When the price is right, at least two MLS clubs could pick up 36-year-old English centre-back John Terry. Maybe they could even escape criticism over becoming retirement teams.
As U.S. pro soccer teams move to trickier formations to win games, John Terry, the soon-departing Chelsea captain can fill the bill for several years as a leader and teacher of the next new formation.
What Formation?
Chelsea Coach Antonio Conte isn’t married to it the 4-3-3 this year. Last year he consistently went to it. They have been successful enough with it to spur growing popularity for the formation, as well as attention for the place Terry found in it, even with his waning presence on the pitch. Here is what Conte had to say about Terry:
"John is an important player for us if he plays or if he doesn’t play: for the changing room, for the teammates, for the club. In this case it’s always important to think about the team, and not about an individual player."
Which MLS Teams?
In his Armchair Analyst post, MLS Analyst Matt Doyle points to two teams evolving to the 3-4-3.
New York City FC will use the formation, at least part-time with Andrea Pirlo rested, he says. Columbus Crew SC will go even heavier:
"They’re overloaded with center backs and central midfielders who can play in the diamond. That might become their default “oh man, we’re down late and need to throw the kitchen sink at ’em” formation."
He almost found a third 3-4-3 club, Atlanta United FC, but Doyle decided this club is likely to move to the more severe 4-2-4.
3-4-3 Clues
So there are two MLS clubs dropping clues they could be moving toward a formation that John Terry captained, even as his game appearances declined. For one to make the deal, Terry’s price has to decline as well, says Jeff Carlisle in a post for ESPNFC, who cited an unnamed source:
"The league source indicated via email that some preliminary discussions between MLS and Terry’s representatives had taken place over the winter, but no recent talks had been held due to the fact that no MLS teams are interested in signing the defender at Designated Player levels, which is what [Terry is] looking for."
Next: MLS All-Stars vs. Real Madrid
When that price is right, a team will go hunting more wins in the league with the 4-3-3.