Minnesota United: More work to be done after Romain Metanire signing

It’s official, Minnesota United have their right back. Romain Metanire arrived from Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims at the weekend. But there is still more work to be done this offseason if the Loons are to challenge in MLS this season.

In a move that was confirmed by local media last week, Minnesota United have officially added Madagascar international Romain Metanire.

It was a move that has been reported for some time and presumed completed, but the official announcement was slow in coming.

Metanire joins the side on a two-year deal from Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims, where he was a key component in getting them promoted from Ligue 2 last season, making 37 appearances at right back. With nearly 200 appearances under his belt, mainly in France’s Ligue 2, the 28-year-old brings a nice balance of experience but still with plenty of years left in the tank.

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With Eric Miller’s contract status up in the air, the Loons needed a right back badly, and now if Miller comes back, he will likely be depth to back up Metanire as Minnesota hopes to bolster a back line that conceded 71 goals last season.

In their expansion season, Minnesota conceded a ghastly 70 goals. Last offseason, much of the focus was on filling out the Designated Player slots, which they have now completed with the acquisition of Jan Gregus this offseason, and bolstering the defense. Somehow, though, Minnesota’s defensive record actually worsened in their second season.

As such, the same priority of defensive help rings true this winter. Metanire, then, could well be a critically important addition. If the Loons are able to add a starting-quality center-back to the side, we should see the backline improve immensely. This is allied with improvements in central midfield also, providing greater structure in possession and protection against the counter-attack.

Though a solid one-on-one defender, Metanire can also get forward when the opportunity presents itself. He is also a fairly good crosser, which is exactly what Minnesota needs, in the event that they decide to deploy a formation that utilizes wing backs. Should they stay in a standard back four, though, it will be interesting to see just how frequently Metanire bombs forward and how effective he can be doing so in MLS.

Overall, it seems like a great signing in a position of desperate need. And with more pieces to add, especially on the back end, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the transfer window plays out. Metanire is a solid acquisition, but there is still more work to be done.