It’s hard to picture anything in this weekend’s matchup versus the Portland Timbers under more of a critical eye for Minnesota United than the imminent debut for Darwin Quintero.
Loon’s head coach Adrian Heath confirmed Wednesday that the club’s first-ever designated player has had his paperwork sorted, thus ensuring he can make his Major League Soccer debut Saturday.
It comes at an ideal time as United is currently riding a two-game scoreless streak. Heath confirmed what was considered obvious in terms of Quintero’s positioning: he will play the No. 10 role underneath the starting striker.
But before the newest Loon could even hit the field, Minnesota announced another new signing Wednesday. Peru international Alexi Gomez will join United on loan from Club Universitario de Deportes with an option to buy. The 25-year-old recently had a short loan spell with Atlas FC in Liga MX, a stint Heath labeled as unsuccessful.
Heath also repeated a phrase he’s often used when describing Minnesota’s player acquisition strategy: we’re still looking at more.
“We’re delighted Darwin has come, we think [Gomez] will be another piece that will help us and we’ve still got time to add more,” Heath said.
While it’s clear the featured role Quintero will be asked to play, the case is less so when it comes to Gomez.
“He’s versatile, he’s a player who can play four different positions on the field. It’s a no-brainer for us,” Heath said. The club also described him as a left-footed player who can feature in defense or midfield.
In many ways this translates to a player who will feature on the left side of the field, likely as a left winger or left back. Players who can occupy both roles are usually not an all-star at either position, but are still certainly talented enough to contribute given the right fit. A 25 year old who was deemed good enough to play in Mexico is certainly a player worth looking at from a Minnesota United perspective.
“I think the kid is very dynamic,” Heath said. “He can make things happen. So the brief spell that didn’t go well at Atlas doesn’t concern me at all.”
But should it? United currently rosters another player who had a short, unsuccessful stint in Mexico in Miguel Ibarra. Ibarra’s return on investment in MLS has been mixed. He was marketed and paid like a starter last season, but struggled mightily to have a strong impact consistently. Though he did make a few flash plays and score some great goals, he’s production hasn’t been what the club would have hoped for. For example, Ibarra only garnered starts for the Loons in the last few games because Kevin Molino is injured and out for the season. And with Quintero coming into the team, it’s almost a guaranteed certainty Ibarra will move back to the bench.
But Gomez’s contract is a loan deal, so the cost to the club is at a minimum and the upside is great. So as Heath said, it’s a no-brainer.
“To me, it’s just another piece,” Heath said. “As I’ve always said, possession is 9/10 of the law: if you’re in the team, make sure you keep your place. Because if you come out of it, with what we’ve gotten waiting to get in, I’m not sure how long it’s going to be to get your chance again.”
Heath speculated that Gomez could be most useful at adding depth to the outside back positions. (In fact, you could argue he is a direct replacement for the aging Marc Burch.)
That depth could come in handy soon as Tyrone Mears is still dealing with his calf issue and is questionable for this weekend. Heath also said Sam Nicholson is dealing with the flu.
Heath was his usual spritely self Wednesday highlighting that though his team lost in Portland last season, they actually played better than most people think.
“We’ll see how we go because we have done quite well against them,” Heath said. “I know I’ve said this, and I want to get it in again, that 5-1 game was never a 5-1 game. In the 82nd minute we were 2-1 down and in the ascendency. Also, for the record, we had the most possession in that game than [any visiting team] did in Portland last year. So let’s get that one out there as well.”
The Englishman has a point and he and his team proved it later that season, beating Portland 3-2 at TCF Bank Stadium in the reverse fixture.
