Last week I wrote about having a case of writer's block among other things but this week there is certainly none of that in the world of soccer journalism. One of the most hyped pseudo-events of the off season has occurred with the signing of Eric Wynalda by the Charleston Battery. The rumors had been flying around for a week or so previously and slowly but surely word began to trickle out from various news outlets that a deal was close. Now it appears that the deal for the former National Team player has been completed with the major question to be asked being just what impact this move will have?
One thing I think of when I hear about this situation with Eric Wynalda joining the Battery is Welton. In case you don't know what I'm referring to I'm talking about Pittsburgh bringing in the former MLS goal scorer from Brazil. Did he heighten expectations for the 'Hounds? I'm sure he did. Was Pittsburgh breaking in a new coach that season? They certainly were. Is some of this starting to sink in? While the Hounds acquitted themselves quite well in that season it was hardly down to the singular contributions of the Brazilian who had once led MLS in scoring.
There's a palpable sense of déjà vu going on with Chris Ramsey entering his first year with the Battery while bringing in several "name" players to bolster a club that is definitely showing signs of a "win now" attitude. Battery fans have to feel both excited and trepidatious about a situation where they know that the club they support is splashing out a lot of money to bring in some players they feel should theoretically put them over the top in the A-League. Guys like Linval Dixon, Mark Watson, Terry Phelan, and, now, Wynalda have been added to the Battery stable to go along with the likes of Paul Conway, Dusty Hudock, Steve Klein, and Kyle Swords. Not to mention several other talented players who may have to realize that playing time will be at a premium.
That naturally brings us to the question of the impact in the locker room that an acquisition like this can cause. The additions brought into the club will inevitably mean that some players will have to check their egos at the door. Anyone who witnessed the late season meltdown by the Battery last year will be wary of the ever-elusive team chemistry that tends to play such a vital role in a team's success. Sometimes it can be just one player that can throw off a team's chemistry just enough to keep them out of contention.
The other areas that these kinds of moves have an impact are, obviously, the media and attendance. The Battery are already experiencing a bump in their media coverage thanks to the Wynalda deal not to mention the international coverage that was received upon the signings of Watson, Phelan, and Dixon. This increase in coverage is not necessarily the goal of the club in making a deal like this but it is more of a pleasant side effect. At the same time, the club and its fans have to be hoping that at least some of the attention this latest saga has brought on one of the most lauded USL franchises will linger for longer than the requisite fifteen minutes.
The Battery will also hope that this incident will have more than a lingering effect on their attendance with exhibitions against MLS teams and a curtain raiser against a top-notch opponent, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, on April 27th on the horizon. It is unlikely that there will be a huge difference made in the attendance numbers for this season unless of course the Battery do a lot of winning and the casual fans do a lot of noticing. After all, it comes down to getting the fans that otherwise would not attend, out to the games and that could be helped by increased media coverage of a team that has a strong chance to contend for the title.
Overall, there are many possible effects this move could have on the league but in the end, if the player produces remotely up to expectations on and off the field, then the biggest repercussions could go towards raising the league's visibility and making it a more viable option for more top quality American players. The league will share most of the same benefits and possible pitfalls that Charleston will have to weigh. There is the specter of rising player salaries in a business venture that doesn't tend to make too many people a profit as things currently stand. Then there is the possible disenfranchisement of the players who may be pushed out in the numbers crunch now with fewer jobs in the market. Of course there's also the possibility that some of the teams in the league will be pushed farther and farther away from the more financially stable and ambitious clubs. Last but not least, there has to be a concern about the trend that now sees many clubs trying to bring in players to pay off immediate dividends instead of developing players for future success. All of these, though, are merely other issues that will be covered in the not too distant future while the item at hand is the appearance of Eric Wynalda on A-League playing fields.
The financial ramifications have been mentioned and the lengthy, semi-sordid tale of Wynalda's previous stops in his playing career has been told again and again by those who think this is a foolish move by the Charleston club. There is little point in rehashing what so many others have said about this man. I think most of us would like to focus on the many possibilities that something like this that is both a fan event and a media event have opened up for this team and league. Surely, there will be some sense towards cautioning ourselves about certain issues as many of us remember the stories of the NASL and its downfall but at the same time this is a new time and optimism might just be the tone of this day. The day that sees us one step closer to seeing the top goal scorer in US national team history take to the field in an A-League uniform.
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