News: 2022 - DCU Club Discussion and Analysis

Benteke signing is official.

 

I don't think it's a bad signing but we should probably be focusing on other priorities likes defense. Seems pretty clear to me though that with bringing in him and Berry that Kamara and Estrada are on the way out. That will free up a good amount from the wage cap.

 

Well, raise my rent! I hope they have at least one defender lined up to sign...

 

in twitter world..........................

 

I hope he's better than his last 5 years of stats, because, at 31, the only way is down. The last 5 years he's produced 3/5, 1/1, 2/1, 10/1, and 4/1 goals/assists. Seems like we're committing a lot of money to a player who isn't likely to be here in 3 years. Certainly not the 27-28 yo player in his prime who was going to be here for 3-4 ys that Sean Howe talked about before the last game.

 

Are you trying to say DC United didn't sign Benteke?

 

I don’t get the signing. It’s just the best option we had for name recognition to sell tickets?

 

The team may not be done (I would expect Estrada's loan to be terminated shortly), but you can't say they haven't been active this transfer window.

Out:
Edison Flores - sold to Atlas
Griffin Yow - sold to Westerlo
Julian Gressel - traded to Vancouver for Garberbucks

In:
Martin Rodriguez - signed from Altay
Miguel Berry - traded from Columbus
Ravel Morrison - signed on a free from Derby County
Victor Palsson - signed as a DP from Schalke
David Ochoa - traded from RSL
Christian Benteke - signed as a DP from Crystal Palace

The jury is definitely still out on whether all these moves wind up working, and the backline definitely needs to be rebuilt in the winter, but I for one am happy to see the FO make moves that should improve the team.

 

Goff says Benteke will be "highest paid player in club history." Uh-oh.

 

Criminy, what?

 

Bar is low.

 

I mean, that's not exactly a high bar to clear.

 

Yeah, the deal is official now (this is a funny as hell tweet in my opinion):

🧇😋 pic.twitter.com/MfiDtm7YIy

— D.C. United (@dcunited) August 5, 2022

 

I'm all for giving Sargis a chance. But we've tried this at LB with questionable results. Alfaro is a decent backup. I'm about ready to cut bait on Pines, but maybe we let him and Sargis battle it out until the end of the season and see if one or both can up their game.

 

I am saying I need more then twitter to believe. Do I think they did, yes but twitter world is not real.

 

If the FO has done one thing well this year, it's waffling.

 

Too lazy to look this up, but I'm assuming its too late to trade Kamara or Estrada within MLS correct? Would make sense to trade one or both for defensive cover. In lieu of that, and given Hines-Ike's injury I'd probably just shift Durkin to defense for the rest of the season especially with Palsson coming on board soon to plug into the midfield. CB and LB have to be priorities over the offseason though.

 

Yes, too late to make trades unless they were finalized before the deadline yesterday.

The team can still dump players, and can still sign free agents.

 

Playing that in the small window here on BS at first I couldn't tell if those were yellow cards or gold bricks.

Not until opening it in a full size window did I get it - yes, its humorous. I wonder if this didnt begin with El Profe....

 

inflation?

 

Meh. Over $3M annually for a guy turning 32 in December not getting regular minutes in the EPL. Hope it works, but I'm skeptical. Read the press release quoting Kasper's "thoughts" about roster building this window. What an absolute tool Kasper is, this team will not get better until he is gone.

 

I'm damn satisfied with this. Hopefully he plays well. They did keep their promise of adding a legit DP, high level guy.

I'm not at all sure what the final product will look like and it looks like a bunch of puzzle pieces that might or might not all fit together. There is definitely more talent on the board though.

What's the plan for Berry now? Did they bring him in just to be a backup? Are they hoping Hopkins can do what Gressel used to do here, because that is what Benteke needs, no?

Hopefully they can bulk up on the defensive side too, in addition to Palsson. Goff threw out something about changing his status from a DP to a TAM player so that would open up another DP slot. Maybe that goes to a defensive-minded player.

All in all, I'm happy with the activity, at the least. Before this news came out, I was ready to (again) declare this ownership group the most cynical, disingenuous, penny-pinching group in all of sports, ha!

 

Maybe Palsson goes in at CB.

Just keep in mind, none of these guys, save Rodriguez, would be here if not for Rooney. Kasper patting himself on the back, please. He’s like one hit and 10 whiffs this season.

 

Lots and lots of changes. So far, we haven't seen much difference on the field.

But they've got me curious enough to watch in order to see if the team plays differently once all these guys are available. (Still being coached by Ashton...so I'm skeptical.)