a few articles saying that Moreira is unhappy with the position change and that Greek club Panathinaikos are interested. His contract expires at the end of the year. https://www.footmercato.net/a2807412827741761512-steven-moreira-priorite-du-panathinaikos https://www.sportal.gr/podosfairo/s...-mia-metathesh-fernei-ton-moreira-sthn-eyrwph
Yeah not surprised given how he talked about loving to attack. I don’t think if we were healthy and he was at RWB it would an issue. So depends on what Nancy and him have talked about for the vision of the club and his future.
Dispatch article said that Moreira asked to move to central CB last game out of the lateral position. Think the Greek article is reading into his preseason comments
Well he is going to be out of contract and he is a good player so teams will be trying to sign him and his agent is going to work his hand to get the best deal so we really have no idea if it’s smokescreen for leverage or if it’s a legitimate interest
We extended Morris , It May be true that he doesn’t like defense but is a team player because you would think Nancy & Bez would want to keep their best defender and should already be talking to him . Which we might be and this could be a negotiation tactic to get as much money as possible
Let's hope they can keep him around. He's been our most consistent defender this season, and is proving very versatile. The defense as a whole needs to be rebuilt, but I should think he would make a nice foundational piece for the new structure.
ESPN shows 3-4–2-1 as did Apple TV St/LS/LF -Cucho moves around and has a lot of freedom and him and LZ are similar and can just switch at any moment LW/LAM/CAM/LF- LZ whatever you want to call it because he also moves around a lot but if not drifting left he is usually more central and drops back (a lil bit not like Higuaín deep) to get the ball RS/RF -Ramírez to me is a RF who if he isn’t on the right is central because he is a striker. I didn’t know how it would work in Nancy system but these are the 3 best attackers which I mentioned before the Cincinnati game. I kinda envisioned ST Ramirez LW/LF LZ RF/RW Cucho but that’s not exactly how it’s working but man who wouldn’t love all the attacking freedom Nancy gives which allows these guys to excel ! Back ups : Matan & Arfsten help attack on the right for Cucho or play RWB for more firepower since Farsi is banged up. Matan seems to be the guy who could one day replace LZ but he stays more on the right (opposite of where LZ likes to drift )and is a passer who needs to develop his shot more JRR- takes Ramirez spot and hopefully this experience helps him develop. Yeboah ( who is playing like a good player and not a bum recently) is playing well at LWB in the attack and even his defense is improving for non existent to almost adequate. He needs to be out wide usually and isn’t as good in LZs spot just because he needs less freedom and isn’t the same type of player. If Molino was healthy he would be better fit to back up LZ than Yeboah who needs to stay at LWB when in the line up If Diaz was healthy I could only see him as a late sub at RWB Parente- is more of a attacking midfielder who hasn’t got much playing time so I can’t say too much because I didn’t watch enough Crew2 last year but he had 6G & 5A in 16 (13 starts ) but he could play more if Zawadzki starts playing more CB. Not sure what position he would sub in and excel in the most having not watched him enough. Noah Fuson- a Forward a talker guy heard he might play some RWB . Had 9 G & 4A last year this year just 1G Gibran Rayo- shorter Forward doing well with Crew 2 has 3G & 2A This is plenty of Attacking options and as much as I would like a DP striker we have Ramirez signed thru 24 with an option on 25. So if you could get a CM who is a young but also contributes a lot to the defense to pair with Morris. A DP or TAM (or whatever the new term for just under DP level ) CM moving Nagbe to the bench next year would be ideal if we can find one. Other than that this shows all our focus has to be on improving our defense. Getting healthy will help but we need some young talented CBs asap
In Montreal, it was usually Kei Kamara as the classic 9, Romell Quioto as a winger/forward who would float, and Djordje Mihailovic as the 10. Ramierez, Cucho, and LZ is the closest this roster can get to that, which leaves Matan out.
Matan played WB against LA(?). I thought Farsi played his best game against the rapids. Very good on defense, and he was in the right spots on offense. Having questions like this for the offense especially when Diaz and Molino are about to make their returns (and then get reinjured) are good questions.
We did it for one game. I think with him on one side and Yeboah on the other that’s almost too offensive. Farsi isn’t a great passer, but he’s a willing runner, a good crosser, decent finisher for a wingback, and has a relentless motor and work ethic. With Sands out (which we’ve come to find out is a huge loss) I think Farsi is irreplaceable honestly. Arfsten was good last night, but Charlotte never attacked him. They played a right footed Meram and Afful on the left, with them always cutting inside Arfsten always had help. I have no idea what his defensive abilities are. Matan is a decent presser, I’ll give him that, but it’s from an attacking position, not as a potential last line of defense. Also, he can’t win a header or physical battle to save his life. Unless Nancy plans on having 80% possession in a game, or needs a goal in the final 10 minutes, it doesn’t seem like a real option to me.
Definitely Farsi is the starter and we don’t really have a defensive back up option there just attackers forced in the role : Matan , Arfsten etc… nothing we would want to do regularly
A couple random thoughts after some time away and attending two home wins, and being VERY disappointed at the Cup exit to Pittsburgh. 1) Injuries & lack of depth at certain spots hurt us with the congested schedule necessitated by Leagues Cup. CB and WB in particular. CM also. 2) I am in the camp that is not a huge fan of the Lollipop Guild attacking trio in the 3421. Cucho, LZ, & Matan are too small. It is OK in small doses but eventually the other team just clogs the middle & there is no one to cross to. 3) Despite that, and the fact Cucho missed significant time, we are leading the league in goals. Cucho has been a better provider than I thought he could be, his 7 assists are tied for 3rd in the league, despite playing only 10 games. Lucas also has 7, and Matan has 6. Our offense is not the problem. Cucho, in 10 games, has 3 goals & 7 assists. Going old school points (2 for a goal, 1 per assist), that is 13 points in 10 games, 1.3 points per game. Darn good. LZ has 21 points (7 goals & 7 assists) in 14 games, or 1.5 points per game. But LZ also takes the PKs. Minus the 2 PK goals, Cucho is more productive. 4) I think it functions better with Ramirez or JRR as the 9. But that leaves Matan out, though he did play RWB pretty effectively for 1 game, as did Arfsten last game. Some rotation will be necessary: Lollipop some games, Ramirez/JRR + 2 in others, Matan at RWB sometimes. 5) Yeboah has been playing better recently. Both at LWB and as part of the top 3 one game. With Sands, and now Farsi, both down, it is good to have options. Both Yeboah (& Arfsten last game) gave us better O than Farsi/Sands/Amundsen, not as much on D, though. 6) Which is the real problem. Mensah was not replaced initially. Williams has been out all year. Degenek is out, has missed half the games, and has looked shaky when in. But not as shaky as Quinton & Vallecilla. Who have had good moments, and I can see a good player in each, but neither is there yet. 7) On the flip side, Moreira has been mostly awesome. He is our best 442 FB, has been our best CB all year as an atracking RCB, and is now our best central CB option with Degenek out. I think that article is from earlier in the year. Moreira is a top 5 guy for us (Cucho, LZ, A. Morris, Nagbe), he has to stay. I have been mostly impressed with Amundsen, despite a couple blunders. And Zawadzki has been a pleasant surprise at RCB with Moreira in the middle. 5 goals between them. 8) We seem to have one guy make a huge blunder that costs us a goal each game. Amundsen last game. Quinton, Schulte, & Vallecilla have had then recently. Degenek, too. 9) Hope Farsi is not seriously hurt. 10) Molino & Diaz back & available will help. More guys who can play behind a striker or as wide forwards. Maybe Diaz can play some RWB if Farsi is out a while. 11) CB is where we really need reinforcements. Being down Degenek, Vallecilla, & Williams is crushing, especially with Quinton wilting. Bez's first order of business should be CB. Maybe 2nd as well. This year is likely the swan song for Williams, Room, and Molino. That should free some cap. I hope Nagbe is back but not at DP level, that should free up a DP slot (CB or CF). I do think Matan, Farsi, Sands, Amundsen, Schulte, Zawadzki, and Arfsten are keepers. My question marks are Degenek (leans no), Vallecilla (leans no), Quinton (lean yes), Diaz, and Yeboah (leaning towards yes). J. Morris, Hughes, and Parente need more development/are not ready yet.
Just chiming in here to admit that I completely shit on the Christian Ramirez signing and I was wrong. Might be one of Bez's better signings considering the need, and bang for the buck.
4) JRR isn’t on Ramirez level yet but he needs a chance with the starters should anything happen to Ramirez if not we would be forced back to the 3 small guys inserting Matan unless you try Arfsten. Degenek we have option to keep so my thoughts is he isn’t good enough at CB but unless we find multiple guys we should keep him. I think RCB is his better spot but Moreira May leave and then unless you get more CDM you need Zawadzki to help Depth at both. But I like Zawadzki better at RCB. Degenek makes too much not to start. So if you find other guys you should be able to sell him for something. Quinton i lean yes he just needs to be like a 5th choice guy who is often pressed into starting and can focus on just CB becsuse playing outside is not a good place for him. He can get minutes at Crew2 which will help him. Vallecilla just cost way too much so no way we pay 700k gam for him Diaz I’m not sold on until i see him play for Nancy. I wouldn’t pick up his option unless he shows he can play in this system I & others have all been harsh on Yeboah but he is finally coming around so I would consider keeping him if he keeps this level of play. Another reason is not sure we could get much out of him and he is under contract til 24 with a option
Ramirez is great and he always applauds his teammates when he gets service even if he doesn’t finish, and seems to be just a great team player.
UMM...I said "Injuries are obviously a factor and force even more young unproven talent to see field."
Agree. Turning out to be be very good signing. Having as much impact as we had hoped for from Molino.
Yeah and for 250-300k less than Molino makes. A great deal signed him for 2 years with a option for 25 ( I believe )
Rayo has been on bench 2 games (3 if you count the cup ) so he may join soon. What’s the rule on appearances before we have to sign him? ( was thinking the limit was 2 games , not sure ) Taha Harabourne & Roberts only appeared in the cup so I don’t think they will sign just yet.
I don't expect us to go out and spend even more on a striker. Ramirez is good enough, especially playing with Cucho and LZ. I expect we'll free up the Nagbe DP spot somehow, whether he moves on or he re-signs for a lower deal. I imagine that spot will either go to a central midfielder (replacing Nagbe if he were to move on) or maybe we go next man up and a Crew 2/academy product grabs that brass ring. If not in midfield....then I could see us getting a DP center back. Does Nancy prefer Moreira at RCB or is he only playing that out of necessity to Nancy's preferred style of play? I wonder if we bring at least one, if not two, new, starting caliber center backs....if he would move Moreira back to wingback and bench Farsi?
I have no earthly idea what the rule is on that. Good question, though. For next year, I'd keep Nagbe, but not as a DP. In terms of a "most likely not back" list, I'd go: 1) Room 2) Molino 3) Williams 4) Diaz 5) Medranda 6) Vallecilla 7) Degenek 8) Bush + probably a youngster or two (Parente). I think Moreira is preferred at RCB. I do not get all the Farsi hate, he has played well IMHO. And Moreira at RCB has been brilliant. If we want more offense at RWB, put Matan or Arfsten or Diaz out there. I mean, Moreira could do it, but isn't going to start scoring/assisting like Arfsten or Matan. Those guys are attackers/forwards, Moreira is still a fullback/defender.