Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - Toronto FC vs. CD Chivas USA - April 14, 2012 (R)

[LINEUP-4-3-3]Soolsma, Koevermans, Lambe, De Guzman, Avila, Stinson, Morgan, Cann, Henry, Eckersley, Kocic [/LINEUP-4-3-3]

I like Plata off the bench right now in a latter game role. Some people may question dropping Johnson but I don't think he's quite right with his play at the moment, attitude wise, but that's just a hunch. Lambe has his shortcomings but I felt he played well enough to warrant another start. Stinson's just a way more athletic ball winner than Dunfield and gives the semblance of a box to box guy. Avila/Silva in the AM spot is more of a toss up (I've never been that sold on Avila but now that CCL's over the team's secondary focus isn't prepping for those specific matches by playing an unchanged side so we'll see if Winter values him).

Cann and Henry? Look, they'll have a whole week of training together and I think that Cann's the best leader of the CBs and though I am definitely not sure about his pace/agility coming back from ACL repair, he'll have some young pace (and big set play aerial threat) beside him in Henry.

Done. Now MLSE can call my people and we'll get a contract worked out a.s.a.p. P.S. I want a sheepskin coat and matching fedora as part of the deal

 

I like your lineup. Of course, I like any lineup that doesn't have Harden in it.

 

I like any lineup with a mobile midfield and at least one quick defender. I'd like to see Burgos soon. He seems to be a pretty two way midfielder who can pass well

 

It's such a nice week in Toronto. Oh, I see the forecast has rain for Saturday. Let me guess...TFC is in town.
Have we ever played in nice weather?

 

Pretty much agree with that lineup, except I'd star Johnson on the left and either Soolsma on the right, though Lambe wouldnt be a bad replacement. Plata coming off the bench is a good plan

A lot will depend on Cann and Frings being game-fit. For both of them, I'm worried about rushing them back in to much, Cann because he hasnt played in MLS for almost a year and Frings because a long-term injury would be disastrous, and we know how unpredictable hamstring injuries are.

If Frings is truly ready, he should start instead of JDG no doubt. Give Stinson a go either way, maybe even Burgos.

If Cann is ready to go, fine, but Id rather see Aceval if Henry is the other center defender. We havent seen Aceval partnered with a speedy defender yet, so he'll probably be way more useful alongside Henry than alongside Harden. And theyll make up for each other's shortcomings. Aceval is slow but he distributes well, Henry can't distribute, but he's fast and aggressive.

Based on AW's comments, Dunfield and Harden are almost certainly not starting

Oh, and one last thing, one of Silva or Avila had better start at AM, Avila in particular has been underused so far this season. Johnson starting against Montreal probably the most baffling decision Ive seen this year

 

starting Lambe over Johnson is a ridiculous idea. i know Winter has tried using him as sort of a #10 but he's a forward- our best forward, and that's all there is to it.

 

Yes we did. It was a spectacular day when we played @ the Rogers Center.

We're 15 points behind Kansas City already. It's one thing to be awful on the road but we're burning home games here. Let's win one already. One point isn't good enough, we've already hit the point where a draw is a loss. Lots of attention has been paid to poor defending but we've scored 2 goals in 4 games. That puts too much pressure on the defending, let's score a freaking goal already so that the defence can play more confidently. The midfield needs to play good balls to Koevermans and then get in an attacking position so he can play the ball back to them if he needs to. Whether it's Koevermans or Plata or whoever up front, way too often they get the ball and then they're all alone and have to work too hard to earn a scoring chance and inevitably just give up possession. They need to be given a passing option so they don't get crowded by the opposing defenders.

 

What Scarborough fan said. Even though it's early in the season, this is a MUST WIN. We can't afford anything else.

 

I'd love to see something like this tried just to switch things up:

[LINEUP-4-4-2]Johnson, Koevermans, Avila, Burgos Jr., De Guzman, Silva, Morgan, Aceval, Eckersely, Henry, Kocic[/LINEUP-4-4-2]
Or with a diamond in midfield with De Guzman at the base, Avila up top, and Silva and Burgos on the right and left.

Preki-ball time to grind out a win. Putting Henry at RB means we'll have a more stay at home presence there and not expect a 19 year old to organize our defense. Hopefully Eckersley can do the job instead. Starting Aceval is assuming Cann's not ready for 90 minutes and because it's time for Harden to sit.

Harsh on Soolsma who's been decent recently but if he's undroppable we're done for! I don't feel that him or Plata are strong enough defensively for a 4-4-2. They can be kept in reserve to sub up top or wide in the second half.

Sadly, we're only allowed to play 4-3-3.

(As an aside, I'd love to see Cann make a sub appearance late in a comfortable win. If that was to happen I hope the fans give him the cheer he deserves.)

 

He's only just started training again from what I understand. I wouldn't risk him with a start. Muscle injuries, more than anything else, just need time to heal.

Edit: And now it's coming out at the post-training press conference that he is, on doctor's advice, targetting next week. Too much risk of reinjuring if he rushes things.

 

Frings won't be playing. He just gave interviews today. He's hoping for next Sat.
Also Soolsma out with hamstring problems.

 

Interesting to note that this lineup includes five Canadians, of which three are Academy grads. The fact that it looks pretty decent suggests good things for the future from the Academy.

 

Unfortunately, I think another byproduct of the CCL is tired players getting injured.

 

I'm thinking something radical like this:
[LINEUP-4-3-3]Morgan, Koevermans, Lambe, Burgos, JDG, Avila, Aceval, Cann, Henry, Eckersley, Kocic[/LINEUP-4-3-3]
We need midfielders who can make accurate passes forwards (not always to the wingers) and can find a teammate with their first touch. JDG and (especially) Avila can do that. I'm not sure about Burgos since I haven't seen enough of him, but he seems pretty good both going forward and defending. Also all three of those players can pressure to get the ball back - something that cannot be said about Silva, Johnson, or Dunfield.
By playing Morgan as a left winger: we increase the amount of service that Koevermans gets, get to play a more defensive left back who wont leave the LCB exposed all the time, and get a left winger who will track back and defend. Morgan played very well when moved there in the second LA game, and I think it's worth trying again. Then later on in the game you can put Plata on for Cann or Aceval and move Morgan back to LB, or put him on for Lambe, or whoever.

 

Aceval at LB?

 

Clearly, some have already given up on playoffs and are shooting for first overall pick.

I'd go with

Kocic
Eck-Henry-Aceval-Morgan

Silva - JDG - Avilla - Stinson

Koevermans - Johnson

 

yes, from what I hear he played there a lot previously. I think it's worth a try, he doesn't have to push up as much as Morgan.

 

Dunfield again? I hope it really is Johnson up front and Lambe in the midfield because Johnson doesn't belong in the midfield.
What does Burgos have to do to get into the squad? he was one of the best players in the reserve game vs the cr*w and apparently he was MOTM in the reserve game vs L'impact, but he doesn't even make the bench?
I'm not to optimistic about this game

According to TFC's twitter, Ecks gets the honor of wearing the armband today