*OUR* best 11?

So much for predicting the midfield. Our bench is more expensive than our starters

 

Swap out Valdes and Adu for Soumare and Kleberson, and I stick by this starting XI.

 

So you are bascially swapping Carroll for Soumare? Do you truly believe that Soumare is a better player right now than Brian Carroll? I realize that Carroll has not been in top form of late. I also realize that CDM is Okugo"s position of choice. However, reality being what it is, Okugo is a much better CB than CDM right now. Frankly, it is extremely hard to imagine that Brian Carroll is not a better CDM than Soumare is at CB right now. I am curious as to what you are basing your opinion of Soumare on? A. It is no longer 2009, B. The limited time that he actually played for us (last year vs. the Fire) he was terrible, and C. He obviously does not want to be here, which calls into question his desire and ability to play at a top level for the Union.

 

Caroll has not been playing well, but it's not for lack of effort. I've always liked him; I just don't think he should be starting at this point. That being said, Soumare is a bum who played only one disastrous game last year and expected to waltz into a starting spot in March. Then, when he didn't get that starting spot, he immediately complained loudly and publicly, asking to be traded. Hack punished him by making him persona non-grata, much like he did Adu. Soumare will never again get so much as a sniff at the 18 on this team. He got the job here based on his form from four years ago. So he doesn't want to be here? Don't let the door hit you on the way out, buddy.

 

Who would win?

Konopka​

Albright Jordan Soumare Garfan​

Frenandes Lahoud Kleberson Torres​

Wheeler LeToux​

Or

McMath​

Williams Okugo Parke Gaddis​

Cruz Carroll Daniel Marfan​

Mac Casey​

Be a good game imo

 

Starters would carve up that backline. 5-2 win.

 

I think that indicates depth, not a bad thing or a problem. I watch a lot of MLS games involving teams other than the Union. I often don't know a lot of players on other teams' benches. I'm not sure that fans of other teams can say the same about the Union bench.

It's a long season and guys get injured, tired, called to play for their countries, etc. For a lot of teams, an injury to one player can be crippling. I'm not sure that's the case with this season's Union team.

 

I see the starters playing long ball and the bench side playing it more on the ground but still have Wheeler as an outlet......Soumare vs Casey would be the key to the game.

 

And Casey would win, hands down!

 

JackMac Casey
Daniel Klebs Le Toux
Carroll
Garfan Parkugo Williams
MacMath

Isn't Cruz just Seba without the ability to...y'know...score and create goals? It's frustrating. The strikers are red-hot, the backline is 75% fantastic (Gaddis should try out as an Eagles CB, but I'm not sure this LB thing is working out), but the midfield is just a hot mess.

 

7 games into the season, is Gaddis:

1. Currently a better option at left back than Garfan
2. Currently a better option at left back than Garfan was when he started playing left back
3. Improving over this early stretch
4. A viable option to grow into a reliable, serviceable left back

These questions are not mutually exclusive. Please discuss.

 

Like it or not, the bench tends to be almost interchangeable with the starters. Garfan can slot in for Gaddis. Kleberson is as good if not better than Daniel. Cruz is worse than some on the bench. Konopka is a fine replacement for MacMath. LeToux has a lot of experience. Torres can play.

This either is a criticism of Hack's choices or shows that the team has depth. I prefer to see the world as half-full. (Disclaimer: I did not grow up in the Philadelphia area.)

 

I don't know if he is improving because he has been inconsistent. He was good in the SKC game and has shown flashes here and there but has also shown lapses. He could fall into #4 but has to work on positioning. Also, he hasn't shown many flashes in the attack and you would figure with his speed that he should at least cause problems for opposing d.

 

I actually think Garfan was a better overall LB for us than Harvey. Harvey was better defensively but would kill the attack more than not. While Garfan isn't as solid as Harvey on the defensive side he wasn't far off.

 

1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
4. No.

He's a serviceable spot sub at RB. He's too right-footed to play effectively at LB. Hack has made a project out of him and it is not working. Sadly, that project is part of the starting XI. Send Gaddis to the bench and put Garfan in until a real LB is acquired.

 

I don't know how anyone can make judgement of Soumare......he hasn't played at all. If he can't play than why was Valdes loaned out? Who out there would've said Cruz would be our starting RM and Daniel our starting CM before the season started........nobody! I'm all in for being proved wrong but I think we are in for a rude awakening if Hackworth keeps putting this lineup out there.

Our midfield is a bigger problem than Gaddis.

 

I agree that the trade was questionable and it took Gabe a while to adjust to playing LB. Knowing what I knew then the trade was bad, knowing what I know now the trade was good as Gabe became a better overall LB but it took him a while to get there. After all the moves Nowak made I do not believe he 'knew' Gabe would be better than Harvey.

 

Let's roll, boys;

Le Toux-------Casey--------JackMac
Okugo--------Carroll--------Kleberson
Gaddis-------------------Williams------
------Parke---------Soumare----------
---------------MacMath----------------

 

For Saturday? Di Vaio scores a minimum of three goals against that lineup.

 

Who do I have to blow to see this lineup? If Kleb is healthy, start him over Kassel.