I'll Say It Again: Alvaro Recoba for United's DP

Goff had an interesting sitdown with Kevin Payne and was very pointed about getting some answers about DC United's transfer interests. Without saying anything specific, Payne indicated that his visit to Argentina concerned sealing the Veron deal (which didn't happen) and scouting two young Argentinean talents for DCU's reserves (which may or may not happen).

Here's the meat of Goff's interview with Payne:

"Let's just say we certainly have an interest in making our team better and we think the advent of the designated player rule is a new tool for all of us. We really admire what the Galaxy has done and the chance they took with Beckham. It seems to be paying off for everybody. AEG has really stepped up and taken our league to a new level. From our point of view, we would like to find a player who has significant name recognition, who fits the culture of our team (winning championships) and is Latin. Our team has always had a Latin flavor and we think that is the direction we will continue to go in. Veron certainly fits that profile. He's been a great, great player, one of the best players in the world for a long time and still has a lot in the tank. So he would certainly be a guy on our radar screen, but we've looked at other players as well."

So let me get this straight: D.C. United is looking for a talented Latin player with significant name recognition. Veron fits this profile. Leo Messi fits this profile. Juan Roman Riquelme fits this profile. Ronaldinho fits this profile. Robinho, Anderson, and Carlos Tevez fit this profile. And though he may not have as much name recognition as the others, you know who else fits the profile?

Alvaro Recoba.

You know, the one-time Latino prodigy from Inter Milan? The one on his way out? The one who's headed back to Uruguay looking for first-team minutes? The striker of a calibre that DC sorely, sorely needs? The striker who DC could easily persuade Stateside for $15mil or less? I've already posted about why signing good attacking talent is better than signing good defensive talent and why a striker would be a better use of our DP slot than a d-mid or defender. Alvaro Recoba meets these criteria.

Kevin Payne is looking to emulate LAG's Beckham signing with a Latino one of our own, and while I don't think Recoba will melt panties like Beckham, I do think that his performance on the pitch will more than make up for it.

Alvaro Recoba for DP.

EDIT: People are touting J.R. Riquelme, currently of Boca Juniors, as the ideal candidate for the designated player slot. I agree. However, the reason I'm pushing for Recoba over Riquelme is a) because Recoba is known to be looking for other options, b) because Recoba would probably come cheaper, and c) because Recoba is a striker, which is what we really need right now. If we entered into talks with both Riquelme and Recoba, I'd pick Riquelme in a heartbeat, but I just think Recoba is the more likely signing and one that could help us win the playoffs this year as opposed to next. And for the record, if the same situation occurred between Riquelme and Veron, I'd still take Riquelme without hesitation. He's unreal. (Which is why I think Recoba is a more likely signing.)

[UPDATE: You know what else would be sick, though absolutely unlikely? Ronaldo for DC's DP! Equally sick and equally unlikely? Shevchenko for DC's DP! But for pure realism, Recoba is more likely than either of them.]

[FURTHER UPDATE: Well, I guess it's not just tribalfootball anymore: AS is reporting the same story about Ronaldo. Why is it that when it says MLS is inquiring, everyone assumes NYRB are behind it? DCU needs to get on top of this, dammit!]

Veron: "not rite now l8r tho ttyl! lol"

Yeah, I thought so: Veron has chosen to stay in Argentina with his beloved Estudiantes, saying, "Today my answer is no. But in a few months, maybe in December, who knows?"

I figured as much. Veron's considering the Apertura just as we're considering the playoffs and it looks like he's chosen country over club. Perfectly honorable decision. I'm sure if he left to DCU right this minute he would face heavy criticism at home for selling out, and I'd rather not set a player up for that kind of talk.

Despite the rejection, I'm thrilled about the offer. The management was willing to splash $15mil for our potential DP; that's a fair sight better than the $4-6mil I projected earlier. It's not Beckham money, but it's better than Angel money.

