Biggest Problems [R]

[MarioKempes]

1) Too old -- Etch, Hristo, Stewart -- b'Bye

2) Too slow -- Etch, Hristo (see above)

3) Can't pass -- everyone on the whole team

4) Can't dribble -- most on the team

That was some of the most horrific passing I have ever seen in my life. :( Send the troops back to AYSO for re-training.

[jason1551]

5) Lack of a proper d-mid, which leads to

6) Not signing Colosimo (or getting the opportunity to).

After doing my homework, I think this guy would have been a godsend to our midfield. Here's to the offseason and us trying to get him again.

[mischaDCU]

7) Lack of credible outside shooting (just a willingness to try ANY shooting would be nice... Dema and Namoff at least try sometimes, just not tonight).

8) Inability to adjust our tactics based on our available personel; e.g., too many long, looping balls in the air to a mostly short offense that isn't all that good in the air.

As far as item 4) goes, Convey and Q2 (and Dema, sometimes) at least succeed occasionally. But Q2 (especially) fails on item 2).

[Sanguine]

9) Convey sucks. I mean he really, really sucks. I used to like the kid, but the less he plays, the more we win. trade him at the first opportunity.

[jason1551]

If it wasn't for him being worth an allocation, I'd say we go ahead and trade him for Brad Davis or some other young, just as capable midfielder. But I really think the non-transfer and being sick (for like 3 weeks or so after the transfer) have really put a damper on his current level of play.

I'd rather wait during the offseason to see if there's any interest and then either keep him till a) he does get transferred (during the summer) or b) trade him if he doesn't. But it's really hard to say whether he's just in a slump (which IMO) or just topping out.

[Sanguine]

Originally posted by jason1551
If it wasn't for him being worth an allocation, I'd say we go ahead and trade him for Brad Davis or some other young, just as capable midfielder. But I really think the non-transfer and being sick (for like 3 weeks or so after the transfer) have really put a damper on his current level of play.

I'd rather wait during the offseason to see if there's any interest and then either keep him till a) he does get transferred (during the summer) or b) trade him if he doesn't. But it's really hard to say whether he's just in a slump (which IMO) or just topping out.

we've sucked ever since the day he signed. ship him out.

[C1pher]

Originally posted by Sanguine
9) Convey sucks. I mean he really, really sucks. I used to like the kid, but the less he plays, the more we win. trade him at the first opportunity.

Amen to that, cept for the fact that I never liked him. The kid isnt great, people please stop making him out to be some great player, get over it.

[jason1551]

Great? No. Good? Yes. At 20 years old, he is already proving that he can step it up, especially on the USMNT. I think that too many people are judging him over the last two months when he been through so many physical, emotional, and mental problems. I think he deserves the chance to prove his worth when he is at full strength, not the eyesore he has recently been. Give him time and it'll work itself out.

[Jester64]

Convey is a big of an enigma. My guess, because he is still young and a little small, is that when surrounded by good players, he gets better and more dangerous, moreso than normal. But what he doesn't seem to be able to do is carry a bad team alone. Of course, there are players that can carry a bad team, that when placed with internationals, can't do squat. So if we want to keep Convey, we should get some midfielders that match his style, and a coach that will agree to run at the defense. And if we want to play slow ball, and trade him away, be prepared for him to blossom elsewhere.

[futbolrey]

10) coach hudson


where is the fire hudson tread?

[SABuffalo786]

If Nelsen stays on for another year, we'll have the best defensive core in MLS hands down.

If there's one thing Ray did right it was fixing the defense. There's no need to make any changes to it over the offseason. Nick in goal with Reyes, Petke, Nelsen, and Prideaux in front of him with Namoff and Stokes in reserve? Oh yes.


As far as the midfield goes, we obviously need a holding midfielder, as jason mentioned. I've never heard of this Colosimo guy. Can someone fill me in? If anything, cut Ivanov and use his SI slot for this guy. We all know how huge Ben is to this team, so he's a given. I still haven't given up on Bobby. Having a dream move to England fall out is pretty rough, and we know he's a much better player than his recent play suggests. With Marco gone, it will finally be Bobby's team to run from the middle. I'm going to put Dema on the left, but not have him confined to a left wing position. Let him roam where he wants. He's got the pace, energy, and intensity to do this effectivley.


Let me state the obvious by saying: WE NEED A FINISHER!!!! I think Thiago Martins will make a good target foward. He can knock down balls, and be a general pain in the ass to opposing defenses, but he lacks (so far) that finishing touch. Get a speedy finisher who can run off him, and thinks only of one thing: Getting the ball in the net. Have Adu and Earnie coming off the bench, and I think we'll be alright.


