MLS moves that have caught my eye

It's not just the big spenders

We’re going through the usual content ramp up as preseason trundles onward. That meant two MLSsoccer.com columns last week:

• Eastern Conference: Most intriguing offseason moves so far

• Western Conference: Most intriguing offseason moves so far

You’ll find the expected ones in there – Kévin Denkey, FC Cincinnati (and, as of now, the league’s) record signing; as well as Austin’s new $12m man, Myrto Uzuni; and, of course, all the maneuvering Craig Waibel did this past month to somehow fit Jesús Ferreira and Paul Arriola under the Sounders’ cap. This stuff is all getting headlines for good reason, and all of these move ostensibly answer a lot of tactical (and talent!) questions while, at the same time, opening up some questions.

A few more points I want to make:

1. The Sounders have opened preseason playing a 3-4-2-1, which is a pretty easy way to get both Ferreira and Jordan Morris on the field in positions that suit them. Oh, and maybe Pedro de la Vega, too:

2. There’s suddenly at least a little bit of talk that the Fire are going to keep one DP slot open until summer. I wouldn’t exactly bet my life on this, but there’s absolutely nothing in the wind about new signings for them right now. Part of that might just be Gregg Berhalter running a tight ship, but… maybe not?

I don’t hate the idea of them integrating their new starters (they’ve got at least five) before going big as hell on a centerpiece. Figure out what’s working over the first four months of the season, then when that window opens in July, be ready to move.

3. Charlotte fans on social media got in their feelings that their team wasn’t one of the top “I am intrigued by this!” picks. Folks, that’s because of Dean Smith’s game model – there’s just not a lot of doubt that Wilfried Zaha is going to fit perfectly, so long as he can handle the turf.

What intrigue there is boils down to two questions:

• Will they recruit a DP No. 9 over Pat Agyemang now that they’ve opened up a slot? (I have heard they won’t, which pleases me).

• Will Pep Biel actually play centrally as a No. 10, or is he fighting for time on the right wing as an inverted playmaker? (my guess is the latter, but that’s just a guess).

4. I’m not sure I believe either the Timo Werner rumors or the Patson Daka rumors. But if either of those moves happen, that’d soothe a lot of the ambition-related hurt New York Red Bulls fans have endured in the decade since Thierry Henry retired.

More columns coming this week, of course. See you on the interwebs!