According to the Fire, he was/is supposed to be at any time, but no word yet. Obviously we don't need him... Ralph is a stud up top and clearly our number 2 forward. Does he have a guarenteed contract? Do we try to trade him? Cut him? Or just keep him on the bench as a super sub? Or will he even come back at all?
Well he has to come back, or we're owed by him for breaking a contract and the league for his departure. I don't see why he wouldn't come back, and he probably would see some time still as a sub, though he would also make decent trade/sale bait (maybe to a small club in Brasil, should he want to stay there). He did say frequently he enjoys the town and wants to play here, but who knows how that may have changed. In any case, he'll play for us or we'll get something. Though MLS has a history of screwing teams in situations like this where they're holding the bag (ahem Campos ahem), they haven't been doing it at all really recently, so I'd expect something.
Not to be callous, but didn't his father pass away two weeks ago or so. Why has he not returned to the US yet?
I have an inkiling the whole SI availability issue has surfaced because Faria isn't returning to the FIRE. IIRC, Rodrigo's father basically told him to fish (Brazilian futebol career) or cut bait (college in the US) since his footy options in Brazil were dwindling. Rodrigo got his college education and the chance to play professional footy in the US. Now that dad is gone, he may be getting on with the rest of his life, or have some family business where his education can be put to more productive use. Just a wild guess on my part. In any case, best of luck to Rodrigo, though we hardly know ye.
From Cybersoccer News: http://www.cybersoccernews.com/mls/fire/030620chi-wizadv.shtml The Brazilian forward has been dealing with the burden of seeing his father battle cancer for the past year. To his credit, Faria put family over sport, as he spent most of preseason in Rio at his father's side. After he reported to the Fire in mid-March, he still was making trips during the week down to Brazil to help his family out. It's understandable that he has been nowhere near the form the Fire expected him to be when they got him as part of the deal that eventually landed Bob Bradley with the MetroStars last fall. Faria's father passed away on May 23 and he has been on a leave of absence since then. He is expected to be back with the team in training sometime next week. To the club's credit, they have been very flexible in giving Faria the time he needed to deal with such personal strain so he can eventually concentrate on his soccer.
Sarachan said Wednesday night that Faria may be back with the club by next weekend. However, now that his father's memorial service is happening, maybe not. Bill Q.
A question that I think no one can answer now is that when he does indeed come back, how long will it be until he's fit again?
Luckily, Ralph is doing very well at the moment, so we don't miss him. But, as someone said, he'd be a usefull sub and cover, and I'm sure he'll work back into the side just fine. Of course, if a trade comes up that we really want, he might leave. We should give him a chance, though, and some time to sort himself out, too.