Since the Crew departed ways with their veteran core of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Frankie Hejduk, Gino Padula, Duncan Oughton, and Brian Carroll; as well as contributors such as Steven Lenhart, Jason Garey, Adam Moffat, and Eric Brunner, the Crew have to rebuild (yes, it's a rebuild) fast to compete in 2011.
Here Crewture will take a look at some of the moves so far and rate them.
Move 1- Sebastian Miranda A captain for the last few years on the backline of Union Espana in Chile, the 30 something Miranda appears to be a strong acquisition at right back. Chile is an up and coming soccer nation, who did very well in South Africa in 2010.
The Crew also has recent good luck picking up solid Chilean defenders, as Chilean back Marcos Gonzalez was probably one of the best Crew players in 2006 and 2007. So, the Crew might have a connection in Chile that brings them sure things in defense.
Verdict: Miranda may be capable of playing as well or even better as a declining Hejduk. But, it will be hard for Miranda to match Hejduk being the heart and soul of the Crew. B+, the Crew are going to need a few more Miranda-like signings at CB and LB to be solid enough in the back in 2011.
Move 2- Trading Lenhart to move up in the draft for Justin Meram Just taking a look at the below video of Meram taking Penn State to the sword, I have to say I like the kid's footwork, determination, and powerful shot. I have a good feeling that this kid will be a good surprise for us. And the Crew are due for a surprise at striker, someone to say "I'm going to work hard, be dangerous, and try to score every game." Someone who is going to take that position and squeeze some actual success out of it, instead of mediocrity.
We all liked Lenhart, and Garey was a good person too. But, I agree on the Crew wanting a little more from their striker corps.
If Meram can do a little of this eventually in MLS for the black and yellow, it's more than just a little more:
Verdict: A+
Move 3- Signing Jeff Cunningham With the Crew cutting ties with all of their natural leaders in Guillermo, Frankie, Duncan, Gino, and Carroll, there was a big question of who is going to lead this team onto the field in 2011.
Cunningham has been labeled as being poisonous to a few locker rooms during his younger years. But, he has 182 Crew appearances and 62 goals for the club, he is a goal away from being the leading goalscorer in the history of MLS, he's got 15 caps to his name, and he's 34 and hence more mature than he used to be.
Cunningham is someone that if he spoke up, I could see nearly all Crew players listening too.
Further, he's not bad either in goalscoring as of late, Cunningham led MLS two seasons ago with 17 goals, and has 28 in the last two seasons. Cunningham's down season of 11 goals last year (compared to his 17 in 2009) still trumps all Crew striker's since Cunningham was last here in 2003.
Verdict: A- Don't think he will be a veteran leader like Guillermo and Frankie. Heck, he might not even be considered a leader since he hasn't been here since 2004. But, glad to have a veteran goalscorer on the team, especially if it came at the discounted salary that the Crew were offering Cunningham back in December.
Move 4- Trialists Hopefully were looking to sign some bigger names. All these trialists we are bringing in don't impress me at all.
Look at Toronto FC's list of trialists for their camp in Turkey.
If you're too lazy to click a link, here's a brief overview...
King Gyan Osei- Fulham product, 57 caps in Belgian First Division with Germinal Beerschot
Eddy Sidra- 56 Caps with Bundesliga II side Energie Cottbus, some at lower levels, some at top levels
Zavarese- With Super League Club in Greece, VFL Bochum Reserves
Javier Martina- 2 caps with Ajax
& then Bas Ent, Nick Sloosma, and a few others.
In comparison, we brought in Mark Blades, Caleb-Patterson Sewell, some Argentinian grade school player called Nery Bandiero, and Colts punter Pat McAfee for publicity/so the Dispatch could make fun of his public intoxication 20 times.
Verdict: Flat F, for now
Move 5- Andres Mendoza as a Designated Player Yes, that's right, the Crew might pay Mendoza $500,000 dollars in 2011 making Mendoza a DP. Last season Andres Mendoza made $216,000 dollars, contributing only 2 goals in 8 regular season games.
Mendoza did have more success in the Champions League putting in a few goals against weaker competition, as well as one goal against stronger competition in Mexican side Santos.
But, overall Mendoza didn't change many MLS games or make any difference in the finish of the Crew in 2010. Further, Mendoza missed three or four good chances to send the Crew into the next round of the playoffs against eventual champions, the Colorado Rapids.
Mendoza has also gained a tag of being lazy and lacking determination by some Crew fans. Nevertheless, he did show a few flashes, further the guy deserves a full season. But, does he deserve one at $500,000?
Some think the Crew would be better off combining Mendoza's salary with their allocation money to find an even better striker. That Mendoza is a little underwhelming as a DP signing and a new Crew needs a bigger jolt in this offseason of change.
Others may think, if Mendoza can score 13 goals in Mexico in 2008-2009, it wouldn't be a real shock if a slower and older Mendoza could score 13 goals in MLS three seasons later, because the Mexican Primera is still a better league.
Crew fans would kill for a striker to put in 13 goals in a season. The best we have had since 2003 is 10 goals in 2008 by Alejandro Moreno. So, I see the logic there.
If you put a possible 13 goals by Mendoza together with Cunningham's 28 goals in the last two seasons, Renteria's ability (I think he's always improving and could surprise someone with 10-15 goals), and Meram, and were looking better than Renteria, Garey, Lenhart, and Herrera at the start of last season.
So there are positives. Just with so many holes, it's quite a bet by the Crew to spend a DP slot on a striker that is just as much of a question mark (if not more of one) than the rest of the Crew's striker corps; As many Crew fans would see Renteria and Cunningham as more reliable players. So, Warzycha is betting all in on Mendoza, and Mendoza better come up a full house in 2011.
Verdict: C-, Remains to be seen. But, I think a player that didn't do much last season should keep the same salary, have a small decrease in salary, or a small bump (if his resume requires one, which is prob the case with Mendoza); Nevertheless, his salary shouldn't double.
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