3 nat team forwards = 2 bench warmers???

[keepit0]

I am at a complete loss at the starting lineups. How is it that we have 3 forwards that are good enough to start for the national teams (LD, Ching, Dero), but only one of them is good enough to start for the Quakes? I was stunned when I saw Dero and Ching (and Walker!) come out with sub bibs on. WTF? I didn't know that Chris Brown was a better forward that Dero, Ching, and Walker.

I've thought that Kinnear should have the time to get something going, but he's got to go. My thoughts are either:
1) Kinnear is a poor head coach
2) He's already on the CA payroll with Lalas.

Somebody, please tell me that all our other forwards were injured, or provide some reasoning for last nights lineup.

[BlueMeanie]

I am at a complete loss at the starting lineups. How is it that we have 3 forwards that are good enough to start for the national teams (LD, Ching, Dero), but only one of them is good enough to start for the Quakes? I was stunned when I saw Dero and Ching (and Walker!) come out with sub bibs on. WTF? I didn't know that Chris Brown was a better forward that Dero, Ching, and Walker.

I've thought that Kinnear should have the time to get something going, but he's got to go. My thoughts are either:
1) Kinnear is a poor head coach
2) He's already on the CA payroll with Lalas.

Somebody, please tell me that all our other forwards were injured, or provide some reasoning for last nights lineup.
Ching was hurt (strained quad?), and DeRo's still working through a nagging injury, too.

[sacrxy]

I am at a complete loss at the starting lineups. How is it that we have 3 forwards that are good enough to start for the national teams (LD, Ching, Dero), but only one of them is good enough to start for the Quakes? I was stunned when I saw Dero and Ching (and Walker!) come out with sub bibs on. WTF? I didn't know that Chris Brown was a better forward that Dero, Ching, and Walker.

I've thought that Kinnear should have the time to get something going, but he's got to go. My thoughts are either:
1) Kinnear is a poor head coach
2) He's already on the CA payroll with Lalas.

Somebody, please tell me that all our other forwards were injured, or provide some reasoning for last nights lineup.

I think Ching is hurt. He hasn't looked right since the Cup game against KC. I wonder if he has been re-injuring himself. It was nice to see Walker coming into the game yesterday although he has not been getting many minutes this year. He was one of the super subs last season.

[keepit0]

Ching was hurt, and DeRo's still working through a nagging injury, too.

Good to hear. What do you think about Brown starting ahead of Walker? I also didn't understand the formation after Corrales was subbed out. I'm not sure why it's a better idea to throw LD in Corrales' spot instead of throwing three forwards up top, and moving Mulrooney to the wing.

[BlueMeanie]

Good to hear. What do you think about Brown starting ahead of Walker?
I think Brown has more experience, and I think Walker is too highly rated by some fans because of a couple nice plays last season. Dom sees him in training every day.
I also didn't understand the formation after Corrales was subbed out. I'm not sure why it's a better idea to throw LD in Corrales' spot instead of throwing three forwards up top, and moving Mulrooney to the wing.
Agreed. We're at the point of the season (backs against the wall, only a few games left) where we need to take chances, and putting an extra guy up front couldn't hurt. 2 goals and a 1-3-2 record in our last six matches. Sucking.

[sj_quakes_fan]

Ummm...on the Brown over Walker....

Umm.... I'm not going to say what I've told others offline. But Walker made that decision for Dom.

Brown is a very versatile player. Absolutely was the best to start him with Landon. And I hope to see more of that.

[keepit0]

I think Brown has more experience, and I think Walker is too highly rated by some fans because of a couple nice plays last season. Dom sees him in training every day.

Agreed. We're at the point of the season (backs against the wall, only a few games left) where we need to take chances, and putting an extra guy up front couldn't hurt. 2 goals and a 1-3-2 record in our last six matches. Sucking.

Yeah, my buddy and I couldn't figure out the formation. It just seems preposterous that we have 4 national team members (the 3 forwards and Onsted), half our team started for the All-star game (for whatever that's worth), but we're in last place.

