All I can say is I want to see Macdonald and Fernandez start Saturday. I don't want to hear they need time to get into shape or blend in with the team.
FK will need to go to a 4-4-2 for that to happen and it would mean that two of our current starters would go to the bench. Nyarko, Pappa, Rolfe, Alex, Oduro, Pardo or Pause. If they both start then what about this. -----MacDonald-----------Rolfe----- --------------------Alex---------------- --Fernandez------------------Pappa-- --------------Pardo or Pause---------- -Segares-Freidrich-Berry-Dan/Anibaba- -----------------Johnson-------------- Subs:Oduro, Nyarko, Pardo/Pause, Nolly, Jumper, Bone, Paladini, Anibaba/Gargan I like the fact that we would have alot more options coming off the bench.
I don't know about Macdonald, but Fernandez and Pappa (if available) for sure. Nyarko could use a break from getting the crap kicked out of him, and Alex was craptacular giving the ball away. It wouldn't break my heart to see Gargan sit in favor of Anibaba, who was slightly less bad Saturday and has more upside ahead of him.
Personally I would like to see if Oduro can be more effective as a 2nd half sub. Has he been used in this capacity even once so far in his time with the Fire?
@RadioGonzo He was right when we first traded for him. He played himself into the lineup and hasn't looked back. Also made a couple substitute appearances when we were resting him.
I think its crazy to even contemplate sitting dom.tfc is the perfect chance to see if the team can step up on offence. The line up I would roll out with if I was frank. -------------big mac-----------dom------- -------------------------rolfe----------------- ------------pappa---------------Nyarko--- -----------------------pause--------------- Segares----berry------arne---gargan Bench.pardo,anibaba,Alex,jumper,barouch,flaco,paldini,tornaghi. Subs, if fire get lead pardo for big mac.otherwise flaco should se some minutes, maybe Alex for rolfe late game.
You would start the DP who is a little out of gameday best, over the DP who's a proven MLS performer? I also wouldn't mind seing Nyarko as sub. He got beat to hell this weekend and Toronto aren't exactly a finesse team.....
Fernandez is training with the team, FK said he's fit and ready. My question is does FK start him against Toronto or does he bring him along slowly.
Oh brother.We have to bring macdonald along slowly because he's not in shape and fernandez because he doesn't know the team. Give me a break the guys starting can't score. Start both fernandez and macdonald. If macdonald tires,sustitute him.
Toronto looked very good yesterday in a concacaff game winning 5-1. They have some nice young players that are starting to gell. With the lack of scoring our team has been going through we couldn't score that many goals against a high school team.
Pause will take the ball at center line and dribble through the whole of Toronto's team and blast the ball in the upper corner of the net, like he has done so many times before.
MacDonald didn't look even close to being ready to play last weekend, let alone start. He did have that one good through ball to Pause, but he looked really out of shape. When he's match fit, I'll be interested in seeing what he can do as a starter, but I think we're better off starting Oduro at the moment. These next three games are going to be critical for our chances this season.
I'd like to see this lineup on Saturday, but I know it will not happen. ------Oduro---------Rolfe --------------Alex------------- Pappa-----------------------Flaco -------------Pause---------------- Sega----Berry----Friedrich--Gargan ------------Johnson----------------
Macdonald instead of oduro,anibaba instead of gargan and pardo instead of pause but neither of us will see the lineup we want.
people who advocate for Pardo as a lone dm are the most tactically naive people on this board and I would <3 to hear the reasoning for anibaba at rb over gargan, I'm sure it's very well thought-through
MacDonald is definitely not fit yet so I believe Oduro is the better option for now. If MacDonald was game fit, I would agree to start him over Oduro and let Oduro run past a tired defense at the end of the game and get the goal to seal the game. Anibaba is a servicable RB here and there, but as an every week starter, I don't think so. He and Berry is the CB pairing of the future and I would prefer Anibaba as more of a emergency or spot starter at RB. I've changed my mind on the Pause/Pardo thing. In general I would say Pardo>Pause, but given his age, the number of minutes he has already played, the sometimes shaky defense, and being in the middle of summer, I just don't think it is feasible. Start Pause as a lone CDM. If the Fire go down a goal, bring Pardo on for Pause. If the Fire are leading, bring on Pardo for one of the two strikers. I can't wait for tomorrow. I hope TFC go back to sucking in MLS because they are focused on CCL.
At least pardo scored on a free kick this year. Anibab-speed gargan is decent defender but his next crossing pass that finds a fire teammate will be his first.
