It's almost like Jesse is stacking the team with players that will be useful to the NEXT manager. . . .
I got the same impression. None of the new players is from the Dom's choices of big target forwards and speed demons with emphasis on physicality over skills. We will see if these players outlast Dom or the other way around.
Or, we'll see if Dom adapts. He's not stupid and can surely see the direction Jesse wants to go. He gets to decide that he can either learn to work differently or know that his time is up.
Jesse doesn't say much about tactics, but one thing I notice is that a few times he's talked about a player who can "link the midfield to the forwards". He talked about Urena that way, now he is saying the same thing about Valeri. Given that, I wonder if Dom might even play Valeri as a withdrawn forward, essentially playing the Urena role. It might make sense because 1) Valeri seems to be a scorer, 2) has a good long range shot, 3) there are rumblings about his work rate not being the best - maybe it is better if he doesn't have "track back" defensive duties, 4) the Quakes already have a bunch of guys playing outside mid and are thin at forward, and 5) Jesse has said that their acquisition will be a "central player". I do not see Dom sacrificing one of his defensive / holding mids for a CAM who may not be much of a defender. I suppose there is an outside chance they go 3-5-2 also, in which case Valeri could actually play a CAM role in sort of a 3-[4-1]-2 setup. Also, I think it might be mistaken to think that these acquisitions are somehow "Jesse guys". As far as I can tell, Jesse is a collaborative sort, and I'm sure these acquisitions are made with considerable input from Dom and the other coaches. These guys are not operating in vacuums I would imagine.
I don't think we have any basis for making that assumption. Everything Jesse has said so far about these kinds of decisions has been that it is a collaboration. Maybe it isn't, and he's lying, or it's changed, but I doubt it. But anyway, can there really be all that much debate about something like this? Jesse: "Hey, we can acquire a DP for 1-1.5 mil, do you want an attacking midfielder, center forward, or center back". Dom: "Yes". Jesse: "OK, I'm glad we're in agreement".
Hopefully Valeri Qazaishvili fares better in American sports than his countryman Nikoloz Tskitishvili... Christian Pulisic connection... he had his first Champions League assist in this blowout: On 31 August 2016, Qazaishvili joined Polish side Legia Warsaw on a season-long loan.[7] On 14 September 2016, Qazaishvili made his Legia Warsaw debut in a 6–0 home defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the opening matchday of the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League.[8] Nemanja Nikolić, now with the Chicago Fire and currently leading the MLS golden boot race by three goals, was Valeri's teammate in that game...
And yet the team has not changed the way it plays at all, despite the shift in player talents and capabilities. Kinnear may not be dumb, but he sure isn't doing much to dissuade people from thinking he is.
I don't mind creative attackers starting wide. But I thought we were missing a dominant player on the ball right in the center of the park.
Jesse is looking at him as a second / withdrawn striker, which actually seems to make sense given that 1) Dom is unlikely to give up his dual d / holding mid pacifier, and 2) there were some questions about this guy's work rate / ethic - would he be the right guy to expect to "track back" and defend?, 3) we already have a lot of wide attacking players, or guys who are played there anyway, and 4) Urena has not exactly been lighting up the nets.
Jackson Yueill fills the role of dominant player on the ball right in the center of the park. Once the new coach starts him, you'll see the situation is solved.
Earlier this year Seattle was on the verge of signing Keisuke Honda, but he couldn't get out of AC Milan in time for the MLS season. Now that the summer transfer window is almost here, and with the Sounders struggling so far this season, it looks like they're bringing in Paraguayan Derlis Gonzalez instead. That would give them three DPs (Dempsey, Lodeiro, Gonzalez), so Honda would be off the table... he might make a good signing for the Quakes, he's versatile and only 31. I also couldn't help but notice that recent Quakes target Salomon Kalou was among the many celebrities at Steve Nash's annual charity event.... NYCFC's video.
Really, what player did Doyle sign or even pursue who is comparable to Keisuke Honda? Look, I have been advocating that the Quakes sign young DPs, like the ones Atlanta United recently brought in, since before Atlanta United was awarded an expansion franchise. That is definitely the ideal. But "well known star player with a good track record, just over age 30" is certainly preferable to "MPG, Djalo, Innocent, Dawkins" types (gambling on random unknown / unproven players) which is what the Quakes have been doing, at least until <fingers crossed> Vako... see most of the top DPs in MLS history like Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, David Villa, Bastian Schweinsteiger... they all came to MLS around age 30-32.
To be fair, I was only referring to the line I quoted. I don't think "versatile and 31" is the way the 'Quakes want to go. A good 30+ year old is expensive and 'Quakes don't spend. I agree Honda is a better player than what Doyle could drag in, but let's just say, he and Vako are going to be the same price? (he's probably not going to be cheaper). They are going to pay for the younger player now.
Probably little to no relevance but man city is apparently having a fire sale with Hart, Nasri, Stones, and Bony. Later two are a nice dream
Lived in Manchester for a year and follow City only a bit less than the Quakes. No way City sells Stones but I was day dreaming about the Quakes signing Bony the other day ... he would destroy this league and I feel like he wouldn't mind coming to MLS if the money was right, but his wages are astronomical.
yup, and part of any rhetorical silly deal would require Man City to eat as much of his wages as possible. They have to know that going in to their "fire sales" now.