Trimming the Fat at Gillette
Mmmmmm….
With the opening of the July 1 transfer window looming in the near future, the New England Revolution announced today that they have made some moves in preparation for bringing in some new players. First off, they reactivated midfielder Sianey Nyassi. I’m ambivalent about this. I’m glad his hamstring is healed, but if that means he’s going to go back to his old habits of refusing to use his two best attributes- blazing speed and silky dribbling- to take on opposition defenders, what’s the point? I’m pretty sure one of the Revolutions is not a guy who comes in in the 70th minute, runs up and down the sideline, and gives the ball away too much by making ill-advised passes.
Next, the club waived defender John Lozano. For my money this was a player they never needed (a central defender with a decidedly average career in Colombia) and the facts that he played in only one league match and was waived pretty much bears that out. I’ll never understand why MLS clubs search the globe to find mediocre talent and then over-pay for it? Why not give some college kid with borderline-MLS talent the league minimum and see what happens?
The Revolution also bid adieu to Swedish forward Bjorn Runstrom and well-traveled American midfielder Jeremiah White- between the two of them they made only five substitute appearances in league matches. Both players had contract options coming if they were on the roster on July 1 and the club clearly- and rightly- did not have in interest in exercising those options. I don’t know what the future holds for White- the NASL, perhaps?- but I have it on pretty good authority that Runstrom has had a “fall-back” spot waiting for him in Sweden, so he should land on his feet.
If there is good news in all of this it is that the club has opened up three roster spots (and the money that went with them) in time to do some business during the transfer window and according to general manager Mike Burns that is just what they intend to do.
How about picking up former Ross County defender Scott Morrison, who is already in the States on trial at Chivas USA?
