http://unitedmania.com/section/29/content/3557 Mike Martin takes a look at United's first week of training in Florida and the restructuring of the team.
Good article. I have to agree with most, but strongly disagree with the following: "Frankly, I’d be a lot happier if DC United were to bring in a guy along the lines of a Cory Gibbs or Greg Berhalter or Danny Califf or even Clarence Goodson as an English speaking, well versed in American life central defender if they have to find someone outside the league. But DC should have a nice pile of money and most teams in MLS or USL1 love to make deals for cash. I can’t believe any central defender almost up to and including Chad Marshall and Jimmy Conrad." I don't think anyone from the first group is available, and even if they were, they would have to be paid too much money. [The only one I would not want is Greg Berhalter, I think Janicki can play his style for a lot less money] The last two, would not be available. Think about it, would their teams be willing to part with them? (they would want too much for a trade to work for us)
I think FCD would part with Serioux if the right offer came along. Outside of him, there are very few MLS CBs (Conrad, Robinson) that come even close in terms of intensity or drive that are necessary for our backline. I still have a hard time believing that the current group of players, including trialists, are all that management is going to bring in. There's way too much available cap space for the team to upgrade the backline and to think that Veris or Roger is the solution is simply ridiculous.
I believe it. I think the league ownership as a whole is scared sh**less about the economy and what it's going to mean for ticket sales specifically and cashflow generally. Hence the willingness (not just in DC) to let high-price talent go and the reluctance to backfill it with similarly priced talent. I also think DC's owners are reacting more sharply than most -- I think the rapidly diminishing stadium prospects have them reevaluating United as an investment: originally the team itself was one element of a broader plan that included owning a stadium and even getting to build/own an associated development around the stadium. Now they're looking at no stadium, no associated development, just the team, and the team's cashflow is going to get worse before it gets better. Needless to say, I therefore disagree with Mike about the reasoning behind DC's current roster -- this isn't a well-thought-out return to the formula that led United to greatness, this is a reaction to the current economic circumstances. I'd bet against any more high-price talent being brought in before mid-season 2010 at the earliest. If we win in the next 2-3 years, it won't be by virtue of outspending anybody.
But it's not about out-spending other teams. NE made the cup final repeatedly with cap space to spare. It's about finding the right talent at the right price. And if DCU management is that concerned with the economic situation that they're willing to undermine the team's success to save a few dollars, the team is screwed and the owners are idiots. Regardless of whether we spend the money, it still goes back to the league. You might as well use the cap space to maximize the roster. I agree that high-priced talent has been a letdown recently, but you can't let fear of failure override common sense; the team needs help on defense. One player (Roger) isn't going to solve that. They have to be willing to invest in the team and take a risk on an appropriate player.
I think it's way too early to speculate on that. It's pretty clear that the ownership is willing to spend money to help this team succeed. The coincidence of the economy going down the crapper is just that, a coincidence. To me, the ownership is much more gun shy about splashing out a lot of money on players with no return moreso than the economic downturn. Last time I checked, I haven't seen any other owners willing to sit in the War room during the draft like Victor and Will did this past January. That alone is not an indicator that all is well financially, but it sure does tell me that they are fiercely committed to the team doing well. Let's wait and see what they want to do before claiming that DC United will now become the next Miami Fusion by running on a shoe string budget. They still have the largest and best well run front office. Had any moves been made there (and there hasn't been yet), then we could have some sort of indicator of possible downsizing. Until then, sit tight and enjoy the ride.
Everyone would agree that the team needs help on defense. I am not sure how you came to the conclusion that Roger will not help solve the problem, especially since you have never seen him play (or at the very least never seen him play for DC United). Do you know for a fact that he does not have the intensity or drive that are necessary for our backline?
I have never said that I think Roger won't help this team. What I have said is that Roger can't fix all of our defensive problems. One player can't replace the two quality CBs this team is missing or be the solution at leftback. To think that adding Roger (and possibly Veris) improves the defense by leaps and bounds is naive and foolish. We should have multiple defenders in camp, not just two. A better question is why we're bring in several forwards when we already have more than enough. To put in another way, this team didn't have a problem on offense last year. It had a problem on defense, and it doesn't seem that enough is being done to address that issue.
Forgive me for fisking your post -- I actually disapprove of this as a rhetorical tactic -- but I'll lapse into it here with apologies. It's never too early to speculate. I would agree that it's too early to conclude anything. But one can always speculate. You're certainly correct that Will and Victor have been willing to spend money in the past. Here, with apologies, I must accuse you of being naive. Any businessman who hasn't already recognized the severity of this downturn and changed his plans accordingly is a fool who, as the saying goes, will soon find himself parted from his money. I believe Will and Victor love United. I also believe they are not fools. Also, I don't know about Will, but if I recall correctly, Victor made his money in land development. Assuming that's correct, he's definitely feeling the pinch. Short of owning a bank or a hedge fund, developers are suffering the most in the transition from the boom to the bust over the last 2-3 years. No argument, they are fiercely committed to the team doing well. However, their strategy a year ago appeared to be to make United into MLS's version of the Yankees or Real Madrid or [take your pick of analogy] -- the tactic of overwhelming league opponents by outspending them. They saw their rivals as Pachuca and Chivas, not the Revs or the Crew. I think that philosophy has now been abandoned. That's a good point about the lack of front office cuts. I agree that they're not going to turn this into a shoestring operation. That said, I don't think they're looking to lead the league in spending anymore, either. I stand by my assertion that there won't be another big name signing for at least another year, more likely two years. To borrow a baseball analogy, we're "playing small ball" between now and then.
Well, yeah, but that's because we'll still likely have Emilio as our DP and no longer have the one from Colorado. If you're suggesting an offseason similar to last year's, I kinda agree, but see one major difference; we'll examine players in person before we sign them to a contract. It's not that they won't spend the money. They'll just be smarter with who and what they spend it on.
"By signing a core of dedicated young Americans all the while bidding adieu to their South American gunslingers sends the message that United is done with show ponies and are putting their faith in work horses for now." But I like ponies. I doubt that DCU will sit on the 100K's they have and not bring in at least some mid level experienced player(s). At least I hope not. In my opinion, it would be stupid to rely on the donkeys now on the roster, particularly on defense. Spend what salary cap money is available, maybe even on a lower level DP, and see how far they can go rather than wasting the season in the hopes that the work horses can accomplish something.
It looks like DCU will soon acquire Christian Gomez. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=942091