Starting XI For Upcoming Season

[alco_soccerstar]

So, now that we are hauling everyone out of our roster...who are we going to have in our starting eleven? And will we be sticking with a 3-5-2 or go to a 4-4-2? I mean I'm all about young talent, but I don't see us picking up a Cristiano Ronaldo anytime soon. So I'd really rather not see our reserves come into play. But maybe that's just me wanting a BIG offseason pickup. Rather soon would be nice too.

[Bootsy Collins]

As things stand right now:

Eskandarian
Moreno
Gomez
Gros
Donnet
Carroll
Olsen
Erpen
Boswell
Namoff
Perkins

which looks a lot like late last season, minus Adu. And still has the same problems we had last year. We all await the pickups/signings/draftings/etc.

[griffin1108]

Based on Goff's piece on the Prideaux trade and who else is left:

Moreno - (acquisition)

subs: Esky, Walker

Gros - Gomez - (Brazilian acquisition)

subs: Mediate, DeRoux

Olsen - Carroll

subs: J. Carroll, MacTavish

Erpen - Boswell - Namoff

subs: Stokes:eek:

Perkins

subs: Nolly

[JeremyEritrea]

It's impossible to predict our starting lineup until we know our actual roster.

[Bootsy Collins]

Just for kicks, I'm looking at this a different way -- not our starting lineup, but a NFL-style depth chart. Of course, this is mostly useless, since you have to consider your opponent and the type of game your players play in picking a lineup, not just "best available on a ranked list." But what the hell, it's still fun; and by looking at the quality of the players at a position overall, it illustrates where we are really thin (although we already knew these things, really; so again, useless but fun).

Assuming a 3-5-2, and I'm sure people will disagree as to whether a specific player belongs even at the bottom of a long list for a given position, or will figure I'm missing someone somewhere. Hell, some of these I don't agree with myself -- e.g. Alecko Eskandarian or John Wilson as left mid -- but we occasionally put these players there, so it seems incorrect to leave them off the list.

Striker

Alecko Eskandarian
Jamil Walker



Withdrawn Forward

Jaime Moreno
Christian Gomez
Mathias Donnet
Devon McTavish
Dominic Mediate



Attacking Midfielder

Christian Gomez
Jaime Moreno
Ben Olsen
Devon McTavish



Left Outside Mid

Josh Gros
Alecko Eskandarian
Stephen deRoux
John Wilson



Right Outside Mid

Mathias Donnet
Josh Gros
Dominic Mediate
Clyde Simms (yeah, we've put him out there)
Jamil Walker (ditto)
Justin Moose



Holding Mid

Ben Olsen
Clyde Simms
Brian Carroll



Defensive Mid

Brian Carroll
Clyde Simms
Ben Olsen
Jeff Carroll
Brian Namoff



Left Back

Facundo Erpen
Josh Gros (not sure about this one -- when he's been back there it's usually been drifting back as a fourth back)
John Wilson
Stephen deRoux



Center Back

Bobby Boswell
Facundo Erpen
David Stokes



Right Back

Brian Namoff
David Stokes



Keeper

Troy Perkins
Jay Nolly
Ryan McIntosh


Pieces of information missing from the above:

Our acquisitions/signings/etc. to come, obviously.
Off-season development (you'd figure this would mostly change ranking at a position, but could possibly result in people playing at other positions as well).
Is Donnet coming back?
Will Mediate be able to play again? And if so, will he be as or more effective than last year, or less?

[Stan Collins]

which looks a lot like late last season, minus Adu. And still has the same problems we had last year. We all await the pickups/signings/draftings/etc. Of course, it's not a lot of other teams have made huge boosts yet. The most (only?) notable player brought into a (non-expansion) team this year so far is Tejada to RSL, and that's only a couple days ago.

[Bootsy Collins]

Of course, it's not a lot of other teams have made huge boosts yet. The most (only?) notable player brought into a (non-expansion) team this year so far is Tejada to RSL, and that's only a couple days ago.
And Adu, of course, which may not be a huge loss to us, but I think will be a significant boost to them. But we'll see.

[Sundevil9]

So, now that we are hauling everyone out of our roster...who are we going to have in our starting eleven? And will we be sticking with a 3-5-2 or go to a 4-4-2? I mean I'm all about young talent, but I don't see us picking up a Cristiano Ronaldo anytime soon. So I'd really rather not see our reserves come into play. But maybe that's just me wanting a BIG offseason pickup. Rather soon would be nice too.

