The MLS secondary window is open, and it closes on August 21st. That gives FCD 22 more days to make moves.
So let’s pause for a moment and discuss what FC Dallas should do with the remaining window.
2025 is Over
First, FCD sits on 25 points with 10 games to play. Unfortunately, they will almost certainly need 40-plus points to get that 9th spot and a play-in game. The Rapids in 9th place are on 30 and playing at a 1.2 PPG clip, so they will hit 40 points, give or take.
That means FCD on 25 points will need to win 5+ of their remaining games – that’s half – for 15 points to catch the Rapids, while jumping San Jose and Houston. They need to double their wins in a third of the game.
So, while not mathematically over, let’s acknowledge that it is, for all intents and purposes, over. Therefore, FCD should use this window for next season, not this one.
Heck, they should be thinking this way anyway, consider it an extra chance to build.
What’s Already Happened This Window
- Chris Cappis replaced Show Cafumana.
- Louicius Deedson replaced Leo Chu.
- Sam Sarver replaced…
um… Antonio Carrera? - Jacob Jackson replaced Antonio Carrera.
All three of those moves are roster dude moves. It is important to improve your dudes. You want better dudes who are on the same page with the coach.
Quill or Acosta?
The club needs to make a call between Eric Quill and Lucho Acosta cause it’s clearly not working. “The Acosta Problem” was never solved. He just doesn’t fit in the Quill system/style.
Past that, it’s simple, you don’t want to have a $4 mil salary DP who isn’t playing. So either fire the coach and get a new coach the player can play for, or get rid of the player.
Since Acosta is 31 and seems to wear out his welcome often, I would choose Quill. If they are going to choose Acosta, you might as well fire Quill now. Since the club keeps signing Quill’s guys – like Cappis and Sarver – it seems they are choosing Quill.
The club will probably just put off making a move either way, but they need to know which one is the choice from this point on.
A Buyout
MLS teams get two buyouts a season, but they have to use them by the end of this window, August 21, or they lose them. FCD has used one this season and has one left.
They also have two players they need to buy out, assuming Quill stays (and maybe even if Quill goes), both are under contract for 2026.
- Lucho Acosta – $4.3 mil gaurenteed comp.
- Paxton Pomykal – $1.2 mil guaranteed comp. In two seasons, 89 minutes played.
Both need to be bought out for 2026. I can’t see anyone in MLS trading for Acosta after another public burnout with a team. He’s 31 and expensive. Unless a team is truly desperate for a DP 10… maybe this winter you might be able to move him?
In which case, it’s time to buy out Pomykal because the team might need both of their buyouts next season, so they should use the one they have left before it expires. No one is picking up Paxton’s current deal or giving him a new one until he can prove he can play again.
Don’t feel bad for either player; in using the buyout, they will get their money. This is just about the roster and salary cap.
Get a Center Back
This is pretty much dead horse territory.
Lalas Abubakar is signed for 2026. Sebastien Ibeagha is on a ’26 option. Neither should be starting. If you have a couple of seasons to build with Alvaro, great, wait it out. If they stay 3-at-the-back, they will need him anyway.
But instead (and I’ve been saying this for literally years!), go get a TAM signing center back.
Said CB doesn’t need to be a DP, a buy-down TAM player is plenty good enough at CB. Hell, Osaze Urhoghide is on less. Bring the center back in now – there are more players available now than in the winter – and let them get used to the team.
Decline Ibeagha this winter. Or hell, you can offer him a low, backup number if you think you need the body.
Sell Farfan
Selling Marco Farfan was on my list for this winter, but, apparently, it’s teed up now with Tigres close to signing him.
This isn’t Farfan hate, it’s simple roster building. When you have two younger and cheaper players who can do the job, you move on the older, more expensive player.
Nolan Norris and Josh Torquato are both young and cheap. They make Farfn surplus to requirements. So, in a salary cap league, you move Farfan.
It’s simple.
If Farfan were a game-breaking star, this might be a different convo, but he’s not. He’s a good, solid, hard-working pro. With no salary cap, there would be no pressure to sell him, other than “Are the kids better?”
In a cap league, you sell Farfan every time.
And That’s It
Phase 1 of the Quill rebuild happened last fall when the club jettisoned the contracts of Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola. Added Urhoghide and Anderson Julio. Added Acosta (oops).
The summer window is Phase 2. The buyout, probably, of Pomykal, the addition of a center back, selling Frafan, and the smaller moves made above, that’s it.
Phase 3 will come this winter. And we’ll talk about that then, as the club’s needs are more defined. They have some more contracts to part ways with and maybe even execute both buyouts.
P.S. Enes Sali
His loan-out is ending. Sell him or loan him again. He can’t help FCD. Even if you have to loan him to North Texas SC.
**Phase 4 Hunts need to sell the team.
Hah! you know that’s not happening.
Good analysis! Unfortunately Acosta’s behavior to lead is toxic and he is not a real leader either. When we need to be solid defensively, he does not help at all!
We have a good foundation, mainly in the defensive midfield with Ramiro, very solid player. I agree about having a solid defender, even if it costs a DP position.
Just a matter of when Acosta goes I think.
I’m honestly just annoyed that the past 4 seasons have been “roster change seasons” according to some, yet we never get major results.
It feels that way because the Nico cycle never peaked and was just a steady decline. Hopefully this cycle is better.
I’d just love an acknowledgment from AZ or DH what most of us see… when you just keep doing the same thing–firing the coach–and expecting different results but it’s just more of the same, tell us you understand what the problems really are. But unfortunately, THEY are the problem.
When you broke down the two games Acosta didn’t play and how different it was–the players had to actually play instead of just “get the ball to Acosta”, Quill saying “the guys on the field”, and we’re not dealing with this arrogant, petty player, man that really triggered my “I’m done with him” mindset.
I said if Paxton couldn’t keep playing this season, it’s time for him to hang it up. He’s too fragile. His body keeps telling him no. Move him over to be an academy coach or something.
I’m a big Far-fan, so it’ll hurt to see him go, but over these past couple of years, players have gone that have hurt more, so I’m prepared.
Personally, I believe that lalas should be starting alongside Alvaro. but other than that I agree with you. do we know if the new guy from Haiti is being brought to be a starter , or is he more for depth off the bench?
Abubakar over Urhoghide? Or do you mean over Ibby?
We don’t know much about Deedson yet.
sorry I meant abubakar over ibby. and I feel like if urhoghide has another injury, Alvaro can handle the pressure. me and my dad have just gotten fed up with ibby. he’s strong but he’s slow.
Ah, Abubakar and Alvaro. They tried that once, and the communication fell all apart, the defensive shape was a shambles. While head to head I would consider Abubakar over Ibby, collectively, it’s not a great idea, it appears, without Osaze.
I wonder if Acosta would take less money for a move back to Argentina? If not he’s going to be hard to sell. What about Sebastian Llegett ? Would you buy his contract out in the Winter Transfer Window? Or is he out of contract?
He’s under contract through 2026.
If they want to sell him to Arg, and if he could go, FCD could use the buyout to eat the part of the salary his new team wasn’t willing to pay. “Make up the difference.”