His rookie year he was taking lots of players on and speeding up and down the wings. We could really use that DeLeon back.
The big question there is was that because that's the player he is, or because that's the player Najar allowed him to be.
What I'd like to see vs NE: Franklin-----Birnbaum*-----Parke------Christian ----------------Kitchen----------Jeffrey -----Deleon----------Espindola---------Neal ---------------------------EJ I think this puts everyone in a good position to succeed. Kitchen has a midfield partner, the fullbacks have two holders to cover when they make runs, same for the wingers so they can spend more time attacking, Espindola goes where he wants from the middle and EJ collects the service. *Is is too late to recall him from Richmond for the match? I don't care if it's not, I'm not putting Boswell in.
Well he has been contributor and the one real constant in the squad for some time now. But seriously, there aren't a lot of good choices, but considering all the factors, Kitchen seems like the best choice to me. Boswell hasn't been sharp and I honestly don't see him as more of an automatic starter than anybody else. One interesting idea would be try it out on EJ. Sometimes people rise up to meet it.
I actually like the EJ as captain idea. It becomes "his" team in a way that no other one has. Maybe he does rise to the occasion.
It's the psychological component of coaching. If you have an important player who may have a tendency to demand attention and respect, give it to them by giving them responsibility and making them captain. I've done it many times. It can be gamble. You'll find out real quick usually if they will let their ego be the leader, or if they will finally realize the responsibility of leadership.
The EJ as captain idea is inspired. Of course he would embrace it, but would everyone else be on board? I guess it would be up to EJ to rally the team around him, which would be quite a story.
i wouldnt mind EJ instead of Boswell unfortunately that would cure our ills (Boswell still kinda sucks, no AM, Ashton lives etc.)
ashton said that? did not know Bobby on the team is only a bad idea because Ben isnt smart enough to know whether he should start and who would pair well with him
Ashton was Soehn's assistant when Bobby was kicked off the team. Technically, I guess he was traded, but basically he was kicked off. I take it as a possible sign of Ashton's lessening influence that Bobby is back. We wish he was the Bobby when he was Defender of the Year. He aint, but he's better than Big Mac.
well, there really was no reason NOT to have traded dotcom that year. He said he was not going to re-sign with MLS the next year but go to Europe, he was becoming a potential locker-room liability with all the barhopping and dotcom "fame". And generally being a "punk kid". Even Bobby said he might have traded himself. Even I don't blame Ashton for any part he may have had in that decision. He seems to have taken that move (and I'm sure a long talk with D Kinnear) as an excuse to grow up and further develop his craft and his leadership abilities. Now it's always possible we overpaid for his current age, speed, and leadership combination, or that it came too late in his career to be useful - but we have no idea if Hanging Chad had anything to do with, or argued for or against, either decision
a) I can't believe JohnL made me defend Ashton. I am very disappointed in the both of us and I will not be buying John any beers in Lot8 this season. b) I think I would sit Parke instead of Boswell; of the two, Parke makes me more scared. 3) Good news: Porter was sent to Richmond this weekend Bad news: so were Birnbaum and Martin.
I'd vote for either EJ or Espindola, since the one thing this team needs right now, despite the 3 points vs. NE is a concentrated spotlight on the offense, building on both last night's win and baby steps of progress the last 2-3 matches. I feel the need to try and inspire folks on these boards to remember the successful teams of yesteryear, if you could sum up their quality for the current team to try and emulate, what would it be, and broadcast it collectively en masse. For me, it was how quickly they'd get after it in the offensive 3rd, often embodying at times either a slim or a massive "Black Blur to Goal."
If you watch Espindola you will see just how passionate he is and how pissed off he gets when his run goes unrewarded and when other players underwhelm. I'm not sure he has the "atta boy, let's do better next time" kind of attitude, which I think is useful/essential in a team captain.