Initial reactions to recent MLS moves

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Let’s take these one at a time, nice and orderly like.

Heath Pearce to Chivas USA: Pearce found himself on Schellas Hyndman’s naughty list last year, when the team was finishing out the regular season in L.A., Pearce was back in Dallas, working at the Michael Johnson Performance Center. There, Pearce was pushing himself, in Hyndman’s estimation, further than he should have. Hyndman believes that professionals get paid to make the correct decisions, and he wasn’t happy with Pearce or with the Michael Johnson center.

Personally, I’ve always gotten the feeling that Pearce wanted to get back into Europe sooner or later. He’s got a very European style about him off the field, very cosmopolitan and edgy in fashion. So, I would imagine that Dallas suspects Pearce might soon look to cross the Atlantic. As for whether the men of Pizza Hut Park got value … I couldn’t say. Teams don’t release the amount of allocation money involved in these deals. Fact is, any deal is worth making at some price.  When you don’t know the exact amount involved, it’s difficult to assess the swap.

That said, I’m in no big hurry to provide FC Dallas with the benefit of the doubt here. The Dax McCarty blunder puts a blemish on their recent track record in my mind. Allowing such a talent to go with zero compensation was among the most egregious MLS off-season blunders. So, the devil is clearly in the details on this Pearce move. If FCD uses the cash from Chivas USA for an effective striker, and/or if Pearce moves overseas soon, it’s probably a good deal. Everybody wins.  Otherwise, it’s Strike 2 for FCD in terms of winter personnel moves.

As for Chivas USA, there’s no doubt that Pearce is a solid defender and an above-average attacker. He’ll play on the left for Robin Fraser, who suddenly finds himself not missing Jonathan Bornstein, long the gold standard of MLS left backs, nearly as much as he thought. And Pearce showed his versatility by playing successfully at right back for Dallas. So this is a great pickup for the Goats – assuming he hangs around for a bit.

Ousmane Dabo and Didier Domi to New England: These are two experienced Frenchmen, and they represent the kind of mid-level Euros players who tend to do well in MLS.  

Domi is 32, having spent the last ten years in France, Spain and at Greece’s best side. Dabo is 34, having come most recently via Lazio and Manchester City. He was a regular at Lazio in Italy’s Serie A over the last three seasons. While they aren’t in their prime, they certainly don’t look like name brands bought on the cheap due to struggles elsewhere and / or age issues (think Nery Castillo and Freddie Ljungberg).  Rather, they are players with a solid resume in Europe, who have plenty of experience but remain young enough to be a little hungry (think Joel Lindpere). So, that’s a good starting position, at least. We’ll see what they have left in the tank, but I give these signings the thumbs up for now.

Carlos Ruiz to Philly: This one really surprises me – assuming it’s actually true. Peter Nowak is a no nonsense coach, as everyone knows. Ruiz was more or less Mr. Nonsense when he was in Dallas. I never thought Senor Ruiz was a bad dude. He was just a bit of a lost and troubled soul, truth be known. He was having some real issues with his estranged wife and their daughters, who weren’t coping well with the separation. I’m sure some of the issues were of his own making. Still, when issues involves kids and such, you tend to feel a bit sorry for someone.

All that said, Nowak won’t have any of it. Besides, Ruiz turns 32 this year. And I can tell you that Ruiz was never one of these health freaks who fussed over taking care of his body. Quite the opposite, in fact. The man did like to get his “par-tay” on.

He will occupy defenders. And he will be a little ball of hate on the field, as always. But if he can’t separate from defenders or move enough off the ball, he won’t be much good. And this business of standing around and not working on defense is not going to ring any bells of joy in Nowak Valley. Somehow, I just don’t see this one ending well.

Jermaine Edwards to Houston: The Dynamo needs help along the back line, and this is Dominic Kinnear’s latest effort to fill the void. I got to see Edwards against Kansas City, and he looks like a guy who can compete in MLS. He’s big enough (Kinnear likes his center backs and strikers ample). He’s a good passer. Mostly, he provides extra competition in the back, and he already seems to be ahead of longtime Dynamo staple Eddie Robinson. Robinson will be the first to tell you that 2010 was a season to forget in terms of injury and (certainly related) performance. So, Bobby Boswell seems set as center back. As his partner, Kinnear has the newly signed Jamaican international, Robinson and Andrew Hainault. Hainault was a fullback last year – and quite honestly not a great one. I wasn’t aware until I talked to Kinnear this week that Hainault was a center back before his arrival at Robertson Stadium; he became a fullback out of necessity. So, the cupboard at center back looks better already as Houston strives to regain its rep as a bugger of a team to score against.