Here’s the link to my Christian Gómez story in today’s paper. As good a move as this may be for D.C. United, it is difficult to ignore the circumstances that led to his departure last year. United wasn’t satisfied with simply winning consecutive Supporters’ Shields. It wanted more, brought in Marcelo Gallardo et al. and let Gómez go after reaching an impasse in contract negotiations. The strategy backfired, and now it appears D.C. is attempting to rewind the clock, even though an aging Gómez is a year older, now 34, and guaranteed contract years had played a major role in why he didn’t resign in the first place. I’m not suggesting he’s washed up — he may very well have the best season of his MLS career in 2009. But what does this mean for United’s ambitions? Will a Supporters Shield, even if its followed by an early playoff exit, be enough?
