t? They are all attacking players much easier to market goals then defensive plays.
I have to at fans who insist that the team needs some big name signing in order to market the team well. It doesn't show a lot of faith in the soccer market in this city.
What the team needed was to establish credibility and excitement among the people engaged with the team, and to generate interest among the broader soccer-curious community in Chicago. A big name signing isn't the only way to do that, and depending on the player it might not accomplish both, but that was certainly a possible path to what this offseason needed to be for the franchise as a business. An impressive-under-the-circumstances playoff finish for this team, played in front of embarrassingly empty seats would be a job well done for Heitz and Wicky, but would make barely a dent in those business goals.
Schweinsteiger was arguably our biggest name signing ever. We had our worst attendance in history and lost our only playoff game 4-0 in the 3 years he was here. Screw big name signings.