Just like PST’s Noah Davis, who has picked out a few volumes from his personal corner of knowledge on this matter, I really like the trade for both New York and Chivas USA. A few more points to consider on today’s blockbuster.
- Juan Agudelo needs to play; it’s up to him to convince Chivas USA boss Robin Fraser that he deserves the starts.
- Heath Pearce will be an upgrade at either outside back spot at Red Bull Arena. He’s a better defender than Jan Gunnar Solli on the right and a better option all around that Roy Miller on the left.
- Red Bulls boss Hans Backe certainly isn’t afraid of the big trade. The swap to get Kenny Cooper from Portland probably was Major League Soccer’s biggest off-season trade. Today’s move is easily the biggest trade since games began 11 weeks ago.
- The three-headed swap works for Chivas USA because they get a quality center back (Danny Califf) to replace a stop-gap center back. Pearce is a very good fullback in MLS, among the league’s best passers coming out of the back. But as a center back he’s simply not an upper echelon player. He’s not bad, but not special.
- Pearce is obviously best as a left back, but don’t forget he helped Dallas get to an MLS Cup as a right back in 2010. (Pearce was hurt through the playoffs that year, but he helped Dallas get into the playoffs, for sure.)
- Pearce was somewhat surplus at Chivas USA, although very good surplus. Ante Jazic is established at left back (Pearce’s best spot) and James Riley is a solid right back in the league. (Which is all why Pearce was asked to play centrally.)
- Agudelo and Juan Pablo Angel together? How very Back to the Future of them.
The Red Bulls have a 4 p.m. ET media conference call with GM Erik Soler to talk about today’s developments.