I hope Veron realizes, though, that he's much more valuable to DCU right this very minute and not a few months from now. He'll have to continue to prove he's worth $15mil and DCU's only DP slot. He's an outstanding player and I'd love to see him on the team, but he wants us to wait; meanwhile, he's not getting any younger and quicker. I have a feeling that Soehn & Co. want a quick fix to help us with the playoffs, and if Veron isn't the answer, we'll have to find someone who is.

I'm fine with our midfield. I really am. There are definite flaws, but they're a capable and talented group, the lot of them. Problem is, without Jaime up front, Fred has no one to serve no, Gomez is lost and afraid, and Emilio has no one to work off of. I think a forward equal or greater to Jaime's stature would focus the offense and allow everyone to settle into their proper roles, Carroll, Gros, and Simms included. So let's get us another forward.

Here's my bid: Alvaro Recoba. He's been out of favor at Inter and has announced that after this season, he'll be looking elsewhere, primarily for first-team football. He's older than thirty but younger than Veron; at 31 years of age I'd say he's a prime target for MLS. He's certainly capable of the kind of magic that JPA and Guillermo Schelotto have exhibited. I'd say Recoba would be $15 million well spent if we could sign him in time for the playoffs.

Payne, don't unpack. You've got some serious wine-and-dining to do.

Veron, Anyone?

Why is it the summertime and I'm still waiting for my days to become shorter and simpler? Sigh. Fortunately something woke me up from my stupor.

Awhile ago USSoccer.com claimed than an unnamed Argentinean player spoke to an unnamed American player about the possibility of playing in the MLS during the Copa America. Now Sideline Views is claiming that player is none other than Juan Sebastian Veron of ManU and Chelsea fame, who is deciding between current outfit Estudiantes and our beloved DC United. The kicker? Goff is corroborating. There's definitely something abuzz down at RFK.

Until there's a signature on paper and money changes hands, I'm not convinced the Great DP Search of '07 has concluded. And money would seem to be the issue, as it always is: SV said something about $20 million but that's just stupid. Goff said something about $1.5 million, which strikes me as a reasonable amount to bring him here. If DCU could fetch Veron for that kind of money, I'd say we found ourselves a bargain. Apparently we have something close to that figure in the bank already: DCU's ownership is willing to foot up to $1mil, on top of the DP allocation money MLS is already taking care of ($400k). The next move is yours, Veron.

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Here's my take. Veron would be an outstanding addition to the team and quite worthy of succeeding Gomez as our midfield playmaker. This goes without saying.

But the catch lies in the backfield. D over at DCenters disfavors a move for Veron because it wouldn't improve our back-four situation any. He's very correct. However, I've been entertaining dark, twisted, unorthodox thoughts recently and in light of these Veron-to-DC rumors, I think these thoughts need be outed:

Let's not use our DP slot on a defender. Let's fix our defensive woes by using homegrown, grassroots, MLS-quality defensive talent.

There are several reasons why this makes sense.

I mean, it's all about the money. Attacking players increase ticket sales and merchandising revenue as well as publicity for the club. Ownership is more willing to drop $2mil on a good attacker than $1mil on an outstanding defender. Current DP trends confirm this: Angel, Schelotto, Becks, and Blanco are as much commercial props as they are offensive assets. I predict this trend will continue well into the future.

So, with all these high-calibre attacking minds migrating Stateside, it seems obvious to me that the best way to better the league on top of attracting all these world-class stars is to pit our boys against them. Why hire an international to oppose an international? It makes more sense to season our internationally-infantile MLS defenders rather than build on experience these veteran international defenders already have.

The USMNT benefits as well: the migration of international attackers to the MLS will force our best domestic attackers overseas in search of a combination of less competition and higher technical ability.

I mean, at some point the players' union would have something to say about being forced to find work elsewhere and MLS would have to install some protective measures to keep our best and brightest at home, but I still think that the current policy of international strikers, domestic defenders is the best formula for success in the grand scheme of things.

So my advice to DCU is to snap up Veron. Gomez, Juan Toja, Guillermo Schelotto and JPA have proven how a high-calibre, South American offensive mind can positively impact a squad. Part of me even believes that adding Veron to the squad would encourage Gomez to stay at least another season or two. Let's get this guy.

Just do it.