FCD Trades Saragosa for Atiba Harris
July 17th, 2009 . 2:03 pm . By: Buzz Carrick
Marcelo Saragosa, long a favorite of coach Schellas Hyndman, had fallen out of the lineup with a succession of injuries and suspensions from ill timed red cards. Harris, a member of the St. Kitts and Nevism national team, has a green card and will not count against the FCD international limit. Harris formally played for FCD assistant coach John Ellinger while at Real Salt Lake. Here’s the FCD press release… FC DALLAS ACQUIRES ATIBA HARRIS FROM CHIVAS USA IN EXCHANGE FOR MARCELO SARAGOSAFRISCO, Texas (Friday, July 17, 2009) – FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock today announced that the team has acquired midfielder / forward Atiba Harris from Chivas USA in exchange for midfielder Marcelo Saragosa. The St. Kitts and Nevis international will join FC Dallas for training on Monday, July 20 and will be available for selection for the team’s upcoming game at Real Salt Lake on July 24 (9 p.m. CT live on KFWD-52). As a holder of permanent resident status in the United States, Harris will not count against one of the team’s eight international roster slots. “We’re excited to be able to bring Atiba Harris to FC Dallas,” said FCD Head Coach Schellas Hyndman. “He is a tough, hard-nosed player who can play as both a wide midfielder and forward. As a player with tremendous athleticism, speed and power, we feel he will be able to make an immediate impact. We’d like to thank Marcelo Saragosa for his dedication to FC Dallas for the last four years. We will certainly miss Marcelo, and we wish him all the best at Chivas USA.” Harris has started 13 of 14 games this season for Chivas USA, scoring twice and adding two assists. The second of his two tallies proved to be the game-winner against FC Dallas in a 2-0 victory at The Home Depot Center on April 25. Now in his fourth year in Major League Soccer, the 24-year-old has appeared in 85 matches, totaling nine goals and nine assists. As a 17-year-old in 2002, Harris joined the youth system of England’s Newcastle United. He would move to Cádiz of Spain’s First Division the following year before a loan to CD Linares of the Second Division for a part of the 2003-2004 season. In 2004 and 2005, Harris spent time at Elco St. Peters in his native St. Kitts and Nevis prior to making a move to MLS with Real Salt Lake in 2006. Harris made his international debut with the St. Kitts and Nevis senior national team in 2000 at age 15, and has since accumulated 23 appearances and seven goals. Harris’ most recent cap came in a 2008 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier against Belize, in which he played the full 90 minutes. Saragosa started 44 of 54 games for FC Dallas after arriving from the LA Galaxy in 2006. The Brazilian was recognized for his versatility, appearing as both a central and wide midfielder, as well as on the right side of defense. In nine games during the 2009 season, the 27-year-old made eight starts and registered one assist. Atiba Harris Professional Career: Name: Atiba Harris 25 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
In a move that has been brewing for a couple of week and merely waited on the health of Marcelo Saragosa; FC Dallas has sent their Brazilian midfielder/defender to Chivas USA for midfielder/forward Atiba Harris. FCD has been in sore need of a wide right midfielder and Harris can perhaps solve that problem. Harris should also inject some much needed pace into the FCD side as even average pace will upgrade the current FCD midfield.
A good move I believe, now to sign that target striker……
Christmas in July…there really IS a Santa Claus.
Seeing Saragosa leave is the happiest moment of this sad season thus far. OK, maybe Cooper opening the scoring for the season with the midfield lob beats it, but only slightly.
Couple of possibilities. Playing Saragosa was a way of showcasing him. Getting a fwd means cooper is leaving.
From my discussions with the coaching staff prior to this trade going down, Harris is going to be a right midfielder, or at least try to fill that need, and not a striker for FCD.
exactly Buzz, Harris should fill the right mid spot for us. The striker is yet to come and hopefully someone good. I think it is probably Stern John.
Frankly, a curious move for Chivas. Are they really going to play 3 holding midfielders, and switch to the 4-3-2-1 (Galindo up top, Kljestan and Lillingston withdrawn)? Doesn’t really make sense, given the rest of their personnel. Don’t be shocked if another Chivas trade isn’t coming soon.
Who cares how Chivas utilizes him? We have a hard-nose guy that ate our lunch everytime we played Chivas, and cut loose a liability…..great move FCD!!
I agree that it was a good move to get rid of Saragosa as he was never a big contributor in matches unless it was in the referee’s book… I think Harris is a nice pickup for us since he can score and has pace for the wing, also if needed he can fill in up top although I would rather have him on the wing…
Good move Schellas…
Good move for both sides. FCD lacked depth at forward and a right midfielder, and Harris gives them depth at both spots. He is really not starting quality in the league, but certainly provides depth, and is someone Avila can compete against for a starting spot.
Saragosa provides depth for Chivas at central midfield, where they tend to play two holding players.
I think this means Rocha is getting moved or going home. Harris is more active than Rocha and is a better fit on the outside.
I’ve been depressed today due to personal matters, but this imediately cheered me up.
Great move. Love it. We get a much-needed winger and shed someone who really wasn’t able to keep up this season.
Even if we got nothing in return this was what I call addition by subtraction. I’m beginning to think that after a year on the job that perhaps SH is starting to grow into the position a bit. Too bad this year is shot.
This is one huge move that has helped to restore my lost confidence in the staff.
Anyone who actually knows the game knows this is a bad move. Harris is an unskilled red card waiting to happen just like saragosa but MS has some skill.
Saragosa has skill? Why hasn’t he ever used it then?
Rick….you should actually spend some time with someone who knows the game….but be sure to pay attention.
Harris will make us better…not TONS better, but better.
Overall good move to get ANYTHING for Saragosa.
Magic beans for Chivas!
I don’t like Harris that much in the past, but this at least shows some sign of life in the team.
Rick – Harris has exactly TWO red cards in 3 1/2 seasons in MLS.
Jason and Rick – Harris is a starter for Chivas so I believe that means he is MLS starter quality since Chivas sits high above FCD in the standings and I believe, Rick, that Harris must be quite “skilled” to be a starter for Chivas.
Excellent insight rick, Dallas must not have had your phone number to consult you before the trade
Anyone else think Rick is a Chivas fan trying to spin the trade over here?
Maybe Chivas just wanted to reunite Saragosa and Paulo Nagamura with each other in the same stadium that they came to MLS in, except its AGAINST LA Galaxy rather than for them.
good move to have Chivas, LA, and SJ making moves just to spite each other. trading the same sorry players around the 3 is good for us.
This makes me happy! However, I am concerned now that there may be something on the horizon that will steal Cooper away. Harris as a midfielder yes… as a striker I don’t see it.
I would have been happy with a bag of soccer balls. Getting Harris instead is just icing on the cake.
Saragosa will bag a brace the next time Chivas plays FCD.
Just because the soccer gods will it this year.