This thread is for the lineup(s) I (you) want to see with the current group. Not necessarily the lineups they have been playing, or even the ones we think they will play. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm in agreement with cml that I think this team looks 4-5-1. We have been so scared off by the negative tactics of Nicol over the years that we think 4-5-1 is one of the 7 dirty words you can't say on television. Remember, formation is just a function of how players are deployed. Given the players they have, and the style Heaps (says) he wants to play, a 4-5-1 (more specifically a 4-2-3-1) is what (I think) this team is best suited for given it's players strengths and weaknesses, and even the cover players in their limited depth. [LINEUP-4-5-1]Sene/Moreno, Cardenas, Rowe, Simms, Benny, Shalrie, Leftback?, Soares, Lozano, Alston, Reis[/LINEUP-4-5-1] It would set up more like this ----------Sene/Moreno----------- Cardenas----Feilhaber-----Rowe --------Simms------Shalrie------ LeftBack?------------------Alston ---------Soares---Lozano-------- It would allow Feilhaber, Rowe and Cardenas the freedom they need to roam between the striker and the central midfielders. It also keeps Benny at home in the middle where he is most comfortable and effective. Simms does most of the dirty work and is a link between the backline and the attack. Shalrie serves as the box-to-box player who can essentially do it all. I like what I've seen from Sene so far. I actually think his style fits more with the likes of Rowe/Benny/Cardenas than a target guy like Moreno is supposed to be. Sene has some pace to stretch the backline, but he is also active coming back to engage defenders. He has good touch to be able to play the ball into when he checks back, which will allow some oncoming runs from the 3 attackers behind him to get in on goal. I have some questions as to where their width comes from on the left. Cardenas seems to love to pinch in, although we have really only seen him as a supporting striker at this point, but he doesn't really look like an out and out winger. More of a creative player with quickness and skill. So, the width must come from the left back, which I'm totally ok with, but wondering who that player is going to be. They've got some depth all around for the most part. I like what I've seen from McCarthy so far defensively, and he has seemed to improve a lot from last year. Last year I was down on his covering skills and his touch. We haven't seen much of his touch, but his cover skills have improved dramatically, as well as his tackling. He could be depth for Simms and the centerbacks. Barnes is suitable depth at centerback, but not sure about right back. He has no pace. I guess the biggest questions for depth come at the outside back position. Namely left back because they really don't have a quality starter to this point. Right back, if Alston is hurt, could also be a mess. I also think this lineup gives them tactical in-game flexibility to move to defensive or attack postures. Anyways, that is the lineup I want to see. I think it makes the most of what they have, and really could be a good team going forward. What say you?
I'm in agreement about the 4-5-1 setup, and this lineup is pretty much what i envision as well. i have similar concerns about Cardenas on the left. an alternative might be to put Rowe out on the left wing and Guy on the right (or possibly Purdie or Jeremiah White if we end up signing them).
For a fan of the Impact and enemy of the Revolution, you sure do seem to spend a lot of time on this team.
I'm just glad all over that this year, week after week I don't have to show up at Gillette only to see Phelan, somehow worked into the lineup every time!
There is depth in certain places. Some of that depth is hopeful at this point like IF Moreno and Sene are good/decent then there is cover at striker, IF Lozano is a quality CB then they have 3 good CB's. IF Cardenas fits into the style of MLS. IF some of these trialists work out. But they have some cover in some important areas of the field, like centerback and midfield. Since three of their starting players are central midfielders (albeit all different roles) if one goes down, then a tactical change can cover depth there. I'm also willing to see where McCarthy is at this point in the middle. They have some depth/flexibility on the wing, especially if they sign White. The only places where they really have no depth is outside back, but it's MLS. Who really has depth all around the field, let alone at outside back? Don't get me wrong, this roster is still missing some major pieces, but it could be a lot better than we expected a short time ago. Then again, a lot of (my) optimism in this instance is based around the play of Rowe and Sene. That could change quickly when we see them against real MLS teams. Only time (and games) will tell at this point.
Completely agree with Kraft Out's analysis on the starting lineup, on every point. Also agree that the main concern is the bench - not just in terms of talent but also the lack of diversity. You only have six bench spots because Shuttleworth has to be included, and three of the potentially effective bench players (Guy, Nyassi, Jeremiah White) are right midfielders. I guess that leaves... -Barnes -McCarthy -Tierney (unless he's starting LB that day) -Some variation of Runstrom/Purdie/Mansally? Not a bench that gives the team a lot of situational flexibility during games.
Well, you can say that about most of MLS. I'll say that if last years team had Simms, they wouldn't have tied for the worst record in the league. They probably wouldn't have made the playoffs, but they wouldn't have been that god awful. That position is vital, and a big reason why Nicol is gone...he could never replace the true ginger.
