Ted's Polish-Mexican Page

There is handwringing on Big Soccer from the fans of teams that arent the Los Angeles Galaxy, DC United and Chicago Fire. All three teams have made high profile acquisitions under the "David Beckham Rule," but other teams have not taken advantage.

The latest big buzz is about Chicago picking up Mexican team and Club América stalwart Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Blanco is on the wane of his career, and was virtually invisible in the last US - Mexico game. Either Blanco was ineffective, or he was shut down by the US defense. That defense was led by the same sort of players that he'll be facing week after week in MLS and there is no reason to think that he'll do any better. Über-fan Prairie Rose Clayton has pointed out that he is largely protected by both players and referees in the Mexican league, and here, he'll be a target (by US Nats and maybe even Chivas USA). Expect disaster here.

DC United has picked up Brazillian player Fred. Fred was a back-up for the Brazillian team at the World Cup. DC United will already have one of the scariest offenses in the league, but even the presence of Fred didn't help them against Chivas the other night. Their defense, highly touted for reasons that escape me, had many errors and miscues that were taken advantage of by Chivas. Decent MLS teams have been able to exploit these problems, and that will continue to happen even if they stock the entire front line with clones of Ronaldinho.

Oh, and LA signed Beckham.

Some Rev fans over at Big Soccer have been complaining about the team not making a big signing. Given what the other teams have done, so what? Despite the probable absence of Joey Franchino for a good part of the season, this team has the best defense in the league. They have a crew of players like Marshall Leonard and Pat Noonan who are not "stars" but are hard working, consistent players that know what needs to be done. Plus, they still have Taylor Twellman and Shalrie Joseph. Why bring in some superstar who may or may not even be enthused about playing there (Lothar Matthaus), and whose ego may cause problems in the locker room (Luis Hernandez)?


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.