Yay! Shit!

And let's not forget the rain in Guadalajara.

So, what's the over/under on how many goals Fred scores for Philadelphia? Seven?

Having coined Fredsux! I can't help but dread that Fred in Philadelphia will definitively prove what a shitty coach Tom Soehn was while simultaneously proving what a goldbricker Fred was in DC. And watch the 7th pick be Rookie of the Year.

Look, it's nice to have Perkins back, despite my above hating. If he's improved via his experience in Europe (and he is, what, third? fourth? in USMNT keeper pool and might be in South Africa this summer), then this is a fair trade and a major plus for United, though we all believe in our darkest hearts that Nowak just punked Payne, yes?

Here's the key:

Assuming Christian Gomez doesn't return, United will have shed more than $1.5 million in payroll this winter: Ben Olsen ($225,000) retired, Luciano Emilio ($759,000) was not renewed and left for Brazil and Fred ($257,000) is off to Philly. Gomez made $321,000 in 2009. True, Cristian Castillo arrived (maybe $150,000?) and Perkins seems likely to earn $200,000-plus. Nonetheless, United has some cash to throw around in search of overseas help.

So much depends (upon a red wheelbarrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens) on who Payne acquires with the sudden funds. If he spends the money and United sucks, that's on Payne and Payne alone. If he doesn't spend the funds, we'll know more about the future of United than we want.

UPDATE!

Galarcep:

My early thoughts on the D.C. United-Philadelphia trade? I think D.C. overpaid badly, but I can understand the willingness to do so after having to endure a season with Josh Wicks and others in goal. Troy Perkins is a steady goalkeeper who should be able to add a handful of points that D.C. would have otherwise lost (and have lost the past two years).

That said, I still think D.C. could have fought harder to pay less. My question is whether Troy Perkins is a $300,000 goalkeeper. I was good in his first go-round with D.C., and has improved since moving to Europe, but is he "highest paid goalkeeper in MLS" good? Not sure about that one.If Perkins has a stellar season, D.C. won't care what it paid, but if Fred rebounds and has a strong year and Philly's No. 7 overall pick winds up being a contributor, this deal could wind up being as lop-sided as many people feel it is.

Lot of ifs: It all boils down to whether Fredsux or doesn't. If he goes to Philly and becomes what he was supposed to be here....

Here's Fullback:

I know I'm in the minority, but I was really looking forward to seeing what Fred could do given the coach's trust, a role as an a-mid/withdrawn forward, and fewer emotional distractions off the field.

Exactly. Like I said above, we don't know how much of Fredsux was Fred, how much was Soehn, what ratio of the two.