Not saying Barrett was better. Saying Ramos is about the same. We have "lost" fewer games than all but 3 teams above the red line. We have also "won" the same amount of games as the vast majority of the teams below the red line. This reflects that the absence of wins is what destroys table position. Even if they become repetitive ties. There are teams above us with more losses but also more wins. They take risks, they reap rewards, they then lose a game or two more. But they also win a game or two more. Subtract four one pointers. Leave two off as losses. Add two wins in. You come out two points ahead with two more losses. 3-1-0 rewards trying to win. If you want defensive soccer you have to get the GA down more where you control games to several ties but then most of the time if a game breaks in a direction, it's yours. The 1-0 thing the NT is doing right now. If you don't give up goals all you have to do is get a single Ching header. If you ship goals it's ties or losses because those 1-2 goals are needed just to get your point. The difference on Kinnear's teams was the GA and so what we didn't tie we won. You either amp the defense where we can win more of the ties or you amp the offense back to Elis levels where we can simply put in 3-4 goals and decide a game that way. Defense you could probably do in house or MLS trade. Surely somewhere in our system or MLS there are 2 stay at home wingbacks who can play defense well enough to protect the flanks for the solid CBs. Now, offense will take a DP. There, it's not that we don't have journeyman trade player level talent, it's that's all we have. There is no high end. High end you either grow on the academy or someone will make you pay for it. But serviceable wingbacks could probably be had easy. All you do is swap one of our many surplus players or a pick or two. But if nothing changes we will have a middling GA, a middling GF, an even GD, be in a lot of games, but end up wrong side of the line because the table points system doesn't reward 1-1 games.
Corey Baird is waaayy out of playing shape. Why is he starting? Bajimich bust special by Jordan. Although he made one good pass for Memo's shot. RSL playing rope a dope and counter with only one forward
I don't know what to say. We had chances, lots of them and just didn't put the ball in the net. From where I was sitting we only gave a few quality chances to RSL, so that's good anyway. Bajamich was unimpressive. Dorsey wasn't a factor. Baird and Pasher looked good but again, no goals. And that is where I'm at now. We either find someone who can score goals or we miss the playoffs. All I care about is finding someone who can make a play.
Improvements needed: Dorsey looked out of shape. Ceren has moments but he lacks pace and makes those mental mistakes that cost us. Vera is great in challenges, a good passer, but he lacks pace, aerial weakness a liability. Bajamich lacks pace and just can't make space for himself to create his own chances and he doesn't look like a post up #9 if that is what we are looking for. I think his loan needs to end. Junqua has moments but you won't know if he can grow unless you play him. He was terrible in earlier games but seems a little better. Everyone else: Hadebe may be a clone of Figueroa. Not bad. Parker is solid. Valentin did well and dispossessed him man numerous times. Outside back is an island and very few in the league are perfect. I think having Hadebe and Parker so solid behind them helps thos outside backs to play w more cofidence. Maric seems to block shots ok may be a little weak / timid on crosses. Memo was OK but he needs a player who works the short game well and Dorsey / Bajamich definitely didn't help him out any in that dept. Corona Vera and Memo help us maintain possession. Corona and Memo are better as two way mids coming in late to the box. Memo is more of an offensive threat that way (Corona needs to improve that).
Use these players in the line up Memo in place of Ceren at outside mid, Keep Corona at outside mid Jones in place of Vera Quintero, Pasher in place of Memo and Dorsey at the wings Picault as center forward Keep the defense as is for now Urruti Baird Figeuroa Nelson Garcia Vera Lassiter Ceren + one younger player (lemoine, Bartlow etc) on the substitutes bench
the wide defense sucks and is the cause of most of our chances allowed not sure why you're thinking leave them be
when you're like, someone has to step up on offense, this is the problem with a lot of ok hustle players and no special players. little different to say, take the ball and create stuff elis, vs, become something you're not, urruti etc. that's why i'm saying we trend to more of the same. not many injuries, trying hard......give or take quintero, who we have shelved, we have few cards to play other than figure out if kids can play.
When our players hustle and move off the ball they are a decent side to match up with. However, when our players just jog around the field and take long lapses in the match to just go through the soccer motions week in and week out then our team is what we witness these seasons over and over. Just mindless soccer with moments of some spark but nothing to really get excited about and bring the crowds in. More so since our FO has let the core fan support rot so much recently. Our club might reach the playoff red line but when we cannot beat a team like RSL at home, cannot even score at home to give some joy back to the home fans n supporters. So what can we expect really? Move Ceren or Vera to left back. Pair Fafa with Urruti up top and get Quintero to play behind them centrally.
Quintero isn't going to be the answer. I could see the Vicente Sanchez skills but I think they ran that ship aground when the season started. Whether it's fitness or age or unhappiness, he shows no signs of helping produce the 10 or so more goals we need to start scaring people and cllmb. I think that one requires a transfer. I can't imagine there are a ton of 10 goal or 10 assist types just laying around available in trade. I do think we could get to the playoffs with a patched backline, an internal and a trade, 2 internals, but the wingbacks have to go. Defeats the point to have to. work as hard as we do for offense then give up a cheap one the other way and leave with a tie. We are carrying around way too many redundant mediocre hustle players.