Did You Know Washington DC Has A Professional Soccer Team?

Goff speculates on DCU's efforts to rid themselves of Gallardo, replacing him perhaps with Christian Gomez:

We know DCU's investors would love to dump Gallardo's bloated contract (the league pays him $400,000 per year, the club covers the $1.5 million balance). They realize he is past his prime, underwent additional surgery this winter and does not have a significant impact on ticket sales, which are vital to a club that is losing millions renting the Wreck at RFK and does not generate much other game-day revenue.

We also know that Colorado is aggressively trying to move Gomez, who does not fit into Coach Gary Smith's plans and earns around $400,000 per season. The 2006 MLS most valuable player while with United barely got off the bench for the Rapids late last season. Dallas was interested in him a few weeks ago, but passed. Gomez associates say he would welcome a return to Washington.

MLS has to be worried. Even in the best of economies the league's survival isn't guaranteed. Sheeyit, 2011 isn't guaranteed.

Teams are still playing in minor-league baseball stadiums, in NFL stadiums, in piss-smelling shitholes (though I love my piss-smelling shithole, and remind you what will happen to LOUD SIDE!if/when United leaves its piss-smelling shithole). United loses money with each home game.

Plus there's that whole expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between players and owners at the end of this season. What say you, lock-out or strike?

So, losing money in a crappy stadium with no resolution to crappy stadium problem in foreseeable future ahead of a certain restructuring of some sort in the next CBA in an economy so shitty we still don't know how shitty, United's chosen to rebuild modestly. OK.

Ditch Gallardo? Let's check his attitude:

I'd do that swap in a nano-second, not just because I've always been a Gomez fan, but addition by subtraction. I defended Gallardo longer than most, and fuck that. $1.9M, pwfft.

If United can't build for the future this year because they don't know what the future will look like until after the CBA is resolved, why not bring Gomez back and let him play for his 2010 contract. He and Jaime have chemistry, and Gomez' style of play probably will create better chemistry between him and Emilio than Gallardo and Emilio could ever develop. I'd bring Gomez in even if United can't lose Gallardo, though it's not my money, because Gallardo will jake an injury by mid-April.

(Though, as Fullback astutely points out, the need to get rid of Gallardo doesn't mean Kasper and Payne have learned their lessons, re Ralph:

United FO's seeming attempt to fill the gap with a short, converted 34-year-old fullback with injury issues, no MLS experience, and a language barrier to boot, looking for a final paycheck and a retirement move to the States.)

Quite a change from this time last year when United made signings with as much noise as they could generate, proudly talking of domestic and international silver. The most ominous off-season of recent memory.

Reports also United heavily pursuing Hondoran strike Walter Martinez.

Walter Martinez?

So it was a handball. Your point?

UPDATE!

Uncle Fiver on Beckham and Milan:

Stroking a white cat and swivelling on a leather armchair, Fabio Capello's No2 Franco Baldini has suggested "staying in Serie A would be extremely beneficial for David [Beckham]".

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