Flirting with Flirting

It's hard for me to get excited about any transfer news. Part of this is because after the Veron drama, anything is anti-climactic. Part of it is also a sense that the vaunted Argentine connection just may not be all-that. Yes, we have gotten several excellent players from South America, but from Argentina only Christian Gomez remains. Erpen has been traded, Donnet and Filomeno did not pan out, and neither of our two major signings from last year were based on the Argentinean pipeline (Fred from Brazil via Australia, and Emilio from Brazil via everywhere and Honduras). So while a signing wouldn't surprise me from Argentina, I don't believe that this is the end. There are other places to go, other people to see. We have more than one place to fill in the roster... we have many. And while I would like to have names and faces, I can't really think that Argentina, soccer power that it is, is some panacea to all our needs. We are not Real Salt Lake. Our needs are diverse, the bar is higher, we will need to look farther afield. This is but one stop. Or, at least, it should be.

The other odd thing is that part of me wants a player simply because United is linked with that player. Put on the black kit and you're one of mine, a tribal impulse of passion through fashion. And right now, I don't want to give into that feeling. Let's see what these players have to offer, then make decisions.

Finally, one final point. We've heard the analysis on how the Argentinean currency collapse made it more attractive for foreign players to come to the United States, but what now that the dollar is so weakened? Yes, there are more SI slots, but if the dollar doesn't go as far, then can we really get the same bargains as before? Outside of Designated Player acquisitions, I believe the next two years will see a decreased impact for International signings, and a devaluation of their expected impact. The quality of life may still be an attraction, but the power and stability of the dollar may not.

As you can see, my thoughts in the offseason are diffuse... how I long for a game to focus on.