Didn't watch the Toluca game but I read in the threads that Cronin played a good match. How true is that?
Cool thanks! I like Cronin and think he is a solid player. Can't really explain why as he isn't very flashy and doesn't make spectacular plays on defense and even looks awkward at times but I really think he is the glue that hold's down the midfield.
Falvo, I agree Cronin is the glue. He's a gamer, he does the dirty work and all the little things right...really underrated by a lot of fans.
Yeah I think so. He makes mistakes but everyone does at times also. He is one of those players who as you say, does all the dirty work but you never notice him but a guy that every team needs. Glad he is played well against Toluca.
Definitely Cronin's best game of the season, seems to be working himself into game shape. Because of the Toluca game, I've changed my mind. JBP should be looking over his shoulder for Koval, not Cronin.
I agree that Cronin is coming into his own from injury, but we need to give JBP some time to adjust as well. Either way, I really like our depth at CM right now. Our overall depth is also excellent. Cant wait for Open Cup, we should make a deep run in that tournament.
It's a long season, there's bound to be use of every combination involving 2 out of 3 of those guys, with a dose of Khari thrown in here and there. Sam's own teammates voted him team MVP last season and it's certainly not his fault they missed the playoff by a goal. The guy has had January camp call-ups, even a couple caps, whoever thinks he's a middling CDM for MLS is just wrong. When he makes mistakes they can be costly, but a lot of that owes to the part of the field he's responsible for . But most of the time he's doing the dirty work just fine, and that's his job. I think one little detail that shows how smart he is and how well he does his job is that he's playing CDM and garnering only 3-4 cards a season the last couple years. It's a bonus when he shows a flash of flair like his giant run to poke one in vs Galaxy at Stanford in 2012 or his cross to Gordon the next year. I think he's perfectly capable of helping the offense, it's just not his main job. Maybe this year we'll see more of that for whatever reason, it would be nice. The number of minutes he gives is crazy. He gives us consistency and that's key in his part of the field. When he's 100.0% recovered from his off-season surgery we're not going to have anything to worry about from him.
They had about the same number of passes (14 to 12). Koval spent most of his time in the offensive half while Cronin had more hot spots on at the top of the Quakes defensive box and at the center line. The differences were mainly due to RSL scoring. Once that happened RSL went mainly to a keep-away game, and the Quakes tried to push forward more.
I think we can all see it..... San Jose Earthquakes admit midfield needs to get sharper to generate more big chances
After a horrible game against Dallas, I thought Sam did a little better against Seattle. I used to think he was a solid player but he is not the player I thought he once was or could have been, unfortunately. Hope he redeems himself.
yeah......just two years ago he was a rock in the back. I thought he was a critical piece in the machine our supporters shield year, but hes fallen off the tracks. Disappointing trajectory.
He is one of those guys that you need when everything goes well but disappears when everything goes bad. Not a game changer or play maker but then I don't think anyone this year so far has been other than maybe Wondo and maybe Salinas although he is way too inconsistent and can't shoot. Garcia could be but sadly because of this injury, we won't know until next year. That is is if he is still around then.
I still think that what's missing is a competent partner in the midfield for Sam (or JBP,for that matter) -- someone with a set of skills that complements, rather than duplicates the skills of a DCM...
I think every team needs a player like the way Cronin use to play in 2012 but yeah this team currently definitely lacks strong midfielders.
You know, Baca may not have been everything everybody wanted in an ACM, but dammit -- he stayed at home and provided the link that is now sorely missing...