“What I find very interesting is the idea that this #1 allocation method is for more than just Americans. I didn’t know that. It appears it’s for any ex-MLS player returning to the league.”

I am surprised you did not know that Buzz.
It also sounds like FCD did try to swap picks with DCU and get something back, but DCU would not go for it. That put FCD in the situation of risking taking Szetela and not being able to get enough value for him to make up losing the allocation spot. So now it comes down to will whatever/whomever FCD gets with the allocation >whatever/whomever FCD would have got from DCU for Szetela
We will probably never know who DCU would have been willing to offer us, but looking at their roster I would bet it would have been another mid OR a package of bench players. We are probably best keeping the allocation.

Sounds like it’s exactly as I thought…whatever DCU was offering wasn’t enough to risk losing what’s coming down the pipe.

I understand Hyndman not wanting to bring in another midfielder and then be foreced with the decision of who to let go, but I believe we already have a midfielder who is nothing but a wast of space at the moment: Marcelo Saragosa. If he’s not injured, he’s suspended, and has failed to impress while with FCD. Why couldn’t we have just sent Marcelo packing and brought in Szetela? With this in mind, it seems utterly stupid to pass on Danny.

Jones, don’t be shocked. I learn things about this league all the time. They change rules at a whim and I don’t exactly do this for a living.

I also make my share of mistakes.

I’d also like to bring up the fact that Stern John, if we get him, is 32 years old while young Danny is 22. So basically, the big Trinidad and Tobago striker is Jeff Cunningham if he had the height and stature of Kenny Cooper.

Adam – it would pretty stupid to get rid of Saragosa andtake a chance on replacing him with potentially a headcase center midfielder when you don’t really need another center mid.

Adam,
You are missing the point in comparing Szetela with Saragosa. You are then saying that FCD should burn the #1 allocation ranking because the difference between Marcelo and Danny is worth it. That’s crazy. No one even knows what Danny can do since he hasn’t played consistently in nearly 3 years and when he did he certainly wasn’t worth a major #1 allocation. So you are suggesting that FCD was stupid for not going with a complete blind swing on a player with the #1 allocation in a summer were multiple options are likely to be available later. That’s like picking up the mediocre looking chick at the bar 10 minutes after opening because you don’t know if hotties are going to show up later.

Let’s wait, but I’m not optimistic about what Schellas said and about players coming back to MLS this summer. I think it was a bad decision.

32 year old proven goal scorer in and out of MLS. I think he fills a need for FCD.
Schelotto is 36, I don’t think Crew fans are complaining.

I do know the potential that Danny has shown, and that in Europe for an American, that potential doesn’t alway get the chance. Look at what happened to Landon Donovan. He did well, went to Europe, had a terrible time, then came back to do extremely well. So, yes, when you see what Szetela can do, it is worth the risk, especially for a player like Saragosa. And if Szetela is not worth a number 1 allocation, neither is Stern John. Whoever else is out there that’s coming back to the US better be really good.

Interesting.
Buzz, are you working to put together a list of other former MLS foreigner that we could add as possibilities? I’m hoping that’s part of what you meant by “We’ll discuss it again after.”
Was the friendly a few weeks back a veiled attempt at scouting Andy Herron?
Did Toja decide he misses Texas summers? I know it’s extremely doubtful, but it popped in my head.
Ronnie O’Brien? I’d rather not take another ride on that crazy train.

Andy,
Now you’re comparing him to Donovan returning to MLS as a former MLS MVP? Give it a rest.

Sorry, I meant to address the last part of that post to Adam, not “Andy.”

Ada you are missing a key difference between Donovan and Szetela.

Donovan did WELL in MLS before going to Europe. Szetela struggled to get minutes with the Crew before going to Europe.

Szetela is no Donovan and John is a far better fit for FCD than Szetela.

Adam,
You need to do more than prove that Szetela > Saragosa. You have to show that Szetela > Saragosa + #1 ranking allocation. And while I’d entertain the first conversation as having some merit, the second is just plain ridiculous.

Texgator,
“Go ugly early and take your own wheels” was sage-like advice that worked very well for me in college. Waiting for the hotties to show up never worked.

I’ll give you a name that might be available in the near future: Eddie Johnson. Late of Cardiff City, now back with Fulham, which may not want him. Wouldn’t keeping an allocation slot open for him be worth it? I think so. Thing is Hyndman thinks he needs a striker, not a midfielder. And as I said before on another thread, Szetela was a head case. I don’t think FCD needs guys like him in the locker room.

I’d worry that FCD’s decision is more wishful thinking than fact based. All of us can read the blogs and find out who is going where. We also know how often those rumors turn out to be true. I just hope FCD has been on the phone and knows what’s on the mind of some of these ex-MLS players. Otherwise, this decision will fall into the category of folly espeically if Szetela finds form at DCU.

I always thought that #1 spot was for any ex-MLS…until yesterday when you specifically said it was for Americans. That’s what I get for listening to you, Buzz…

FCD just traded Saragosa to Chivas for Abita Harris. Sounds like a nice pickup..

CCart Talk about a head case. Eddie Johnson is the leader of that club. Toja??? He’ll never come back here. Beat the house on that.. As for Danny and listening to HS… I’m reading into it that he really isnt comfortable playing this game. He’s used to recruiting a guy, signing him and then keeping him for 3 or4 years and then a rotating door of players. It just goes to show you another reason why these fools should have never hired that knucklehead HS in the first place. I just don’t think he knows what the hell he’s doing.. Period..And I was always right about KC Jr………..

What about Joseph Ngwenya?

None of you get it.. the big trade off was getting Atiba Harris. DC wasn’t going to give up Szetela