D.C. United has acquired centerback Brandon McDonald from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for allocation money, the club announced on Monday.
McDonald, 25, plays both holding midfielder and centerback, but he figures to plug into the heart of D.C.'s backline, which has been a bit of a rotating door this season. In McDonald, D.C. acquires a physical, experienced player at a position of need.
For San Jose, the move gives the team more financial flexibility while seemingly clearing the path to give Ike Opara the reins in central defense once he becomes fully fit.
What do you think of the move? Think it's a good fit for McDonald?
Share your thoughts below.
D.C. got a really solid defender. There were four starting quality CB’s on the quakes roster, someone was always bound to go sooner or later. Opara would play more if he didn’t pick up so many niggling injuries, I hope he can stay healthy to play an entire season.
I wonder if SJ is still considering a DP in the transfer window?
he’s good in the air and his man-marking will imrove with experience….nice move
especially with Ike Opara coming back
AGAIN!
+1000
Opara is injured all the time. This is a problem.
No, this guy was very underrated on a croeded SJ backline. He’s a good player that can also play d-mid…great pickup for DC.
I can never get rid of this guy on UT. He’s terrible no body wants him lol.
Macdonald might advance more as a player with another move. Look what he did going from LA to SJ. I like it. Good move…
Good. The NAts badly need the next generation of centerbacks to step up ASAP. Playing time for Ike will only help
This is one of those trades that is good for everyone. Bmac will get more playing time as he had fallen down the Quakes depth chart. DC gets some help on D what they need badly…and the Quakes get money which I’m thinking they will use in July toward an offensive minded player. After the God awful performance they put on Saturday and the heat they are taking from fans and media they may need to make some kind of splash. Biggest crowd at Buck Shaw vs. LA and Yallop and the boys lay an egg.
Agree and it must be said Jak has not been good this season anyway. Hes been responsible for like 20% of the team goals while he was in the line up. He has to earn his job back.
I like the move for both sides, gets Opara more playing time and as a DCU fan it paves the way for a stronger back 4.
Zayner-Mac-White-Kitchen.
I agree. He does not have to be a dominant CB to fill the need – he just needs to be solid and provide physical presence.
well Bmac is tough enough, but his man-marking (and height) and positioning can get him into trouble.
Kasper should never have let Julius James go last offseason.
The key here is not so much if he’s a great CB. It’s that no-one in central defensive for DCU is really a physical presence (rookie Ethan White comes the closest) and with Jakovic out, it’s probably the shortest central defense pairing in MLS. Against teams like NE, Colorado and Houston, they end up getting pushed around.
Good for D.C. since their backline is so young and so inexperienced. Should help them until Jakovic gets back.
only a little surprised by this move. Bmac this season has been 2nd or even 3rd choice in the back and since Brad Ring established himself at CM there was no room for him. glad to see he’s gone to a team that can use him, and the Quakes pick up some $, hopefully for an attacking midfield or right side player
He’s not that great of a player. I just Hope the Quakes get someone good.