Hey now, a lot has transpired since this thread was initiated. I'll post another one a week before the season starts to see how sentiments are trending.
Agree. A LOT has changed. I'm a ton more optimistic than I was 5 weeks ago. I still have some nagging doubts about our coach's ability, but I'm super impressed with the collection of talent that Bliss has amassed on this team. On paper, this appears to be a better team than 2008. At least to me.
I'd wait a while before saying we're better than in 2008. Apart from the head coach, let's see if Higuain can run the offense to the tune of 19 assists and become MVP as Guille did. We also had better fullbacks with Gino and Frankie then than we do now with Williams and Wahl. I'm certainly more optimistic now than a month ago but let's see how the regular season goes.
I'm with Cleazer. 6 weeks ago people were ready to head down to the stadium with pitchforks and now there seems to be a bit of actual optimism. If you were doom and gloom before I will be glad to feed you some humble pie come October.
If you read the direction of the thread, my prediction was that I was going to post another thread 1 week before the season started and again at the halfway mark. I also can now predict will post one at the 3/4 mark. FWIW, I still think we are going to miss the playoffs.
I still say miss playoffs but I will move up one spot to 6th in the East. I think our defense will be shakey especially in the beginning and our offense will 80% come from Higuain and Arrieta so can be slowed. And then there is the coaching decisions. So just miss the playoffs seems right.
My prediction of 6th and miss the playoffs was more along the lines of coach doesn't get as much out of the team as seems possible. I'll change my vote to 3rd and make the playoffs with coach doesn't get as much out of the team as seems possible taking effect in the first round of the playoffs. That being said, pass me some Crew-ade. Sanchez and Viana look like a great midfield pairing. Oduro brings us speed we haven't had in a while; and with Higuain feeding him the ball, he'll get the chances he needs to score a few goals. Plus, Arrieta and FH33 together for a whole season will be great. Depth could still be an issue, but our starting lineup has me pretty optimistic about how far this team could go.
There have been intervening facts since this poll was created. It would be perfectly reasonable to change your mind in the face of intervening facts.
I was thinking that the "better than 2008" quotes were becuase they thought this *team* was better and the offense would not just have to run thru one single player like it did with GBS in 2008. At least that's what I thought they were saying.
Yes, that's what I thought they were saying too. IMO it's too early to say that. In fact the 2008 team got off to an excellent start to the season so it's hard to see this year's team improving much on that.
I think some of you understood what I was saying..... I think the words "On paper....." are sort of important in this context. Looking at the projected starters (not sure who the other midfielder will/should be, compared to the '08 Cup starters, I count 6 of the 11 that I think are or will be (this season) as good or better as those starters. I count 5 that are probably worse. It's tough because I dinged Marshall '13 version as being worse than Marshall '08 version, but Gaven '13 is better than Gaven '08. I also slated Oduro to be as good or better than tRR '08. Frankie and Gino better than Williams and Viana, Glauber at least as good as O'Rourke, and Sanchez at least as good as Carroll. Whoever plays that other midfield spot has to compare to Evans '08, so that's a tough road to hoe. Hopefully the formatting shows through. 2013 Projected Starter 2008 MLS Cup Starter Andy >= Hesmer RB Williams < Frankie Marshall '13 < Marshal '08 Glauber >= O'Rourke Viana < Gino Oduro >= Rogers Gaven '13 > Gaven '08 Sanchez >= Carroll MF to be named < Evans Higuain < GBS Arrietta > Moreno
I generally agree with all of these except Oduro. Especially with Dom playing on the wing rather than up top, I'd rather have 2008 Rogers every day of the week. But I hope he proves me wrong.
The team obviously has to come together. No question there. I am excited by the offensive possibilities. I am excited about the long term prospects beyond what can be done this year. We've never had a season where more than 2 players have had over 10+ goals. We've only had 4 years where that has happened at all, the last being McBride and Buddle in 2003. The '01 team had 4 players with 7+, with only Cunningham leading the way with 10. This team has that kind firepower. Could we see 3 with 10+? Of course, goals don't translate to championships as the '08 squad had 0 10+ scorers. Something to be said for balance, as maybe our 2nd best side ever in '01 had a nice balance. But that balance is where this '13 squad excites me. I could even see 4 guys topping 10 and when you have that balance a rising tide raises all ships. Like the '01 and '08 teams with these guys the opposition is going to have to pick their poison. It all comes down to the central midfield where we've been terrible basically since the Carroll Evans pairing.
These comparisons are based on zero facts. Our current group has never won an MLS championship. They've also never not won an MLS championship. Until this season is over, we have no idea what kind of results these guys are capable of.
I don't know.... I see the point to your argument. However, I find it hard to believe that Glauber could be much worse than 2008 Danny O'Rourke at Center Back. I don't have the stats, so it's COMPLETELY anecdotal, but how many reds did he earn in that role that year? PK's given? I want to say 2 - 3 on the first one, and 4 - 5 on the second one? So, in my mind, anything better than that, plus 1 - 2 set piece goals is better.... perhaps equal to, but certainly not worse.... On the Oduro/tRR..... that is probably my weakest argument on there. tRR was mostly an unknown prior to that season, and he had an AWESOME season. My gut says that Oduru will link up pretty well with our FWD crew and create some offense, much like the '08 version of tRR. He will most likely then be promptly benched (ala Meram) for not being responsible on defense.