Hey idiots!!!! For what it's worth there were actually two decent articles in the Dispatch the past two days actually discussing what is wrong with the team instead of attacking the fans. None of it is next level soccer analysis, but it's better than the propaganda and insults that King and half the Massive Report crew spew at the fans... Tom Reed had an article on whether we need to use the transfer window to find a replacement for Finlay during the transfer window: http://www.dispatch.com/sports/2017...ons-to-make-about-ethan-finlay-and-right-wing Arace had a piece questioning whether it's the system or the players that is the issue here: http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20170706/michael-arace-personnel-or-system-crew-must-find-flaw
The best that the Dispatch had, by far. And while he was a beat writer he also was talented enough as a writer to convert his opinions through his pieces. Sadly we have clowns like King and some others who are writing for Massive Report who are still learning how to write, and further behind on learning the actual sport. It's hopeless to expect decent content from them.
I dunno, the idea of converting Finlay to a box to box midfielder does not compute (for me). His worst attributes are his ball control and passing. He needs space to run at (or behind) a defense.
The "Eintracht has historical problems with its defense (see: 1960 European Cup final)." quote from Arace is absolutely priceless.
I like Reed. And Reed likes soccer. And I'd like if Reed covered soccer more (though Erickson has done a fine job). But talking about how a 4-2-3-1 doesn't work for Ethan because he'd be better in a 4-4-2 is silly.
If I remember correctly, Warzycha did give Finlay limited minutes at right back in his first season or two. As for King's tweet that kicked this whole thing off, the ironic thing is that Pulisic is on the Allocation list, and we currently occupy the #1 spot in that order. It's meaningless, but that's not my point. So I guess I'd ask King which is more ridiculous: (A.) that a Crew fan can't understand why we haven't gone after Pulisic yet, or (B.) that MLS even bothers to include him in the Allocation List. Yes, the former is laughable, but you're kidding yourself if you don't see the latter is embarrassing, too. At least (A.) is just a guy on an internet. (B.) is on company letterhead for crying out loud!
I was just gonna say that. I remember him playing Finlay there once or twice but can't remember how he did. I imagine he would be serviceable like Jimenez with some games where he shines and others where we hes garbage. I highly doubt he could be the successor to Afful though.
Wait... except for when we try to possess it out of the back, then you run into the same problem as converting him to a box to box type midfielder; ball control and passing are his weaknesses.
We all know that there is only one thing BigSoccer is truly good for. It's not soccer talk, its not in depth analysis, its not bitching about a team or coach, its not even good for spreading stupid rumors about signings. It's all about the sheep league, bitches!
Shout out to Corporate Shill Andrew King for stepping out of his comfort zone, writing on Four Four Two and echoing some of the sentiments of many on this board for the past several months.... https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/feat...urce=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_m_medium=t Gregg Berhalter, who sent Marshall to Seattle as one of his first moves at the helm of Columbus Crew SC, has been on both sides of the allocation-for-star-players discussion, and has been one of MLS’ most willing participants in big-money deals since his 2013 arrival. His highest-profile move to date was one of the biggest trades in MLS history, when Berhalter sent star striker Kei Kamara to the New England Revolution for a reported $500,000 in General and Targeted Allocation Money in the spring of 2016 after the striker’s high-profile blow-up with Berhalter and teammate Federico Higuain. Kamara has certainly not justified his price while in New England, but back in Columbus, few of Berhalter’s expensive moves since the trade have panned out, and the club has followed up a bottom-dwelling 2016 season with a mediocre start to 2017. Ola Kamara has scored plenty of goals, but was on the team well before Kei Kamara was traded. So instead of a striker, Berhalter spent money on his defense, which has not improved at all. Along with giving raises to stalwarts Wil Trapp and Justin Meram, Columbus used a Designated Player spot on defender Jonathan Mensah, who has been disappointing at best, and paid a transfer fee for midfielder Mohammed Abu, who has not looked like an MLS-quality player. Likely with some of the remaining funds, Berhalter made his own allocation-money gambit. He paid $225,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and $75,000 in General Allocation Money (along with unsettled midfielder Tony Tchani) for the promising but mercurial Kekuta Manneh, who had just months left on his MLS contract. Like his other allocation-related maneuvers, the purchase has not fared well for Berhalter thus far, but the Crew SC boss will hope that Manneh has turned a corner. The winger started his Columbus career openly frustrated with a lack of playing time, and had to wait nearly three months for his first goal and assist. What an idiot....
$300k for Manneh means he thinks Manneh will stick around in MLS (or come back at some point). Of the expiring contracts, I'd rather have Manneh's than Tchani's. We'll hold Manneh's rights at the end of this season. Tchani becomes a free agent after this season. But that alone isn't worth $300k (at least, not right now; given USMNT wing depth and Manneh's potential, this could be a great move going forward...there just isn't much to show for it right now).
Wait, what? Do you think Manneh is a future US national teamer? How about we let him win a starting job with his team first?