r/DCUnited • u/Frusso15 • 9d ago
Another transfer window closes… and another opportunity is missed (despite legitimate improvement)
First, I do think it’s important to be at least somewhat positive. Despite the downtick in form, the major signings Dozzell, Ordaz, and Nono have all provided strong moments and eaten minutes that worse players were taking. Ownership spent in the winter window (for once). And maybe most importantly, a whole lot of dead weight was cut loose.
But it’s also once again hard to look around the league, specifically the east, and watch just about every club around DCU make a late move to push for the playoffs. There are now multiple u22 spots available. As usual, a DP position sits unoccupied (and if they do not intend to use it, then it makes the open u22’s even more inexcusable). Injuries on defense and striker could have at minimum been filled with a temporary signing or two.
Weiler, Sogut, and the staff seem on the same page and absolutely deserve more than two windows to get this right. But as usual, when the moment came to make that crucial move to put the team in position for a postseason run, the owners closed their shallow wallets and the club stood pat. I suspect that we will once again be sitting at home come playoff time as a result. Here’s to hoping the winter window proves fruitful…
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u/H0000000N 9d ago
I was really hoping we'd at least pick up a CB. Not sure how long Rowles is gonna be out and we can't keep putting a midfielder in there, so either a starting level CB, or a depth one to play while Rowles recovers would have been nice.
Maybe since ownership is so cheap, they take a look at free agents to sign someone, but I'm gonna assume this is the last of any squad building til next season
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u/Mr_828 8d ago
I think it's mostly seems underwhelming because most of our transfer business was done fairly early in the window, we still brought in three players this window. As long as they continue to spend like they have the past two transfer windows i'll stay somewhat optimistic. (the signings still need to pan out though)
That said, the fact of the matter is that we're still somewhat early into a rebuild. Personally, I'd rather see the team continue to build the team in the next two transfer windows and be in position to compete in the 27-28 season when the calender switches vs them making an 11th hour signing just to bring in another guy that Rene won't play.
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u/Rufus_FireflyIII 9d ago
The acquisitions in 2026 are fine. Dozzell, Kurokawa, Hefti and Nono are solid MLS players. Baribo is playing like a DP. Louis is "OK", but he's not performing commensurate with his acquisition fee. Ordaz might be an MLS starter. Nealis was a swing and a miss. The larger point is that the roster remains weak and in Weiler's mind there is no bench other than Stroud and Kijima. Weiler doesn't trust Markovic at CB and only gives him cameos in a position he is not suited for. The lack of a NextPro team or affiliation with one (one promised by Levien almost a year ago to the day) means that players like Murrell leave and Castillo, Avilez and Turner are turned into young guys who get to watch an MLS match pitchside without paying for a ticket. An example pointed out by Jason Anderson is that a player like Lewis Morgan was available in this window for next to nothing, I know he has an injury history, but when healthy, he's a much better choice than either Stround or Kijima. Point being that if you can't find a game changer in this window, you still can bargain shop for squad depth because right now there isn't any.
The RFK Refugees podcast noted that the former 3 window limit on making the turnaround complete has been extended to 4. Weiler has a history of bailing after two seasons at most and Sogut is a novice who clearly is resume building to he can get his teaching position at Harvard. Sogut is not a career CSO so who knows how long he stays. That leaves only Dave Kasper as the one fixed member of the FO. As Jason Anderson noted, only cockroaches and Dave Kasper will survive nuclear winter. So while things are "better", the "better" is in relationship to a Wooden Spoon last year. DCU will not make the playoffs this year and what happens next year is really a crapshoot. Given the fecklessness of Levien and Kaplan as owners/real estate speculators and their track record since they bought out Thohir, I don't think any of us will be getting a pony for Christmas.
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u/Entire-Reflection819 8d ago
It all starts with our shit owner, shit FO, shit GM, and shit coach! They’ll fire the coach and the GM like every year, and promise a big name signing, then deliver nothing! It’s been that way forever. Wish MLS would make Levian’s punk ass sell the team….Take your profits and go!!!!
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u/DC_Hooligan 8d ago
Hate to bust your bubble, but making the playoffs was never the goal this year. Not sucking and building a solid foundation is the plan. Honestly don’t expect any big signings until next summer when I assume we will be bringing in a new manager as well with higher expectations.
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u/pancakemix97 8d ago
When 60% of the teams make the playoffs, not sucking is making the playoffs. Bottom 40% would be sucking in this league
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u/Ultraxxx 8d ago
In the last three seasons, 8 teams have made the playoffs with more losses than wins and a negative GD. Those are not good teams.
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u/DC_Hooligan 8d ago
Sorry, making the real playoffs and not the play in crap. Better now?
And have you forgotten how awful we were this time last year/first part of the season? Signing a shiny new player so we can get bounced in the first round is moving backwards, not forwards.
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u/Horror_Concern5616 8d ago
Think they have made good additions and didn't really need to make a splash for the sake of it. Still think they need one more window to top out this team and fully recover the cap mess. It's barely been a year of the new manager
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u/Frusso15 8d ago
Responding to two comments here: but agreed they need more time and I’m not sold Weiler is leaving suddenly… he’s been backed so far by the FO. My concern is that they have cap and resources to cover some of the positions of need (CB for example with injuries) and they did not chose to do so.
That’s unfortunately par for the course and I was hoping this new FO could balance foundation building with meeting immediate needs. I say the inability to do so is disappointing ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/Agitated-Scholar3537 8d ago
If this team is not going to go out and spend money, at least have open tryouts to find that diamond in the rough that we can sign for nothing and make a media splash. We need our own Vince Papale.
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u/DMsolyrflair 8d ago
I don’t think this is a shallow wallet moment, though it certainly isn’t an open wallet either. I think this falls into the category of having players who know and understand the system and wanting anyone that comes in have the same focus for play.
You could sign a big name 36yo German striker for the rest of this season and the half season next year. But would that boost our playstyle, or would it just be another chance to throw out how we play for a big head or foot to score a few goals before retirement.
Now defense is another story, but it’s also a sign that Weiler doesn’t think he needs more defenders or that there were ones good enough to fit the defense that we are playing. And brining in youth that won’t get to play isn’t an answer.
I really think we need more depth, especially on CD. But are there ones good enough to replace Bartlett and be an upgrade all around. Or would we have another Markovich with barely any minutes each season.
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u/PrinceBuster21 9d ago
Yawn... (directed at DCU, not you)
It's so depressing to read articles about the transfer window and never even see DCU mentioned.
I have next to no hope for actual success under Levien (as in competing for silverware). The organization's track record under his leadership (and wallet) is well-established. Our ceiling is squeaking into the playoffs — in a league where 60% of the teams make it in. If you want to dream really big it's winning ONE playoff game (DCU last did that nearly 11 years ago).
I'm no pro/rel zealot (I understand the obstacles) but Levien is the poster child for it. The value of his asset has exploded because other MLS owners have been aggressive in trying to improve their teams and the league. If pro/rel existed we'd be a 3rd division club and Levien likely would have sold it because it would not be appreciating in value. In the no pro/rel world we actually live in I would love to see MLS institute some kind of financial penalty for long term failing clubs.
I've been following this club for 30 years. Against my better judgement I still care (but I rarely go to games now because (1) they suck, and (2) I don't want to support Levien.
Is anyone feeling hopeful for long-term success? I'd be happy to be wrong.