Five Weeks In: Five Questions Answered

Welcome back ya’ll, I’m still here and updating, I promise to get back on a regular schedule very soon. Big new over on the du Nordfront, Brucio is re-opened for business. That is great news all around. Now we will see some sort of competition between MLS Daily and du Nord. Should be interesting to see how that plays out. Hopefully they will work together for the greater good.

Five Answers
Will Gary Smith Improve Colorado?

Perhaps this question should be: how could Gary Smith not improve Colorado? Gary has everything going for him. He has put in place a system that rights all the wrongs Fernando Clavijo put in place.

Horrible tales were told while Clavijo coached. Absolutely no scouting other teams before they played. Practices with no structure, just open games. Little communication between teammates and the coach. Supporter groups held down and kicked out of the stadium. From the moment Gary took over new air flowed into Colorado. Order was restored, a up and coming coach was getting his chance, and the players were behind him.

A run towards the playoffs resulted and this season Colorado is off to a strong start.

Will the Wizard’s young players produce?

Kansas City’s 09 team is loaded with young players. And unlike some teams in the league, they are getting minutes, Besler, Kraus, Espinoza, and other young stars are expected to step up and fill the gaps. Curt Onalfo is building for the future. He needs his young quick agile players to quickly move into the ebb and flow of his system.

So far it has been a success. The Wizards got off to a rough start losing their first two games (not for a lack of scoring though) and then proceeded to go 2-1-0. Last week saw a jaw dropping come from behind victory at Chicago. When I was leaping through the air in my living room that tie sure felt like a win.


Will Fredy Montero be convicted of rape?

Earlier I reported on Fredy Montero’s rape charge and I am happy to report that all charges have been dropped due to lack of corroborative evidence. Fredy is safe, Seattle can continue to be proud of their nineteen year old star, and the league breathes a sigh of relief as their new model franchise goes unblemished.

Will MLSnet.com’s streaming service be any better?

Yes this is perfect representation of video streaming

I really wish I could say yes to this. I really really, really do. I am a huge fan of Major League Soccer’s media distribution model. They realize that letting their fans see almost every game is a win. They have embraced web 2.0 like no other soccer league in the world. While the Premier League actively tries to stop fans from watching online video, and on their site, provide zero video.

But MLSnet’s streaming service still has large problems. The Wizards game against Seattle that thousands were counting on failed horribly and no one knew why. No details that I am aware of where ever reported.

MLSnet, you need to at least provide a layer of transparency. I know that working with tech and streaming services can be hard and prone to problems, but at least let fans know what is going on. Provide updates on your front page instead of just removing the “Watch Live” links. Send out update emails about current problems. You will find much more forgiveness if you communicate with your paying customers.

How will the economy influence league attendance?

Is Major League Soccer free from the horrible economy? Unfortunately the answer is no. Attendance has been low for the first five weeks, and excuses have been forthcoming. Horrible weather, everyone had the flu, Giants stadium sucks, and your mom. But even with two huge outliers in Seattle and Toronto the attendance is down a bit. Obama, send a stimulus to Major League Soccer.

Now go take care of 4/20.

What We Know So Far: Fredy Montero’s Alleged Sexual Misconduct

This past week it came to light that sexual assault charges have been filed against Fredy Montero by a female in the greater Seattle area. I’m not going to include music or video today, that’s too lighthearted. I’m just going to give the facts.

What We Know
Here is what we know so far. This information comes from an April 2nd report:

• On April 2nd the police began investigating when a woman said Montero was stalking her
• She reported that he had sexually assaulted her on the 22nd
• Police declined to confirm if Montero is under investigation
• No charges filed
• No bookings

April 3rd brought new information :

• The word rape is first used
• There were two alleged dates, the 15th and the 23rd
• When the woman saw Montero he was with his host family returning from a high-school soccer game
• Montero had been under investigation before the stalking complaint

I’m not going to make a judgment. We don’t know all the details. No charges have yet to be filed against Montero.

According to Montero’s agent Montero fell into a trap when he rejected a woman who randomly showed up at his apartment for a sexual tryst.

News Articles

• Agent says Montero fell into a trap
• Agent defends Montero
  
• Keller defends Montero

Wednesday
Wednesday brings a lighter note unless you are a Columbus fan. I’ll tell you what and why is going wrong with the Crew.

Fredy Montero: A Player Profile

The Seattle Expansion: Let’s Not Finish Last
No expansion team goal is: “Finish Last.” Unfortunately for them, most have hit that goal with pomp and flair. An expansion team has built in disadvantages. Most of the players have never worked together. They are just settling into the area. Family and friends are far away. In MLS wives cannot always afford to follow their husbands. When you make 30 – 60k, making your wife quit her job to follow you is not always an option. Life is expensive.

Seattle will carry many of those disadvantages with them into their first season. Their defense may leak goals, they may be playing on field turf in a giant stadium, their DP may be unfairly labeled as over the hill, but Seattle is bringing the excitement offensively.

Fredy Montero
New forwards are exciting and Fredy Montero is excitement with possibilities galore. Seattle has scored a coup by bringing in a young, proven goal scorer on loan.

Fredy Montero’s move to Seattle comes as a surprise considering he was being chased by Real Betis. Despite signing with Seattle, Montero’s dream of playing in Europe lives on. Like many soccer journeymen Montero views MLS is a place to learn, grow, prove himself in a new environment, and ultimately to sell himself to a European team.

Seattle may not be Europe, but some of the tests stay the same. Fredy has to deal with a new country, city, and language. His ability to work with new teammates from a diverse background he cannot immediately communicate with will be tested.

Culture shock is seeing Seattle’s Best Coffee on every corner. What were you doing at 21? I was wandering around college being stupid. I hope Fredy has more maturity than I had.

Fredy’s History: Scoring and Being Loaned Out
At 18, Fredy signed a contract with Deportivo Cali a Columbian Club in Santiago de Cali, Colombia. Fredy immediately made an impact at the club by scoring at a prodigious rate. In 38 total appearances over three years, Fredy has scored 20 goals.

Fredy has scored .526 goals per game for Deportivo Cali. Fredy may not be Christiano Ronaldo, but he has proven he can score a goal every other game. If Fredy can maintain that rate in MLS he will increase his value exponentially.


At 19, Fredy was loaned out to lower division Atletico Huila where he has scored 13 goals in 26 appearances, a solid .5 goals per game.


When Fredy was recalled to Deportiva Cali for the 2007 season he started 17 games and scored no goals. His drought lasted all the way to the 2008 season when he began scoring again.

A Hidden Problem?
Yet amongst all the scoring a mystery appears that I cannot easily explain. Why is Deportivo Cali so eager to send Fredy out on loan? A proven goal scorer at 21, Fredy should be a commodity that Deportivo Cali would want to hold on to. Usually young goal scorers are held onto and milked for every goal they can give the club until an offer to buy is just too good to pass up.

What is Fredy’s downside?

Fuck It, We’ll Watch Him Play Live
Whatever his secret is, we can always watch videos of him scoring great goals. That is sure to make any Seattle fan feel better about hidden downsides.

This video shows most of his goals, including some incredible pile drivers, but with out music.


This video only shows three goals but it has some enchanting music.


This one includes a rocking soundtrack as well as great pictures of Fredy.


Don’t Forget My Contest , Damnit
Hey I still have a contest going remember? Turn in your supporter pictures to grahamfox[@]gmail.com and win a Bumpy Pitch T-Shirt or a 25 dollar gift certificate to SoccerPro.com