P/I/P Game 18: LA Galaxy vs Vancouver Whitecaps, 8/8/21, 5:00 PT on Spectrum Sportsnet

Don't be surprised if Alverez goes to the bench. My guess for the Minnesota/San Jose games is a starting lineup of:
------------------------ Joveljic -------------------------
Cabral ------------- Vazquez ------------Grandsir
---------- Raveloson------------ JDS ----------------

I see Seb being a sub with Sasha and Efrain being brought in if Vanney wants more offense. For Colorado, I see Seb taking Vazquez's place.

 

I think we're at the point of squad rotation based on who were playing and fresh legs. I can see him rotating out Cabral or Grandsir a bit, too now that we have enough extra players.

 

If Chicha is not ready, there is a real good chance that you see Cabral being the sub and Llegett being the starter. I also see Vazquez and Sasha going back to being super subs as well so Efra gets the start if Vanney thinks Cabral is just not going to get it done.

----------------------- Joveljic -------------------------
Alvarez ------------- Llegett ------------Grandsir
---------- Raveloson------------ JDS ----------------

 

[
It’s going to be a little weird picking lineups now that Jona, Seb and Joveljic are available. If everyone stays healthy then 8 regular starting positions (9 if Chich returns) are pretty much set in stone:
------------------------ Joveljic -------------------
-----X -------------------- Y -------------------Z
-------------Raveloson----JDS------------------
------------------back four ------------------------
--------------------Bond----------------------------

So now we have 5 or 6 players — Cabral, Seb, Vazquez, Alvarez, Grandsir, and possibly Sacha competing for just 3 starting spots. And if Chich comes back we will be down to only 2 starter openings for those 6. I would say strong arguments could be made for 5 of those starting and the 6th one is a DP. Vazquez, Alvarez and Sacha create goals. Seb is a leader, good in possession and plays more defense than the others. Grandsir is the workhorse of our midfield.

Obviously depth and competition for playing time is good. And of course we will rotate starters. But it is still a tricky spot. At some point we need to settle on a starting 11. Which 3 of the above midfielders —or 4 if Chich is back — do you bench when the season is on the line?





















































—————————

---------- Raveloson------------ JDS ----------------
Villafana/Acosta—Williams—Coulibaly—Araujo
—————————Bond—————————

So that means we have five players — Cabral, Vazquez, Seb, Grandsir and Alvarez — fighting for 3 midfield spots.

J Seb is better at defense, Vazquez creates more offense. Cabral is a “DP” and brings speed and mobility but Alvarez is the better offensive player and better at maintaining possession. And Grandsir is our most consistently active midfielder and is good at moving us into the final third. Assume we are playing the MLS CUP on Saturday

 

And Alvarez and Sacha?

 

How weird is it that we actually now have depth charts for each position.
My perspective of Greg's Depth Chart

FW: Chicharito, Dejan, Zubak, Cabral
Winger: Grandsir, Cabral, Vazquez, Efra, Dunbar
ACM: Vazquez, Lletget, Sacha, Efra
DCM: Dos Santos, Rayan, Saldana
CB: Coulilaby, Williams, Steres, Depuy
RB: Araujo, Coulilaby, Fisher
LB: Villafana, Niko
GK: Bond, Klinnsman

All other youngsters are questionable? I don't know enough.
Some players are in twice, italics are a players other position they have been played, but clearly not their primary position.

Note this is my perspective of Greg's Depth chart, not "mine". And its difficult to really bring up certain players because of their age. Vazquez and Sacha are to me players who could easily start based on skill level and what they bring to the table. But I would definitely not consider them full 90 starters. Its also tough to rate certain players as to different positions, which is why I was going for different "groups".

 

Yep. I 100% agree that this will be our lineup going into the playoffs if everyone is healthy with the first choice subs being Cabral, Vasquez, Sasha, Alverez, and Saldana, Depuy, Steres Klinnsman.
Depening on tired legs or tactic changes I am cool with anyone of them coming into the game.

 

The only quarrel I have is that I would rank Rayan ahead of JDS at DCM.

 

Its possible, I was just trying to gauge Greg's depth chart, not my own. Mine would look a little different (not drastically but I think he's underselling Seba, for example, and I would put him out on the wing as well, and I agree Rayan has overtaken Jona as the best DM)

 

Now that we have a full squad, any thoughts on breaking out this section as a new Thread?

Also, after the last game I would change the "FW" position and put Cabral in third behind Dejan.
After the interview where he admitted he's never been deployed as a lone striker before here, and the linkup play he had with Dejan, he's grown on me in that spot, which adds a 2nd striker depth now.

 

I blamed Seba after the Vancouver game. But after knowing what was going on with his family, I feel sorry for it.

 

had that already happened? I thought the tragedy was afterwards. Poor family.

 

Great chart!

But throw Acosta a bone and at least list him third on the LB chart.

One thought that comes to mind is about Neal (the young centerback). He played a lot in preseason. I think the coaches rank him high on our young player list. His injury timing was unfortunate as he would have gotten some minutes for sure in the first half of the season. His mom (on twitter) implied he traveled to Minnesota but he wasn't in the 18. He may be worth keeping in mind as far as young talent goes.

 

I keep forgetting about Acosta, we've seen him play once or twice this season?

 

ohhhhh I misunderstood. that makes a lot more sense.

 

Twice.

He came in after we all turned off the match at Dallas.

So two appearances. Named in a lot of 18s. I think they must have an understanding that he's getting a season's worth of training and recovery on that ACL but he can't be counted on really so he's not mad that we brought in Niko.