The Official Javier "Chofis" Lopez Thread

I had a long exchange about pejoratives in another thread (or maybe it’s earlier in this thread). I don’t use the word lazy to describe a player because it is a pejorative and is also racially tinged.

 

Every time he scores a goal, he looks less lazy and more trim .

 

Downright slender looking by the end of the Austin game.

 

Most goals in a season by Vako was 10. Chofis has 10 now and more games left. Interestingly enough, the most he bagged in a 22 game Chivas season was 6.

 

Did Vako score from taking pk's?

 

So even Almeyda commented on Chofis’ demeanor

Matias Almeyda on Chofis Lopez,”I am very happy for him, he has changed a lot. He’s really changed his training, his demeanor, he will keep learning. He’s progressing in his life, that makes me the happiest.” #Quakes74

— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) September 19, 2021

 

That being said, please note that hubby and I are now officially on the Chofis bandwagon.
Los Goonieremos #VamosSJ

 

One of the things that makes Chofis so effective is that he shoots so quickly and often “off the beat” that he gets an extra 1/2 second on the keeper. That also enabled him to thread it thru tight windows, like around 3 defenders like his rebound shot last night or thru the legs (2nd goal against RSL). He should give clinics to the rest of the team on that.

 

I don't remember Vako ever taking a PK but I think Chofis has only 1 this year.

 

Chofis has really good swivel hip and foot movement. Probably because, like Wondo, he doesn’t have any muscles. It feels too late for anyone else to learn to do what Chofis does, with the exception of TT. I think TT has the same hip/foot capability, but he doesn’t have a shot.

 

I think it has more to do with timing than mechanics. As a musician I’m kind of obsessed with the timing of things. So I think of it as shooting “off the beat” - a syncopation. Just a half step and a quick shot - you sacrifice pace for the element of surprise and get that 1/2 second on the keeper.

With Chofis it’s all about being tricky. I had to laugh looking at the game highlights . On the *kickoff* Chofis tricked an Austin defender into thinking he was passing it back to López(?). The guy stepped backwards and Chofis no-looked it to the more forward player (Fierro?).

 

Not the place to be advertising your music bro.

 

Didn't advertise anything, just mentioning how I see things. Thanks though!!

 

You're welcome.

 

So we have a one year loan for Chofis, with an option to extend another 6 months, and then a purchase option. Price is going up with every goal he scores. Chivas may be the happiest of all about Chofis's great run of form. It's money in the bank for them. So you really want him? You're really going to have to pay now. Worst case is that you don't pay and we get him back, in form, thank you very much.

 

That's always the downside of a loan. LAG also didn't get Pavon back. In our case, Chivas really had nothing to lose by loaning us Chofis. If the reclamation project is successful, they can ask for higher transfer fee from SJ or any team with interest. If it doesn't work, they have very little to lose on a player they do not plan to play again. For us, we at least would have an extended evaluation of a player.

Now Chofis may get more attention from other teams and how they plan to handle him on the field. It may get more physical. Or he can dance out of the double team. We will see how he can continue to contribute. It may open up more space for others in attack. However, I am not going to keep my hope high. I was thinking when defenders collpase on Cade, it would allow others to join the attack. That didn't happen. Jebo did provide that effect but it was short lived.

 

To me it's not even a done deal that Chivas doesn't want him back. They're going to be looking at the game tape and reading what Matias and his teammates say about him. It may be - well, he's performed well and been a model of comportment off the field, he's paid his dues, we want him back. You are in a great negotiating position when you are fine with the negotiations falling thru, at which point, in this case, you retain the in-form player. You can jack up the price as high as you want and be OK with backing away if you don't get a good counter.

Since the Quakes have little chance of making the playoffs, maybe they should shut him down after a few more games . Worst thing that could happen is that he scores 10 more goals and gets Golden Boot or is say top 3, and Quakes miss the playoffs by 5 points. But let's face it, that's not going to happen. We'll play him until we're mathematically eliminated, and probably even after that, as he's a marketable player to bring fans into the last handful of home games.

One thing the Quakes have going for them is that, assuming Matias is back next year, Chofis is going to want to play for him. His agent is going to want to get the most $ for him but he also needs to make a deal where Chofis is going to be happy.

 

Man cave pantheon.

 

It is my understanding that loans with a "buy option" have a purchase price agreed upon at the beginning of the loan period in the event that the team would want to pick it up. At least that is the case in Europe so I am not sure if it differes in the MLS.

 

Yeah, I wondered if that might be the case, but is the selling team bound to that? Or is it just a sort of "pre-negotiation" in case everyone feels about the same way about the player at the end of the loan as they did at the start of the loan.

 

Is that how it worked when SJ bought Espinoza? I can't remember....

 

In the case of Espinoza I could see that a pre-negotiated buy number might have been agreeable to both parties at the end of the loan because I think he performed more or less in line with expectations. He was good, as you'd expect, but he didn't completely light it up either. He performed about as expected. I don't think he performed at a level where Villarreal thought that they might want him back, or that they could ratchet the $ way up.

In the case of Chofis, well, right now he's lighting it up, and he hasn't gotten into any trouble off the field, so his value may have gone up significantly in Chivas's eyes. I mean he's playing at Vela level right now. So that's the problem the Quakes will likely have if they want to keep him. It's gonna cost them (unless somehow the contract has a burned in, binding purchase price).

I think the Chofis loan has an additional 6 months option (as more loan). So the Quakes can punt on the buy until middle of next season and see how it plays out. If he tanks, you can back out of the purchase. But OTOH if he rakes, the price goes up even more.

 

Pulido and Pizarro have a combined 11 goals this year. Chofis at 10 is a steal.