As much say as Ben had with these cheap owners. While I am quick to blame Kasper he is on a limited budget. So he has to swing for the fences as in the Olsen days. Grabbing every underachieving SA/CA player he can hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.
Who says he's underachieving? Wikipedia? Or have you watched him play lately? Also, if he does come here, it'll cost the team money either as a loan or as a transfer, and he'll be one of the higher paid players on the team (he made over $250k as a young DP his first stint). That's being cheap? Also, Hines-Ike is here because Losada wanted him. It's hard to say Losada has almost no say in player acquisition. I'm sure he's done more due diligence in scouting Rodriguez lately than any of us here on BigSoccer.
I remember that. I'm sure he led Pittsbugh in scoring the previous year and possibly the USL (they may have still been calling it the A-League back then).
In this era of MLS spending, $250k is pretty cheap for an international attacker. Titi's value per Transfer Market is $3M. $3M isn't cheap by DC United standards but when you see FCC is dropping $13M on deals $3M is peanuts.
Well, the team spent $5M on Flores, and people are calling him a bust and want the team to move on from him already. You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't with DC United fans.
What does Flores have to do with anything? We are talking about Titi. You asked if that was being cheap and I answered.
In other news, Nigel Robertha, still a DCU acquisition target, bagged a hat trick in a Bulgarian Cup game today. Incoming DCU assistant Nicolas Frutos visited Robertha in Bulgaria recently. Highlights from Robertha's hatty below. Striker Nigel Robertha, targeted by #DCUnited, played tonight his best game for Levski up until now, scoring a hat-trick against Beroe and sending Levski into the Bulgarian Cup quarter-finals. Here's his 3rd goal that came after a nice solo runVideo: Diema Sport pic.twitter.com/4Y18zXlX7r— Metodi_Shumanov (@shumanskoo) March 3, 2021 Levski striker Nigel Robertha, still eyed by #DCUnited, has just scored this nice free kick against Beroe in today's Bulgarian Cup clashVideo: Diema Sport pic.twitter.com/JFP4Y8chFc— Metodi_Shumanov (@shumanskoo) March 3, 2021
The system Losada intends to play emphasizes fitness over all. Heavy counter press, opportunisctic high press and simple passes into space with players running onto the ball. The system can be effective with only one or two highly skilled, technical players. When Leeds hired Marcelo Bielsa 2.5 years ago the fan base was excited until he said that he could win with all the same players who had previously finished just below mid table the previous two years. In year one they only added a striker and winger (Jack Harrision) and made the playoffs. In year 2, they added only another winger and finished 1st by 10 points. The system requires smart players who can/will work hard. Technical skills aren't as important and I think that offers up hope. The fitness part worries me as DCU has a track record of injuries and short pre seasons that don't get the team into shape.
I am not talking about Hines-Ike underachieving he is a defender. However even us internet nuts know that 3 goals in 560 minutes for Bolivar is the very definition of underachieving. I don't have to see film to know that. Flores holds the ball too long and loses it, that is why we want him gone. He is a turnover machine who I have yet to see setup a goal for someone.
Lol he loses the ball because our attack is trash. Poor off the ball movement, not many forward options. Sometimes 3 defensive minded midfielders in the XI. That and our former manager didnt have a plan offensively.
Imagine receiving the ball and only Ola Kamara in front of you. Have to go back to 3 ambitionless midfielders (Felipe, Moreno and Canouse when played there)
Flores was tied for the team lead in assists last year. And I was using Hines-Ike as evidence that Losada has a say on player acquisition. You're acting like Losada has no say. For underachieving players, since you posted under a discussion about Titi, I thought you were referencing him, not Bolivar.
Between covid season, Ben Olsen and injuries Flores didn’t stand a chance last year. Pretty much everything that could have gone wrong did.
Still cautiously optimistic for this season. I'm interested in seeing how we play and if there is a plan. I will forgive a ton if we are working toward something and failing (see San Jose at the start with Almeyda - they lost 4-0, 5-1, etc. but you could tell they were working toward a style of play). The new coach wants players and is apparently getting them. Good sign. He brought an assistant with him so that further pushes Ashton away from tactics. If we get that striker I think we will be in a good position going into the season.
Bolivar is 20 and getting minutes with the first team. He's not "underachieving", if you want to apply the same standard to DCU players then Yow, Nyeman and Sorga are "underachieving" as well. Most players are not Pele or Messi -- ever -- and certainly not when they are young. One of, or all off Yow, Nyeman and Bolivar may not pan out. That's soccer, no different than "prospects" in baseball, hockey, etc. The Gretzky's, Ovechkin's, Crosby's of this world are rare cases. Hell, Max Scherzer wasn't special when very young and Randy Johnson was just a gangly guy with a supersonic heater when young. Nolan Ryan was barely a .500 pitcher for the Mets. Willie Mays was something like 0 for 21 when he came up in 1951. DCU has a coach who is willing to try things, let's see what happens.