I've been to a few games this season and I thought that as good as our offense was the defense was not up to the task of holding onto the lead and sealing the game. The one game that struck me about how much our defense has to improve is the game where Angel scored 2 goals and then the defense let the other team score twice to tie and then take the lead. We were lucky to get a penalty kick and then settle for a tie. Is it our goal tending that is not up to task? Is it Mendes allowing an own goal? As a long suffering fan I want to see the trophy in the Meadowlands before the move to RB park. Does any one what the needs to improve our defense?
its been bad for a while, injuries haven't helped, but arena hasn't brought anyone in to help sure up the backline
To me, Mendes is our best and he does not play anymore. We play Goldshitz who sucks and sit Freeman who I thought was good. We dump Dunny and Wynne for these last two. Think about that.
i think our most solid defenseman in order are Parke, Mendes, & Freeman. We need to find the next best capable player and put them at LB. For whatever the reasons have been, not having these 3 guys starting every game together as a unit is in my opinion is problem number one. Problem number 2 is the keeper swapping. To me Conway is clearly a better choice. He communicates more with the defenders, and they seem to play better together (please refrain from bringing up the own goal, PLEASE). I hope to see these guys start every game for the rest of the season with Conway in goal. I think this will give the guys a chance to regain confidence and rebuild their chemistry. I think its the best thing our team can do in preparing the defense for the playoffs.
I agree, Mendes is good, but better with Parke and Freeman! They all work well together. Plus Parke gives 100% every game (yeah he had a bad game yesterday, but who on the field didn't?) and will do whatever is necessary to stop the ball, as will Freeman. I also agree that Conway is the better choice in goal. I think he gets more respect from the players and it shows. Yeah, you can bring up the own goal, but name ONE player on the team who hasn't had at least one bad game this season! I think every one of them has done something during the course of the season. Personally, I am just tired of the player swapping. Get a starting team and stick with it! I almost think they are all playing scared. Like how my son played during Varsity tryouts. Wanting to do their best because they are afraid of being cut, but while trying you are trying too hard and you end up making rookie type mistakes.
Have we ever started two consecutive games with the same players this season??????? You might have brought up a very good point here.
We have 5th rate wing backs starting. That's what's wrong. We need better players in those positions.
Teams that have solid back lines have them because of continuity. Bruce sits Freeman after one really bad game??? He is a young kid and Bruce probably f-ed up his psyche for the rest of his career. Stammler has had some bad games but Bruce is perfectly happy to play him in central defense. Bruce Arena is what is wrong with our defense. Through bad trades and changing the lineup so often...he has created a monster....and not one that can kick your ass
I say the Red Bulls go out and try to bring in Samuel Kuffor, who is with AS Roma but not being used. This is a guy who has won the champions league and is the most capped African in the CL. So I say see what he will cost and try brining him in, becuase he is deffently a piece that we need to help our deffense become decent. So Arena do what you have to and make the move and get this team to where it has to be to actually win a championship.
What's wrong with our defense? Absolutelty zero chemistry in our back line. We have not had the same lineup in any of our games this year. How can you expect them to be comfortable playing with each other? I think Mendes is our best defender, and he doesn't even f*ing play anymore.
I think the main thing wrong with our defense is the lack of skill. I think Mendes, Parke, Stammler, Lietch, and Freeman are all OK, and would fit in well with any other defense that has a strong veteran or exceptional centerback. But they are lacking exactly that. They need a leader, someone that can get them organized and keep them focused. They need someone to take control and communicate to the others where they should be and what they should be doing. To many times we rely on the skills of our players rather than the tactics of our defense. That is where we get burnt every time. edit: Goldmember needs to skate on out of here. His defending adds an attacking weapon to any team we play.