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| (Photo: the-afc.com) |
This transfer market has seen an explosion of DP movement throughout the MLS. Teams are trading and acquiring. With Tim Cahill, Federico Higuain, and Christian Tiffert being some of the newest DP’s in the league. The league has also seen DP’s being traded to other MLS teams such as De Guzman, Alvaro Fernandez, and Eric Hassli. I am going to try and break down what is going with all this DP movement and figure out where the Union stand.
On Friday, the Chicago Fire traded for DP midfielder Alvaro Fernandez from the Seattle Sounders shortly after the trade Sounders announced the signing of German midfielder Christian Tiffert. Before trading for Fernandez, Chicago signed striker Sherjil MacDonald. The Chicago Fire are not the only team in the East who have bolstered their squad up. Within days after TFC’s star striker Danny Kovermans suffered a season ending injury, TFC announced the signing of DP striker Eric Hassli from the Vancouver Whitecaps. New England has their stud in the wings Jerry Bengston who currently is with Honduras at the Olympics, Jerry has netted three goals in 2 games in London. Houston also has a new Honduran DP in Oscar Boneik Garcia. Even Columbus signed a DP this transfer window when they announced the signing of Federico Higuain.
Out of all the movement in the East one signing trumps them all, NYRB’s announcement of the landing of Tim Cahill, from EPL club Everton. For fans of the EPL you know Cahill as a hard worker, goal scorer, great attacking midfielder who can create and distribute. The Australian international is a major signing for MLS and make NYRB the team to beat. With this much talent the MLS Cup is New York’s to lose.
The West has been pretty tame compared to the East the only DP signing this transfer window so far has come from the Whitecaps and FCD. Dallas traded for holding midfielder De Guzman from Toronto. Vancouver has been making major moves and don’t look to be done. They signed two big Scottish players in Barry Robson and Scottish captain Kenny Miller. With Whitecaps trading away Hassli they have an open spot that can bring in captain America Carlos Bocanegra who has been flirting with a move to MLS. Vancouver are at the top of the list but their are a number of clubs that could use Carlos: Chicago, New England, and Seattle.
The Union see all theese teams making moves and getting better an now their is even more pressure on the Union. The Union currently stand 9 points out of playoffs but they have two games in hand. All this DP movement is sure to have big ramifications on the leauge and the standings, teams spending money suddenly have pressure to preform. Teams spending money does not make them better, this league has seen a fair amount of DP flops. But with teams getting better on paper it makes it that much harder for the Union who need to make up ground. Chicago Fire a team that I was not worried about currently look alot better and more dangerouse.
The Union do not play perfect football although they got away with some late last minute victories, they will need a higher level of play going against better opposition. Lots of missed opportunites and sloppy defensive play has kept games close. Going up against improved teams the Union may not get away with this sloppy play. Look at the Revolution game when the Union gave up many scoring opportunites to New England. If New England had DP Jerry Bengston I beleive the game would have ended in a tie or loss for the Union.
The Union are going to have their work cut out for them but it can not be stressed that this team can easily rise to the occasion with solid play, smart passing and hard work. The one thing would make it 100x easier on the Union is a big name DP striker signing. I want a big guy uptop who can take on players score in the air, good passing skills and a lights out finisher. With a big striker upfront would make the workload easier on the whole team a tricle down effect that would help the entire team. I currently think the Union strikers are too inexperienced, too small and not ssavvy enough to to carry the team. Jack Mac would be great as a number two striker playing off a more experienced finisher.
A number of big namers are still on the market, but it would need to be the perfect fit. Former Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic is currently a free agent looking for a new team. Acoording to the Brotherly Game, sportsitalia has linked Italian Striker Simone Tiribocchi to the Union. Try not to laugh at this next player suggestion, but Emile Heskey is on the market. Heskey is big, good in the air on and on the ball, he is not as good as he was in the old days but he could be just what the Union need.
Who do you think the Union should sign? What do you think of all this movement? What DP Player will be the best addition?
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