Let’s talk about Chivas USA, confidence and … tampering?

Let’s go over a super-duper quick checklist of things Chivas USA does and does not have:

Enough players? Not really.

Sufficient talent in the players they do have? Probably not.

A plan that’s either madness or shear genius? Yep.

Self-assurance at high levels? Oh, heavens yes.

Michael and Gabriel Farfan? Not yet!

Possible tampering charges ahead? Seems like it.

Two important things to learn from Jeff Carlisle’s extensive piece on the 2013 version of Chivas USA, which looks suspiciously like the 2005 version of Chivas USA – which derailed spectacularly:

First, manager Jose Luis Sanchez Sola, a charismatic type who goes by El Chelis, has stockpiles of confidence in his own ability. (Which is great, because we’re talking real alchemy here if he can spin gold from the current roster.)

Here’s what he told Carlisle about the difference between his team and the 2005 side that turned out to be crazy bad (four wins in 32 contests is the very definition of “crazy bad”):

In 2005, the owners have this idea, but don’t give it to Chelis. Now they have the Mexican players, the American Latino players and Chelis.”

So there you go. Let’s hope the man doesn’t bust his arm patting himself on the back.

Here’s the other thing to learn about Chelis from the article at ESPN FC: Chivas’ new man in charge reminds us how little he (really, anyone in the organization) understands MLS ins and outs.

Maybe a fine for tampering will kick-start the education process ahead.

See, Carlisle mentions how Chelis mentioned the desire to add Michael and Gabriel Farfan, the talented brothers from PPL Park in Philadelphia. They fit the Chivas USA model because they are Latino. Which is great, except for this:

They are under contract!

And talking about players under contract is a big no-no for club officials – as Chelis may soon discover.

Anyone remember when Alexi Lalas took a haircut for the speaking about Freddy Adu? That was one of the more high-profile “tampering” shenanigans.

The guess here is that Chelis meant nothing malicious. He wasn’t trying to send the Farfans a message through ESPN channels. He just didn’t know.

But that underscores the point: he doesn’t understand the pool into which he just dived head first.

He’ll learn. And sink or swim, it will be a hoot to watch.