Dear Dom. Eff it. This is your starting-XI: -------------oLA------zLAtan Boateng-------Lletget-------Alessandrini ------------------Carrasco Romney---Steres---THA----Feltscher -------------------Geneva Go for it!!
It's funny that Sigi came up with the 3-5-2 to fit 3 forwards (Ola, Zlatan and Gio) on the field, and one of those guys never plays...
He's the only true d-mid we have on the roster. We have a bunch of mediocre 8's and no 6's... so to speak.
If you can stomach it, re-watch the last match, and focus on the midfield. What you'll see is Jona circling around trying to play keep away from RSL looking to pass it to someone else in the midfield, but neither Kitchen or Carrasco ever show for the ball. We can't keep any semblance of possession with either Kitchen or Carrasco. There's a reason he was left unprotected and only commands the league minimum. I'd wager that Jona is a better soccer player than Carrasco at any position on the field.
On your first point, its been my observation that Jona is reluctant to pass the ball to anyone other than Gio. Jona is not exactly a great passer to boot. Considering how many of the Galaxy players are poor passers, I am not sure that it fair to lump the possession problems on either Kitchen or Carrasco. I would agree with your last sentence if you said he was a more talented player at any position. However, while it is clear that Jona is a more talented player than Carrasco and has energy bunny stamina, its not clear that Jona always gives his all on defense. As I recall when he got paired with Kitchen at the back his defensive play was pretty miserable. Consequently, I don't consider him a better DMid than Carrasco. On an overall basis and considering that he is getting paid probably 20 times what Carrasco is and is taking up a DP slot, you would expect him to be much more effective that he has been.
I'm not a Dos Santos apologist, but when he plays with Kitchen it seems he's tasked with getting forward more. To be honest Carrasco has been the DM in both of our blowouts. You say that Carrasco is a better defender than Jona, but the statistics (whoscored) and the eye test don't agree with your assessment. Jona is one of the top 4 players (perhaps top 3) on the team. Absolutely no reason to leave him off any projected starting lineups. I'd rather have Rafa Garcia at DM than Carrasco. We might still get blown out but at least the opposing team would know they were in a contest.
Oh I'd also start Jona over anybody else we have in central midfield. I just thought he wouldn't be available this weekend because of international duty. Plus he's usually injured...
Fair enough. I thought you had jumped the shark. At first you were calling for Carrasco to replace Kitchen, I thought now you were calling for Carrasco to also replace Jona. I do however like your formation for the remaining matches. Three in the back did work reasonably well when we had our unbeaten streak, however I think opposing teams have figured it out. So it's time to change it up on them; and a 4-1-3-2 might be suited for what we have: --------------Ola----Zlatan-------------- Lletget----------GDS----Alessandrini --------------------JDS-------------------- Cole--Skjelvik--Romney--Feltscher -----------------Bingham----------------- It reminds me of some of the USMNT formations when they were trying to get Altidore, Wood, and Pulisic on the field in effective positions. Jona would be playing the Bradley role in this formation/lineup.
Everyone gets a fresh slate for me. Well, except Ciani, maybe. I go 4-4-2: Panther, Lion G.O. (Seba), Yona, Sink, Lettuce (SpeedBoat) Ash, Skink, R-money/Stairs, Felt Bing
^^This. And if we don't see this at all, then this season is officially over as far as I am concerned.
I'm still calling for Carrasco to replace Kitchen. I would call on me to replace Kitchen at this point. But JDS didn't play for Mexico last night, I believe, so he should be rested and ready to start on Saturday. This game is basically the season, so let's see if he finally plays with some pride....
I didn't see the game but I read he started and was subbed at half-time. MLS related side-note: Nicolas Lodeiro subbed in for Luis Suarez in the 68' for Uruguay.
Interesting development. a bittersweet moment regarding Sigi. He will never be a coach for us again and yet this man is part of Galaxy history. After waiting what seemed forever to win an MLS cup this is the guy that made it happen for us fans back in 2002. Maybe not his coaching I will miss, although he had his moments but I wish him well and thank him for the good times. Certainly he was/is not the complete ball of wax when it comes to this team's current morass but he was part of it. I still don't feel good at what I see before me. This is still a bad team. I think this season is done in more ways than one but I can always be proved wrong.