Monday Morning Centre Back: Koke is Spanish for Quitter

Yes, it's Tuesday, but since yesterday was a holiday you'll have to forgive me for moving my usual Monday morning post to today. I'm sure you won't mind since there was enough news over the past couple days to prove that while the country was enjoying the holiday weekend, business moved along as usual in MLS.

Here in Houston we're once again dealing with what can best be described as stupid and unnecessary drama. Spanish forward Koke is done with the Dynamo, which I'm sure everyone knows by now. He can throw out all the family related excuses he wants on Facebook but the solid confirmed fact is that he quit. Instead of MLS being an easy payday, he found it to be difficult and challenging and rather than challenge himself to work harder and try to overcome the challenges, he chose to run back to Europe, tail stuck far between his legs. Good riddance.

At some point players of Koke's ilk will come to realize that just because the world typically makes fun of MLS, that doesn't mean you can roll in out of fitness and expect to no only start regularly, but dominate. Koke did neither, instead hoping he could coast his way to some easy money if a league he no doubt thought would be of the cupcake variety. Clearly if he did talk to Carlos Ruiz or Freddy Adu in Greece about MLS, either they were giving him vastly incorrect information, or more likely, he wasn't listening.

Whatever the reason, the good news is the Dynamo didn't spend a ton of money on Koke and he wasn't a designated player. The league will no doubt void his contract as requested and Houston will move on with cap space in to the summer transfer window. Not that anyone is filled with a lot of confidence about what they'll find there. Despite their best efforts, the Dynamo are batting a big .000 in the "big name" foreign signing department. Whatever the reason behind the issue, there will no doubt be some rethinking about who they sign next and how they go about vetting those individuals.

I could probably go on about better scouting or "doing your homework" but what's the point. It's not like Houston are the only MLS club to struggle in this department and other than bringing annoyance and disappointment, it's not really hurt the club to seriously yet. Still I can understand fan's frustration with the situation and the fact that yet another signing has gone bust. There can only be so many Franco Caraccio, Luis Landin and Koke type signing before a fan base get antsy, but that's part of the business. The front office is at least committed to the process, all we can ask if that they learn from the previous mistakes.

As for Koke, no doubt he'll re-sign with Aris or another similar club and enjoy playing again where things are easier for him and he isn't challenged. This makes perfect sense as Koke is a quitter and that's what quitters do.