Chivas USA Say “Adios” to Amado

“I have a vision of where this club is going and he’s not part of it,” said Chivas USA rookie coach Preki. And with those words Adamo Guevara is gone for good. He wasn’t traded to Toronto – as was initially expected – he’s just gone, cleaned out his locker and everything.

Preki’s predecessor Bob Bradley traded Chivas USA’s designated player spot to New York for Guevara last Novemeber, but then left to coach the US national team (for how long? who knows…) and the Honduran playmaker (league MVP in 2004) was expected to add some creativity to The Goats midfield. By all accounts he got on fine with everybody off the field, but was dreadful on it.

Possibly the worst performance in Guevara’s short Chivas USA career came in last weekend’s Super Clasico, when he was subbed off after 56 minutes and then later sent off for shoving an AR long after he’d left the field of play.

“The guy has been a good player for the league. I don’t argue with that,” Preki said. “But in terms of how I see things, I see it a little different. I didn’t know him before I came here that well. I gave him two or three months to see how things work. If I don’t see things aren’t going to work out, I might as well do it right away instead of waiting down the line and then that becomes an issue when we’re facing the crucial part of the year.”

This could be a masterstroke by Preki that creates a hardened, effective team unit… or it could be a disastrous rookie coaching decision where he’s been too impatient with arguably his most talented player.

My initial feeling is that a more savvy boss could have inspired Guevera to get back on his game, or at least traded him for someone or something worth having. Only time will tell, but this does add yet another ingredient to what’s looking like the most interesting MLS season in, well, ever.

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Category: MLS, World Football