I don't disagree with you, but as you yourself noted elsewhere, there are a lot of ifs in the above statement as well. We might have cover in some places, but I still think we have very little cover up front (we really have no one behind Sene/Moreno, and that's assuming they both pan out), left back is just a mess. I'm not all that convinced we have depth in central d either. Well, not good depth anyway.
I agree about the 4-5-1, the issue I have is that Benny hates playing as a #10. There was an interview on the website and he said he felt extremely uncomfortable in that advanced almost withdrawn strikers role. Personally, I would have gone after a CAM DP in the offsets to fill that role. I'm very much used to what I call the diamond of death you see in the Bundesliga 4-5-1 in which these four players ------ ST ------ LM -- 10 -- RM ---- 8 --- 6 ---- - Back Four - are your "skill" players and they're all interchangeable. Unfortunately, Shalrie doesn't fit that system unless he can play as the lone 6. That system would require Benny to play The 8 role. Ultimately, we don't really have the personal at the moment. However I'd love to see heaps transition towards a similar system as he phases out Shalrie.
[LINEUP-4-5-1]Sene, Rowe, White, Simms, Benny, Shalrie, Barnes, Soares, Lozano, Alston, Reis[/LINEUP-4-5-1] It would set up more like this --------------Sene----------- Rowe----Feilhaber-----White --------Simms------Shalrie------ Barnes------------------Alston ---------Soares---Lozano-------- Last year I liked Barnes out left better than Tierney. he is faster, better defensively and seems more athletic. He is not as good with the ball at his feet and neither are the answer at LB. I am hoping White is signed. I like him better than Cardenas. He has a lot of experience at a good level, very fast and a good crosser. My feeling is he a step above Cardenas. If not signed, I'd rather have Guy over Cardenas. Having not seen Moreno I can't imagine he has the size and pace to cause defenders issues like Sene does. I think he would probably bring more to the table than Moreno. I think Kraft Out has the right idea as far as formation. This would get the best players on the field
I actually think the Bench this year might be better than in the past, certainly last year. There are few if's that need to be answered. If Heaps goes with the 4-5-1 and assuming Tierney starts, we could see a bench of Moreno or Sene, Runstrom, Guy, white, McCarthy, Barnes, Shuttleworth. This is much better than Schilwaski, Boggs, Mansally, Nyassi, Cochrane, Coria of last year
Agree that a 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1 makes sense for the current personnel. I'm still hoping that we make a big addition in the summer window (ideally the lights-out striker DP) and that would probably tip the scheme to a 4-4-2. It'll be interesting to see if a 4-5-1 morphs into a 6-3-1 as it usually seemed to under Nicol or if Heaps has really instilled an attack mentality.
The major issue with playing that German system that you love (I do as well) is that it requires an immense amount of technical ability and the ability of those 4 players to all interchange. It's similar to the 3-3-3-1 that Barcelona plays. In theory every team *could* play it, but there is a reason why only Barcelona does. There is a reason why the Dutch system only really worked in Holland for decades. You need to have an amount of technical ability around the field that you are just not going to see in MLS. There also aren't any CDM's like you see in those leagues, here in MLS. Simms and/or Shalrie can't fill that same type of role that a Busquets, Lucas, M'Vila and even Jermaine Jones can. That is why a lot of teams in MLS play one true central midfielder who can also defend and one defensive midfielder. You have to have cover, because the ball is eventually going to be lost. Theoretically, I agree with your post. I also agree that they should have gone after a DP CAM, but they didn't, and given the structure of this team, within the context of MLS, this is what they are.
Personally, I think White sucks. He is basically Nyassi. I do like Barnes more than Tierney, but neither are good enough.
--------------Sene-------------- Cardenas----------------Rowe--- ---------Joseph----Feilhaber----- --------------Simms------------- Tierney - Lozano - Soares - Alston Let Simms sit as a true DM, Feilhaber can pull the strings and alternate with Joseph attacking. Rowe and Cardenas have the flexibility to stay wide or cut inside. Alston and Tierney provide width getting forward as Simms can drop on the counter. I like Sene up top as I think that midfield can control possession. Sene offers those runs that break down defenses and create space. You don't need a strong target forward if you can pass the ball efficiently through the midfield.
I actually like the 4-1-4-1 for this team, but it requires Joseph and Feilhaber to really be on the same page tactically so that one of them is always supporting the lone forward. If Heaps could pull that off, it might be our best formation. The only thing I would change? Lechner. ----------Sene/Moreno----------- Cardenas----------------Rowe--- ---------Joseph----Feilhaber----- --------------Simms------------- Lechner - Lozano - Soares - Alston
Yeah, I like that too. I have some questions as to whether Simms can handle that sole role in the hole (no rhyme intended), but that is a strong tactical lineup.
