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Heath Pearce is on the move.
The United States international fullback has been sent to Chivas USA from FC Dallas in exchange for allocation money. A 2010 MLS All-Star, Pearce was an integral part of FCD's tremendous season and run to the MLS Cup final in 2010, but he suffered a hamstring injury down the stretch and appeared to have some tension with head coach Schellas Hyndman. Pearce was left off the MLS Cup matchday roster despite being adamant that he was fit in the days leading up to the match.
Pearce played 28 games last year for FC Dallas, earning six assists while putting in time at both fullback positions and even some time in the midfield. A California native, he joins a reloaded Chivas USA defense that includes new additions Jimmy Conrad and Zarek Valentin alongside veteran defender Michael Umana and 2009 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Zach Thornton.
Do you think this move makes Chivas USA a playoff contender? How do you like the move for FCD? Ready for the tweeting tandem of Pearce and Conrad?
Share your thoughts below.
yeah i just don’t know if i want to put to much trust yet. He finally got things going last year and had a great playoff run but he lost 4 starters or key contributers from last year. So I hope it works out.
great post, you know what your talking about
I don’t think the issue is basically giving away Pierce. FCD does have some defensive talent. I think the issue is that this team has gone through a significant talent drain this off-season.
Now you can argue that Hyndman is all about chemistry and the guys who have left (McCarty, Cunningham, Harris, Pierce, etc.) either were burrs under the saddle or were about to become so. But bringing in new players (especially foreign ones) is ALWAYS a gamble in terms of chemistry. That is part of what Dom Kinnear did so well–he focused on trading for MLS talent (rather than signing foreign players) so that they were guys he knew well, had scouted to-death and had a good idea of their impact at practice and in the club-house (let alone in games). FCD is clearing cap room and getting allocation money. But it does little good to spend it on a DP or a couple of imports…who then end up creating chemistry issues. You could see any one of the departing FCD guys go without a major problem. But taken as a whole, it’s a lot of talent out the door with little to replace it.
Uggh. Some revisionist stuff going on here. I watched just about every game, he was terrific throughout the season. But $ talks, especially given MLS’ structure.
This offseason has been a disappointment. Dax and Pearce both missed a lot of time last year, but you hate to see them go.