Off-Season Player Rumors & Movement 2013

IMO the problem isn't all with Freddy (A lot of it is), it's that Freddy's Skill Set doesn't translate well into MLS due to the physical nature of play. Teams like Houston and SKC will knock Freddy off of the ball and basically mark/bump him out of the match. The same thing happens with other teams who have strong, physical & athletic players in midfield. When he plays against teams who have players that are more technical (like RBNY, & TFC who have a lot of European Players) he gets more time on the ball and tends to flourish. Maybe the FO should get a BIG, strong, Athletic CM to patrol the middle of the park. This could give Freddy the space he needs to be effective. This MF would also be a sort of enforcer as well, a player that can dish out some tactical punishment when the Houston's and SKC's of the league attempt to bully our troop of Smurfs.

One the other hand some players just can't play in MLS due to the current emphasis on Speed, Athleticism, and Strength in the league by the majority of the teams.

 

Going off this, though I haven't watched him much at Columbus, does anyone know if Tchani would be available/is worth picking up? I had a mancrush on him when he came out in the draft, and he would add much needed size to the team.

 

These changes are not sufficient in my mind. This team is just not good enough with the players on the roster. More needs to be done then just adding a striker and finding a creative midfielder. There is no defensive depth. The midfield needs to be completely blown up. Most of the forwards should be traded or cut. We need a veteran goalkeeper. We're fundamentally weak in every area other than defense, and even the defense was only a little bit better than average this year, which isn't saying much considering Hack's 4-5-1 is a permanently parked bus.

 

Can someone provide a credible link to these Crouch talks. I couldn't find any off google typing "Peter Crouch to Philadelphia Union." Not that our handy blogs and unofficial sites are not reliable, but anyone could make a Union site. I could make one and say "Robbie Keane rumored to the Union, from a reliable source.*"


*PS3

 

True, but he doesn't have enough bite (yet).......... I'm thinking more along the lines of a Jeff Larentowicz style at MF, without the Ginger Ninja Temper though.

 

I don't understand why so many here think he should return to CDM. I think he's better at CB than he was at CDM, even though he claims that it's not his preferred position. A lot of other guys have gone down a similar path.

 

I'm in your camp with this reaction too, but for some different reasons. I'll focus on just one in this reply.

When you watch the Union approach the final third, and some other teams like NYRB for example do this too, you see the forward or midfielder play the ball back as the side defender runs up into the play and gets wide toward the touch line. This "get the side defenders up to provide width" tactic is implemented by both NYRB and the Union, and I think it is costing both teams a great deal of scoring chances because of the inherent sacrifices in such a strategy. (I'm not saying this wouldn't work better for other teams. I'm just looking at these two teams.)

So what are the sacrifices with this strategy? Well, when you hold the ball up to play it to a late arriving side defender or wing back, your forwards have to stop their runs and opposing defenders get an opportunity to communicate and mark everyone up. Even with great side defenders, that just makes everyone's job harder. You can still get your SD forward into the play without holding play up for them to arrive, routinely. With a true winger on the pitch, which neither NYRB nor Philly have right now, that player can provide width immediately without the hold up.

Why is that so great? Well, for one, the defenders don't get any extra time to clear up their marks in this scenario, because forwards can continue their runs more frequently. You also get the prospect of early crosses, low or high, where our forwards height isn't an issue, because the speed from still running provides them with space. It's more up tempo so you can't run this constantly, but to have the option keeps your opponents off balance. A team like the Union could go more up tempo because we are so full of youngins, or so one would think. Maybe stamina is an issue for some. This isn't every single play, mind you, but it becomes part of your attacking options and you become far less predictable than currently constructed. In sum, what I am saying is, the SD getting into the play thing really isn't an adequate substitute for a more versatile winger midfielder. It handicaps the offense and it shows. A winger with pace, dribbling ability, and crossing ability would do wonders.

So for as much as I'd like a new LB, a veteran GK, a target man, and a better a-mid. I'd really like to see us prioritize the target man and a winger, preferably on the left. With just those two pieces, we could have a different attack all-together next season.

 

Repp'd. I've been saying this for a while. The Union have no true winger, especially with Marfan forced into the middle. A winger should be top priority alongside a target man.

 

Why would you think that? He's had one assist in his entire career with the Union, and it was this year while playing as a CB.

I see his distribution as being more valuable out of CB where he can see the entire field. He's not a play maker, but he's good at moving the ball quickly to the guys who are. He's similar to Tim Ream in that regard, except he can actually defend whereas Timmy can't.

It's probably better for his career if he remains at CB because CDM is a very crowded position in both the league and the national talent pool.

 

Dills is right. Okugo's distribution makes him a better fit at CDM than CB. Plus there were far too many times where Okugo was out of position as a cornerback. It's not his natural position.

If Grafite is a logical option, he would be my number 1 target this offseason. No question. Big enough striker, adept finisher, and a wizard on the ball. I don't care how old he is.

And I'll post this again, because it's just so awesome.

 

Pretty sure that's SOP. Wouldn't be surprised if Zach wasn't wearing Everton gear while training there. It would be a shame to lose a player with some balls like Gomez.

 

OK. It took a year and a half but I'm done. Finished with Adu I mean. He can go. Reading the quote below makes it obvious that the guy STILL thinks he's worth what he's being paid and more and THAT delusion makes him a liability to the club even if he does manage to sting together a few nice passes next year...

"By 23, right now, I would have loved to be playing in a top league in Europe, but it didn't work out that way," Adu said. "Now I'm looking at 25. It's pushed back a couple of years, but not much… Hopefully I'll do better next year, and then go from there."

 

Im ready for him to be done too. I agree with you that he needs to realize he might not be a top flight player in Europe, however he has a point that Europe is better than MLS (top flight Europe that is). I personally would be happy playing MLS, but i can say that sucking at soccer. If I was good would i want to play for West Ham. yeah.

 

Both of you are missing the point. Adu will count against the Union's cap in 2013 so the decision is not to keep him or cut him, but rather what to do about him. As I see it, the Union have three options:

A. Play him.
B. Don't play him.
C. Get something for him by way of trade or transfer.

Option A could work out well in that Freddy appears to be confronting his player mortality in that he is viewing next season as "now or never". It is possible that the Union could get excellent effort and production out of him much like a baseball or a basketball player entering his last season before free agency. Although only 23, Freddy is not getting any younger and he is clearly looking for European glory and a big pay day. He only gets that opportunity if he performs at a high level in a lesser league.

Option B is not helpful to the Union or to Freddy. Making him JDG Part II is bad for everyone. A sulking Freddy Adu at practice everyday is bad for business.

Option C would be great from the team's perspective, but it is unlikely that the team can get anything of real value for him. Even if they can unload him, they likely will bear part of his salary either in real dollars or cap amount. Making a trade for a similarly disgruntled high-priced player changes the problem without fixing it. Plus, if the Union really wanted to choose Option C, they should have played him rather than sit him the last two games.

I believe that they will (and should) go with Option A. Hackworth needs to get Freddy to buy into the system so that Freddy performs at a high level to increase his value. That's the only "win-win" in this situation.

 

Well that helps a lot. I def missed the point there. Just a frustrating for all parties enveloped, Fans, teammates, coaches, and FO.

 

I hope we sign him just because of that one goal.

 

To be fair, that was probably one of the worst Bayern defensive lineups in history...I remember watching that game and wanting to shoot myself in the head. ********ing christian lell....but he'll still tear shit up in MLS if we can bag him.

 

Honestly, what's Grafite supposed to say in that situation? While it's nice to hear, it really shouldn't even move the needle of the likelihood of him coming to Philly.