I'm okay with that. That's why they're called box-to-box midfielders. I think with all the "projects" we've seen this year, Gaddis as MF isn't that farfetched.
We bought damaged goods, I doubt another team would be as gullible eager to do the same. No more projects, please. Let players play where they're comfortable unless the situation forces it (see Farfan, Gabriel and Okugo, Amobi).
But that's exactly my point. He looks comfortable when performing the duties of a midfielder, and less so when defending.
Gaddis is not a box to box midfielder. We do need one of those players (think in the mold of Stu Holden or Sasha Kljestin), but we need to demand that the FO bring in players that are actually going to improve the team. We can't keep accepting the team's approach of shifting players around hoping they fit to either save money (which they are not due to the Salary Cap) or continue the youth movement (which in a salary cap league really does not make too much sense.)
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...oped-by-peter-nowak-philadelphia-union-092612 Wouldn't mind Orozco being back on the team if we make amends with him. Be nice to have the depth.
As mentioned, he wouldn't be a box to box midfielder. He is more of a winger if you are going to put him in the midfield. A box to box is a central midfielder that is responsible for both some offensive and defensive duty and gets up and down the field, but not necessarily at speed (and by that I mean they don't need blazing top speed like that which benefits a winger). When you have a box to box midfielder he needs to be comfortable on the ball, a good passer, have vision, and be able to break up plays defensively. If you watch some EPL games in the next few weeks watch players like Fellaini (Everton) and Yaya Toure (Man City) and you'll see what a box to box midfielder would be. While it would be nice to see a player of that style, I'm not sure it will work with the system we play as it would leave the defense massively exposed when he made a forward run that results in a turnover. We have a tendency to send the outside backs way up the sides to contribute to the width. When that happens we only have the two center defenders and 2 central midfielders as cover. We would be sitting ducks for quick counters as we wouldn't have the speed to cope with a fast player making a break, and we'd find ourselves scrambling quite quickly.
And he probably is. But he sure won't ever be used like one here. You need to play a non-diamond 4-4-2 (so no CAM) or a 4-5-1 where the wings aren't bombing up the field or you have some extra midfielders to cover for him if he happens to get caught too far upfield if there is a turnover. And if you think about how the team played under Nowak then you could kind of see how he was used effectively (him personally, not the team). He scored 4 goals in 817 minutes in the Nowak formation, he has 1 in 567 in Hackworth's system. He was a lock for Nowak's system but has no real place in this system Hack runs. So looking for a true box-to-box is just adding a player that won't be used correctly.
I think it has more to do with the fact that he's just been poor since coming back from injury. Hartman took him out on the goal he scored in Dallas, and when he came back, he was playing under a new coach. He's really lost a step since then. He looks out of shape, his distribution is poor, and his dead ball delivery is way off.
Gomez can not create offensive chances. Hopefully you will not have to watch him play again, but if you do, watch how long he takes to get rid of the ball. He usually makes a good pass, but he takes that extra fraction of a second to make up his mind/settle the ball before releasing it. And that fraction is all it takes for the opposition to intercept the ball or press the recipient.
Love how Gabriel is making things a bit more transparent with the team: http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/10/union-daily-vol-2
Good to see that KG has convinced the team that disclosing trialist names is not a big deal in MLS since there is no real fear that other teams may put discovery claims on them - especially, players from USL PRO. Perhaps next on KG's hit list is to get some recent team practice photos for his reports (with Pajoy, Perlaza, and Kanyuka in the photo - they are still using Open Practice photos from late June).
It's renewal time they should be shouting from the rooftops that they are going after a big time striker and are going to move heaven and earth to make that happen.
Is it possible that by "Big Time" he means the forwards has played a lot of minutes? Or could it be that he is old? Call me cynical, but I would like to hear words like "Proven", "Prime of his career", and such.
"It was reported that [Drogba] signed a two-and-a-half year deal where he will earn £200,000 a week." Any other suggestions?
Is this post-Chinese club? -EDIT- Maybe Valdes can put in a good word with his buddy Diego Forlan ...