Let's try a Kreis/O'Brien combo up top

[Rocket]

With Vaca and O'Brien both playing well, it would be great if Jeffries could find a way to get them both on the field at the same time.

Putting one of them at attacking mid is out -- at least as long as Pareja stays healthy.

But with Rhine, Cerritos, and Johnson all struggling this season to one degree or another, how about trying O'Brien at forward to partner with Kreis?

While Ronnie's bio says nothing about having played forward in the past, he does have an excellent shot, exceptional dribbling skills, and a great work rate.

How about this for a possible lineup?

..................Jordan.....................
..........T-Bone........Morrow............
Suarez............................Broome
.................Deering...................
Vaca...........Pareja...........Chivas
.........O'Brien............Kreis............

[markspence02]

This might be sacreligious but I would rather pull Pareja and allow Vaca to play the central attacking role and have Ronnie on the wing.

[Alex Sanz]

Pull Pareja?!? What?That's sacrilege!!

[Rocket]

Originally posted by Alex Sanz
Pull Pareja?!? What?That's sacrilege!!
The stats back you up, Alex.

The Burn are 9-3-6 when Oscar starts and 0-2-1 when he doesn't.

Let's hope Oscar stays healthy!

[burning247]

Pulling Pareja is like pulling the plug on the team. Welcome to the Dallas Burn, I'm Ryan and I can help you with any questions on how we play. I'm just playing mark, but yea we need Pareja.

[Alex Sanz]

Thanks for the stats and backup VW. Pareja in the midfield obviously makes a big difference. Why change something that has been working. The Vaca for 60 minutes, Obrien at the end combo is working. Why change?

[Texan]

Bringing O'Brien off the bench is working nice, but he doesn't seem the type that would settle for that role for long.

[Rocket]

Originally posted by Alex Sanz
Why change something that has been working. The Vaca for 60 minutes, Obrien at the end combo is working. Why change?
Sticking with the Vaca-for-60-then-O'Brien-for-30 game plan certainly is a viable way to go, and honestly, I expect Jeffries to do just that.

But as we approach the playoffs, I'm still a bit concerned about our being a bit too dependent on Jason to provide scoring.

Of the 30 goals Burn players have scored, Kreis has provided almost 1/2 of them (13 goals).

It would really be nice to have another go-to guy on the team besides Jason, and while Cerritos' play has improved of late, I still have lingering doubts about him.

So why not try Ronnie at forward?

Should O'Brien thrive up front, we're likely enter the playoffs as co-favorites with San Jose to win the Cup.

And should he fail to produce, well, we can always return back to the Vaca-for-60-then-O'Brien-for-30 formula.

[inferno man]

O'Brien can also sub for Oscar and Chivas when needed. He doesn't always have to sub for Vaca.

He can start at any of these three mid positions some, also.

[DigitalTron]

Well if you do move O'Brien to the forward line, DC United would always be willing to take Eddie Johnson off your hands. :D I'm pretty sure they'd part with the top pick in the SuperDraft to get him as well. Sorry, I know that silly, but United is at well over 500 mins without scoring now ... so we're pretty restless. With United's thin forward line it's infuriating to think that Johnson can't even make the pitch as a sub for the Burn, when he would be a 90 minute starter for United.

I do think O'Brien is best in midfield, but unfortunately, Pareja, Vaca and O'Brien are really all three central creative attacking midfielders, so even when one plays the wing you cannot have all 3 on the pitch at the same time.

-Tron

[dburn157]

I see what your saying vw. When O'Brien moves forward he makes a lot of things happen. I think you'll see the forwards scoring more when he's in there too. That's why keeping him at mid makes since. Jason and whoever up front scoring more and the Irish Assassin scoring. Sounds good to me. He just needs a little more playing time.

I think Jeffries has done a good job of finding a rotation that really finally works. He does a good job of subbing most of the time. It will be interesting to see how Jeffries utilize's O'Brien's talents...

[Rocket]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
Well if you do move O'Brien to the forward line, DC United would always be willing to take Eddie Johnson off your hands. :D I'm pretty sure they'd part with the top pick in the SuperDraft to get him as well.
Actually, I think a Johnson for DC 1st round pick would be a great trade for all concerned.

Johnson's getting old enough that he doesn't need relatives to babysit him any more, and what better way to develop that his talent than to send him to a team where he's likely to become a starter.

[alansl]

I'm also starting to think that EJ is at that point where he needs a move to reinvigorate his potential before it's too late (like Chris Albright a couple or so seasons ago). And maybe reuniting him with his buddy Quaranta would be the best way to do it. But I still think EJ's potential is worth more than just a first round pick. How about DC's first round pick and Ben Olsen?

alansl

[Pegasus]

I think everyone is being too hard on Eddie. He's a year younger than Vaca. Remember Vaca last year? He has definitely stepped it up this year. Patience, patience. Never give up a player like Johnson for one draft pick. Who would you get but another young project? Eddie will eventually be a monster and I hope he's here when it happens.

The O'Brien idea has a little merit but what Jeffries needs to do is rotate the players around so that they all stay fresh. If Oscar rests then Vaca goes central. If Chivas or Vaca rests then O'Brien fills in. The one resting comes in at the 60 minute mark and all four of them stay fresh for the playoffs. Don't forget the three games in six days stretch in September. Zarco or Stone should be seeing time at d-mid to keep Deering rested. The four forwards are all currently being moved in and out and Bussey or Zarco could spell our defenders with maybe a very late seaon contribution from Gbandi.

[inferno man]

KEEP EJ, PERIOD.

He's the same age as Stone so I guess some of you guys would unload him as well since he's getting even less playing time with the Burn. :>)

College football and basketball coaches almost always refer to their players as " KIDS ". These kids are 18 to 23 years old.

If EJ and Stone had decided to play college soccer they would not even be on campus yet. So, according to college football and basketball coaches they might be " Pre-Kids".

Both of them will get plenty of playing time in the off season with the U20 and U23 teams. The U20's will be both qualifying (hopefully) and then playing in the U20 World Cup in the next 12 months or so.

Think of it this way, if they are both starters in 2004 and played until they reach 34 years old that would be 15 seasons. Counting when they started as pros it would be 18 pro seasons for EJ and 17 for Jordon.

As Pegasas said, patience.