I understand what you're trying to say. But you have to also be realistic. EVERY TEAM in the MLS has a "Dunfield" as a starter. The salary cap means that no MLS team an have a squad full of stars - its just not possible with the limitations of the league. Every team also has a share of "over the hill" aging players from Lee at Vancouver, to Earnshaw at TFC, to Nesta at Montreal, Cahill NY, the list goes on and on. It's just the way of the league!
The league set up also doesn't really allow for a one year change around in form. You simply can't go out and "buy" success like you can in other world leagues. Look at TFC - if they could just "buy out" all their injured players, then it would have been simple. But the rules just don't allow that. It's far more realistic to have a 1 or 2 or even 3 years rebuild.
I'm hopefully that Payne and Nelson can find "some" success this season, but even within one year would be a rapid speed given the limitations of the MLS and salary cap.