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Timbers trade for Fucito

Fucito (Getty Images)

Seattle Sounders fans will think twice about cheering for Mike Fucito now. 

The former Sounders fan favorite was traded from the Montreal Impact to the Portland Timbers Friday. Based on his performance this season, the Impact will receive either a second-round pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft or an international roster spot for the 2013 season. Those specific conditions were not disclosed by either club.

Fucito was traded from the Sounders along with fellow fan favorite Lamar Neagle to Montreal in the deal that brought Eddie Johnson to Seattle, but he only made a single appearance for the Impact this season — as a substitute on opening day against Vancouver. All this despite Impact coach Jesse Marsch saying, "Mike Fucito is a dynamic and talented young forward who we believe is on the verge of having a great year and establishing himself as a very good forward in MLS," upon his acquisition and despite Montreal averaging less than a goal per game.

Nevertheless, Fucito in Montreal did not develop as a good fit, and the third-year forward out of Harvard will have to fight for playing time in Portland with the likes of Kris Boyd, Darlington Nagbe, Jorge Perlaza, Bright Dike and new acquisition Sebastian Rincon.

What do you think of the deal? Think Fucito can do some damage in Portland?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Montero has started out the season well. If you understood soccer, you could clearly tell that Montero is dropping back farm more with Rosales out, Fernandez & Evans in and out, etc. Fucito was great hustle but not much goals. He opened up some scoring lanes for sure but EJ will do the same AND score goals once he gets some consistent time with Montero. Fucito was, is and always will be a serviceable sub off the bench. There it is.

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  2. Playoffs: Game 1 vs RSL. No Fucito. 0-3 Loss. Game 2 with Fucito, no Rosales. 2-0 Win. You look at the data. Then try analyzing what took place on the field.. Seattle averaged almost 2.2 ppg when he started. Last time I checked it was a team sport, and wins were the objective. What was Seattle’s ppg before Fucito made his 1st start? And how slow was Montero’s start to the season?
    There it is.

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  3. I think he’s the prototypical Spencer player. Works hard, tackles hard, plays tough, but doesn’t have a ton of technical ability.

    Prediction: After his first start, Fucito will praise the Portland crowd as being better than Seattle’s. Us Seattle fans will get defensive and make deprecating comments about how all Portland fans are jobless hipsters. Portland fans will respond by calling all us Seattle fans “customers” and mock the fact that SSFC has a marching band. Portland will fail to make the playoffs.

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  4. Look at the data … Montero was FAR more successful when he and Fucito weren’t on the field at the same time.
    As for the 13-3-3 record, I think that’s about the same record they had when Wahl was starting for them – do you think Tyson was the key?

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  5. There is a reason Seattle was 13-3-3 when Fucito started with them. There is a reason Montero has 0 goals this season. As there is a reason Marsch clearly will have his competence come into abrupt question when Fucito quickly seizes this opportunity with Portland.

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  6. A little known clause in the MLS CBA:

    “Mike Fucito can only be traded in the MLS if somehow Eddie Johnson is involved.”

    He was traded to Montreal for Eddie Johnson and he was traded to Portland to replace a retiring Eddie Johnson. It appears for the time being it is Portland or bust unless something happens with Eddie Johnson in Seattle.

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  7. It was just announced that (English) Eddie Johnson has retired…which seemed inevitable given the Fucito trade and the fact that Portland were already at max roster size.

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  8. There is no animosity for this trade. Fucito has 0 minutes in all competitions against the Timbers. He’s only dressed once to be in the 18 for a game between the two. That said, a defensive trade may be pending.

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