Kevin Ara Now!!!

[RobertDajab]

I think its time to bench Caroll in favor of Ara. Here is why. The position of defensive midfield (Stopper) requires three things.

1. Must be agreesive defensively. In other words you need to tackle someone, not rely on your fullbacks or half backs. This is Carolls biggest weakness. He can not tackle to save his life. Ara is a big strong player who can get the job done.
2. Start the offense. This position must start the offense. Get the ball and distribute to the halfbacks and forwards. Caroll does distribute, but every pass is either back to one of the fullbacks or he just blasts it up front. Ara used to play center midfield for Harvard. So he is offensive minded and can create for us.
3. Intelligence. I am not saying that Caroll is not smart because I think he is but too many times he gives the ball away when we could be having counterattacks.

So Peter I think its time you give Ara a chance.

[Sanguine]

If I was to play Ara, I'd put him in Olsen's spot while he's injured rather than Carroll's. I think we're both basing our assessments on nothing, as I doubt you've seen the guy play any more than I have.

[chayes]

Amazing how someone can be dubbed a starter and better replacement without stepping foot on the field.

How are you so sure he doesn't suck?

[Knave]

Let me start off by noting that I am Kevin Ara's biggest advocate on this board. If you want the evidence just go read my MLS Combine Reports (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90679) and this thread (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91701) on our picking him. Suffice it to say if Kevin Ara sucks, I'm never gonna hear the end of it or live it down. And so I am uniquely qualified to comment on this topic and you should pay attention when I say you're dead wrong. There's no way Ara should start over Carrol ... or anybody else currently on the roster. Kevin Ara is done with school now and I hope he does get time. But he's a rookie, and he's playing a new position. He needs to get some minutes - no question - and ease his way into MLS. Give him a month or two. Maybe then we can have this discussion for real.

By the way, don't read much into Ara's height and weight. He plays much "smaller" than those figures would imply. Indeed, one common charge against him is that he's kind of soft ... though report is Nowak has made him a much more aggresive and physical player. Perhaps he did ...

[JoeW]

Knave is probably the best qualified person (other than the coaches of course) to comment on Ara's fit at the moment. That said....I can't believe some of the cries for changes right now. The loss to Colorado was one I can live with. It's a bummer but we hung in there, played tough and it was our INABILITY TO FINISH that killed us (as it has most of the season).

I'm not arguing that 2 or 3 plays and we'd own MLS. But with a finisher, our record, our point total and the conversation on these boards would be totally different. Let's not lose sight of this.

NONE of our players is perfect. Every single one of them (including Carroll and certainly including Ara) has flaws in their game. If they didn't have flaws, they'd be earning several million Euros a year in the Premiership or La Liga or Serie A. What is true is that Carroll has played well most of the season, has earned his starting spot, gives good effort, fits his role well, is a good teammate, plays smart soccer. I think it's extremely telling that a position that Nowak demands a lot out of (D-mid) is one that Nowak appears to be very happy with Carroll at. Nowak has switched forwards, A-mid, outside mids, backlines, GK's. But the role and PT of Carroll (well, and also Nelson) has been the one constant all preseason and this season so far. That doesn't mean he's an MLS all-star. But that does tell me Nowak ain't very down on him.

And...I'd like to see Ara get minutes. I bet he'll be a fine holding mid. Good technical ability, willingness to go forward, good touch, rangy, good target, vision--all nice things to have in a good holding mid. And he'll likely end up paired with Carroll in that instance.

[GrillMaster]

[snip]
I'm not arguing that 2 or 3 plays and we'd own MLS. But with a finisher, our record, our point total and the conversation on these boards would be totally different. Let's not lose sight of this.
[snip]By this same argument, Ray would still be coaching United. MLS is so even that luck and injury enter the fray too disproportionately (compared to other leagues). Cases in point: if Esky had finished a gimme header vs the scum last year, cheatin bob would not have had the opportunity to cheat; If Ivanov buried his chance, calls for Marco's head would have seemed misplaced; cumblowus would still be the laughing stock of MLS this year (lucky sobs).

I think the better argument for not jumping off the cliff just now is that the season can turn around just as quickly as the bottom has dropped out the last couple of weeks. We have a young squad that are learning valuable lessons (including the coaches).

When the luck hourglass turns in our favor, we'll make an upward push. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be angry now -- we are -- I am. I want our forwards, hell, one forward to step up and be a man in the box, chasing down any and every opportunity to get a piece of the ball and I want coach Simpson to make his instruction evident in our keepers.

Ara will get his chance, just as Perkins got his. It is a long season and there are friendlies and USOC games.

GM

[mcontento]

I'm not arguing that 2 or 3 plays and we'd own MLS. But with a finisher, our record, our point total and the conversation on these boards would be totally different. Let's not lose sight of this.


A finisher or a closer? If we just held on defensively in two games we'd be 4 points up right now (in first place no less). Amongst our problems is the inability to hold onto leads late in games, along with finishing and being prone to 15-20 minute meltdowns, and having a$$clowns like Stokes on the field.