Argentine Beef?

So, I'm flipping through the RSS feeds this morning, and I come across Goff's bit of speculation regarding Gomez/Gallardo and their respective futures vis-a-vis DC United. I file this in my noggin alongside the fact that Seattle took Ianni (a center back? don't we need a few of them?) off Houston's hands for a conditional second/third round pick despite the plummeting value of anything but first round picks given the reduction in roster sizes. And, of course, that gets me drawing some comparisons between Sigi's solution to central defensive depth (young, cheap, hungry American with MLS experience) vs. the United FO's seeming attempt to fill the gap with a short, converted 34-year-old fullback with injury issues, no MLS experience, and a language barrier to boot, looking for a final paycheck and a retirement move to the States.

I'm getting the sinking suspicion that visits to RFK are going to be like weekly visits to a doddering, elderly uncle in the nursing home. He's got great stories to tell, and you can bask in the reflected glory of his past genius, but then you've got to lend him an arm to shuffle about the grounds at a snail's pace. And all the while, you're trying to convince yourself that you're having more fun here than you would be backpacking across central Europe with your college-aged cousin, swimming vats of plentiful beer, fast crowds, and relaxed morals.

Don't get me wrong, I'd part with Gallardo pretty quickly. It's not that I don't believe in his talent, it's that I don't think he has any dedication to the cause, and that's going to effect what he can accomplish here. He may spew pretty words about the faith shown in him and how he wants to prove he's worth his salary, but actions speak louder than words. I'd have no problem letting that mess go and moving on.

But is bringing back Gomez really moving on? I loved Gomez in his time here, but he's also in that 30-something world of fading fitness and is putting the finishing touches on his professional career. That can be said of more than one member of this team. Shouldn't the FO be looking to establish a core of youngsters hungry to fill blank canvases, to start lining their pockets with silverware? It would be naive to think that they don't know what they're doing--we're only a year removed from back-to-back Supporters' Shields after all.

But there is usually a fine balance to be found in successful teams--a balance between ambitious youth and veteran savvy. United's scale is, sadly, tipped far too much in favor of the latter. Will we do deals or make signings to rectify this, or do the cap numbers, guaranteed contracts, and FO's undying lust for aged Sudamericanos doom us to the doddering uncle this year?

2 comments:

  1. Totally agree. Other than saving 1.1 million on the books, your still just substituting one questionable playmaker for another for the same 400k salary cap hit. Meanwhile Houston seems to have a glut of central defenders we might bargain for and Dallas has a young potential playmaker on the trading block that would be cheaper and less risky in the short-run and could pay-off two to three years out as above average-play every day pros.

    Maybe the issue is that DCU is too invested in its network of agents and clubs in South America and can no longer see the forest from the trees. It worked for us when no one else in MLS was hunting in those waters and we could pick up some bargains. Now it just seems to be yielding questionnable players at higher prices and yet we keep going back to that well.

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  2. Good points all. And it looks like when they tried to shift their focus a little farther north (the Honduran Martinez), they weren't able to get the job done. I wonder if they'll jump into the McCarty fray (as you pointed out) now that the Quakes have walked away from the table. Prospects? Doubtful.

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