2017 Roster moves

Discussion in 'Houston Dynamo' started by newtex, Nov 28, 2016.

  1. Soccergodlss

    Soccergodlss Member+

    Jun 21, 2004
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Kaiserslautern
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree with this mostly. Alex is the only one of the middle three that I would say have been above average in this league at the moment. I was just saying that he's been starting and I think he's been better than most expected to this point. Alexander isn't a game changer, I just don't think he's cost us games by himself in any situation.
     
  2. Heft

    Heft BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 20, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Cabezas has been hurt, but has had two solid matches at least. Not surprisingly he had trouble with Giovinco/Altidore but that is to be expected.
     
  3. Hydro

    Hydro Member+

    Nov 16, 2007
    Houstown
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    I heard @ImaPuppy 's parents sent him to early Summer camp. He's homeschooled so he can take off any time.:p
     
  4. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    He played 90 in the Portland and TFC losses, and in each was losing track of his mark. The "two solid matches" were at home against SJ and Orlando, both of whom looked exhausted from their schedule. He also came into Columbus in the second half and we all know that Jekkyl Hyde game was reversed, we dominated the first half and allowed a late second half goal.

    I don't want anyone to fail but this is hardly convincing. I wanted him to work in preseason because he looked like a cruncher and we've needed "enforcement" and ball-winning for years. He will now probably get all the time he wants to make a case (positive or negative). As will some bench players from necessity.

    I'm also curious, intellectually and also for accountability, whether what looked like a 532 against TFC was Cabrera's decision or some sort of Cabezas glitch. "To be expected" is at best making excuses and at worst tacitly slotting us in as second rate and this is what first rate teams will do to us. The sort of player we should want should be capable of doing a job on both. I also want players with lots of good games and rare off days, anything less is settling. We do a lot of settling.
     
  5. Heft

    Heft BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 20, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    #1130 Heft, May 11, 2017
    Last edited: May 11, 2017
    Only time will tell with Cabezas.

    The team as a whole needs to play better on the road on the plastic pitch.

    I really like Cabezas passing, calmness on the ball, and his ability to pick the simple effective pass, as well as his physical presence. That is something that he can build on. It's a strange League at times.
     
  6. Soccergodlss

    Soccergodlss Member+

    Jun 21, 2004
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Kaiserslautern
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah. I'm still in the analysis portion with Cabezas. Needs more sample size.
     
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  7. JDogindy

    JDogindy Member

    Nov 20, 2014
    Club:
    Indy Eleven
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I know this wasn't the only thing responsible, but getting rid of Will Bruin has really helped the Dynamo's fortunes.

    I'm actually looking forward to us playing in November.
     
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  8. MLSNHTOWN

    MLSNHTOWN Member+

    Oct 27, 1999
    Houston, TX
    It's not getting rid of Will Bruin per se. He has been successful so far in Seattle starting the last few weeks, scoring some goals, and being a very nice complement to how the rest of their team plays soccer.

    The real issue is that we are finally starting our other forwards both of whom were better than Will Bruin last year. The next question is whether Cabrera will continue to start our best forward while keeping Cubo on the bench.
     
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  9. Heft

    Heft BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 20, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    The biggest difference this season is the employment of two fast physical wingers in a 433.
     
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  10. Soccergodlss

    Soccergodlss Member+

    Jun 21, 2004
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Kaiserslautern
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree. Cubo wouldn't have done nearly as well last year as he's doing this year without the formation and personnel change around. Still would have probably been better than Bruin.
     
  11. MLSNHTOWN

    MLSNHTOWN Member+

    Oct 27, 1999
    Houston, TX
    The formation change is mostly irrelevant. 4-5-1 v. 4-3-3 who cares? 75% of it is the talent. Quito is a budding superstar. Elis has been very good. Look how good/dangerous we are with Quito and without. It's night and day.

    Torres has scored one goal and has one assist in his last four games. Guess how many of those games** Quito started with him?

    **In fairness though, he did score a hat trick the week before that run of four with Quito injured.
     
  12. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    For him to be worth it I need to see sustained quality and regardless of opponent. Perhaps he got out of shape or off form while hurt, but I then need to see game after game playing like the player I thought he might be. Otherwise, thing is, if you play well against a tired team and poorly against quality opposition, I think I have you pegged and I don't want to be stuck with you in the playoffs when it's generally good teams every week and both teams (give or take injuries) will be equally tired or fresh.

    He was losing his man against Portland and no one was guarding Seb/Jozy against TFC. Team didn't play great but at least the first one if not both are him specifically. The people he was losing are good players, but then that's what I want my defender to stop. Clark back in the day it wasn't, well, some weeks he's fine, and we'll just have to cut him slack against the elite. Doing the job regardless how good they are is part of what sets someone apart.

    These "tired opponent" games are not a good way to determine how anyone is playing. Bank the result, put a smile on your face for a bit, but drawing broader lessons is not justified.

    At least one thing to remember is he's a loan dude, we don't owe him staying on the roster, to the contrary I should be seeing exactly what I want every week or it's on to Plan B. I could tolerate slight adjustment glitches but for it to be worth our time I need weekly performance regardless of opposition. Otherwise the rational response is "Next."
     
  13. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    #1138 juvechelsea, May 11, 2017
    Last edited: May 11, 2017
    I thought Quioto was the best we got. The problem ever since Boniek has been getting players like Bruin and then settling for them. You want to compete with the best, it needs to be Quioto types. Every time you settle for Williams or Warner or the like you're setting yourself up as a poor side.

