Who will have the biggest impact on MLS?

Red Bulls Welcome Angel with Open Arms
Aston Villa star Juan Pablo Angel joins Spice Boy and Sir Hops-a-lot (Blanco) as MLS's third marquee signing this season, so who will have the greatest impact on the league this season.

There's no touching Becks if our criteria for impact includes off-field endorsements or any other economic criteria (ticket sales, merchandise, etc.), although Blanco and Angel will bring in the fans in certain markets. However, regarding the on-the-pitch impact, Angel is head and shoulders above (pun intended) the other two. First of all, his early arrival, relative to Becks and Blanco, means Angel will have more pitch time. The club plans to bring him in as soon as he secures a work visa, which will take a matter of weeks, as opposed the months that LA and Chicago will wait for their stars.

Second, Angel's style of play will suit both MLS and his coach much better and much quicker than either Beckham or Blanco. Both Beckham and Blanco will probably be used in attacking midfielder roles and will have to rely on their teammates a lot more than the opportunistic goal-scorer Angel. Blanco, for example, will likely play a kind of Stoitchkovian role for Chicago, coming in late in games in either central midfield or in a withdrawn forward spot and will need to work well with their teammates to produce offense. Beckham will certainly be more successful in creating off set pieces solo, while Blanco's frustration with his Chicago teammates will build (as it did with Stoitchkov) until he becomes a disruptive force in the locker room. I don't anticipate Blanco and Chris Rolfe to become some sort of dynamic duo, after all. Plus, the 34-year-old oft-injured Mexican can’t hop like he used to.

Beckham, on the other hand, could be a bit more successful in his new Galaxy, but the adjustment will take some time, time that they won't have since he will be coming at the midway point of the season. Additionally, although Beckham will certainly score goals off set pieces, I do not anticipate an explosion of multi-goal games, as MLS defenses are vastly underrated in the professional world and will certainly stymie any one-dimensional attack that a solo-Beckham might try to put together. Plus, Beckham's off-the-field celebritizing will have its effect on team chemistry. There was already some grousing about his salary. Speaking of solo-Beckham attacks, what happens when he releases that rap album? (Note to Becks: please, Beckham, release a rap album. You would make TYH's day, please! Can you imagine it would sound like Avril Lavigne covering Chuck D, awesome!)

For NY Energy Drink fans, they might think that Angel was sent from above. His goal-poaching, tall frame and skill with his back to goal fits perfectly with Arena's style and will blend nicely with Captain America's delivery. And I can't believe I'm saying this...but the once bloated cowboy Clint might actually be making a comeback that will assist in their offensive firepower. Of course, all this bodes well for NY, but not for the TYH because it just means more Messing-anic idiocy from Shepp (see last post) who will no doubt gloat like a school girl over their success.

Of course, all three could break their ankles, making this entire debate moot.