Juan Carlos Osorio has learned his lesson, he told the New York Post. Speaking about the recent departure of Juan Pietravallo and his current search for replacements, the master tactician said:

"That's what happens when we look at players from Brazil and Argentina. Average players in those countries have guaranteed contracts and the money that here seems to be a fortune, over there a lot of players make that money. I learned my lesson and hopefully that won't happen again."

So far so good. So he admits signing Pietravallo, an average at best (to put it mildly) player to a guaranteed contract was a mistake. Osorio continues:

"I have my own criteria now. And one of the things that I learned in my time being in charge is that if we're going to look at the Central American or South American market -- because with the budget number that we have here, that's one of the few markets that we can have access to -- then the one thing that I will require is that particular player has some sort of experience in Europe."

Oh boy. Well, dear Juan Carlos, you know who had "some sort of experience in Europe"? Juan Pietravallo, who spent time in Spain AND in Greece. As for MLS players who came to the league straight from South America? Oh yes, there has been their share of failures, but the list also includes Fredy Montero, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Christian Gomez, and even Osorio's old pal, Wilman Conde.

There is no formula, dear Juan Carlos. There is no formula.