Friday, February 18, 2005
Good signing
The MetroStars have signed Youri Djorkaeff, who last played on the struggling Blackburn Rovers (with Brad Friedel). This is a good signing for the MetroStars, and the MLS, for several reasons
- His name is fun to say. I'll be interested to see what inflection or syllabic changes the Metro announcers make so that they aren't constantly saying "Jerk-off" when the ball is in midfield.
- He has won a World Cup. No one else in the league can say that.
- I had him on my fantasy team the last two years (yes, I have an English Premiership fantasy team), and he is a useful goal-scorer.
- He'll fit in nicely in the midfield with 2004 league MVP Amado "Che" Guevara and youngster Eddie Gaven. That is a midfield that will love to attack. This team could score some goals this year.
- Along with his World Cup championship, Youri brings some great experience playing with clubs in a number of strong leagues. He is known around the world, and perhaps can provide encouragement for other international stars to come to the US toward the end of their career.
Now the downside:
- He's old. About to turn 37 years old actually. It is a long summer, and despite playing at a high level just a couple of years ago, he is certainly on the decline.
- There is a chance that he'll sit on his contract, not take the MLS seriously, and spend more time at La Bonne Soupe than he does at the gym.
Overall, I'm happy to see a player I know, with some international credability, coming to the MLS, and the fact that he's coming to my home team makes it all the better. Now, who wants to start the Djorkaeff fan club? I think you could get a lot of confused 15 year old males to sign up.
- His name is fun to say. I'll be interested to see what inflection or syllabic changes the Metro announcers make so that they aren't constantly saying "Jerk-off" when the ball is in midfield.
- He has won a World Cup. No one else in the league can say that.
- I had him on my fantasy team the last two years (yes, I have an English Premiership fantasy team), and he is a useful goal-scorer.
- He'll fit in nicely in the midfield with 2004 league MVP Amado "Che" Guevara and youngster Eddie Gaven. That is a midfield that will love to attack. This team could score some goals this year.
- Along with his World Cup championship, Youri brings some great experience playing with clubs in a number of strong leagues. He is known around the world, and perhaps can provide encouragement for other international stars to come to the US toward the end of their career.
Now the downside:
- He's old. About to turn 37 years old actually. It is a long summer, and despite playing at a high level just a couple of years ago, he is certainly on the decline.
- There is a chance that he'll sit on his contract, not take the MLS seriously, and spend more time at La Bonne Soupe than he does at the gym.
Overall, I'm happy to see a player I know, with some international credability, coming to the MLS, and the fact that he's coming to my home team makes it all the better. Now, who wants to start the Djorkaeff fan club? I think you could get a lot of confused 15 year old males to sign up.
# posted by Darlucky @ 11:29 AM 
