Colorado had hoped to bring midfielder destroyer Hendry Thomas back this season, but the sides never saw eye-to-eye on a new deal. The club declined the Honduran international’s option at the end of last year, and despite negotiating through the winter, there was always an ominous feeling about the whole process. The former Wigan midfielder seemed destined to leave Commerce City before the start of the season.
That’s why the 28-year-old is the newest member of FC Dallas. Earlier today, the two clubs announced a deal that will reunite the 28-year-old with Oscar Pareja, with the Rapids getting allocation money in return.
For a Dallas team that already has Andrew Jacobson, Adam Moffat, Je-Vaughn Watson, Bobby Warshaw, Michel and Peter Luccin, the move doesn’t exactly fit an area of need. Not all of those guys possess the same skill sets, but all of them are capable of playing in the same area of the field. Right now, Dallas has a lot of redundant pieces.
With a new coach coming in, however, any assumptions we’re carrying over about the Dallas depth chart need go out the window. We may see a Dallas team that has enough options to avoid taking on a player who was said to be seeking near-Designated Player money. Pareja may see a bunch of players that would be a significant step down from a player he started in Colorado.
The Rapids still have Dillon Powers, who’s capable of playing in a pivot. Shane O’Neill still harbors (to be suppressed) hopes of playing in midfield. Nathan Sturgis is still on the roster, as are a couple of other potential midfield options. Perhaps the team could stand to add another player who can camp out in front of the defense, but the need may not have been worth making Thomas a Designated Player.
According to technical director Paul Bravo, the allocation money they got from FC Dallas will give the team “flexibility to continue adding strength to the club.” More readily, this was getting something for nothing. It was becoming more evident that Thomas was not coming back to Colorado. That they got something for him is a plus.