It's no news that United has a lot of talent at the forward position, when all the players are healthy, that is. What tandem d oyou believe would be the best fit for United right now if everyone was 100% healthy??????
As much as I like the effort Eskandarian has been putting forth I think it might be Jaime and Santino.
I gotta stick with Esky/Moreno, although that could change once we are 100%. Esky/Moreno have been able to pack the punch we need so far (well when the midfield sets them up right).
The current form Moreno is understandably over-rated on this board given his history with the team. He's a superb sub but he's just not a 90 minute player anymore and he has trouble keeping up with the pace and quickness of the current MLS game. Our best starting tandem might be Eski and an in form Quaranta. But whether Quaranta is in form (or ever will be again) is a big question. If Quaranta isn't in form then the current Moreno and Eski tandem is the next best. And the suggestion that Eski should sit for anyone on this team is just wrong-headed. At this point Eski's unique offensive qualities really should speak for themselves.
When he's on his game Eskandarian is anything but one dimensional. You've heard the saying "Defense begins with the forward line" I'm sure and Eskandarian plays this way. His work rate alone makes him a better forward than Santino. The last time I saw Santino I found myself yelling "Run Santino, Run!!!". He's just a lazy player, IMHO and hasn't impressed since his rookie season. I vote for Esky and Moreno.
esky and moreno esky scores goals. not a great passer, nor a great dribbler, but he seems to have figured out where to be, when to be there, and how to put it in the net. santino may have more size and skill, but he's not shown to be a great finisher. and more importantly, he hasn't been able to stay match ready. diaz arce and lassiter (in their original stints) both had some technical limitations, but they scored lots of goals. esky looks ready to step into that role.
i agree jaime has struggled to go 90 in many of dcu games. i would rather see him start, however, and go 70. while he is over-rated on this board (i am admittedly extremely biased), he is still the most skilled player on the team and should be on the field as long as he has gas in the tank. from what i've seen, he's most effective for the first 70 minutes or so and then fades.
I have to say Moreno and Eskandarian, but my personal fan favorite choices would be Santino and Eliseo.
If everyone was healthy and match aware then I'd say Quaranta and Esky up top with Adu as a withdrawn forward. But that won't be possible until later next year. I'd love to see what Quaranta and Adu could do up top together, but again, I think that's a ways off. Until young Freddy grows tactically I think Jaime and Esky up front with Santino withdrawn would be our most dangerous set-up.
While I don't deny the work Eski doesn uptop defensively, I understood the question as being what two fowards wrok the best together. Eski's defensive pressure has nothing to do with Moreno, from what I have seen when Tino and Moreno have palyed together, which hasn't happened al lthe much, they seem to have a good understanding with each other. They are also supposedly besst friends off the field so I'm sure that helps.
I'm wait and see w/ Quaranta. I hope he and Moreno can reignite some magic. Eventually, we may see Esky + Quaranta + Moreno, in a 3-4-3. Simply because Moreno doesn't have the legs to go too deep into midfield and still get to the touchline. Another plus side of Quaranta regaining top form is that it pushes Adu further down on the bench.
Right now? - Moreno and Esky - No doubt about it - Moreno can distribute the ball really well to anyone - Late season? - Esky and Quaranta, possibly - Esky is finding the net - don't mess with it - And if Quaranta can regain his form and potential he has more in the long run than Moreno Non-Tandem? - Esky & Moreno & Quaranta - All three have scoring potential and know how to distribute the ball to others for shots on goal - And all three are versatile enough you don't have to put them in designated roles (Outside, Withdrawn, etc) - They'll just go wherever they need to go and read each other (IDEALLY) (Adu is still one or two years away from this group) John L