(The club I refer to as Metro was formerly known as MetroStars. I will not call the club that I've so closely followed since 1996 by the name of a soft drink. Nor will I buy any of the current merchandise that has the logo of said soft drink company on it.)
Life at Metro seems like the same thing every year. The coach changes, some players change, Metro crash out of US Open Cup, fail to make MLS Cup playoffs, or more recently make the MLS Cup playoffs and crash out in round one. There are promises made in the preseason, and most of these are not kept. Players are waived, players are signed or promoted. Result: Same old nothing.
The club has two of the best strikers playing domestic football in America - Juan Pablo Angel, and Josmer Altidore. It is likely some goals will come. The question is how many goals will Metro score, and can the defense post clean sheets. These are excellent questions, and time will show the results.
The current coach Juan Carlos Osorio, has promised upgrades to the team at attacking midfield, left wing, and center back. Mr. Osorio comes to the club with a wealth of experience gained in England, South America, and was coach of the Chicago Fire last year in MLS.
The last three coaches the club dismissed were: Bruce Arena - former USA coach, Mo Johnston - Scottish football legend, and Bob Bradley - the current USA coach.
Currently there are two players from last years squad who retired from football, Ronald Waterreus, and Markus Schopp. There are twelve players who have been released or traded. Clint Mathis (To L.A. Galaxy for a 3rd round draft pick, Clint soon left the Galaxy and signed with Greek club Ergotelis.), Dema Kovalenko (To Real Salt Lake for an undisclosed draft pick), Francis Doe (The 20 year-old forward was re-signed by the club and then waived), Santino Quaranta, Joe Vide (Expansion Draft), Elie Ikangu, Chris Karcz, Randi Patterson, Sal Caccavale, and Blake Camp. So twelve players out, who will replace them?
Metro added three players in the MLS SuperDraft, and four in the Supplemental Draft. Respectively: Eric Brunner, Luke Sassano, David Roth, Danliegh Borman, Michael Palacio, John Gilkerson, and Laurent Manuel. Manuel was released, Roth has been injured and has had surgery, he will be out 3-4 months.
The club signed free agent goalkeeper Zach Thornton (A former MetroStar) from Colorado. Mike Magee, a long time member of the squad had surgery at the end of January and is expected to be out six weeks.
So far my tally has twelve players gone (I don't think Manuel was ever signed.), two players injured, no draft picks signed, and one free agent signing in.
The response to this is that Mr. Osorio wants to sign Luis Carlos Cabezas. He is 21 years-old and has been developed by Columbian club Deportivo Cali. He has played for Columbia at youth level and was loaned last season to Cordoba FC of the Columbian second division. Since Mr. Osorio's interest in Cabezas, nothing else has been heard regarding the player moving to Metro.
Mr. Osorio has also considered signing Oscar Echeverry. The 30 year-old Columbian forward has joined this years training camp. He has played at Millionarios, Deportivo Cali, Deportivo Pasto, Once Caldas, ,Deportivo Pereira, and Caracas FC (Venezuela). There has been no official announcement of Echeverry's signing. It seems he has only signed a trial agreement with Metro.
Also being considered is Jesus Mendoza, a 28 year-old Mexican striker, who is viewed as a potential left wing.
At this point the facts say eighteen players currently under contract, thirteen gone from the squad, One Supplemental Draft pick released, six unsigned draft picks and one injured contracted player, and one injured player out of contract.
In terms of incoming players we have one free agent goalkeeper, some trialists, and lots of rumors. The season is quickly approaching. Salary cap room has been cleared.
At present it would seem the current squad is likely to do perhaps as well as or maybe not quite as good as last season.
Time will show if Mr. Osorio is worth the first round draft pick he cost to sign as manager, and if help in the form of new signings is on the way.
The supporters of Metro have seen 12 years of disappointment. They are hungry for hope, but highly skeptical of club announcements that proclaim better days ahead.
Mr. Osorio's managerial pedigree is impressive, and he produced dramatic improvement at Chicago Fire last year. Will he and the club come through with the new signings? Is Juan Carlos Osorio merely the man behind the soft drink company's curtain, or is he the great and powerful Wizard of East Rutherford? Stay tuned.
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