It had been my feeling in the past that we should play the best team available in the Open Cup because we had never won a major trophy. Now that we HAVE won something...would anyone be opposed to the reserve team playing this competition exclusively? The reserves only got 12 games this season. Our 18 year olds got a few more going back down and playing with the academy, but that simply isn't enough games. Giving the Open Cup to the reserves and bench guys would get them a few more games in a pressure filled environment with something tangible on the line to play for. It would also help management to better see who is ready for the pressures of MLS. And of course as a fan it's fun to be able to attend a game at the Arena to see what the future looks like. Many teams use certain competitions to give their youngsters minutes, but another option would be to see how far the reserves can go and if/when we're close to the finals you start adding starters from the first team. I'm against that since I think this would be a valuable experience and potential reward for many of the guys who aren't going to see much time with the first team next year. As for the Champions League I think we're all in agreement that we play our best players and that Petke is going to have his work cut out for him rotating the squad to keep everyone fresh. All the more reason to dedicate the 2014 Open Cup to the reserves. Thoughts?
My answer depends a lot on how this season finishes, but ideally it should be reserves to get meaningful minutes.
With next year's fixture congestion, I think it's natural that we'll focus on the league and Champions League. So yeah, I wouldn't have a problem with playing mostly reserves. But I also think it depends on the schedule too.
If this season somehow were to finish really well, knock wood, my caring about the US Open will probably drop. I'd still like to win it, but either way our priorities are going to be spread thin.
Unless Roxburgh has been pulling a fast one on us with his comments all season, I can't imagine they'll get rid of any players unless there's a need to. You'd hope at least... Akpan's at $67k, that's acceptable for a 4th string striker.
I'm not worried about his cost. I'm worried that the Open Cup scoring machine will want to go somewhere he could possibly get 1st team minutes. Until there is a better system in place for the reserves there is always going to be some discontent. Hopefully over the years most of our reserves are signed academy players and not MLS journeymen. That way they can grow at a steady rate into the 1st team.
We could be eliminated from the Open Cup by the time the CCL starts. This year the Open Cup Semifinals were played during the first CCL matchday. Next year the World Cup could alter the schedule.
This is the second biggest trophy we play for. Each game is individually more important than any MLS regular season game. We should play our best available team.
Shut NO..... At the contrary we have to play this tournaments seriously to build a hardened team with a winner mentality, that is why we never were capable of winning a thing, because we were superior with the biggest name players and playing on the capital of the world and so, we were shitting our self for 17 years......
Out of everyone I thought you would certainly support our reserve players playing all the open cup games... Also, if DC can win the Open Cup this year so can a well coached reserve team.
All cups that are on the radar are important. So Supporters Shield, US Open Cup, MLS Cup and qualifying for the Knockout stage of the CCL is on Petke's list and with a World Cup Break possibly happening during the group stages this coming June should be a big help depending on when US Open Cup dates are scheduled.
Of course they're all important, but IMO Petke and Co. will be prioritizing the trophies just like everyone else does. Since we have the monkey off our back now I don't expect them to go after the shield if it puts something else (Champions League) in jeopardy. MLS Cup and Champions League are the 2 trophies that will help to get international respect which I'm sure Austria wants. If I had to guess at their priority list at this point it would be: 1. MLS Cup. 2. Champions League. 3. The Shield. 4. Open Cup. Petke's #1 concern is going to be to qualify for the MLS playoffs, then get home field advantage, all the while rotating the squad so they are 100% healthy and rested when the playoffs come. Everything else will take a backseat to that. He won't risk playing injured players and possibly losing them for the season in Open Cup or Champions League games. Although Champions League will be # 2 behind MLS Cup for him.
Red Bulls let leak that 2 rounds of the Open Cup will be held during the World Cup so we for sure won't have Cahill and Miller for those rounds.
Reserves for the early rounds and if we happen to advance far then take it seriously with a mix of youngsters and first teamers.