I'm not going to get into my weekly "Play Nuñez now" plea because it just gives me tired head. But, why is Davis still starting?????? Someone, please enlighten me. What does Coach see in this guy? 1 stinking point in fifteen games????? Is there some grand scheme that he has up his sleeve? Even Quill is starting to come around. (what did I just say?)
Wasn't he benched recently? The last KC game? San Jose? With Quill a maybe for Saturday, expect him to start again.
I think its been a combination of injuries and Colin's plan to bring Nunez along slowly. If Nunez continues to improve and continues to see minutes, then we might be seeing less and less of Brad. Personally, I'd rather see Brad (when he isn't doing the Riverdance) then Quill......but that's just me....others disagree.
I know Pareja came on for Davis in the 60th minute v. C-Bus. Can't remember about San Jose. If Davis is ineffective, I'll bet we see that again, possibly Nunez instead of Pareja.
Yeah, he has looked increasingly good over the last several games......I've been cursing him less and less....that's a good sign. I was surprised to see him benched a few games. Again, I prefer him on the left to Quill just about any game. But if I never see him in the middle again, it will be too soon.
If anyone from the Inferno II Rec team is reading this they are probably screaming "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"
Grading Colin Clarke at the midpoint, there are only two black marks... ... the lack of concentration and results at home... ... and the lack of offensive production from Davis. But there is a reason that the GAA is so much lower this year, and it's team defense. And I think Davis' workrate is much higher than Quill's. And I'm not sold that Davis IS NOT a guy that belongs in the middle, but with Reyes finally on the field, it kind of leaves Davis in a no-mans-land for PT when we go 451 or 352. I think Davis has far more to offer than Stone; man do we need a reserve side playing every week.... -bs
i haven't seen davis create as much as i expected this year, but it always feels like he's thisclose to finding that bit of agression or instinct needed to start scoring goals in spades. he's been so close several times on free kicks, too. i'm torn about him right now, but his work rate definitely shames Quill. and the reserve team question goes without saying. more than any other sport this is one where you only improve or by playing it.
Davis is unlucky not to have 3 or 4 goals and 4 or 5 assists at this point. You and I must be watching 2 different players. In Davis I see by far the best ball distributor on the team. His passing is always good. Davis is the Burn's best shooter and he is among the most creative players on the team. His free kick skills are obvious.
I can clearly remember Davis cracking several balls this season off the woodwork or cross bar. He had a goal called back in the first game of the season on a terrible offside call. Onstad robbed him a couple weeks ago and he narrowly missed on a couple other chances in that game. I clearly remember one feed from Davis that Johnson scored on a headball that was called back by an incompetant Ref and Davis has also supplied numerous passes to Johnson, Kreis, Gbandi, Toni N, Gibbs, Jolley (several balls to Jolley) and others that haven't been finished.
He bombed in central midfield and has struggled a bit returning to the leftside. If I were a pessimist I would be having flashbacks of Suarez last year. However, from my perspective he is really close each game to making a significant impact but for whatever reason he doesn't nail the shot or complete the pass that unlocks the opposing defense. Nor has he done much of a job running into space, as Quill has done better in recent games. Personally, I would still start him over Quill because I think he'll eventually find his form and MLS is all about playing well late in the season.
Things are never simple black and white, especially with average players like Davis. And while its true that Davis has done everything the soccertom has outlined, he also has lobbed in about 100 of the weakest corners ever taken in the history of MLS; isn't fast enough to beat anybody on the wings; isn't crafty enough to beat anybody one v one on the dribble (now that every defender in MLS knows his one and only move); isn't fit enough to give maximum effort for a full 90; isn't a very good defender; isn't a consistent enough passer for his teammates to have a good understanding of where the ball is going; and finally, still has not been exorcised of the opening day disallowed goal curse.
A post that knocks Davis...whoosh! Soccertom to the rescue! Quill was brought in so Davis could play in the middle. He was disappointing there, and slid over to the left wing. While Davis has not brought the goals he had last year to the table so far, I think he has played far better than Quill. Davis has to much talent to leave off the pitch. I will agree with Chamo on one point. I dislike the driven corner kicks. Cheers! Sir Drinxalot
Maybe it was Quill who was dissapointing and Davis was moved left. Maybe Davis left Talley middle is/was better then Davis middle Quill left? Did anyone notice that with Quill's improved play in the last couple game Davis was back in the middle? Anyone can say Davis was a dissapointment to them, that is their opinion. But Clarke says he doesn't think Davis has dissapointed. I don't think Davis has dissapointed. Is it not true that there is more to playing midfield in MLS than pure stats? This is not baseball where slugging percentage rules. I believe in soccer intangibles mean far more. By the way Brad started the first 12 games... then did not start which game? The 5-1 loss in KC where the Burn got dominated... hum. Since that game Davis has started two straight games in the middle again. I still think Davis is one of the best players on this team. I gave Brad a C grade in my midseason report becasue I think he has the talent to be the BEST player on this team. DISCLAIMER: The above was not meant as an attack on anyone or their opinion. I was meerly sharing my own thoughts. Again it just goes to prove that we all see the game very differently. One mans trash and all that.
I see huge potential in Davis to be a star in this league. Until he has that "breakout" game or stretch of games I will go into every game thinking this could be the one.
Collin, hit the high road. And take FAKE 10 with you!!! Our team is 5-5-5, half of our midfield is pathetic, and our forwards can't put the ball between the pipes. I'm tired of hearing about the potential of Davis. Nuñez has 100 more times potential then our fake #10. Read the article from the area's so-called soccer expert (Steve Davis). " Brad Davis has yet to sieze a central midfield role ( how about midfield role period, Steve!) Eric Quill sometimes (sometimes????) fails to affect games." I'm not alone in my assesment of fake 10. On Collin..... " Promising midfielder Ramon Nuñez has played only 23 minutes. Opportunities were missed to insert him in suitable situations." Collin can take his flat four, Fake 10, Quill, Gbandi, Sayler and get the hell outta here!