Coffee with the Caps, Monday December 20

Good Friday morning, Caps fans. While we have been in the midst of the holiday season for many months now seemingly, the time for last minute shopping, cookie baking and more is all here.

Speaking of last minute shopping, I’ve been doing some thinking as to what my personal Christmas wish list is for the Caps. They already doled out an early Christmas gift this week with the Cavallini signing, which I’m still buzzing about. It’s nice to have an excuse to be anything but pessimistic about this club these days and this signing is the best excuse to do so in some time.

Now, the real trick will be picking out the right midfielders to provide the service necessary to actually create goals. The consensus in the comment section is that a better striker means nothing if they get the same kind of midfield support as Fredy Montero did last season—totally accurate.

While initially skeptical of Antonio Xavier (his stats this year in Liga NOS are not much to write home about), all signs point to him being an excellent crosser of the ball. The logic of moving on Chirinos and springing for a guy with a) no MLS experience and b) hasn’t been especially good for a non-Sporting/Benfica/Porto Portuguese team as of late, kind of escapes me but those in the know about Portugal say the body of his work has been stronger than a relatively lackluster season for C.D. Tonela. We’ll rate Xavier as a stocking stuffer.

The real big gift would be either an attacking forward who works well with In-Beom (a hybrid number 10 and number 8) or a defensive, marauding, barnstorming defensive midfielder in the mold of Matias Laba. Heck, maybe we’ve been good this year and Santa/Axel Schuster will give us both of them. Lord knows this Caps team needs it.

There have been a lot of folks pining for Jonathan Osorio and a lot of butthurt Toronto FC fans talking about how he isn’t for trade. But a player of his ilk is perfect—a demonstrated MLS track record, an attacking player with the ability to play in multiple places depending on the formation and a domestic player to boot, freeing up an international spot to take a punt on a Xavier or Fouaid Bachirou (yeah I know the trail has gone cold, but this is my own Christmas list so let me have fun dammit).

A personal Christmas gift/New Year’s Resolution that I’ve long been toying with but never pulled the trigger on is a trip to BC Place. Despite my fandom dating back to the expansion, I’ve never been to a match in Vancouver and while I’m excited to drive to Philly for an #awayday, it isn’t the same as going home. This gift is likely to fall victim to my own stinginess (not the Caps’ front office) but with five days to Christmas, you all have time to convince me to reconsider and mosey on over to aircanada.com :)

Onto the links...

Shameless Self Promotion

ICYMI we signed Lucas Cavallini :)

We since have also learned that Zac MacMath will be departing the club, flipped to Real Salt Lake for 50K in TAM. MacMath was a capable deputy for Max Crepeau but didn’t make since to keep as a backup due to his higher salary. Wishing him the best with Fredy Juarez and Co. in Utah

The full 2020 schedule is hot off the presses. What matches are y’all excited to catch?

Best of the Rest

Charlotte has officially been confirmed as the 30th MLS franchise and while I was initially skeptical, it is undoubtedly impressive that the club has garnered over 7,000 season ticket deposits already

Here are 10 games to circle on your calendar for the season ahead

Julian Gressel is looking more and more available. Is it too late to update my Christmas list?

So is Luciano Acosta...

Portland might be set to bring in Diego Chara’s brother, spelling danger for the rest of the league