When it comes to choosing the “best player” in any given category, there will inevitably be some differences in opinions. In this week’s episode of Extratime, Andrew Wiebe, David Gass and Charlie Davies debated their top picks for who deserves the title of top signing for the 2020 MLS season.
Davies went with big, splashy signings that have had a very obvious impact on their clubs: Lucas Zelarayan (Columbus Crew SC), Pablo Piatti (Toronto FC) and Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City).
Gass took a slightly different approach, naming players who filled a need for their respective sides: Antonio Carlos (Orlando City SC), Pedro Gallese (Orlando City SC), Jose Martinez (Philadelphia Union) and Jose Aja (Minnesota United FC).
While Wiebe broke down the best signings by category in his column, when came down to it, the host went all-in on Nashville SC’s Walker Zimmerman. “They paid a lot of money for him, but it goes straight into that same sort of legacy of the Ike Opara trade for Minnesota United.”
Nashville SC acquired the defender from LAFC on February 11, 2020 and signed Zimmerman to a three-year contract extension with an option for 2024 on August 10. At the time, Nashville GM Mike Jacobs said, “He is an important piece of our club’s present and future, and we wanted to commit ourselves to him to demonstrate that.”
The 27-year-old is coming into his prime, getting 12 caps with the US men’s national team since 2017 and earning MLS Best XI honors for 2019 for anchoring an LAFC defense that allowed the fewest goals in MLS that season. This year, Nashville is tied with Seattle for 5th fewest goals allowed in MLS and are building their defense around Zimmerman.
Who would you name as the single best signing in MLS in 2020? Listen to the guys make their arguments in the clip below and then give us your pick in the comments.
