Reinaldo Navia coming to Dallas?
February 13th, 2008 . 11:35 am . By: Chamo JonesTobias Lopez dropped this little nugget of gold at the end of his article covering the Davino and Rocha press conference.
Since many of you haven’t seen much of Navia before or perhaps never seen him play before. Here is my “just add water” observations (TM Buzz Carrick) on the guy. Before I do so, I must disclose that I learned to appreciate the beautiful game as a child in Chile when we would visit my mother’s family. My Scottish grandfather would take me to games all around Santiago with our Polla Gol sheets in hand. Needless to say I always get a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart when I hear about Chilean players possibly coming to play for FCD. Now on to Navia. Physically he will remind you of Carlos Ruiz. He has a short, stocky build. Much like Ruiz despite his size he is very effective in the air, and is deadly in the box. He is quick, but not a speed demon. He is a lot more mobile than Ruiz. The dimension that Navia adds that Ruiz does not possess is that he also is a very effective free kick taker. A weapon that we haven’t seen around Dallas since they days of Kreis and Kubik. He doesn’t seek contact like Ruiz does, but he will take a dive on ocassion. He is a big game player. He relishes playing and scoring against Brazil and Argentina which he has done. At the club level he has a very impressive 1 goal per game average in Copa Libertadores (8 matches), Interliga (6 matches), and CONCACAF Champions Cup (5 matches). In the 2000 Olimpic games, he was the starting forward of the squad that claimed the bronze medal. Some people may think that he is similar to another Chilean forward that was not pursued by Dallas last year, Chamagol Gonzalez. Navia is a couple of rungs higher than Chamagol in pedigree. He not only has been a stellar club performer, but he also has done it at the National team level. Now for the bad, and probably the reason(s) why he is considering MLS. 2007 was a year he probably wants to forget. He had a rather weak Clausura season with Atlas by his standards (4 goals in 9 games). He then joined the Chilean National team for the Copa America tournament held in Venezuela. A night of excessive partying in Puerto Ordaz after they tied Mexico to advance past the group stage became tabloid fodder all over South America. The incident was all over the news as they prepared for the quarterfinal match against Brazil. Brazil crushed them, 6-1. The coach resigned. Navia and five of his teammates were banned from the national by their federation for 20 matches. Unfortunately, the Copa America scandal wasn’t Navia’s first. Navia also was involved in a similar scandal with the National team in Dublin, Ireland. After Copa America Navia tried to catch on with Colo Colo back home, but they decided not to for “moral” reasons. He eventually signed on with Racing in Argentina. His current form has not been good with Racing. He was boo’ed (actually they whistle in Argentina) mercilessly this past weekend by the local Racing fans when he was subbed out in the second half of the season opening match. I haven’t seen any articles in the press in Argentina that mention him possibly coming to MLS. So, is Navia worth the risk? Before 2007, I would have been drooling at the possiblity of FCD acquiring Navia. He would have been a no brainer success in MLS. Nowadays, I have to wonder what is the risk? If his head is in the right place, he could be very succesful on the field with FCD. The relative of anonymity of playing in MLS might be just what he needs to regain his form. He still aspires to make it back onto the national team once he serves his suspension, so that is one good sign. Morrow seems to think that he can handle players that have had off the field problems before by taking a look at Malcom and now Navia. The question still boils down to the risk and who is the other forward they are looking at. For now, let’s assume that Navia is the only forward that they are looking at. Are they risking a DP contract? If they can structure the DP deal similar to Denilson’s deal, then the risk is worth it. If they have to guarantee multiple years, I would have to say it is not worth it. Finally, if the risk isn’t DP level, I would also say it is worth it. 18 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Does excessive partying violate latin america’s “moral” code these days? Do you have more specific information regarding Navia’s bad behavior?
Honestly which players don’t take the ocassionally dive. Just as long as he doesn’t act like Ruiz when he does I am ok with it. Ruiz looked for it, found it, and then over reacted the majority of the time then popped up as nothing happened.
[...] of me doesn’t want this move to happen. Navia is another one of those players that you either love or love to hate. He has bounced around from club to club over the last several years. Spending half a season in one [...]
I’m all for this signing. I could care less about of field issues as long as he can come here and put the ball in the net. If he does that go out and party all you want as long as we get an MLS cup.
I hope this goes through and on a no DP slot situation. Viva Chile!
Teddy,
the incident in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela was Rock star, TV in the pool, level partying. It allegedly involved destruction of property, unwelcomed advances to the female staff of the hotel, out of control drunken behaviour, and other stuff.
The media exposure was so large that the federation decided to suspend six key players from their national team pool for twenty games. That will impact their ability to qualify to the next WC. Just to give you some perspective. the media coverage was similar to the Clemens hearings here in the US these days.
