For all the changes Metro has endured over the years, one thing seems constant (other than playoff failure) -- the late-season waiting for help. It seems that no matter what year it is, if Metro is doing well or poorly, there is some new player knocking down the team's door in the season's waning moments, with fans raising their hopes that his addition will somehow raise the team's play. But as we all know, those hopes turn out to be broken, as all we get in return is more playoff failure. So let's look at these late-season additions and try to measure Metro's success rate over the years.

1996: Antony De Avila. The one clear success in this group came in the inaugural season, when Metro, waiting and searching for a long time for a replacement to the flop that was Ruben Dario Hernandez, came up with the diminutive Colombian. "El Pitufo" was great down the stretch, was a monster on AstroTurf, scored eight goals in just 11 games, and played another season for Metro. You can read more about him here and here. Definitely, Success.

1997: Branco. Another replacement, this for the horrible Joao Luiz, the World Cup winner came with a reputation of free kick goals and red cards and delivered on both, with a free kick in an Open Cup semifinal and three red cards, one for spitting on Mike Lapper in the penultimate regular season game that cost Metro the season. 13 games, two goals, gone after the year. Failure.

1998: What do you know! No late-season signings. Metro will make up for that in...

1999: Mohammad Khakpour, Sasa Curcic, and Henry Zambrano. When Lothar Matthaus bailed on Metro, Charlie Stillitano scrambled, and came up with this trio. Khakpour: looked twice his age and played liked it, 15 games, no goals, cut after five games next season. Curcic: nine games, two goals, season-ending injury, but at least the self-proclaimed "Dennis Rodman of MLS" provided some comical moments with his Japanese-talking watch and his request for a wave runner so he can get across the Hudson River faster. Zambrano: 14 games, three goals, traded to Colorado after the season. Failure, Failure, Failure.

2000: Julian Gomez. A target of a recent Obscure Metro Files, one of the worst players in Metro history. Five games, no goals, cut after the year. Failure.

2001: Gilmar. After mid-season re-acquisition Roy Myers lasted just three games before tearing his ACL, he himself was replaced with Gilmar, a former Mutiny player that Nick Sakiewicz saw at an airport and decided to sign. Eight games, no goals, two red cards from a supposed forward. Gone after the year. Failure.

2002: Leo Krupnik. Who the hell is that? Well, after flirting with the likes of Alessandro Costacurta and Tony Adams, Metro ended up signing... their own 6th round draft pick, who failed to make the team the previous offseason. Never played a game, gone after the year, but has had a nice career in the Israeli league since. Failure.