and McCarty didn't want to repeat the prolonged timetable.
3. Anyone for seconds?: Three prominent players are making the very best of their latest MLS opportunity after things at their previous MLS addresses didn't work out. Brian Carroll, Bobby Boswell and Joe Franchino are all prospering anew after witnessing their stock take a precipitous tumble in 2007.
Carroll's story bears special mention. He was once the holding midfield rock at D.C. United. But Clyde Simms lapped Carroll on the depth chart and United opted not to keep the starter-level salary on the bench. Sigi Schmid was only to happy to have the former Wake Forest man in Columbus, where the Crew manager had rotated several players last year, never truly settling on a holding midfielder.
Danny O'Rourke, Duncan Oughton, Stefani Miglioranzi, Ned Grabavoy and Danny Szetela all took their turns at the spot in 2007 as the Crew missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
But it has been Carroll's show this year, with lots of help from Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven, who pinch in regularly from the outside, and from industrious young find Adam Moffat, who plays at the top of the diamond. Now, while United struggle to pull things together, Carroll is a big reason why Columbus leads the East, off to its best start ever.
Boswell was also unwanted at United. Houston was happy to have the U.S. central defender, having lost Ryan Cochrane in the expansion draft. And Boswell's value jumped dramatically as Eddie Robinson was handed a three-game suspension. With a three-year starter to partner with young Patrick Ianni, things have remained settled in the back during Robinson's absence.
The Franchino story continues to develop in Los Angeles, where he appears to have brought bite and balance to Ruud Gullit's midfield. Franchino certainly didn't seem to be in the plans at New England, having dropped from favor after eight years of service at Gillette.
4. Toyota Park's crowded central station: The Chicago Fire is collecting central defenders like Britney Spears collects paparazzi.
Figures already seen clogging up the middle on the back line at Toyota Park included Diego Gutierrez, Wilman Conde and Bakary Soumare. Of course, that was once the address of C.J. Brown, who is due to return soon from injury.
And is there any doubt that Gonzalo Segares, having such an outstanding campaign at left back, could play there in a pinch?
Now, well-regarded young Paraguayan Lider Marmol has joined the Fire's stockpile. Marmol, who drew preseason tryout invitations with England's Coventry City and Reading and last played with Hercules CF in Spain's second division, is a natural center back.
Who will be stuck on the bench? Doubtful that it will be Gutierrez, who has hardly put a foot out of place in his final MLS campaign. (The longtime Fire man has already announced his retirement.)
Marmol might perform as a holding midfielder, which would help ease congestion. Still, that leaves Conde, Brown and Soumare, who may have the most raw talent but who still requires seasoning.
Or, perhaps manager Denis Hamlett use put the wealth to use on the trade market, choosing to strengthen his strike force. That appears to be the area that requires the most attention.
5. MLS All-April:
Goalkeeper: Matt Reis
Defenders: New England's Michael Parkhurst, Chicago's Gonzalo Segares, Real Salt Lake's Nat Borchers, Chicago's Diego Gutierrez.
Midfielders: Chivas USA's Sacha Kljestan, New England's Shalrie Joseph, Columbus' Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham.
Forwards: Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan, Columbus' Alejandro Moreno.
Steve Davis is a freelance writer who has covered Major League Soccer since its inception. Steve can be reached at BigTexSoccer@yahoo.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
