GOOD MOVES. Hands down, Carlos Ruiz is the shrewdest foreign acquisition since the Wizards bagged Miklos Molnar in 2000.
Quick and cunning as a fox, yet strong in the box, Ruiz has a propensity for bad dives that he supersedes with good goals. He's dangerous in the air and especially adept at turning half-chances into solid shots.
Coach Bob Gansler couldn't recapture the 2000 magic of Molnar with just one player, so he's paired Russian Igor Simutenkov and Argentine Dario Fabbro.
They had combined for nine goals as of the All-Star break. Simuntenkov's incisive runs in the box and Fabbro's ability to hold the ball have brightened the Kansas City attack.
The Burn backline has been crying out for an experienced international player since long before Coach Mike Jeffries took over in 2001, and Northern Ireland defender Steve Morrow has brought toughness and guile. How he handles the final third of the season and the playoffs will determine how far Dallas goes.
Honduran Milton Reyes has been a valuable addition for D.C. United yet not quite the overpowering force he'd been expected to be. He simply can't overcome weaknesses in other areas of the team.
He may be a greater presence next season with a year under his belt and a better team – presumably – around him. He commits fewer rash fouls than he did earlier in the season.
Canadian defender Rick Titus has been a mainstay for the Rapids. He's been exposed at times by teammates' breakdowns but has proven himself to be a solid defender with adequate passing skills.
QUESTION MARKS. Chilean Raul Palacios has been credited with five assists in 13 Colorado games (six starts). He's played well at times but has also suffered through some shockers.
In very limited action, Alejandro Moreno (Venezuela via UNC Greensboro) has looked good for the Galaxy up front.
TOO SOON TO TELL. Guatemalan midfielder Freddy Garcia has been with the Crew for only a few weeks, and his obvious skill has yet to blended into the mix.
Eliseo Quintanilla may re-open a pipeline of Salvadoran players if he can hit the net for D.C.
Irishman Ronnie O'Brien is tenacious and has good feet. He may eventually take a Burn central midfield slot from either Oscar Pareja or Chad Deering but has played well on the right flank.
BAD STARTS. Winston Griffiths (Jamaica) has bounced from the Metros to the Galaxy to the Revs. Percy Olivares (Peru) has struggled in Dallas. Danny Jackson (England via the University of North Carolina) has been unable to get more than token time with the Rapids.
GONE. After more than two years being pursued by former Revs coach Fernando Clavijo, Carlos Semedo lasted just nine games for New England.
The former Portuguese under-21 international stepped into the typically chaotic New England situation, suffered an injury and was waived under suspicious circumstances.
Darin Lewis (Trinidad & Tobago) was waived after playing 48 minutes for the Metros.
by Soccer America Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney