We need Defenders

[1MADDOG]

We need experience in the back line. Defense is the key position to any successfull team in just about most sports. We are lacking here.

We have a few young talents on trail, but they aren't the answer.

Should we be looking in the copa libertatoderes or top tier second division teams in Europe? South American teams are obviously more technical, especially with footwork, but the average speed and size of top tier second division European teams are pretty impressive.

[fatbastard]

NE got to the Cup 3 years with Jay Heaps as part of their back line, and not much else next to him. SJ/Houston with Craig Waibel. You won't find two more useless untalented bastards.

Having really really good defenders is over-rated, especially foreign defenders - they are cheap and plentiful in the US, but we don't identify them very well because as Americans we are more interested in who's scoring goals sometimes :)
And as such our decent defenders find more love overseas sometimes.

We need a defender, in the center.

[Untroubled by Reason]

NE got to the Cup 3 years with Jay Heaps as part of their back line, and not much else next to him. SJ/Houston with Craig Waibel. You won't find two more useless untalented bastards.

Having really really good defenders is over-rated, especially foreign defenders - they are cheap and plentiful in the US, but we don't identify them very well because as Americans we are more interested in who's scoring goals sometimes :)
And as such our decent defenders find more love overseas sometimes.

We need a defender, in the center.
What's more, we need to be organized, game-in and game-out. The back four need to function well as a unit, to make the whole better than the sum of the parts. That's where we truly sucked last season: I'd almost bet there weren't three games in a row in which the same four players were in the same positions in the defense.

[Bootsy Collins]

NE got to the Cup 3 years with Jay Heaps as part of their back line, and not much else next to him.
Other than Rookie of the Year, then Defender of the Year Michael Parkhurst.

[fatbastard]

Due to his hairdo, I still classify him as "not much" ;)
but seriously, that's why I didn't say "nothing" instead of "not much" :)
And why I reiterated we do need a good central defender

[Bootsy Collins]

And why I reiterated we do need a good central defender
You're right, we do; but that's not all we need. Teams identify and attack weak points in defenses. And yes, defensive organization is important, insofar as it makes sure defenders are in position to make plays; but in the end, the defenders still have to make the individual play. Too frequently last year, our defenders (esp. Burch, and esp. esp. ESP. McTavish) muffed the play.

[nobletea]

You're right, we do; but that's not all we need. Teams identify and attack weak points in defenses. And yes, defensive organization is important, insofar as it makes sure defenders are in position to make plays; but in the end, the defenders still have to make the individual play. Too frequently last year, our defenders (esp. Burch, and esp. esp. ESP. McTavish) muffed the play.

FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih?

I didn't know Wookies played soccer. Cool.

[EdsonArantes]

Heaps, Parkhurst and Avery John wasn't a bad 3 man back line when you had Shalrie Joseph and Larentowicz as d-mids right in front of them.

splitting hairs :p

yeah, we need a solid CB.

[highlander]

You're right, we do; but that's not all we need. Teams identify and attack weak points in defenses. And yes, defensive organization is important, insofar as it makes sure defenders are in position to make plays; but in the end, the defenders still have to make the individual play. Too frequently last year, our defenders (esp. Burch, and esp. esp. ESP. McTavish) muffed the play.

My experience in working with young defenders is that, if they are not playing a role that they are comfortable in, they are going to make a lot of mistakes. Erpen went from servicable to awfull with the coaching change. Boswell went from defender of the year to unwanted to very solid through coaching and team changes. I'm not saying that the guys that we have are all amazing talents, I just have a hard time figuring out how good they really are. The thing that I am interested in seeing is exactly how good of a job organizing the defense Tom Soehn does this year. The excuse of not good enough players doesn't work anymore. We have gone from a top defense to a weak defense. He has had plenty of time to get players that he thinks will be successful. We don't have to lead the league in defense, but we need to be much better than last year.

They have gotten rid of the scapegoats. No excuses.

