Before the start of the season, I really thought we had our midfield shored up with Hendo, Chung, Pablo and Grimandi. I questioned our defense and was really looking forward to watching our forwards tear the league up. After the Grimandi fiasco and the lineup juggle that has ensued, what player position would you look to fill, if you could choose just one?
I would very much like the Rapids to play with the cards they have been dealt. I want just that, though nothing else. I don't want to see Carrieri playing as a mid, since that's not his position. I don't want to see Herdsman in central defense. I want to see if the team can cut it with the players playing the positions they've been playing in the past. This is not a coaches game. If they show that they can't cut it, then replacements should be brought in.
I voted defensive mid for no other reason than we will need another guy at that position when Pablo is with the Nats this summer. It would be good to be able to have an experienced option there.
I agree with spot. There appears to be a bit of an over-reaction between Grimandi leaving and Saturday night's result. let sremember that Grimandi did not play serious amounts of time in the preseason, and Saturday night's lineup was bizzare at best. I'd like to see a lineup along the lines of: Garlick Hart(?) Stewart Fraser Rizo Mastroeni Henderson Beckerman Chung Carrieri/Schmidt/Roberts/Spencer (Pick 2) before I can decide if this team needs help. If not Beckerman, slot Chung in there, move Henderson to the left, and play Kingsley on the right, or put Spencer in there with 2 other forwards up top.
Well put. The only way that Grimandi's a factor at this point is as a distraction... and if it's clear enough to us fans that he's leaving and should be written off, you can bet that it's clear in the locker room. I agree... On paper, Grimandi looked like a great addition and an improvement over Valederrama. I don't see that the guy was a "silver bullet," though, and I'm not gonna write off the team's chances after one loss that had nothing to do with Grimandi's absence.
Who needs Giles when we have Pablo. He played really well as the def mid in the opener. Won a lot of balls and tackeled hard.
How could the loss or win be grimandi's doing and how are we going to be terrible just because he is leaving??? Remember he never really played for us in preseason.. We lost that game because of the coaches "magic thoughts". He never did anything like in preseason. If a name on paper and a few mins of play in preseason ranks higher than anyone on his bench taking grimandi's place, then they all should ask for a trade. IMO That is a sorry state for a coach to convey to his players.
Yes, some version of that lineup IS the one to go with. Clearly the Quakes slipped some LSD into Hankinson's Gatorade while he was filling out the lineup card before Saturday's game. His decisions were bizarre and cost the Rapids a clear chance at 3 points. Too early to panic. The team will need some backup for Pablo during long stretches of June and July. Besides that, it may need some defensive help. Those two areas concern me.
No panic here, just forward thinking, playing mock GM... I'd have to agree with the Steve Sampson remark, although I hope the results aren't quite so disastrous (when we hear talk of a 3-6-1 I might start to worry though ) Unfortunately, the Rapids have two weeks to stew on the first loss before getting the chance to recover. I still think a d-mid, especially given Pablo's commitments, is the most immediate need for the Rapids, but if other players like Beckerman can step up, we may be able to address other needs. Basically, I just want the Rapids to find the best player available at any position, someone who will raise the level of play regardless of position, but I hope they aren't looking for a striker right now...
Well they have a confidence building match against the Air Force Academy this Saturday so it will hopefully help. My vote for assessing the needs would be to get a good head shrink to work on everyone. Install a positive winning attitude. No no no. What we need are those girls from the Black and Blue Ball to stand in 127 with us. That's what's really needed.