Well, that does free us up to sell Canouse (boo!) - but we are so packed at central midfield already. The thing I always liked about Gressel (unless he was playing against us) was his ability to find himself uncovered coming in late at the top of the box for an uncontested pass or rebound. We've missed that for a while - I suppose we'll soon find out if that ability was up to the player or the formation/style.
I'm sure Ben Olsen remembers where he lined up Asad and Arriola all the way back in *checks notes* 2018.
4-2-3-1? Kamara Arriola - Flores - Gressel Martins - Moreno Mora - Birnbaum - Brilliant - Canouse/Fisher/OA/?? Hamid Asad, Segura, Boateng, Pines, whoever's not playing RB and a buncha teenagers on the bench. Not exactly a lineup that will strike fear into the hearts of the MLS elite, but definitely starting to look like one that could win a playoff game (and might actually, for once, have some depth for squad rotation – if Olsen ever figures out what that is).
I am not sure that Gressel is that forward/attacking of a player. In that lineup, he's a RB playing good solid D and racing down the wing actually suited to play how Berhalter wants to misuse Tyler Adams IMO. I am a fan of the Gressel move.
I think United's likely best 11 if they keep Ben's 4-2-3-1 is: Hamid Mora Birnbaum Brilliant Gressel Moreno Felipe Asad Flores Arriola Kamara Bench: Seitz, Pines, Fisher, Segura, Canouse (kind of strange to think that Canouse may not be part of DC United's best XI right now, but here we are), Sorga, ??? (OA, Yow, someone else?). If Ben changes formations, who knows what might happen. But Gressel will be on the field somewhere in it. I'd say the team still needs another forward and more backline cover, but the Gressel acquisition definitely moves the needle.
Sort of. Still giving up some of Gressel's offensive capabilities, which is what DCU is paying $700k/year to get. I'm not saying it's impossible (or that we won't see it out of necessity on occasion), but . . . http://s3.amazonaws.com/mlspa/June-1-2019-Salaries-Alphabetical.pdf?mtime=20190612132231
He played there for Atlanta from time to time, and provided a number of his assists from that spot. Plus, that would put a very solid defensive player farther up the field, which you know plays right into the Bennyball approach.
Here is Pablo Maurer on the topic (from a Q&A on The Athletic). "Yeah, it's tough to say at the moment where Ben will play him - obviously he's comfortable out wide and also in that central attacking role; he does have that bit of experience on the backline, as well, but my conversations today have led me to believe that DCU see him almost entirely as an attacking piece. I'm keen to see where the staff deploy him."
3-5-2 with Arriola and Gressel as wingbacks. Birnbaum/Brillant/Pines across the back with Maund or some TBD as backup. Asad - Moreno/Canouse - Martins/Segura in the middle. Flores behind Kamara with Sorga as backup to Kamara and Asad as backup to Kamara.
Realize that in the 3-4-2 I proffered, the odd man out is Mora who is one of the best defenders DCU has. Maybe he plays in the back 3 to provide more mobility than Brillant, but that means Pines has a steep and quick learning curve.
Also think the Gressel acquisition means that one of Moreno/Martins/Canouse or Segura gets moved. Canouse or Moreno has the most upside and value.
I dunno if you necessarily want to move one of Moreno/Martins/Canouse. You need cover for when Moreno is gone for Copa America, or for card accumulation (hi Felipe) or injury.
I still can't believe it When all is said and done...sometime in the distant future when Kasper gets dethroned/fired/retires I'll remember this as one his most ambitious acquisitions. Gressel is magical and it's ridiculously exciting to have him on the squad
Interesting little tidbit from the Post article. This seems to tease another major signing... --- “I think it’s a real healthy thing,” Olsen said. “The owners have been very supportive of what we want to do and the players we want to bring in.” Kasper echoed those sentiments. “Our ambitions as a club continue to grow,” he said. “Coming off two good years of making the playoffs, we want to continue to build a roster that is talented and can compete for trophies.” The four-time champions have not won MLS Cup since 2004 and haven’t advanced to the conference finals since 2012. The last playoff victory came in 2015. United does not appear to be done. “In the next couple weeks, you’ll know very clearly who our team is and what we are going to be about,” Olsen said. “We are not necessarily looking to the summer or two months from now to make this team whole. We are going to go for it.” --- https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/01/21/julian-gressel-dc-united-atlanta-united-mls-trade/
I am astonished at how little Atlanta paid Gressel. He might chafe a bit under Olsen's "tutelage," but he'll love paydays.