This is my issue with Chofis. He does some good things with the ball, but he just doesn't find it enough. I know he came out at 75' or something but he should really have more than 20 or so possessions in that game, as a CAM / withdrawn forward, and there's really very little activity at the top center of the final 3rd where you'd expect he'd be. And just a couple of successful forward passes in the attacking half (unsuccessful are greyed out).
Seems like they just started including them again - in the stats / players section on mlssoccer. I find these really useful but it was better when they had unsuccessful passes in red. Then you could really get a quick sense if it. The gray outlines are very subtle. BTW make take a moment to load.
The reason Chofis doesn’t find the game is because he hangs around up top. There is always a big gap between him and the midfielders. And even if he gets the ball, 9x out of 10 he does a short non-attacking pass; that graph shows the shortness of his passing.
Well technically, in this game, I'm not sure if he was more of a withdrawn forward or CAM. We were playing a 4-4-2 essentially, or 4-4-1-1 if you want to count Chofis as a CAM. But regardless of whether he's withdrawn forward or CAM, he should be serving that role - linking deeper midfield to forwards / attacking wingers. I think it's more of an effort thing. You have to be constantly moving to find pockets and make yourself available for the ball.
I’m disappointed I can’t attend Tues game due to a conflict. I would have loved to see how the team plays without Chofis starting. Like maybe the midfield will hook up with the forwards. Would be such a welcome concept.
Chofis is 14th in successful dribbles (53.5%) https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/who-s-the-best-dribbler-in-mls-what-the-2021-data-says
"NEWS: Earthquakes midfielder Chofis named to MLS Team of the Week" (SJEarthquakes.com - Thursday, 9/16/21) GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
Of all the FOM’s on the team Chofis has earned his spot on the roster for next season. Hopefully the buy clause JF negotiated is reasonable. Wouldn’t make him a DP though… The rest of the FOM’s time to go!!
I'd maybe keep Remedi also, mainly because he's such a pain in the butt, and I wouldn't want to have to play against him . He's at $450k, though, so not sure. But... Fierro - nope Rios - nope Vega - nope Alanis - nope Espinoza - nope (Quakes highest paid player at $1,25 mil not pulling his weight) We need more Judson's and Nathan's if we can find them. (Hmm, both Brazilian, maybe try for more more Brazilian guys?). I also wonder how Chofis would do if the bottom dropped out and all his friends were gone, including possibly Almeyda and staff.
Espinoza like Judson, Marie and Marcos Lopez are all 2019 additions but I don’t count them as FOM players. Same w Remedi. I think a FOM player is defined by someone who previously played for MA.
Remedi did play for Almeyda in 2015 I think, at Banfield. Espinoza is I think the only one in my list who did not play for or with Almeyda. But he did play on another Argentine team while Matias coached there, so I consider him a borderline case. And I forgot "the lunch pail right back", Abecasis, who played for Almeyda at River Plate. He's OK, but I think I'd pass on him. He's a $400k player who is just serviceable ("lunch pail") and is already slow and turning 32 next year. So here's my updated list: Fierro - nope Rios - nope Vega - nope Alanis - nope Abecasis - nope ($400k for a slow "lunch pail" right back who'll be 32 next year and takes intl slot) Espinoza - nope (Quakes highest paid player at $1.25 mil not pulling his weight, possibly less effective than $280k Shea Salinas)
Remedi is a keeper as a Judson backup. IMO Espinoza is too as I think he can get back to his old level under Russell’ s 4-4-2 diamond!! Lucho has been good but I’d rather give the starter job to Marie for pennies on the dollar then draft a college kid or bring up an academy kid as back up. Now back to Chofis. On a TAM deal he could be a spot starter for Espinoza (I prefer pure speed on the wings) or a late game impact sub when we are chasing the game.
I think $1.25 mil for a guy who is no more effective, or less effective, than $280k 36-year old Shea Salinas, is not good value. We can do much better. $450k for a backup to a player that makes $350k also doesn't seem like good value, but that one wouldn't upset me either way. After last night, you want to make Chofis a spot starter for Espinoza, or a sub? I had thought he should be a "when you need a goal" sub guy at one point too, but then I realized that he's really effective as a wide forward in a 3-forward set (like he was last night) or as a withdrawn forward. He should not be taking a spot in central midfield though IMO. Keep him at forward.
Wasn't' Chofis a winger at Chivas under Almeyda? I still think Espinoza has not recovered from his injury, which affects his performance.
Not sure, but I think "wide forward" is the best role for him, not CAM, and not "winger" with all the defensive responsibilty that entails. You want him to reserve his creativity for around the goal, not get mired in midfield muck. From a few years ago? When was he injured?
No, I mean from just before the recent 2 week break. I realize he has not had a great season in total, but it has been more noticeable lately. I think much of this early season is also related to the rest of the team not doing well and the run of play not going through Espinoza in the same way as years past.
Not ready to pull the plug yet on Espinosa. He is still fairly young and has an outstanding work rate. Not sure why he isn't performing like he has shown he can, but at least we know what he is capable of in MLS. On the other hand, Carlos "Gilderoy Lockhart" Fierro, and Andy Rios are complete duds. Time to jettison that duo.
What's Jackson's excuse then? If you want to get rid of Espinosa, then toss Yueill into the dustbin as well, since he has been equally, or even more ineffective. For the record, I am not for getting rid of either of them.
Espinoza is definitely a perplexing subject as this year has really not been a good one for him performance wise. However, he has a track record of being a good piece for the quakes over the past couple of seasons so I am willing to write this season off and keep him next year. In addition, we just did not have any imactful strikers that would have made Espinoza more effective for us and increase his assists numbers as he has delivered plenty of balls into the five-yard box that were just missed or we just didn't have any strikers who were good enough to get to make use of those balls. His salary is definitely high but by getting rid of Rios, Fierro, and Alanis that opens up more than $2M is cap space as well as frees three international spots that can be used on upgrading the roster at much better value.
I would't get rid of JY (he just signed an extension too so that's out of the question) but I agree with you about him being ineffective for the vast majority of the games this season. It is definitely concerning to see this kind of performance from him as we had very high hopes for him taking the next step but, if anything, this season he has taken a step back intead. He is clearly lacking confidence and I beleive this is a mental thing with him. However, just like with Espinoza, he is a proven MLS performer and I am willing to write this season off as a one-off.