An Exercise in Trade Mathematics
Okay, so let me see if I can prove my work here.
Trade, Spring, 2010
Math is hard.
* assuming the allocation money is roughly equal—could go either way
Trade, Spring, 2010
IN - Troy PerkinsTrade, Fall/Winter, 2010
OUT - Fred, 1st round pick, allocation money
IN - Steve Cronin, allocation moneyTrade, Spring, 2011
OUT - Troy Perkins
IN - FredDoing a little trade-algebra ninjutsu makes Perkins, Fred, and the allocation money* cancel out, leaving us with the equation:
OUT - 2nd round pick
Steve Cronin = 1st round pick + 2nd round pickReally?
Math is hard.
* assuming the allocation money is roughly equal—could go either way
Xavi and the New Romantics
It was that or die. I'm a romantic. I like the fact that talent, technical ability, is valued above physical condition now. I'm glad that's the priority; if it wasn't, there wouldn't be the same spectacle. Football is played to win but our satisfaction is double. Other teams win and they're happy, but it's not the same. The identity is lacking. The result is an impostor in football. You can do things really, really well – last year we were better than Inter Milan – but did not win. There's something greater than the result, more lasting. A legacy. Inter won the Champions League but no one talks about them.
Classy player, great interview.
The Loneliness of the Goalkeeper
"The goalkeeper is the lone eagle, the man of mystery, the last defender. Less the keeper of a goal than the keeper of a dream." - Vladimir NabokovThey're a breed apart, to be sure. Sympathy for Perkins and all the other oft-maligned netminders?
Rolling the Dice
"We are here in the rat and raccoon infested bowels of RFK, where we've secretly replaced the FO normally in charge with..."
Seriously. What the hell? A coherent plan for forward help? With a backup plan (targeting both Eddie Johnson and Charlie Davies on loan) in place? Who are these guys? And the kicker is that they didn't jump in with both feet, but set up a toe-dipping week-long trial to evaluate if Davies can actually perform at the level required. Shocking.
So. Charlie Davies. If he's able to get anywhere close to the level he was at before his injuries, this is a great move. That said, there are some additional points to consider.
(1) Is the speed still there?
Davies' mercurial rise to national team prominence came courtesy of his speed, work rate, and reasonable (though not excellent) movement off the ball and finishing. I don't think we can doubt that he's maintained his work rate, even if he'll need matches to get back the stamina to make it count. His movement and finishing were never best-of-breed to begin with, but should, again, return with matches. It's the speed that's got to be the concern because much of his game is/was predicated on it. Can a player still be effective minus his trademark speed? Sure, if he's got the technical chops to transition to a different style of play. Otherwise, you're just Michael Owen in disguise.
(2) Is his head on straight?
Returning to DC, the scene of the incident that derailed his career, is certainly a brave move. Likewise, the dedication he showed to try and get back into the World Cup frame was certainly admirable and speaks of a driven young man. But there's that worrying incident upon his return to France. I presume part of this week-long evaluation is going to be about his head as much as his body, though you'd be hard pressed to find a coach that better understands fighting back from (and adapting his game after) career-threatening injuries.
(3) Does he fit?
Amongst Davies' merits, as discussed above, are his work rate and determination. He gets after the ball and after defenders. That puts him in good stead with both Olsen's personal style and the type of team said coach is building.
But, of course, United has already been stockpiling such players. Where the clearest need exists is for a finisher. I'll make the assumption here that we'll be paying a not-insignificant chunk of Charlie's wages while he's here, meaning we're probably priced out of another proven option up top. That means Davies is the go-to guy for goals, even if it looks like United is taking more of a "goals from many sources" approach.
That's a big gamble. Presumably the week-long look-see will be enough to determine if that's a gamble worth taking. And of course, given that the EJ option is off the table, we'll really get to see if the FO passes the Folgers test if Benny and Co. think Charlie can't cut the mustard in MLS. Do they have a Plan C? Also to be considered: Davies is a short-term fix (if he pans out).
