Brad Davis.

I'm glad to hear that he has such a good attitude. I really hope we can find a way to get him on the field. It would be a coup of the highest order if we could get some production out of him in central midfield. I'm a little concerned about this stress fracture though. Is he going to try to take it easy until it heals, or play through it? I think he should heal up.

 

After reading the article, I'm wondering if MJ and I had the same thoughts at the same exact time - concerning Davis' skills and how he might eventually replace Oscar.

This is very good news for me... the back, however...

 

Jefferies is a wonder when it comes to finding the right talent for this team. It's going to be an exciting season, that's for sure.

Now we're only one solid forward away from making a serious run at the MLS cup...hopefully we land someone who can score those goals, or EJ steps up...Rhine just isn't going to do it. He works hard, but that's it. He only scored 7 goals last season (if I'm correct) and three of those came in one game. All we need is help up front. I know I got off topic, but just had to voice my only concern with the personel.

 

I'm thrilled to have him on the team. He's worth more than first round draft pick in my opinion.

His left foot brings something to the team I can't remember us ever having had. He could be the difference maker this year for this team.

 

The question is how to get him on the field. He's basically competing for time with Chivas or Pareja. Playing in Deering's position was mentioned in the article, but I hope we wouldn't need to put such a young player in at d-mid.

If Chivas's current form doesn't improve dramatically, Davis may get his shot on the wing. Otherwise he will have to sub in for Oscar late in games which could be a great benefit for us in keeping Oscar fresh all season. However, with the pressure to win on coaches, will MJ really risk resting Pareja in a tight game?

I still think the best course of action is to get that back healed right now and worry about the rest during the season.

 

I too think that he should rest and rehabilitate this injury. We don't want it to turn into a long term thing that keeps him out half of the season.

Where to get him on the field?

Change formations to a 4-5-1 and let Davis be the withdrawn forward/attacking mid.

---------------Kreis
---------Davis
--Chivas-Pareja-ROB
----------Deering
Brme-Morrw-Tbn-Suarez

3-5-2 slot him in the hole behind the forwards.

4-4-2 he can play up top, attacking mid or left wing.

 

I believe Chivas is on track to duplicate last season's fitness and timing. He looked like he was swimming in molasses in preseason, but got in game shape quickly after the season started. It wouldn't surprise me to see this same trend happen again-and-again thru his career.

MJ has one luxury that may fit both Pareja's and Davis' needs currently; and this the fact that we need to allow Oscar to go full throttle for sixty minutes per, and then put Brad in.

Longevity for Oscar, plenty of time for Davis to MAKE SURE his back heals properly.

Imagine this coming season with the aforementioned case scenario. Ball control and leadership established for the first sixty, and inspirational speed, passing, ability to get back (obviously Brad would be able to get into a defensive position much quicker than Oscar can, especially after Oscar has played sixty), and I believe this would go over very well - having our MVP go out with an uproar of applause, and welcome the prodigal Davis with the same (wouldn't mind seeing this same situation occur with a super-forward and Kreis coming in at sixty...).

As I've mentioned many times before, our midfield is STACKED.

Let's work on stacking our starting forwards.

 

Any word on Eddie Johnson or Bobby Rhine in that lineup.

Seems like Rhine and Kreis will do well. Brad could win that left midfield job outright, when healthy.

Going to be an exciting year in Dallas.

 

If they are smart and the players actually come through (not just on paper) then Jeffries can rotate players and keep them all healthy and fresh. Maybe then we wouldn't have a meltdown in the playoffs as usual. They might even be able to start a true "B" team for Open Cup games.

 

I know this is something that noone has probably thought about but what about putting Martinez up top? He has by far the best one v one skills out of any player on the team. That is if EJ doesn't produce. You could have something like this:

--------Martinez(EJ)------Kreis

-------------------Oscar
--- --Davis---------------------Vaca
-------------------Deering

Broome---Morrow-----TBone-------Saurez

I've seen Martinez beat player after player on the drible. No one can do it like he can, and that would be great up top. Of course he'd have to be able to shoot, and that would be if EJ doesn't work out. Rhine's not going to cut it at all.

 

Jeffries tried that. It did not work. Chivas's first option is always to try to beat his man. It works well on the wing, but not in the middle. The defense will collapse around the ball too quickly.

As for Davis, I do not think he will see that much time. Though Oscar and Chad are getting up there in years, I do not see Davis taking too much time away from Vaca. Vaca is a born schemer. If McKeon is on the team, we will see him at d mid when Chad is not there. If not, Matt and young Stone.

 

I disagree about Brad Davis. I think he will see alot of time eventually. He is just too talented to leave off the field. My biggest concern is will the Burn be able to utilize him properly. He looks like a good prospect for the Nats.

As I have said before, the Burn are a solid team with no superstars. Unlike other teams, there is not a huge difference between our starters and bench players. It does make for an interesting year.

 

Any American able to play attacking mid is a huge asset. It may take him a few years to become attacking mid, but if that's really a plan for him, that's incredible. There has not been an American-born number 10 in the league yet. Henry Gutierrez was ok, but not a true starter. All the other attacking mids-nos. 10 have been foreign players or in Oscar's case, green cards.

It's a sign of progress for the league. And it's also a big money saver because attacking mids are not cheap, especially when imported in their prime.

 

Yes it will.

But I really think Davis has a better chance stealing minutes in the middle than out in Chivas's spot. Martinez was easily our most productive midfielder last year, and repeatedly took games over singlehandedly, especially against certain teams like the Metros and Colorado. We want him on the field.

