http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news/20021020/metroscoach.html Additionally, Michael Lewis reports today that Metro have opted to offer Faria as the compensation, rather than one or both of the first round draft picks. Lewis states that the rationale is to allow Bradley to select two young players that he can mold in the coming years.
Alecko and Clint....NICE..... Davis...Williams....Paule.....Zaidie Petke......Allocation...Allocation/Balboa...Jolley Howard. Now, lets see if Bradley can get these guys to play
I haven't heard anything (other than BS posters) saying that Balboa is gone....That was why I had to at least through his name in......
You don't think an allocation will be used on a striker? After alecko (if it happens) and mathis, do you want Klinger as a backup? I forsee massive personnel changes once BB takes the reins. The only difference from past seasons will be that the changes will be done by opening day. Davis, Howard, Mathis, Akwari, and probably Williams are the only sure things.
I forgot about Akwari....but, I hope there isn't a COMPLETE overhaul of the roster...Get rid of the end of the bench guys, bring back Sheppard to fill either Alvarez or Klingers spot....make a couple of change here and there...but another 7-10 faces and I'm going to be sick..... A brand new team every g-damn year.....enough already.
In 2 weeks, we've lost the team MVP (Diallo) and last year's Rookie of the Year (Faria). By the 3rd week of the season, people here will be ripping Nick for giving up Faria as compensation. I definitely agree that NONE of the 1st round picks should have been given up, at the same time, I'm not sure Faria should have been given up either. Eski & Clint upfront? Sounds good, BUT....Eski would still be raw as he's coming out after his Junior year and will go through the normal growing pains. Clint? He'll miss a large portion of games due to committments with USMNT and he's had his share of injuries as we know. Unless we get TWO good allocations (please no more Colombians) who can score, we'll have the reverse scenario of last year....a good coach with no one who can score.
With Faria & Diallo gone, The Metros must re-sign Clint Mathis now! We have plenty of cap room, give Clint the Max salary with a multi-year deal(open up the bank!) Balboa cannot be counted on( with his injuries and age) the Metros should unload him as well(out of contract anyway). I agree that we should bring back Dustin Sheppard(of Rutgers) he showed promise in the little action he saw. The Metros must sign a quality European sweeper( no big star, like a Nicola Caricola type) and we need a internatioanl striker to partner w/Clint. Alecko Eskandarian and Dustin Sheppard gives you two quality resereve strikers. The Midfield is Fine with the exception of a defensive Midfielder.
Well he is supposedly entering the draft and we have the #2 pick assuming we dont give it to Chicago for Bradley. The question is will he be available at #2. Ezio
2 problems with this: 1) DC still has the #1 Pick and has a good possibility of taking Eskandarian. 2) You can't pencil Eskandarian in as being our second starting forward. I'm a big fan of Eskandarian and would love to see him on the Metros, but to assume that he'll be the #2 Forward on the team is asking a lot. No recent College forward has been able to come into the MLS and be an instant starting striker. Usually they will be the #3 forward and come off the bench as a super sub. They will start whenever injuries/call-up require it and maybe by the end of the season they will be challenging for the starting position. This is the path that Faria took, and is the most likely path for Eskandarian if we get him. To ask more of him is setting unrealistic expectations. Unfortunately, we probably look a lot more like this right now: ..................Mathis....Allocation............... ....Davis.............Williams...........Allocation.. ..................Aquired-Via-Trade................ ...Petke.......Discovery..Discovery....Jolley.. ........................Howard........................ With Eskandarian as our #3 forward on the bench if we can get him.
Well good point about ALecko but I think if anyone is capable of playing as a rookie it is him from what I have seen anyway. But again that is assuming DC doesn't take him. Ezio
I don't see DC taking him...they have two young forwards already...plus, they still have Moreno.....Not saying they WONT take him, but I think they need some help elsewhere first. Valid point though on asking Alecko to come in and start immediately though.....wishful thinking on my part, I suppose.