Whatever the case, assuming the various injured players return to full fitness (Pontius, Hamid, Davies, and I'll lump in Simms and Jakovic as also having been long-term absences in 2010 while steadfastly ignoring the club's insane devotion to the also-returning Burch), and the kids land on their feet (Kitchen, White, Shanosky, the newly-mature Hamid, and Najar avoiding the sophomore slump), United looks like a competitive team again. And in MLS, the Parity Police dictate that "competitive" is often good enough to take, or at least mount a reasonable challenge for, a title.
Then again, those are some big assumptions and hefty dice to roll.
Seriously. What the hell? A coherent plan for forward help? With a backup plan (targeting both Eddie Johnson and Charlie Davies on loan) in place? Who are these guys? And the kicker is that they didn't jump in with both feet, but set up a toe-dipping week-long trial to evaluate if Davies can actually perform at the level required. Shocking.
So. Charlie Davies. If he's able to get anywhere close to the level he was at before his injuries, this is a great move. That said, there are some additional points to consider.
(1) Is the speed still there?
Davies' mercurial rise to national team prominence came courtesy of his speed, work rate, and reasonable (though not excellent) movement off the ball and finishing. I don't think we can doubt that he's maintained his work rate, even if he'll need matches to get back the stamina to make it count. His movement and finishing were never best-of-breed to begin with, but should, again, return with matches. It's the speed that's got to be the concern because much of his game is/was predicated on it. Can a player still be effective minus his trademark speed? Sure, if he's got the technical chops to transition to a different style of play. Otherwise, you're just Michael Owen in disguise.
(2) Is his head on straight?
Returning to DC, the scene of the incident that derailed his career, is certainly a brave move. Likewise, the dedication he showed to try and get back into the World Cup frame was certainly admirable and speaks of a driven young man. But there's that worrying incident upon his return to France. I presume part of this week-long evaluation is going to be about his head as much as his body, though you'd be hard pressed to find a coach that better understands fighting back from (and adapting his game after) career-threatening injuries.
(3) Does he fit?
Amongst Davies' merits, as discussed above, are his work rate and determination. He gets after the ball and after defenders. That puts him in good stead with both Olsen's personal style and the type of team said coach is building.
But, of course, United has already been stockpiling such players. Where the clearest need exists is for a finisher. I'll make the assumption here that we'll be paying a not-insignificant chunk of Charlie's wages while he's here, meaning we're probably priced out of another proven option up top. That means Davies is the go-to guy for goals, even if it looks like United is taking more of a "goals from many sources" approach.
That's a big gamble. Presumably the week-long look-see will be enough to determine if that's a gamble worth taking. And of course, given that the EJ option is off the table, we'll really get to see if the FO passes the Folgers test if Benny and Co. think Charlie can't cut the mustard in MLS. Do they have a Plan C? Also to be considered: Davies is a short-term fix (if he pans out).
Whatever the case, assuming the various injured players return to full fitness (Pontius, Hamid, Davies, and I'll lump in Simms and Jakovic as also having been long-term absences in 2010 while steadfastly ignoring the club's insane devotion to the also-returning Burch), and the kids land on their feet (Kitchen, White, Shanosky, the newly-mature Hamid, and Najar avoiding the sophomore slump), United looks like a competitive team again. And in MLS, the Parity Police dictate that "competitive" is often good enough to take, or at least mount a reasonable challenge for, a title.
Then again, those are some big assumptions and hefty dice to roll.
Screw the Seahawks
While we're on the subject of obsessing about shirts...
Sounders HQ should be taking notes from this guy (or gal).
Hell, after looking at the rest of the gallery, the league as a whole should pony up for a consulting fee right now (with the understanding that goddamn adidas™ still sucks in fantasyland—witness the New England kits—though the Packers ones aren't bad).
Sounders HQ should be taking notes from this guy (or gal).
Hell, after looking at the rest of the gallery, the league as a whole should pony up for a consulting fee right now (with the understanding that goddamn adidas™ still sucks in fantasyland—witness the New England kits—though the Packers ones aren't bad).
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