And I imagine that both EJ and Rhines will get starts up front early this season. I don't see us bringing in a high profile forward this season, at least not soon.

 

I think you will find, with the increasing depth of this team, that there will not be written in stone First 11. You will see several different combinations based on the opposition, health, recent performace and/or performance that week in practice.

When healthy all four forwards have somthing to offer, and if/when Jeffries finds the striker he is looking fo rit will be 5. (or will it? the plot thinckens)

And in the midfield... goodnesss...
O'Brien, Vaca, Deering, Pareja, Stone, Davis, Chivas, Gbandi, Behncke (did anyone notice he started the Last pre-season game against Metro?)

Pick any 4 and you can get a pretty darn good midfield.

This is what good teams are supposed to look like, i.e., COMPETITION FOR PLACES.

 

I agree. Davis is behind Chivas at left wing. Davis is behind Oscar and Vaca in the center. He'll play, but it'll be as a spot sub.

With Gbandi most likely starting when healthy, Broome becomes a contributor at both left back and left mid, which should further reduce Davis' playing time.

Remember, EJ is still substantially younger than Davis. But I expect EJ to get more playing time.

-Tron

 

Brad Davis can play forward pretty well also.

 

At first, I did not like this trade. Buzz wrote "You will be happy" when he reported from the draft. I was not, though the Thomas move mollified me. I quickly realized Davis was better than anyone left in the draft, though. Like many draft picks, Davis is for the future.

Oscar will not play forever, though he just might try. Vaca, however, will soon have proven all he needs to in order to get a big contract outside of the MLS. Davis has that long to get agressive enough to play schemer.

 

I wish I was as sold on Vaca as you are Scipio. I really wish I was.

 

Nevermind

I started a thread on Connolly's Brad Davis column and then tried to delete it after seeing SoccerTom's thread. Why can't I delete this thread?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=260033&cc=5901

 

I've been suggesting this on the listserv since
last summer. And it's time for a full-fledged
campaign on the matter.

EJ: could be the 20-goal guy, but injured,
and even if healthy, no Stewart = no maturation.
Probability of 20 goals: 20%

Cerritos: could be the 20-goal guy, if he
recovers from what could or might have
been a career-ending injury, and finds his
'98-'99'-'00 form.
Probability of 20 goals: 10%

Rhine: steady and ready for all that's thrown
his way, the consumate professional; expansion
draft fodder in '05 or '06.
Probability of 20 goals: 1%

Everyone else in camp: who knows?

We do know this. Chivas has a lousy defensive
workrate and is a defensive liability in a 442.
Chivas is also possibly the best finisher on the
team giving Kreis a run for that honor. Chivas
also is likely the best 1v1 guy on the team and
is not afraid to take on 2 and 3 defenders at
once running at goal.

Left Side Resources:

-Behncke showed he could play in MLS during
the first game of the Week from Hell at Rapids.
I want to see more but think he could be
Morrow's solid understudy and even give the
Irishman 4 or 5 nights off this summer.

-Broome's speed would be more usefully
deployed at left-mid than at left back, but
his ability to play both positions gives MJ
cover and ability to make tactical resource
positioning decisions based on opposing
personnel.

-Davis is talked about consistenly as a
left-side guy, but I'll also pat myself on
the back because, on draft day, when Davis
was acquired, I believe I was the first person
to suggest on the listserv that Davis could be
the guy to understudy and backfill Pareja.
Everyone pooh-poohed it at the time, so
vindication this week via MJ's comments was
sweet for me, but Davis still offers a starting
left-mid option, and would likely see the most
time there if Vaca is not traded and thence
retained as Oscar's primary backup. (note:
i do not think Vaca can be the long-term
solution to supplant Oscar, he just doesn't
have the size to handle the Physical reqs
of MLS play; Oscar barely has the size and
compensates for it with with grit and fouls.)

-Gbandi from all accounts looks to be
storming back to form with a vengeance.
If he is as advertised, he's going to push
Broome forward to the left midfield competition
with Davis.

-Morrow now has an excellent backup in Behncke,
which means Gbandi is free to concentrate on
left-outside-back; a year ago I thought that
Gbandi would break in as Morrow's backup,
and that Broome would convert full-time to
left back.

SO, in sum, our depth on the left side of midfield,
and left side of defense, should naturally push
Chivas in to the competition for a slot in the
Forwards rotation. Where I believe he would
excel and his talents would be put to best
possible use.

-imn

 

Ooh, Mr. Cigar man, we must cross swords
here in public.

I seem to recall Chivas slicing through the
middle of the Metro box for a couple of
goals one night last season. How can
you say trying to beat your man doesn't
work in the middle, but does work on the
wing, when the Galactical MicroFish regularly
beats 2 and 3 people at the same time in
a very direct, in-the-box-fashion. This is
not a league of incredbile defenders.
Chivas ain't MicroFish, but he's not a slouch
either in the middle. I don't think MJ gave it
much of a try, either, but if you can cite
specific examples when we started Chivas
up top, i'll take counsel.

As far as Davis not seeing time, I think you are
mistaken. Let's reevaluate after 4 games.

-imn

 

Kudos to Buzz who was out in front with this
caveat on this thread....

Tactical personnel matchup deployment
options have been a rare luxury in MLS.

Let's see if Mr. MJ can put that Masters Degree
to good use.....

-imn