Looks like we added some much needed grit, physical presence and attacking verve in the final third. I don't care where he plays, he'll help us.
My answer is "Terrific!" But you are right we will probably not find out. Anybody else wondering why Simon should see the field?
I guess he is worth 3 million euros, down from 3.5. And since we are getting him for half-season, he is probably costing the Quakes $1M. https://www.transfermarkt.com/jumplist/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/156115 When you look at this record, it is not very impressive. Maybe I am not interpreting this correctly, but it seems he has been riding the bench in Poland and the Netherlands? Btw, this is not apropos, but since I went to the trouble of looking it up cuz I thought he was from Russian leagues... NYTimes had an interesting article on Leonid Slutsky, the Russian manager taking over newly-relegated Hull. In it, he makes an interesting statement about the Russian leagues: https://nyti.ms/2tuzIcn When the technical director of a Premier League club revealed he was searching for a player to fill a particular position, Slutsky immediately remembered a former charge from his long, impressive career in Russia’s top league. The player fit the bill perfectly and, in Slutsky’s mind, would be a definite upgrade. An open, gregarious sort, he advised his new friend that the player might be worth considering. “He said he was aware of him,” Slutsky said. “But that it was too much of a risk to bring someone direct from Russia. It is not a league they scout. They say the standard in the league is too different, so they find it too hard to judge the level of quality.”
This looks like the kind of signing that makes or breaks Kinnear's tenure in SJ. He's Jesse's first major signing so he has to play. Problem is to make Vako work you need adjust how the team plays and lines up to utilize all of its best pieces. If Vako takes either of Urena's, TT's, or Hyka's spots this team will be making little progress. Also why is Dawkin's still hogging a DP spot?
Didn't we, under Dom, play 4-4-2 diamond in 2005 and win a Supporters' Shield with it? Rico as the DM and DeRo at the point? I want to think he kept that during the first few successful years in Houston (yes, the ones stolen from us). So, he's done it before, unless I'm remembering that year incorrectly.
Before you all start proclaiming him the second coming: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeri_Qazaishvili His stats are hardly earth shattering, he's worth a TAM signing but not a DP.
Yes, absolutely we played a diamond, and Dom continued to play a diamond 4-4-2 until he lost both DeRo and Holden. Then he reverted to two "holding mids." I think partly, Dom fears that if he goes diamond, MLS will sell his #10. Notice how the evil, cheating, league-favored, smog-breathing, water-stealing, galactopustules almost never lose a player to overseas leagues, but Dom has lost his #10 twice. And as @ant0n says above, this is make or break time for Dom. If he lines Vako up at wide mid, or if he plays Vako in place of Ureña, and doesn't get results immediately, then I think Dom's in trouble. The clear answer here is that Vako plays a #10 role and we change our strategy. It's not like Dom can argue that he doesn't have someone good enough to play the #10 spot, he does. (TT also, but of course, he's too young.) If Dom continues with his two "holding mids" I think that we will continue to struggle and then Dom's days are numbered. Welcome Vako!! Hope you're great and like it here, and that your arrival is a harbinger of Dom getting the sack!! Go Quakes!! Fire Dom!! - Mark
That was twelve years ago, and that 2005 teams was probably technically the best team he ever coached. He had more success upon moving to Houston, but those teams weren't as good as the 2005 team was. He's never even come close to reproducing a team at that level, and things have only gotten worse over time. If he was capable of building a team like that one, he would have done it already with Doyle.
I talked to a rep yesterday and he said Vako would officially be available July 11th, and could see some time in the friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt on the 14th. First league game would be July 19th.
Vako had a good stay at Vitesse i.e., 6+ years; but was on loan the past year. Do we know if the Quakes signed Vako on a free transfer or did MLS have to pay a transfer fee?
So we get him after nineteen (19) games are in the books! Yeah! We'll be well and truly dead by then, but what the heck?! Are we going to get any more players in this window? Does it matter? How about we get a new coaching staff?! Ugh! Go Quakes!! Fire Dom!! - Mark
This was our conversation this morning on the way to camp (son's, not mine). He pays way more attention to other leagues than I do, and he hadn't heard of him either. He keeps talking about Balotelli but for so many reasons, we know that's not happening. Who knows, maybe the Quakes will pick up dozens of new Georgian expat STH?
Same old story! Side note: this morning I received an email about 2018 STH renewal for next season. LOL.
I'm aware of him being sent off in 2012 for violent conduct, he was sent off three times this season for Nice, once for talking to the ref, once for a second booking, and once for a tackle that should have been a foul or caution.