I don't disagree, but I also don't know how many top 5 players a team needs to be successful. Top 5 means 50 players. In a league with 26 clubs, not every side can have 2. Is having three or four in the top five more important that being top 20 across the field (i am not sure we are, btw). How has this played out in the past? In fact, is there a point to this idea of top five? It seems like a bar argument to me, and it's backed up with the level of detail that enters into bar arguments that crop up rather late in the evening.
I don’t think Gutierrez is going to be a 10. I won’t be surprised if he spends more of his time as a 6 in place of Ilie with Espinoza and Kinda in front of him.
I know there's some sadness at the thought of taking Guti farther away from the goal, but he's always been more of an 8 than a 10, nd he's played a bit of 6 through the years. As important as the 6 is to the way PV wants us to play, I like the idea of getting him on the ball more. I also like the idea of him having the field in front of him. In my ideal SKC season, Ilie has a 2018 level season for us, behind Guti and Kinda, and we score 90 goals while giving up 35. But Ilie probably isn't going to bounce back to that level. One issue with Guti at the 6: Roger is not going 34 games this season. I don't expect him, at his pace and age, to give us half that. So for much of the season that actual lineup is Guti in front of Kinda and Busio. There is a ton of skill in midfield, but is there enough bite?
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/25/top-50-mls-players-2020-season Two top 50 players. Johnny and Pulido. Opara No.9 - a few spots higher than Fontas. MLS writers are in love with LAFC/LAG/NYCFC/Seattle and Atlanta. All other teams don't exist (or research is required so why bother).
Yep, I still won't be surprised when he plays the 6 this year, same as last year. Our CBs aren't any faster than last year and Ilie isn't fast enough in the midfield. Gutierrez gives the passing that Ilie does but with more mobility.
Puncec isn't faster than Fontas? I mean, i get that he isn't a speed merchant, but we have to be a bit faster than we were last season, don't we?
Probably, but Fontas only started 10 games last year, less than a third. It's not like the majority of our 67 goals conceded came in those 10 games.
My comment should have included a winki face. I also expect Gutierrez to play the 6 some this year. He was very good in that position for Chile. He'll be good in any of the midfield positions PV decides to play him in. The center backs on my over 40 team are faster than Fontas.
I know this is more of an in season point, but this piece, both the radio interview and the video of the presser seem to say that PV is very high on Winston Reid. He says he's completely healthy, but needs to get into the game rhythmn. Still, he describes him as a monster, in a good way, great on the ball, great at reading the game, in fact, just all around great. Just based on these talks, I think we're going to see quite a bit of Reid. PV sounds impressed enough that I can see us triggering the buy clause on his contract, assuming it's a low dollar clause and not over $1m. PV also notes that an unnamed cb is still out after surgery and several months away from being ready. So Fontas will almost certainly be moved to the IR list, which means, what, does he still occupy a int roster spot, or a spot of any kind? also, edit to add, he seems really impressed with Puncec as well, saying he's better than he expected, much better in the air, bigger, etc. Same with Pulido, said he knew he was good, but he's better than he'd hoped.
I really do think we have a great selection of pieces to get this season to work. My only questions are the midfield and the fullbacks--namely that among last year's strugglers the only players not to have direct, seasoned subs on the roster are Ilie and Zusi. So if either of those guys brings his 2019 to 2020, this might be real rough for us. But with a team showing some propensity now for actually acquiring players, there is an elevated chance we bring in some help in the summer if things go bad.
With as many good CBs on the roster as we now have, I really wonder if Peter will try the 3-5-2 again. That formation needs three CBs that are both good on the ball and good defenders. I think we have that. He also has a good holdup center forward (Shelton) and a good deeper CF (Pulido). I know the likelihood of trying anything other than a 4-3-3 is less than 0.01% but I think he has the pieces to try that formation and (unlike last time) actually have a chance for it to work.
I want to agree, but he's just so unproven at MLS level. I honestly hope his rise is meteoric and soon. You just can't necessarily count on young players to suddenly snap to full capability. I do want to see what he can do with his minutes this year, but that doesn't mean I want to see what happens if Zusi is injured and Lindsey is our only option.
Which can address the issues raised by both Inca and Blando. Lindsay as a wingback could be impressive. If we play the 5 defensively, it gives Ilie some cover. or it can work with Kinda and Russell as part of a line with FG that actually makes it more of a 3-2-3-2. But,. yeah, no chance of it happening. I don't think it's needed. The good ol 4-3-3 serves our needs, but it is possible.
I hope you are right...but when I watched him against Phoenix Rising FC, he was beaten time and time again by a really fast winger who was causing him fits. I'm not sure he is the answer for a replacement for Zusi.
I have to admit, I don't expect him to make the SKC 18 a single time this season. I think we can all agree this will be down to PV's stubbornness. He only wants to play people who play for us. Sheesh.
MLS has had some major boneheaded gaffs so far this season. In the first Power Rankings of the season, they claimed the Chicago Fire were an original MLS franchise (it's since been corrected - after dozens of people pointed it out in the comments).
I'm glad they're in the league too. Hope they can sort out their off-field stuff to truly become a good Chicago team. Seems like they're making progress (and also some super terrific mistakes). That said, I'm always happy to remind them that they are not a founding team.
Always held grabbing Gutiérrez against them. Stupid expansion draft. I mean, local guy, kind of a dick move by the fire.
Should we make a play for Uri? He has to be back to about the price at which we first got him, so nothing or thereabouts. Orlando don't seem to have him in their plans, and that might suggest he isn't worth the time, but jeebus, it is Orlando
Why? He's no faster than Ilie, does he really add anything? Especially if Gutierrez gets time at the 6.