GOMEZ ON HIS WAY OUT OF COLORADO???
The 2006 MLS MVP looks to be on his way out of Colorado after only one year with the Rapids. Christian Gomez played 20 games for the Rapids before he was benched indefinitely after Coach Fernando Clavijo’s departure. The Argentinian play maker scored 3 goals and provided 6 assists for the Rapids, not bad numbers for a Rapids player, but way below Gomez’s usual standards. It is no secret that Gomez has become steadily less productive since his stellar 2006 season, when he scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists to lead DC United to a Supports Shield and a deep run in the playoffs.
The Rapids brought in Gomez for the salary cap maximum without making him a DP. This move was highly criticized because no one felt that Gomez was the player he used to be, and definitely not worth that kind of money. DC United refused to pay Gomez what he felt he was worth so he made his way to the Rapids. Gomez was supposed to push the Rapids past the zone of mediocrity. Unfortunately, the opposite happened as Gomez struggled to produce and the team failed to make the playoffs . . . again.
There is no question that Gomez is an excellent player and still has more to give. Although I doubt he will ever be as good as that 2006 season, used properly, he can be very helpful to any team in the league. So who wants him???
Reports have stated that FC Dallas are the front runners to acquire Gomez’s services. New England has also expressed an interest in the play maker. The Rev’s interest is still more rumour than anything else, but it is still very plausible. It is not surprising that teams would be interested in the play maker, even after a poor 2008 season, but what is he worth these days??
He can still score and create goals. His legs are probably not what they used to be a few year ago, but the 34 year old will make up for that with experience. Maybe we’ll see a straight swap similar to the Van den Bergh and Oduro switch between Dallas and NYRB a few days ago, that consisted of a straight player and high draft pick swaps. I think that would work best for the Rapids, but some teams might not feel that he is worth a high draft pick at this point. The Rapids might have to part ways with their second round pick to sweeten the deal. Additionally, the Rapids will still have to pay a portion of Gomez’s $400,000 salary, which will make him more attractive to any suitor.
Dallas still has two first round picks and a stable full of young talented players. We might see Dax or Avila on the way out of Pizza Hut Park to make way for the veteran. New England also has two first round picks so one might be traded away for Gomez, along with a player. I don’t know who the Rev’s would give up for Gomez. Maybe Castro??? or possibly Wells Thompson???
What do you guys think of these developments? Sad to see Gomez go after one season? Who would you want the Rapids to bring in to be our first choice play-maker?
January 14th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
I would rather have a happy Gomez and find a way to work him in, but if he’s unhappy and the deal ius right, we should probably go for it.
That being said, they’re aren’t many players in the league, when-on, of Gomez’s talent (even at 34), so I would hope they would get something substantial in return. Its funny that in these years of tight salary-cap restrictions, that it may actually make more sense for the Rapids to trade away their most talented player (even for little) because of the inexpensive players they could acquire with the cap room ( a la Donavon or Beckham).