ESPN MLS analyst waiting to see ‘who gets that magical phone call’ from David Beckham
With Inter Miami opening its inaugural season Sunday at Los Angeles FC (5:30 p.m., ESPN), we solicited opinion from a couple of national analysts.
In part 2 of a series, ESPN studio and game analyst Alejandro Moreno weighed in on Miami’s roster:
“It’s an interesting [group of players],” Moreno said by phone. “Here’s the issue with Inter Miami: When you have the name David Beckham, there is an unrealistic expectation that comes attached with it. We all assume David Beckham is one phone call away from bringing anyone to Inter Miami. People thought these big names from all over the world would flock to Lockhart Stadium Day One. And that is not the reality going into your first season as an expansion team.
“That’s a challenge for anyone. You have an unrealistic standard set by teams in Atlanta and LA FC that you will have success right away. My expectation is this team has been put together to be competitive within MLS from Day One. I don’t mean the very top of the Eastern Conference. I don’t think they will be quite as successful as Atlanta or LA FC right away.”
As perspective, Atlanta United FC went 15-9-10 and was fourth in the conference in its first season (2017), with a roster put together by Paul McDonough, Inter Miami’s sporting director and roster architect. LA FC went 16-9-9 and was fifth in the league in its first season (2018).
“But,” Moreno said, “Inter Miami has a team [players] with a lot of MLS experience and a lot of years of success and productivity in MLS. The cynic could say a lot of years in the MLS means a fine line between experience and guys simply getting older and they ended up in Inter Miami and this is their last go-around, if you will. This may be their last go-around but it can still be a successful go-around.”
Moreno believes a playoff berth is a realistic and achievable goal, with 14 of the 26 teams qualifying.
“They’ve done a good job of at the very least of putting together a solid, competitive starting 11,” Moreno said. “It’s not a world beater 11. But it’s a team that can compete and win games early on. They are a few pieces away from being at the top of the Eastern Conference.”
Here’s how Moreno assesses the roster, by position:
▪ Goalkeeper: Luis Robles is the starter after eight years playing for the New York Red Bulls.
Even at 35, “he is a guy that can be part of this organization for many years to come,” Moreno said. “Goalkeepers tend to last longer. He brings a whole lot of experience. Well respected in the league, and I expect him to bring a presence to the team. This is one position they have nothing to worry about.”
▪ Forwards: Only four natural forwards are under contract, and one (Julian Carranza) might be out until early May with a foot injury. Another, Juan Agudelo, has been dealing with a hamstring injury. Robbie Robinson, an elite player at Clemson, could end up playing a lot as a rookie.
“That’s an area that could be better,” Moreno said. “That’s an area that needs more punch to it. You get into the uncomfortable gray area of scoring by committee. When you say scoring by committee, you really mean we don’t have a go- to-guy. If they don’t have a go-to front line player, will [midfielder Rodolfo] Pizarro have to handle that load?”
▪ Midfielders: Pizarro, according to Moreno, is “not only a provider of service but he also create goals for himself. He’s not exactly a prolific goal scorer but he’s a tremendous player and will be huge success in MLS coming into the prime of his career. But he needs a partner alongside him that he can play off of. They don’t have that guy next to him.
“The presence of Wil Trapp is an important one; he can be a core-group-of-players guy who can be part of Miami for years to come. He’s well respected in the league, has been team captain before. He is going to cover a big hole in the midfield. He’s another solid citizen and solid player and a guy you don’t have to worry about, and he will demand from other guys to do their job. And Lee Nguyen gives you an attacking, creative presence in the midfield.”
Moreno is also eager to see the development of 19-year-old Argentinian Matias Pelligrini.
▪ Defenders: “The big name,” Moreno said, “is Roman Torres, a two time MLS cup champion, World Cup player for Panama. The question is: [At age 33], Is he getting to a position he can’t compete the same way he did years ago? But he has a veteran presence and he’s a guy they will lean on very heavily.
“Torres was very important for the success of Seattle last year,” Moreno added. “He will need somebody with more athleticism and speed next to him in the center back position. He will be a solid defender when the game is in front of him. But when he’s asked to turn [and chase], that will be a problem for Inter Miami.”
Among the group of 11 other defenders on the roster, “Alvas Powell will provide that pace but on the right hand side of the back line,” Moreno said. “He will be starting for this line on the right side. None of those guys are all that accomplished on defense.
“It’s similar to Pelligrini; maybe this is a kid that provides you with something special. You are hoping he fully develops that potential people see in [Powell]. If he becomes the player they think he can be, that gives them a whole different dimension to their attack.”
Powell, 25, has played for Portland and FC Cincinnati.
▪ Miami said it will use its third designated player spot on a striker, and Moreno sees wisdom in that. (Pelligrini and Pizarro got the first two designated player spots.)
“You are always looking for goal scorers,” Moreno said. “I would say if I am running this club, I am saying to myself we have done a pretty good job of getting us to Day One. Now we need to figure out what is most important for us, and in order to do that we have to see what this team looks like.
“It would be best to wait for the first couple of months of the season, evaluate it then and have that magical phone call from David Beckham to that player and have him on video chat to make that big move. That approach buys you time to see what happens with the European teams. There’s no need to rush into a decision just yet.”
Inter Miami’s MLS opener at LA FC at 5:30 p.m. Sunday gets national coverage on ESPN, with lead team Jon Champion, Taylor Twellman on the call and ESPN Deportes also televising.
Moreno works the Chicago-Seattle opener for ESPN earlier on Sunday.
Here’s what Twellman told me in his assessment of Inter Miami’s roster.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 3:10 PM.
