Another midfielder has entered the fold in Frisco. FC Dallas signed 33 year old attacking midfielder Rolando Escobar. He joins FCD from Venezuelan Primera side Deportivo Anzoátegui SC, netting 31 goals in 104 appearances.
His signing doesn’t address FC Dallas’ depth at holding midfielder, but it does add depth and experience to compete with the likes of Mauro Diaz and perhaps even Ryan Hollingshead and Michel Barrios on the right flank. Apparently, Pareja and Clavijo alike are looking towards other options at holding mid heading into the summer transfer window.
The signing itself raises eyebrows for two reasons. First, his age isn’t something that works in his favor. Secondly, he is almost guaranteed to miss time in July due to Gold Cup duties. He will join the likes of Watson (Copa America), Blas Perez (Gold Cup), Tesho Akindele (Gold Cup, perhaps), and Kellyn Acosta (U-20 World Cup), who will all miss duty with FC Dallas during the summer. God forbid Matt Hedges receives a call up for the Gold Cup.
Overall, there is no good handle on what Escobar will offer. Will he be as inconsistent as his fellow Escobar was a year ago? Will he be another midseason flop of a signing like Erick? Will he contribute in a huge manner like midseason signing Julian de Guzman?
Once he is eligible to play (which will more than likely be at San Jose the first week of June we will have a better handle. The good news is that he just concluded a full clausura season in Venezuela (ending about a month ago).
This signing, if any sense is to be made of it, addresses the specter of an injured Mauro Diaz. He is also an experienced international who was available, and hopefully at a wage and price that makes economic sense to the Hunts. Expect a larger impact from the Panamanian towards the second half of the season after international competition is said and done. Hopefully his form will be buoyed by a quality Gold Cup performance that will translate into production at Toyota Stadium.
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