GK-Rimando
RB-Reyes
CB-Nelsen
CB-Petke
LB-Prideaux
DM-Colosimo/New signing
RM-Olsen
LM-Kovalenko
AM-Convey
CF-Martins
ST-New Signing

[Atouk]

Originally posted by SABuffalo786
If anything, cut Ivanov and use his SI slot for this guy. With only Nelsen and Ivanov taking up SI slots, we have one available now and wouldn't need to cut anyone to pick up an SI. Chino just turned 23 in October, so I think he has one more year as a TI (and, if he doesn't get a Green Card, that means he probably only has one more year in the league).

[GUTuna]

Originally posted by futbolrey

where is the fire hudson tread?

I don't know about firing the guy, but he definitely made a Grady Little type mistake in this game by allowing the team to push totally forward at the end of the game. I was yelling to my father that we were going to give up the second goal and basically lose the series in Game 1. 1-0 is not impossible. 2-0 is a killer. Ray, with his Euro-background should have known that and not let his midfield get so far upfield.

[Knave]

Originally posted by GUTuna
I don't know about firing the guy, but he definitely made a Grady Little type mistake in this game by allowing the team to push totally forward at the end of the game. I was yelling to my father that we were going to give up the second goal and basically lose the series in Game 1. 1-0 is not impossible. 2-0 is a killer. Ray, with his Euro-background should have known that and not let his midfield get so far upfield.
No need to fire him. Just don't renew the contract.

The Ray Hudson light bulb is just too dim.

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by Atouk
With only Nelsen and Ivanov taking up SI slots, we have one available now and wouldn't need to cut anyone to pick up an SI. Chino just turned 23 in October, so I think he has one more year as a TI (and, if he doesn't get a Green Card, that means he probably only has one more year in the league).


Let's cut Ivanov anyway.

[jason1551]

Colosimo was the mysterious player Hudson was referring to when he said that Convey's nontransfer messed up a lot of his plans. Hudson was fully prepared to sign him, but then didn't have the roster space or time to sign him. From what I've read, he is a very promising defender/d-mid that has shown signs of promise. He was one of the main reasons Perth Glory won the Australian league last season, and he was named MOTM for the final. At 24, he's not even an SI, but I think he'll be in our radar during the offseason.

And I've said all season that we should cut Ivanov. He makes too many stupid mistakes (slipping, getting blown by all the time, reckless tackles) that he is more of a liability than an asset. With Reyes returning, we have no need for him.

[ignatz]

Did we use an allocation for Ivanov? If so, can we get another if we let him go?

[Cweedchop]

Originally posted by jason1551
Colosimo was the mysterious player Hudson was referring to when he said that Convey's nontransfer messed up a lot of his plans. Hudson was fully prepared to sign him, but then didn't have the roster space or time to sign him. From what I've read, he is a very promising defender/d-mid that has shown signs of promise. He was one of the main reasons Perth Glory won the Australian league last season, and he was named MOTM for the final. At 24, he's not even an SI, but I think he'll be in our radar during the offseason.



Actually that was more for next season when Convey was gone and the player in question was an Argentine striker, not Colosimo..

Seriously dude, why do you keep harping on this guy? How could you possibly know how good this guy is?

No doubt his lofty credentials with the mighty Perth Glory set him above the Gods but if he really was any good at all he'd be in England right now plying his trade...

[Atouk]

Originally posted by ignatz
Did we use an allocation for Ivanov? If so, can we get another if we let him go? Yes to the first question. We used the allocation that came over from New Jersey.

http://www.dcunited.com/index.cfm?section=main&cont_id=160626

As for the second question, I think the answer is no unless the league were able to sell him. I just hope we get one for Etcheverry.

Here's the league's less-than-clear statement on allocated players:
Allocated Players
These players are allocated to teams through the League office. Each year, additional allocations are decided upon and made by the League’s Competition Committee and based upon players lost and the teams’ on-field records in the previous year. Allocated player spots may be traded.From: http://www.mlsnet.com/about/regulations/

[galperin]

Convey is not the problem. The problem is he has no one to work with. He is not a player who can take over a game and lead a team, but he can play well when surrounded by talent. Look at his play with the USMNT. He plays pretty well when in the US jersey, despite often playing out of position.

Worth Keeping for next year:

GK: Rimando, Warren
D: Reyes, Nelson, Stokes
M: Convey, Olsen, Q2
F: Cerritos, Stewart, Q1, Esky

Everybody else can take a hike!

Hopefully, we'll get a decent allocation for Etch leaving.

We desperately need: everything except a keeper, but mainly a d-mid, a finisher, another outside back.


Possible for next year:

Warren
Stokes, Nelson, ?, Reyes
Olsen, Convey, Q2, Stewart
Cerritos, Esky