[La Barra Blonde]

they have gotten rid of the scapegoats. No excuses.

qft!!

[Hedbal]

NE got to the Cup 3 years with Jay Heaps as part of their back line, and not much else next to him. SJ/Houston with Craig Waibel. You won't find two more useless untalented bastards.

Umm, Heaps is sufficiently talented to have been MLS Rookie of the Year and a starter since 1999. And ROTY and Defender of the Year Michael Parkhurst was beside him for the last few. I think you need a better (i.e. "worse") example for the point you are trying to make.

[Pan-T Clause]

I sadi the same thing last year even after they brought in the Gonzos. You don't just need a solid player you need players who play solid together as well. bringing in new people all the time won't help. We need a (excuse my pun) United line. A backline that plays together more often.

[1MADDOG]

NE got to the Cup 3 years with Jay Heaps as part of their back line, and not much else next to him. SJ/Houston with Craig Waibel. You won't find two more useless untalented bastards.

Having really really good defenders is over-rated, especially foreign defenders - they are cheap and plentiful in the US, but we don't identify them very well because as Americans we are more interested in who's scoring goals sometimes :)
And as such our decent defenders find more love overseas sometimes.

We need a defender, in the center.


I would be happy with two additional EXPERIENCED defenders; not a once forward mutated defender. A central defender that's experienced would be great, but that dude better be able to shout.

Ronald RALDES comes to mind.

We seem to have aquired speed, and some already had decent size. We lack quality experience.

[bigredfutbol]

I sadi the same thing last year even after they brought in the Gonzos. You don't just need a solid player you need players who play solid together as well. bringing in new people all the time won't help. We need a (excuse my pun) United line. A backline that plays together more often.

Which is why so many of us are scared. With the exception of Namoff--who's out on the right--we're woefully lacking in experience and quite possibly quality.

[Bolivianfuego]

^^^DC United cant afford Raldes. At Suadia Arabia, he was earning something like 900ishK yearly.

He has offers in Europe and in Mexico, i'd guess in the 500-600k range yearly USD.

Hell, at Rosario he was earning 250k US, and this was in ARG.

[1MADDOG]

I sadi the same thing last year even after they brought in the Gonzos. You don't just need a solid player you need players who play solid together as well. bringing in new people all the time won't help. We need a (excuse my pun) United line. A backline that plays together more often.

Both Gonzos are fine abled bodies that would be great candidates to play alongside highly experienced defenders telling them what to do. Neither were leaders.

We had AGOOS, and we had NELSON that helped solidified our backline during our championship runs.

We need an outspoken experienced leader in the back. You can have the biggest and fastest dude back there, but they aren't much with out "the experienced mind".

[La Barra Blonde]

We had AGOOS, and we had NELSON that helped solidified our backline during our championship runs.

*cough*AndEddiePope*cough* :D

[Lowecifer]

When I read this thread title, I immediately think...

MARS NEEDS WOMEN

YouTube - Mars Needs Women

[Hedbal]

*cough*AndEddiePope*cough* :D

But unlike Agoos and Nelson, Pope was very quiet and didn't do much obvious "organizing." That was noticed at the time, but Eddie always said he was uncomfortable being a vocal leader. Somewhere today (perhaps DCU's web site) I read that Tommy Soehn is encouraging Brian Namoff to become a more vocal leader. Again, this isn't really Brian's strength, but he has been called out to provide vocal leadership. And it's leadership that the backline group needs. I was sorry to see Vanney go (and then retire) because whatever his weaknesses he was a good leader and organizer. If Berhalter returns to the US he would fill this bill also.

[La Barra Blonde]

But unlike Agoos and Nelson, Pope was very quiet and didn't do much obvious "organizing." That was noticed at the time, but Eddie always said he was uncomfortable being a vocal leader.

True. Goose could bellow. We also lost Perkins, who had a good set of lungs on him as well.