As far as Colo Colo goes, they cited “morals” as the reason for not signing him which allows them to show solidarity with their federation. The real reason for not signing might have been something else, but they had this easy politically correct move to play. So they played it.
Excellent report Chamo. Fantastic insight!
Your signing analysis is dead on…if a DP, have an out after this season.
If not, then does anyone know where FCD stands with the salary cap? Would someone have to go if he signs?
Yeah, the partying isn’t that bad if he can score goals. I’d be happy to buy him a beer or 3 if he wins us MLS Cup
I’ve been looking at the the salaries listed for last year, and by subtracting Hislop, Ruiz, Gbandi, Goodson, etc., and adding on 400k for Davino, and what I’m assuming is a Toja-like 100k for Rocha, FCD probably has at least 800k in cap room, plus allocation from the Ruiz and Gbandi deals. FCD would have to clear an international spot by trade away(most likely Ricchetti, Serioux, Oduro, Mina, or Saragosa), trading for another spot, Saragosa finishing up on his green card and/or cutting someone.
Chamo, do you think FCD could use the allocation money to avoid DP status for Navia? If he’s a Ruiz that actually works hard and is cleaner, I’d be happy. Any idea of time frame, or who the other forward possibility is?
Steve,
I usually don’t try to anticipate how the FO will handle all of the intricacies of the salary cap . I’m sure all the scenarios you are delineating will be considered. So far, Hitch and Morrow have been pretty savy working the contract side of player acquisitions. They haven’t all worked on the field, but that is a different issue. I have no doubt that contractually they will be able to fit Navia with the least amount of long term exposure to the club.
The big question for them is to determine if they believe Navia is ready to contribute on the field. My guess is that coach Alvial’s input is crucial here. Navia pretty much hit rock bottom after the Copa America incident. He was signed by Racing last fall, but didn’t play much if any. He seemed to be crushed mentally by the suspension he received from Chilean federation. From some interviews he gave in the Chilean papers over the Christmas holidays, he seemed to have come to terms with the suspension and expressed his desire to work his way back into the national team once the suspension was completed. A motivated Navia could easily score 15-20 goals next season. The new season has just kicked off in Argentina, and Navia at least has worked himself into the starting team. So that has to be a positive sign. However, it may be also be a the old “shop him around by playing him” move by Racing.
In my mind, a good sign would be to see Navia come up here for a trial before any signing takes place. If they sign him without taking the trial step, I would be worried of Denilson II.
Thanks for elaborating on the “incident.” Moral issues aside, if this man can return to 2005-06 form, he’s definitely worth some cash. And it sounds like he could use a break from the South American press. FCD needs a proven goal scorer.
Another HSG blunder in the making. Morals indeed.
why is everybody willing to give him DP money as long as we have an out at the end of the season in case he doesn’t work out…why not let him take the risk and offer him $100k Toja type of money for first year and then reward him if he produces…sometimes i dont get it from u guys…u critize Ruiz whenever possible but are willing to spend DP money for a guy being booed as recent as last week…what am i missing here…
Alex, if I thought Navia would come to the MLS for $100k, then, ell yeah, I’d offer him those peanuts. But Navia isn’t a Toja-like player. At the time of signing, Toja was a young upstart player looking for a team to catch on with. Navia is an established goal scorer. Signing notable strikers is inherently risky and inherently expensive. But it pays off sometime.
it’s always tempting to get someone who’s a talent w/ something to prove. and, from the sounds of things, he may have learned a lesson in humility. him wanting to work his way back to the nat’l team is a positive sign of maturity. although the risks are quite evident, the reward could be immense. new league, new country, new team & teammates…could be healthy factors. it seems like a lot of the guys we have are of good character, so it could work.
if we could pull a denilson type deal, then i’m all for it.
Why are we considering making him a dp? He’s not making that kind of bank with Racing.
…even better, then.
In 2007 at the copa america he and others were out partying the night prior to their match against Brazil. they were still drunk in the morning and came down to the breakfast area and made some comments to the women workers and through food at them. They also through food at each other. Many of the players deny of being drunk or even saying anything to any worker but admit to having a food fight and going out the prior night.
In Dublin, along with Mark Gonzalez of Real Betis and Liverpool, Navia was sent home mid trip because then coach Nelson Acosta found the two players with girls in their hotel room. However the two players say they were just signing autographs for the two girls and m. gonzalez even retired from the national team after the incident. Gonzalez has since returned to play for the national team. Navia never made any comments about the incident.
As far as Navia on the field talent, he plays with alot of heart which is what i have always admired about him.