    Elis is a little more raw, but he has so much speed and he can poach. Speed's been missing too. If a team gets back, we now have an attacker who can create by running by you.

    I disagree about the formation, if you deployed this bunch in a Barrett 451 and told them to play defense it would be a notch up from last season and that's it. Torres would be lonely and lose the ball alone up top. Elis would not be as dangerous if he had to start every attack from his 18. The mids are mediocre and the backs hit and miss. The GA is actually up this season, defensive revamp or not. The reason this team is where it is, is 2 good new forwards and a formation to leverage the 4 headed monster.

    You look at a game like TFC and in a more pushed back 532 this was a lot like last season. I am actually not a huge fan of a 433 as the end game because I think it's inherently vulnerable. But it's a flawed roster and I think the formation leverages the strengths.

    It is the formation, it isn't the formation. The formation wins some weeks and loses others. I do think we should work out a 442/451/532 and some personnel packages for closing games out -- either that or sub in 3 attacking specialists (2 mids) and go for the neck.
     
  14. Heft

    Heft BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 20, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    The best games of this season have been in the 4-3-3. I like formations and tactics that get us points.
     
  15. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    I think the 433 reflects the team at the moment, warts and all, and needs to be paired with some sort of endgame strategy or tactic that refreshes the attack.

    I don't think with a reconstructed team this necessarily applies this summer or next season.
     
  16. 7seven7

    7seven7 Member+

    May 5, 2008
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Post of the year candidate!!

    Getting rid of stumlbedore was the single greatest thing that could have happened for humanity!!

    PS

    Stumbledore sucks! (man, i almost miss typing that every week)
     
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  17. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    Would Will Bruin ever, in his life, on this team:
    (a) run by people like Elis
    (b) consistently finish beautiful curling shots like Quioto
    (c) kick free kicks like Torres

    He couldn't even outplay Manotas last season.

    Bruin does have 3 goals but on this team that would tie him with Manotas in 4th place, and Manotas whooped his butt when regularly starting last season.

    We could have 3-4 people in the neighborhood of 10 goals this year.

    If you want to further cook your noodle, our stats could be even higher, despite 810 minutes of regulation play no starting forward has played more than 676 minutes, and the lowest (Manotas) has 363. Manotas had 6 goals last year in 1000-ish minutes and 10 starts.

    I don't wish him ill but don't let the door hit you in the kiester.
     
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  18. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    #1144 juvechelsea, May 12, 2017
    Last edited: May 12, 2017
    The stats presently heavily favor Willis, like 1.0 - 1.8 on GAA. I prefer Deric as a player but both have been glitchy. I would actually go shopping since the QB controversy actually suggests a degree of dissatisfaction with both. Sometimes the inability to make a choice reflects poor alternatives. If it gets too one hand other hand then get a third hand.

    But I wouldn't go shopping this summer, I'd do it in the offseason. I think they are both serviceable this year and two serviceable keepers for this season is probably sufficient for trying to make a playoff run. I think the GM energy needs to go into the midfield and defense. You fix keeper and you still have a sieve in front of him.

    I wouldn't have said this two years ago but Deric hasn't been the same player in that period of time. His stats were solid last season but he was hurt and rarely played. Now he's started making glitches that remind me of Willis. He needs to get back to immaculate sweeper keeping -- which set him apart from the lumbering Willis but has waned -- and solid shot stopping. He also needs to work on his Hall's Syndrome on goal kicks.
     
  19. Heft

    Heft BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 20, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    I really thought this was going to be Deric's breakout year. Injuries can be tough to come back from. He went out last year on a low note with two reds and injury.
     
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  20. MLSNHTOWN

    MLSNHTOWN Member+

    Oct 27, 1999
    Houston, TX
    Deric played one bad game and has been permanently benched now. His performances before weren't anything to write home about and last year was awful. Willis has not played a bad game like that, but at the same time seems to do very little to justify starting over an average MLS 'keeper. IMHO - it's time to move on from both.
     
  21. Soccergodlss

    Soccergodlss Member+

    Jun 21, 2004
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Kaiserslautern
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't miss Bruin based on what we have this year, but he would have done a lot better with Quioto and Elis than he did the last few seasons. Those guys make it much easier for the middle man.
     
  22. Soccergodlss

    Soccergodlss Member+

    Jun 21, 2004
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Kaiserslautern
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think Deric hasn't had any consistency in playtime these last two years, which is vital for a keeper. I still believe he's a great keeper.
     
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  23. El Naranja

    El Naranja Member+

    Sep 5, 2006
    Alief
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    JC has spent the past 2 years frothing at the mouth about how terrible joe is esp over a certain keeper who hasnt played a lick over that time. its hilarious to see him defend eillis rven a little bit now.
     
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  24. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    I buy it but yet not. I was saying a version of this when the season started, But Bruin would never have this many goals this fast and that has to do with the different wrinkles in Torres' game.

    Torres is probably as bad as Bruin at finishing in the run of play, perhaps worse, but he is decent at deadballs and can hit passes. Manotas can run and pass and shoot. Elis is fast as hell and has a poaching and aerial game. Quioto has some speed and can hit a cross. I'd take all four of them over Bruin and I like how the varied skill sets are complimentary.

    Bruin was only ever going to be "ok" and there was a ceiling on how far that'd go and he could take us.
     
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