[dr_gooch41]

With Davy back, Cristman returning to service and Zoltan finally in the mix, I wonder if it's time to change our attacking shape.

And, coming off a month we scored exactly 1 goal, something has to change, right?

So, who sits with Davy and Cristman/Zoltan coming on?

If we keep our current shape, Onalfo's standby 4-1-3-2, somebody has to sit to make room. Lopez, Jewsbury, Gomez or Wolff?

I think it's between Gomez and Wolff. Gomez goes off if Davy returns to the midfield, but since Davy played so well as a striker for the USMNT, he could very easily displace Wolff (who has scuffed more than his fair share of chances in the box of late).

Of course, you could get radical and trot out a 4-3-3, which makes Gomez a bench player and gives Wolff a chance to share a front-line with Arnaud and a target man.

Something like this:

-----------------Hartman------------------
Watson--Hohlbein--Conrad/McKenzie--Besler
-------Jewsbury-----Hirsig-----Lopez-------
-----Arnaud---Cristman/Zoltan---Wolff------

This formation would work with the talent we have. It requires three midfielders comfortable with the ball that can pass (Lopez and Hirsig certainly fit, Jack is all right) who can also win the ball back (which Jack and Hirsig can do). And it gives us the chance to put three different attackers with different skill sets out front.

It would also completely scuff the wild crossing game we employ now and give both Wolff and Arnaud (our best scorers) more direct paths to the net without having to fight through the heart of the defense, which would become the job of Cristman/Zoltan.

The drawbacks, of course, are that it will heap pressure on Hirsig to really control the middle of the pitch and lessen Lopez' role as the only creator of offense. (I will also admit that it could lead to some issues out wide if Lance or Besler press to far out.)

Thoughts? None of this will likely matter though, but it's fun to speculate.

[Abracadabra]

Originally Posted by dr_gooch41

Something like this:

Hartman
Watson-Hohlbein-Conrad/McKenzie-Besler
Jewsbury-Hirsig-Lopez
Arnaud-Cristman/Zoltan-Wolff

OK I guess my critiques would be that Zoltan doesn't appear to be a CF from the film I've seen. Wolff doesn't work too well for me on the left either, and I don't like Gomez sitting--he has educated feet and he's dangerous any time he's in the attacking third. But something has to change, that we do know.

[kuhnscoot]

We'll stay with the 4-4-2. It'll probably look something like this once everyone is back and healthy:

Hartman
Watson - Hohlbein - Conrad - Besler
Hirsig
Arnaud - Jewsbury - Lopez
Wolff - Cristman/Zoltan

Wolff and Lopez will alternate which one is up top and which one is on the wing, probably the same with Arnaud. I just can't see Onalfo switching to a new formation. Subs would probably be Gomez, Espinoza, and Zoltan/Cristman, whoever doesn't start, and Harrington from time to time as well.

[McGinty]

Originally Posted by dr_gooch41

Of course, you could get radical and trot out a 4-3-3, which makes Gomez a bench player and gives Wolff a chance to share a front-line with Arnaud and a target man.

Onalfo went with this initially when he brought on Cristman for Gomez. Actually, I think this could be a very good tactic, especially when Davy returns.

[IASocFan]

Speaking of Conrad, is he back for this weekend's game?

[cjgwizard]

Originally Posted by IASocFan

Speaking of Conrad, is he back for this weekend's game?

It was mentioned by Jough in the FCD pre-game thread that CO says he won't play this weekend but should be okay for the next game against Chicago. I wonder how effective Davy will be after the Gold Cup and the All Star Game. He is probably pretty tired.

[kuhnscoot]

Originally Posted by cjgwizard

I wonder how effective Davy will be after the Gold Cup and the All Star Game. He is probably pretty tired.

Not to mention he also played in most of our long stretch of games in late June early July that we had. I don't think he's had a week off from a game or maybe even practice since early June.

[Jough]

I actually like the 4-3-3. We seem to play to the wings a lot more then through the central mid anyway, so dropping two forward back a bit and pinching in two mids with Hirsig holding the mid seems like it'd be at least worth a try.

[kuhnscoot]

Originally Posted by Jough

We seem to play to the wings a lot more then through the central mid anyway, so dropping two forward back a bit and pinching in two mids with Hirsig holding the mid seems like it'd be at least worth a try.

Which I don't understand with the pill box we play in, the field is way to narrow for our style of play.