Jaqua hasn't really impressed me this season thusfar. I'd take Justin Mapp over him any day of the week.
Jaqua the key to the Fire's season? Must be a slow week for news. I got to see Jaqua play for the Thunder a few times last year. He didn't strike me as being clear MLS material but I figured it had to do with his age and being new to being a pro. Maybe Sarachan is playing him out right because he doesn't feel he's going to cut it in the league as a target man up top, not just because he's short a few players.
Chicago is one of the few teams in the league that can handle losing players to WC Qualifying. Good players like Jaqua, Logan Pause, Capano, Kelly Gray and Justin Mapp can step in for the missing internationals and the remaining players will step up their games.
My take on Jaqua v Mapp: At the position they've been battling for, Jaqua has one in advantage in that he's right-footed and Mapp isn't. For the most part I think that at the moment at right-wing, Jaqua is the better player by a little bit, particularly in a 3-5-2 (he plays defense, makes the routine plays), but Mapp is far more talented. Even those last 15 minutes against DC, Mapp showed what he's potentially capable of. He makes going on 40 yard runs up the field look a lot easier than it really is. He just has to learn how to translate his very flashy skills into a more effective overall game. But he's still only 19, has plenty of time and has his moments right now anyway. Maybe once everybody is back, Jaqua should play in the 3-5-2 and Mapp should play in the 4-4-2. While Beasley is gone, you'd assume left-mid belongs to Mapp.
I really amazes me the amount of people who really don't see the potential in Nate Jaqua. He has impressed me from the first time I saw him, just from his amazing touch on the ball for as big as he is. He has deceptive speed, great vision, brilliant touch (moreso when facing goal, and not back to goal), is 1-2 touch oriented, plays long balls with consistency and accuracy. I would say his two weaknesses would be phycial strength (to match his height) and consistent finishing (shot good, just need more of it). His height and build make him one of many Fire players that tower over opponents (Grey, Curtain, Razov, Mapp - to a certain extent). He typically plays in out wide or up top for the Fire, but I honestly believe this kid could play anywhere. In watching last weeks game live on Saturday, I wondering if Jaqua played center back with Curtain how he would do -- play four flat with two wide attacking defenders. I know we typically play three back, but again, the height and speed and technical ability these guys have are impressive. I think with the USMNT players out of the lineup, you will see the likes of Mapp, Grey, and particularly Jaqua step up and really start to "own" their spots on the field. At least, I hope so anyways.
Yeah Nate seems to get knocked around way to easily for a guy his size. He needs to hit the gym and get some strength in the midsection. He also lacks that blind speed that even Ante can have sometimes. If he keeps up the way he has this season I say he is the first casualty of the trade block. You can throw Logan Pause in that hopper as well.
I think a big difference is that Mapp was 18 when DC United foolishly cut him loose, and Nate will be 23 at the end of October (he's almost exactly three years older than Mapp). Doesn't mean I don't think he could turn out to be a fine player, just that I'd like his chances better if he had a little more youth on his side. Unless Dipsy is out as well, I think Jaqua will remain on the right side of midfield this weekend. I'm still wondering about the Buete over Grabavoy decision. Ned's played fairly well for the Galaxy so far, and Buete's barely seen the field. After the Damani pick, though, Sarachan's earned an awful lot of leeway in that regard.
I think both Mapp and Jacqua still have a ways to go. They are maddeningly inconsistent, but you are right, Mapp has an advantage in being younger. My understanding was that the Fire took a pass on Grabavoy because the braintrust envisioned him more as a holding midfielder type in MLS, and in Chicago's more fluid, aggressive, yet ball-winning midfield style, he really wouldn't have been a fit. Buete is more that type of player, though not seeing him at all so far doesn't bode well for his long-term prospects. But Sarachan is patient. In additon, they do have high hopes for Capano -- even younger than Mapp -- and we've seen flashes of that when he's been on the field.
Buete has played a few minutes this year. And, he was described as the Terps' answer to Chris Armas. So these things make sense.
One of the most weirdly resilient myths about the league - that there's not much depth. Across the league, every team has talented players who have started at one time in their career not starting because there are better players above them. Chicago are in no way unique in this respect, except maybe that their subs are younger.