We need 2 really good midfielders, 1 decent or good forward and 1 back to push Najar forward. Let's see what we end up with. Can't say we don't have money after all we've sold and let go + TAM/GAM.
i think (could be wrong) that Najar is now a CB and not moving back to midfield (or wingback) except in emergency situations.. I think Losada and the assistant coach pitched him on the CB role as a way to extend his career - not nearly as much wear and tear on the body as midfield. And he was frankly really good at it (in Losada’s three CB system).
He played in different setups as the season went on. Sometimes a three man formation, sometimes a 5 man, sometimes a traditional outside back in a 4 man setup. In the end DC gave up more goals than all but 6 teams in MLS, so I am not sure that the experiment can be called entirely successful.
I will worry later when info is from a source I have heard of before instead of the kid who speaks Mexican.
Well, if Flores is having a breakout season, beware of flying pigs in Section 126. Y'all have been warned.
It was successful in creating the maximum overdrive goal production that Losada wants. He is on record saying an airtight defense isn't his goal.
I think the defense is probably good enough. If they can simply cut down on the gaffe quotient, instances where they really messed up, rather than just being beaten, which happens. Pines had three gaffes that I remember, two leading directly to late losses. Alfaro conceded a bad penalty late in the season. Was it COA who took a red after taking a bad angle? I believe there several examples of this kind of thing throughout the season. When an opponent is better and it's obvious, I can't get mad. But it is upsetting to see a team blunder it's way to a loss. It's forgivable when it's rare. Hopefully that gets tightened up and it becomes a rare occurrence.
That was Nyeman, and it led to a red card. I don't remember him playing anymore, last season, after that play.
Losada in Belgium emphasized an overwhelming attack over a stifling defense. If Najar could move up from RCB into the midfield our attack would be strengthened. Hines-Ike looked good at RCB, and Birnbaum is a lock in the middle. I think Alfaro was a good pickup and did well at LCB, but there is also Pines, who has his moments but also scares me with his gaffes.
1482852239073021952 is not a valid tweet id This says a 1 year loan with an option to purchase. WTF??!!?!!!!??!!!!
Might be precautionary, but even the possibility of a knee issue is the last thing #DCU needed to hear about Edison Flores https://t.co/aUcT3u7ZgP— Jason Anderson (@JasonDCsoccer) January 16, 2022 This one says that Flores came off with a knee injury today.
I don't get why either of those things are critical right now for DCU. I just hope there are things brewing that we don't know about.
No they will bring in two Central/South American guys who will "Flores". See now I have made Flores a verb.
The problem is that we’re spending half a million dollars in salary budget and a DP spot on him. We should have gotten rid of him last summer or this offseason in a worst case scenario. This is the salary and DP slot we should have been working to free up.
Our defense didn’t just have some gaffs, we let in almost as many goals as the very worst teams. There are a few reasons for it: our defenders are of middling talent. Outside of najar they have no speed. We regularly get outposessed because our midfield is not good. We’re making euphemisms about “stifling defense,” and “spears of attack” when no coach wants to miss the playoffs and get dunked on defensively like we were. That can’t possibly be any coaches strategy.
Losada said he is OK winning 4-3 instead of 1-0. He believes that by attacking relentlessly you give up opportunities to the other side. Under him we will most likely be near the top for both goals scored and conceded. We would have given up fewer goals last season if our defense hadn't been riddled with injuries. Najar missed games, Birnbaum, Hamid, Hines-Ike, and Pines all missed good chunks of the season. Three of those guys weren't available to begin the season. If we can start the season healthy that will see us improve. Also Hines-Ike isn't slow and Pines is probably our quickest defender in the open field
Maybe not "official", but there is just more than that tweet regarding Arriola and Club America. Makes sense, Paul is in his prime, wants to get a bigger payday and wants to play for a team committed to winning. 2 weeks left in the window and DCU now appears down to one (oft-injured, ineffective DP) and the only signings are guys who were at Loudoun last year. Wooden Spoon here we come. Unless unknown reinforcements are somehow on the way, both Paredes and Gressel will be 4 feet tall by July because they will have run their legs off trying to create "something" with this undermanned roster.
TbF not every team in MLS is moving the transfer needle yet. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2022-mls-transactions But not every team has their (only) striker, and both DP’s injured or on the rumor mill. I won’t be shocked when the rest of our “signings” come from Loudoun to make up the numbers. Thx, Jay!