Not really. Thomas and Ginger to start, Pablo off the bench as a sub/fill-in starter when necessary. Pablo gives team leadership and mentors O'Neill. If the right option comes along it gives us the freedom to trade Larentowicz (or Thomas) but we don't have so much tied up that one of them needs to move.
This actually adds a lot of flexibility from a defensive standpoint. Pablo can play CB, if needed. Great mentor, especially for O'Neill - who is already looking pretty strong. Could put the Rapids in a position to trade JL to meet other needs. Edit - Of course, Jasonma beat me to it (but great minds and all).
With Pablo's missing most of last year, it almost makes me grateful to hear this old Bigsoccer bromide about him again. Psychosomatic or not, the fact that Pablo has had concussions in the past makes him more likely for recurrence (and recurrence of psychosomatic symptoms, as well). So while I think his leadership on the backline would highly valuable, I worry about him contesting for long-balls on a regular basis (which is more likely as a CB than a DM). Either way, it's great news he's back, and if he gives nothing else next year, his leadership and the added competition for spots and competitive fire should help this team massively. I just hope we learned our lesson from the Casey experience, and don't expect Pablo to be the team's panacea.
This all sounds good but lets not forget that Pablo is a class A competitor, and reason I immediately was drawn to liking him. Do you all really think he will sit by and accept a bench role if JL continues or Thomas have defensive issues? Mentoring is a joke of a duty in sports, good coaching and playing time are what is needed for him to improve as a player and not we have most likely pushed him out of the 18.
I sure as sh-t hope not! The whole point is for competition! We don't want any one to be content with a bench roll do we?
I get that you might be cynical and have doubts about his ability to play again, but why the "lol" at the end?!? There is nothing funny about a statement like that. If you were trying to make a joke, "jk" is what you wanted. If you really think that it would be funny if that were to happen then you need to get your head checked.
Is mastroni the oldest midfielder in the league now that beck's is gone? this makes zero sense just let him go he will get hurt again and be gone again. i dont like pablo never have.
Good on ya! IMO, Mastroeni will not be a significant contributor for the Rapids on the field again. Indeed, his signing, except as a very short term good bye gesture, was wishful thinking. Moreover, if O'Neill is the talented DM for the future, Mastroeni's signing likely delays O'Neill's growth & maturation. Therefore, I believe that this Mastroeni re-signing is a lose/lose proposition. Hopefully, Mastroeni does not suffer any further ill effects due to this ill-conceived event.
instead of following him all over bigsoccer and telling him to "go away" why dont you just put him on ignore?
I guess it comes to this. If the great benefit of having Pablo is as a mentor, an inspiration... a leader by example, then how f'ing rudderless is this team and how the hell are they gonna move on. How useless are Mullan, Moor, Wynne, Thomas, Cummings, Larentowicz, Castrillon... that they can't lift the team and be a good example to the young guys? Brian Mullan's got two Supporters Shields, five MLS Cups, and an Open Cup, but we need Pablo to lead the team... There is no future here.
Excellent point. I wouldn't go as far as saying "useless", especially with players like Castrillon and Thomas who've been in the organization a year or less; expecting them to be the leader Pablo was...that's not a fair expectation. But it is worrying that none of the guys who were on the team (including Casey) could step up to the plate in Pablo's absence. Mullan's clearly always been a player who leads by example - if we take last year as evidence, it seems most of the players on this team didn't want to follow his hardworking-on-both-ends-of-the-pitch example. Which is disconcerting. I don't know what to say about the other players you listed...perhaps Moor can grow into that role, but last year shows he's not naturally born with that gift. Though I don't necessarily agree about there being no future, as Pablo could easily lead the team from the sidelines if that's what it takes. I think he's as much a vocal leader as a leader by example with this team.