It pretty sickening. Watching the last few games, I was reminded of the days where we would play with only 1 forward. I can't remember which coach that was, but we just looked horrible.

[keepit0]

Ummm...on the Brown over Walker....

Umm.... I'm not going to say what I've told others offline. But Walker made that decision for Dom.

Brown is a very versatile player. Absolutely was the best to start him with Landon. And I hope to see more of that.

Did Walker get a big head? I'm not sure I know what you mean, but then again, I'm not in the know.

Dunno about the Brown thing. He didn't seem to be in any of the plays, and the few touches he did have, it seemed to me his thoughts were more about centering the ball back to midfield, and not about aggressively moving to goal.

[sj_quakes_fan]

I'm not going to elaborate. Bottom line is only Dom knows why he makes the decisions he makes. And that's his job. To make those decisions. I'm just there to support my team.

But I would have made the same decision if I was in his shoes.

[tonyh01]

2) He's already on the CA payroll with Lalas.



Don't read the news much?

[AndyMead]

I think Ching is hurt. He hasn't looked right since the Cup game against KC. I wonder if he has been re-injuring himself. It was nice to see Walker coming into the game yesterday although he has not been getting many minutes this year. He was one of the super subs last season.

Yeah, the only photo of him that I got during that game (8/24) was of him subbing out in the 7th minute.

[alliu23]

I thought Walker did real good last year coming off the bench and filling in when everyone was hurt. He had a few goals but I don't think he really has gotten a chance to repeat it this year. Not as many injuries as last year, thank God. But if he's acting like a prick then I would probably side with Dom on benching him also.

[sj_quakes_fan]

Holy heck! What is wrong with you people? No one said he was acting like a prick! Come on! Have some sense and quit making statements without backing.

[sj_quakes_fan]

Sorry.... I'm tired and cranky.... I'm sick of our attention be distracted from our boys. And that comment just set me off. Please don't read into my comment about Jamil.

Dom had a decision to make based on his knowledge of what would work. I think he made the right decision based on something I saw. End of story. Dom has to make those decisions. And whatever decisions he makes, this is my team until the day I die. I will support,and have supported, these guys through anything. So I'll let Dom make the decisions. And I'll just sit here and defend my boys (at least when it's in a public forum). :)

[spejic]

I think Brown has more experience
I think it is more than that. Has Kinnear ever, except when forced by injury, chosen a younger player over an older one (outside Donovan, of course)? It's been so long since Alvarez last played that I have forgetten what nationality he is.
I think Walker is too highly rated by some fans because of a couple nice plays last season.We havn't seen a nice play from the blue team in more than a month.

[BlueMeanie]

We havn't seen a nice play from the blue team in more than a month.
And?

It's not like Walker's gonna make said play.

[markmcf8]

As much as I like'd Walker last season, he hasn't shown much in his limited minutes this season.

Perhaps Kinnear should tell his starting forwards to go all out in the first half because he's going to sub one or both of them at the half, and then do it.

And why not give DeRo a shot at the left wing spot?! That way we could get all four of our internationals on the pitch at the same time.

I don't see Brown as an improvement over Donovan or Ching either. What we need most . . . is improved play on the wings.

LONG LIVE THE QUAKES!!

- Mark

[Albany58]

Are you sending those suggestions directly to Dom's question box at sjearthquakes.com?

[kingjackdaniel]

Will Ching be playing this weekend? He's listed as probable, hope that means yes.

[keepit0]

Holy heck! What is wrong with you people? No one said he was acting like a prick! Come on! Have some sense and quit making statements without backing.

I have to say, this comment is really disingenuous. You can't say "I know what the reason is, but I'm not telling", and then get cranky that people are trying to speculate what the reason is.

I don't see the speculation as being a detractor. If you say there's a reason (which you did), and you won't say what the reason is (which you did), you have to expect that people's curiousity will be picqued (which you didn't) and will try to fill in the gaps on their own.