Prediction: 7-1 LA Zardes and Gio each get hat-tricks and Steres gets the first on a header. Brian Rowe sits in goal drinking tea because the defense shuts down Columbus attack so much they don't even get a shot on goal. I can just feel it, this is gonna be the turning point....
Also, if we win this game, then we only need to average 2.13 points per game after it. So time to get this train rollin'!
Everybody seems so positive, so I'll stick this in some spoiler tags... Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler Going 7-2-2 should do it...
Lassiter today for GII USL defense, I know but, I'd like to see him start up top for the first team a couple games and see if he's got the sand yet.
Not that we have a chance this season to make up so much ground, so this shake up might not be worth it, but I was thinking about what some other posted mentioned, and I really think swapping the positions of Zardes, Alessandrini and Gio might be really good for us: --------------------Gio Boateng----Alessandrini---Zardes Alessandrini is our best offensive playmaker. Gio is best when he's close to goal and finishing plays. Zardes brings much more hustle and defense on the wing that Alessandrini and that is the position he's had some success with this year. I think for the rest of this season, that formation puts the players in the position where they can best contribute keeps us a little more balanced on defense. But the Galaxy never call me to get formation suggestions......
It would be nice if this worked and Gio and Alessandrini stay nice and connected, but my recollection is that Gio tends to get lost when he's alone up top. Plus, he likes to drift wide a lot, so that's why he and Alessandrini would have to really be in sync for it to work well.
Nice idea but if I recall correctly, Alessandrini has not been good in the CAM position this year. Worth the try though.
I don't really see Alessandrini as an adequate playmaker. He's not a great passer of the ball and I don't think he sees things all that well. I think he works best when he's off the ball and comes onto the ball late, drifting around, finding space and whipping in crosses. He's a secondary attacker for me. 34 of his 51 key passes are from crosses (the most in the league) and a further 28 more are from corners and free-kicks. So only 15 of his 51 key passes are not from crosses or dead balls, which is pretty low vs his comparables. He stays out wide for me.
I agree that wing play is Alessandrini's best position rather than an attacking mid. He is very good at getting behind the defense on the end line and getting dangerous crosses in. Also agree he is best as a secondary attacker - too bad we don't have a primary one.
So much for any fancy lineup changes. Looks like Pedro and Jona in the middle, Ema and Romain on the outside and Zardes up top unless Sigi wants to switch Alessandrini and Zardes. I doubt McBean would start after playing for the GIIs this weekend. Maybe he gives McInerney another shot.
I know Lassiter played last weekend too but, if Zardes can't do anything the first half, I'd like to give him a shot second half. I like his aggressiveness and rate him higher than Zardes as a #9.
Interestingly, they've been playing Lassiter on the wing for the GIIs and I believe that was his position when he scored this past weekend, cutting in to his right foot from the left wing.
Just grasping at straws, but there could be some merit in starting Ema on top. None of the Galaxy's candidates for the #9 are strong in the air when marked. Rather than conform to a strategy that results in constant turnovers, why not pressure the CBs with unmitigated speed?
Might as well play Romney and Steres up top. They've scored more goals than our entire roster of forwards has combined. This season is as good as dead anyways, why not take a chance and see what happens.
And if we had one more halfway decent CB on the roster, I would agree. Otherwise Sigi might be forced to lay Rafa Garcia there (I'm kidding. I'm kidding)