What. A. Week.
As frequent readers know, I haven’t been in the happiest of Major League Soccer commentators in recent weeks. But all it took was a one week anomaly, and suddenly I am more joyous than Lebron James wearing Pharrell Williams’ famous hat.
So before I run out of column space, here is why I’m such a happy fan.
1. Jack McInerney Packs His Bags
On Friday, the Philadelphia Union sent 21-year-old forward Jack McInerney to the Montreal Impact in exchange for 23-year-old forward Andrew Wenger.
To summarize: The DOOPs got duped
McInerney is an up-and-coming scoring machine. In 2013, McInerney scored a whooping nine goals by June 1, only 14 games into the season. Had he kept up this pace for the whole season (rather than go into a three-month goalless drought), he would have tied for first in the Golden Boot race with 22.
Wenger on the other hand has failed to live up to the expectation of being taken first overall by Montreal in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. Often used as a substitute by the Impact, Wenger has long been criticized for his inability to finish.
But here comes the real indicators.
From 2012 to 2013, McInerney scored 20 goals. In that same time, Wenger scored five. Taking his whole MLS career into account, McInerney scores on average once every 202 minutes. By comparison, Wenger’s goals come 327 minutes apart on average.
When I was first told of the deal, I had to check my calendar. It was not April 1. I seriously thought it was based on how lopsided this deal is. But it is far from over.
Montreal have found the heir to Marco Di Vaio, and this trade could be the start of a youth-focused rebuild.
Philadelphia on the other hand finds themselves without a natural goalscorer. Could a new DP come in the summer to fill the void?
Montreal have won the battle but not the war. This trade has instantly become one of the season’s top talking points. Excitement has been written on the walls.
2. Must-Watch Soccer
Rivalry Week is a great idea. It would be even better if every team could take part (San Jose, aka the California third wheel, missed out) and if every game was a true rivalry (because the Colorado Rapids and Vancouver Whitecaps really don’t hate each other). But it’s a great marketing move nonetheless.
It’s even greater when it produces one of the greatest games in the league’s history. And even greater when that game is played between the two greatest rivals North American soccer has ever seen.
Don’t get me wrong. Houston-Dallas was a great game. Montreal-New York and Chicago-Philadelphia weren’t bad either. Vancouver-Colorado was gripping.
But nothing came close to what I am hereby dubbing the “Score-a-thon in Oregon”
This was a 4-4 classic that surely had fans hitting the power buttons on their Xbox to make sure they were not dreaming. Many of the eight goals were stunners. Clint Dempsey proved in one game why he was worth big money. The atmosphere was astounding.
Both sides came to play the full 90 minutes. Nobody scored a scrappy winner in stoppage time. There may have been a penalty kick, but it was one that was well deserved for once. Those three things alone had me beaming.
Matches like these are remembered for a long, long time. But this match could be the one that truly starts the next era, MLS 3.0, of soccer in North America. That should get everyone smiling.
3. Shooting Boots and Saving Gloves? Check.
Any weekend that has 31 goals over nine matches is bound to produce at least one thing of beauty. But this weekend had many more than that.
Max Urruti scored a sensational curler. Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu both got off the mark in style. Jose Mari and Diego Chara each dropped not one, but two bombs.
That’s seven sublime finishes right there. By comparison, the MLS Goal of the Week field is always narrowed down to five, normally having one to two dud inclusions each round.
An expanded field would do this week justice. It very likely won’t happen.
With so many goals, you would think that stellar goalkeeping would be an even greater unlikelihood. But it wasn’t. Hearing Pharrell in your head yet?
Andrew Weber made a beautiful diving stop against Seattle’s high-octane offence. Zac MacMath saved a penalty kick brilliantly. Chris Seitz had flashes of brilliance in Dallas. And above everyone else, Real Salt Lake’s goalkeeper, Nick…wait a minute…no, Jeff Attinella?!?!
You had better believe it. Nine saves in an MLS Cup rematch with Sporting Kansas City has put the 25-year-old on the map. If this is how Attinella regularly plays, RSL will be just fine should Nick Rimando get the call to go to Brazil for the World Cup.
4. Expansion, Expansion Everywhere
According to a story published on Sunday, league expansion in the Southeast may officially go from a double-down to a trifecta in the coming weeks.
Jonathan Tannenwald of Philly.com broke the story on Sunday afternoon. In his article, he says that multiple sources have told him the league will make an official announcement as early as April 16, giving the City of Atlanta the league’s 22nd official franchise.
Leapfrogging David Beckham’s Miami bid may be just what is needed to stir up the brewing rivalry between these two sides and the fellow newcomers in Atlanta. The Southeast sports market is a notoriously tough sell, but this may be just what is needed to make fans happy enough to come out to matches.
I can truly say this week’s Wins Column has been a pleasure to work on. My prayers from last week were answered emphatically, reason alone for a celebration.
Happy Streak: 1
Catch you next Monday!
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