If United were going to use a 4-4-2 on a regular basis (instead of the hybrid thing with Gros), then I don't think they pull the trigger on the Prideaux trade.

[Heist]

I thought Donnet got waived? Did they waive him with the expectation of picking him back up at a lower salary?
I hope not...

[JayJay4Pres]

I thought Donnet got waived? Did they waive him with the expectation of picking him back up at a lower salary?
I hope not...

Essentially, yes. The plan, we believe, is to sign him at a lower amount because he didn't show himself to justify his current amount.

[Foousic]

Essentially, yes. The plan, we believe, is to sign him at a lower amount because he didn't show himself to justify his current amount.

I think possibly loosing Donnet is a very very stupid decision on United's part right now, we have well over a million to work with in the cap right now, loosing talented players just to loose talented players is stupid, plus we've barely even see this guy play. I hope United has some sure bet's with these aquisitions.

[DCFAN96]

It probably just me but I don't wanna see Gros out on the wing anymore. The guys the hardest worker on team but just doesn't produce offensively, and his crossing is terrible. I wouldn't mind seeing him play LB especially given Erpens play late last season. IMHO Gros can become a VERY good attacking LB for DC and for the US or just keep being a mediocre RM/LM, which is a position he has ZERO chance at in making the US roster.

My lineup assuming we get who we want.

------Jaime--Palermo
-Donnet---CG--Brazilian RM
-------Carroll--Olsen
-----Gros--Boz--Namoff-
-----------Perkins

Thats right five attacking South American and 6 defensive Americans, I'd say that good balance.

[spidergoose]

I think possibly loosing Donnet is a very very stupid decision on United's part right now, we have well over a million to work with in the cap right now, loosing talented players just to loose talented players is stupid, plus we've barely even see this guy play. I hope United has some sure bet's with these aquisitions.

Well I think the idea is that this new Brazillian will be acquired for a similar amount of money, so there'd be a replacement for him ready to go if he doesn't re-sign for less.

[spidergoose]

My lineup assuming we get who we want.

------Jaime--Palermo
-Donnet---CG--Brazilian RM
-------Carroll--Olsen
-----Gros--Boz--Namoff-
-----------Perkins


I give it 5 stars. :)


That formation/lineup is known as the "pimp's hand" :D

[Colonial717]

It probably just me but I don't wanna see Gros out on the wing anymore. The guys the hardest worker on team but just doesn't produce offensively, and his crossing is terrible. I wouldn't mind seeing him play LB especially given Erpens play late last season. IMHO Gros can become a VERY good attacking LB for DC and for the US or just keep being a mediocre RM/LM, which is a position he has ZERO chance at in making the US roster.

My lineup assuming we get who we want.

------Jaime--Palermo
-Donnet---CG--Brazilian RM
-------Carroll--Olsen
-----Gros--Boz--Namoff-
-----------Perkins

Thats right five attacking South American and 6 defensive Americans, I'd say that good balance.

You need a Brazilian LM, Donnet's a righty.

[DCFAN96]

You need a Brazilian LM, Donnet's a righty.

Doesn't seem to stop Nowak from starting Gros (another righty) at LM. Only reason I put the brazilian on the right was cause thats the position Goff claims he plays.

[Stan Collins]

And Adu, of course, which may not be a huge loss to us, but I think will be a significant boost to them. But we'll see. You're right, I was only thinking about those from outside the league, but for RSL Freddy counts as a major acquisition.

Between him and Tejada, they are the only team in the league that looks at its December roster as being better than the one they had in November (again excepting TFC, which doesn't really count). Most teams haven't really figured out what they're going to do yet.

[DangerMouse37]

With all due respect to his army, by what logic does Stokes still have a roster spot? Does he have pictures of KP in a compromising situation?

Never understood how this goes on, as I've never heard anyone for whom he inspires confidence.

[JoeSoccerFan]

With all due respect to his army, by what logic does Stokes still have a roster spot? Does he have pictures of KP in a compromising situation?

Never understood how this goes on, as I've never heard anyone for whom he inspires confidence.

contract expires at the end of the year. If he finds another team that wants him, adios. If not, then DCU needs to assess what their options are - is Stokes the best option for the money? If so, he stays (i don't think so). If not, we upgrade the position.

[AlecW81]

Being left footed is not a requirement for playing on the left side of the pitch. Plenty of right-footed players play on the left, including myself. A lot of times coaches will play their best defensive winger on the left, regardless of his orientation (left/right-footed) to match up against the opposing teams right wingers/strikers.