I don't want to see Ross Paule and Nelson Akwari go, they are good players. So with Balboa, Klinger and Alvarez gone next season. The following are on the trading block. Joe Addo (very likely) Ted Chronopoulos (likely) Mark Lisi (likely) Jeff Moore (maybe) Sam Forko (maybe) Leo Krupnik (likely) Paul Grafer (maybe) with Zaidie, Jolly and Petke as remote possibilities. I like to see Dwayne De Rosario playing for the Metros, but that's far fetched.
Personally feel we are going to switch to a 3-5-2. In MLS today, to play fluid and beautiful soccer, it is very difficult to do it with a classic 4-4-2. Also, honestly, Jolley and Petke were not good in the back four last year. They are like Marshal and Califf of LA. Very good man marking backs. That's what I feel we can use them for. This is the lineup I see the Metros end up playing. ------------Mathis--------Allocation/new player--- -----Davis---------Paule-----------Williams----- --------------New player--------------Ziade---- ----------Petke----------------Jolley----------- --------------Allocation/New Player-------- --------------------Howard------------------ In the mess that I just made. I see a system that will probably end up being very similar to that of the Galaxy. We have two man marking backs who are very good at that. What Jolley and Petke need though, is someone behind them who can act like Lalas. Balboa, if he doesn't retire can easily do that better then Lalas. Now, I'm putting Ziade as a right wingback. That was the role of Ezra Hendrickson the other day. He can honestly play that position. The reason we need him there, is that with Williams playing wide right (where he seems more comfortable at times) we need the cover back there. The other midfielder has to be a defensive/holding midfielder. This is the key position in my view. The Metrostars, and in general in MLS most teams lose possesion at times. This player here has to be huge, like Bishop was for Miami. However, he is going to have his work cut out for him as he will have to compensate for Davis' lack of defensive prowess. Eventually Davis will be a two way player. Who knows maybe next year he'll take the next step!!! In front of this man, I put Paule and Davis. I honestly still think Paule can make the pass. He can do it. Is he a Nowak type player?!?!? God no. However, he can supply the ball to Mathis if given the opportunity. Basically we need Mathis to be big. He is going to make this whole thing work. I know he can do it, and we will get our first glimpse against El Salvador. He will be big that game.
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...radley,0,6313595.story?coll=cs-fire-headlines Read the last line, and weep tears of pure joy.
In order to guarantee we get Alecko, wouldn't it be worthwhile to trade the #2 pick and a couple lower round picks to DC for the #1 pick. If it's true they don't really want him, they'd make this trade in an instant.
Bradley HAD to be given the reins with regards to player decisions. It puts Nick in the place of taking care of the stadium and front office, and not much else. With regards to allocations / lineup: Who knows if Metro have even thought about getting a forward as an allocation? All of the talk has been toward right mid and defense -- they might even have a list of names for those positions right now. The only way that Metro have been scouting forwards is if they've been planning to move Faria all along. Esky: If I'm Ray Hudson, there is no doubt whatsoever that I'm taking Eskandarian #1 and demanding some compensation + the #2 pick from Metro for him. The last thing that DCU needs is another kid striker, but it is far, far too obvious that he's our pick, and they might as well screw us a little bit. I see Esky now costing us Moore or Lisi because we've played our hand a bit.
Bradley will have a dual role as head coach and director of player personnel. Does this mean OZ takes over for Richard Williams at the MetroStars Academy? Wouldn't that be ironic?
Ricardo Clark of Furman. I could see us taking him also. He figures to be either the starter for the US U20s or at least on the bench. Not bad considering our youth nat'l teams have been steadily changing from all-collegians to all-pros. I don't see us taking Alecko. His average showing at the Toulon tournament a couple of summers ago still has me cringing.
At this rate, don't be surprised to see OZ working the concession stands on opening day or being your new sales representative.