Going into this round we needed CB's; Going into next round we still do!

I'm biased being from Seattle, but it's painful to see George John keep getting injured. I really think he is NT quality.

 

Cameron isn't going anywhere but I do worry he's not playing CB with stoke.

Omar hasn't gotten a look yet. He needs to be brought in. Nov would be great but playoffs might get in the way.

John needs a look. I wouldn't mind DeMerit getting a look. Maybe convert Edu but he doesn't play there for his club either. Brooks is still too young. Doubt he's ready this cycle, but who knows.

 

I wouldn't say that Cameron was ball watching. He couldn't turn and run when the guy in front of him and facing him (albeit quite a few yards away) has the ball. And Gonzalez hasn't really been tried. He would have gotten a SERIOUS look this year, but he got injured. Hopefully he gets a real opportunity now that he is recovering/recovered.

 

Also, remember that George John used to be a Dmid. He has good ball skills even though he looks like a bruiser who would just boot the ball. Him and Cameron would really allow us to play out of the back.

 

I would like to see Omar Gonzalez who definitely deserves a shot.

 

That one was on Boca to me. I still don't get a real good camera view to definitively say, but Boca was not even to the rest of the backline and Howard was way to slow off of his line. It was a mistake, but that happens with all teams from time to time, and the backline really stepped it up after that goal.

 

Jimmy Conrad?

 

Yes but as a Centerback on the the far side of the field, Boca should easily be able to see Cameron's position and needs to be level with Cameron. Regardless of who you want to blame, it does come down to both and the lack of communication in that situation.

 

Cameron was not at fault. Boca probably would have been phased out absent injury to others
Matt Beasler is better than Boca right now All recent goals given up have been started by boca. Warrior. But his time is up

 

Cameron was ball watching. Guatemala player has the ball with his head up. As a CB, you have to give ground when the opposition has their head up and can play the ball especially when you are at midfield. On top of that. Williams passed off Ruiz and motioned towards Cameron. He was watching the guy with the ball who was 20 yds away. That is how guys who don't play CB for a living play.

 

This depends on the defensive gameplan going in. Is the plan a high line, or a loose line? Regardless, the easy play there is for Boca to step up two steps because Ruiz is already heading in a forward motion, but Boca was way too slow to do so.

 

Regardless if you are playing a high line or not, if the opposition is coming at you with the ball and their head up, it is suicidal to try and step up. Cameron was out to lunch on the play. He wasn't holding a line, he was just standing and staring.

 

Honest question, would Justin Morrow be capable of playing center back? I saw some Quakes fan mention he was just as comfortable at LCB as LB. I don't watch the Quakes a lot so I have no idea how comfortable he really is there. His height would concern me, but his speed and ball skills would be an assest and he'd be paired with a 6'4'' Cameron who is quite good in the air. Okugo is another one I want to watch.

 

I'd substitute Okugo for Soares, but other than that, those are the 6 most compelling CB prospects out of MLS. I do think we'd need to prioritize, though, as it's unlikely we'd be able to get real playing time to all six.

My own ranking would look something like this:

1) Gonzales
2) Besler
3) Okugo
4) John
5) Hedges
6) Berry

 

Personally, I'd much rather play Morrow as a left back, where I think he's probably the best candidate among guys who play the position in MLS. I just listed 6 guys (which should be plenty enough) that I would much rather experiment with at CB than Morrow.

 

I think Cameron had an off night, but I'm not sure we should write him off yet.

 

Fair point. I agree with your list of six and certainly think Morrow would be useful as a left back option. I'm trying to think if there are any others I would add to it. Maybe John Anthony Brooks in the future.

 

He was in the provisional roster it's a good sign that he's close. Hope he has a big game against SJ in the weekend because JK will be watching.

 

I agree with him having a better career at center back. At d mid, he's a solid player, but as a center back, he's more unique because of his athleticism and skill on the ball.

 

Personally, over the long-haul, I think Okugo might actually be the most compelling of these six CB candidates. I think you could call him the revelation of the season, although there are a few other players who could dispute that. But my ranking was based on the likelihood that these players could have a positive impact in meaningful matches next year in the Hex. I wasn't giving a lot of weight to "potential" down a few more years down the line, because I think we've entered a period where we just don't have the luxury of playing center backs who we think might be good in 2014 or 2015. We need guys who have a good chance to help us in 2014 but most importantly can help us win Hex matches. Otherwise, I think I would've rated Hedges a bit higher as well. (He's a guy I think might become one of my favorites in a couple more seasons.)

It's not that I don't rate Okugo at all at DM, but really the bar for DMs has been set very high, and he'd have to jump pretty high just to reach the level of "fringe candidate." At CB, he looks like just the kind of CB that we've been complaining that we don't often produce (because we've so often made them midfielders, IMO): a guy with real quickness, agility, and ability on the ball.