My concern is that by mid season we are all going to be wondering if we even need Silva on this team. And it might not have anything to do with his performance exactly, but more to do with how we play and who we have.
---------------------------Johnson-------------------------- Espindola---------------------------------------------------- -----Pontius---------------Silva---------------DeLeon------ ---------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------Kitchen--------------------Franklin Korb------------Jakovic----------Boswell------------------- --------------------------Hamid----------------------------- Bench: Mullins, Doyle, Arnaud, Jeffrey, Porter, Neal, White, Attakora, Kemp, Martin, Townsend, Willis Richmond: Seaton, Dykstra, Shanosky(?), probably one of Martin/Townsend Looks like Arnaud is the back up RB. That's 26 guys - room for a couple more. Those could be an Inter loan and returning international, or hold off for summer.
Great point, it's hard to see where he fits. In my mind, he's not a forward, but doesn't have the work rate to be a CM in this day and age. Christian Gomez would put a little work in tracking back, but in today's game you have to be engaged on both sides of the ball for 90 minutes. Can he do that?
I think with this current squad and Silva as the offensive minded MF guy, we become a Kansas City style 'counter' team. Maybe not long-balls, but a few quick passes (backline to Silva, quick turn and pass upfield to Pontius and then inswing to Johnson/Espindola/Doyle). That kind of thing. The goalscoring of Silva last year was really an anomaly and he really did drop off like a tank off a cliff as the season went on, but he's continuously been rated highly as an AM so maybe he will grow given a better start to the season and better targets.
Had this in my head with our current pick ups. Not quite sure how the D-Line would work but this is one nasty attacking formation. --------------------Espindola--Johnson--------------------- -----------------------------Silva----------------------------- -----Pontius--------------------------------------DeLeon---- -------------------------Jeffery------------------------------- ----------------------------------Kitchen---------------------- Korb----------------------Boswell-----------------Franklin-- --------------------------Hamid-----------------------------
The outside depth of the team is a major weakness. There's no one to bring off the bench at the wing who will be an offensive threat, unless they deploy Espindola there or Porter takes a giant leap forward. Neal should be a wing in emergency only, imo, and Arnaud is too old and slow. Martin isn't the type to take on defenders and get to the end line, he's more likely to beat you with a well placed pass. His future is probably in the middle, he'll be playing out of position there. The fullback depth is flat out bad at this point. But man is this team ten times better than what was trotted out last year or what?
That's a heart attack minute by minute. Every ball over the top is going to feel like it will end in a goal.
I was thinking maybe we trade San Jose the first pick in the draft, so that they can pick a local Cal defender, and we can somehow get Marvin Chavez for some pretty good depth at the wing.
That's a start. Get greedy, man, more, more! Allocation money is nice. We want that summer DP just in time for CCL.
You get the feeling that we need another proven central midfielder. That lineup looks pretty soft with two forwards, three attacking mids, and one defensive mid. Any physical team would push that midfield all over the field, and most could probably play keep away. Needs a box-to-box presence. So, a mid, left back, and wing cover? What's more likely at this point, drafting Mullins, having 6 strikers, and trying to trade one (Townsend?), or shopping the pick for a midfielder/allocation to buy one.
I don't mind the problem of having to choose between Silva and Espindola on a weekly basis. Sure is a heck of a lot better than the decisions we had to make last year(Ruiz vs Pajoy anyone?). Plus, the fact that Espindola can play on the wing also ensures that Pontius and DeLeon don't become complacent at their positions. Nothing wrong with having too many good players, IMO.
I think you have to get over your fantasy of Silva as a center mid and just accept that Arnaud will start. The good thing about it is that he will have Jeffrey right behind him pushing for minutes. Heck Kitchen could use a little competition himself. A center mid combo of Arnaud-Jeffrey may not be the worst thing in the world. I'd try it out in pre season.
Unless we draft or sign a decent left back, Korb is the weakest link. I have a feeling we'll see Ben try to convert Arnaud to a back, which actually could work out quite well. Imagine Arnaud sending in the cross and Boswell and EJ aiming to send it home. We could actually score off corners this year. I just don't see Korb being the answer. Lots of heart. I'll give him that.
Lots of people talking about ideal starting lineups - But we'll need DEPTH to survive injuries and the congested schedule from August through end of October - Are players like Korb OK enough to play in the middle of August, for an Open Cup game, and to give a starter a rest after a mid-week CONCACAF game
Just occurred to me - The return of Bobby Boswell may represent a significant change in the coaching staff and philosophy Soehn kicked Boswell off the team either directly or just forced him off with disparaging locker room comments - And if thats the way Soehn felt, then thats the way Ashton felt - So - Does the return of Bobby mean that Ashton's influence on Ben (and a mentality that insists that Forwards play defense on the goal-line) is lessened? Oh, please make that so
Yes, Korb is good enough to do that if the rest of the team produces. If we're playing 1-0 games where one mistake could kill us, then he might be more of a liability.
Just for shits and giggles how would a 4-3-3 look? ------------------------------------HAMID FRANKLIN----------JAKOVIC-------------BOSWELL------------KORB ----------DE LEON------------KITCHEN------------ARNAUD ----------SILVA---------------JOHNSON------------PONTIUS Jeffrey is a nice option anywhere in that midfield line. Espindola slides into either of the wide forward spots. Doyle obviously replaces Johnson.
Not sure if you're replying to my post but that 4-3-3 I suggested would have a very narrow midfield 3 so Kitchen would have both Arnaud and De Leon very close. Width would be provided by the fullbacks. Think Kansas City with the overlapping fullbacks and essentially 3 box to box midfielders working as a unit on both sides of the ball. Not saying that 4-3-3 would be ideal, but if you were to go 4-3-3 I think that's the best way to get there.
I like the fact that I feel like each of these lineups needs an accompanying depth chart. What a difference a month makes! I only have one question... what do any one of these lineups look like when we're resting Kitchen during our 40 game season? Do we pull up a CB? Does Jeffrey have the defensive chops, can Arnaud work a box-to-box role alongside someone else? LEWIS NEAL! ? Just curious what people here think the most likely options are. It still remains to be seen if we have someone who can put the ball on Eddie's head, and we're still thin at left back... but it seems to me this is the most disruptive problem we're likely to face - reliance on Kitchen.
This could work (operative word being "COULD") as a 4-1-2-3 And, OBVIOUSLY, during the run of play it could morph into Silva and Pontius occasionally taking turns dropping back into the middle as a temporary A-Mid