http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/story/46474p-43724c.html I'm guessing Andy Williams will be traded, but to which team?
Well I know there are discovery picks but the article mentions NY has an allocation as well. Is the author wrong or am I missing something? I didn't think NY got another allocation for Diallo but I could be wrong.
Does the fact that we only have 2 SIs mean that we automatically get allocated a third? I thought the Faria-Bradley thing counted as an allocation...
Maybe we can get Donadoni! He played really great when he was with the Metros, and with Bradley, man, we'll have a great team!
We don't need a Midfield chief! We already have one Andy Williams. Andy was one of the leagues best assists man last year. Andy is a creative dribbler and passer. We don't need anyone else to ochestrate the midfield.
Actually he is right,so no need for that, we got the Diallo leaving allocation and the missing the playoffs allocation.
We got an allocation for missing the playoffs and another for Diallo. We traded 1, so we have 1 left. I have no idea who they'd use, but attacking midfield seems like as good a place as any. I'm not sure that they would trade Williams- unless Bradley doesn't like him- as he was our most consistent offensive player last year. Then again, no one knows what Bradley/Nick have up their sleeves. Just hope it doesn't suck.
I have often read on this board that Bradley is a coach who likes to "let the ball do the work" encouraging creativ movement off the ball and good passing. If this is so, then it seems to me Andy Williams is a perfect fit, and we don't need a so called midfield general. And besides, how many teams have this type of player anyway. I would say that Nowak and Valderrama offer that kind of game, but no one else I can think of. It's not necessary.
Metrogo's right, there's no need to trade Andy Williams. The talk of trading Andy Williams is stupid. I agree that he was our most consistent offensive performer last season. Not only that, but he's easily one of the most skilled players MLS has. Everybody's talking about how Williams "doesn't fit into Bradley's system" but I disagree. Andy Williams has shown excellent dribbling skills. Not only that, but his passing is precise and he can feed the strikers. That's right, folks, Andy Williams is a great asset to our offense and he'd do well in a lot of systems so as long as he has a good coach. I'm beginning to think that people don't even know what Bradley's system is, but this is just a chic thing to say now. Remember, Bradley didn't just use one system last season--there was no way he could with Chicago's injuries. Williams doesn't fit in because he holds the ball too much? Well, he can pass the ball well, too. And if a good coach instructs him to take less touches on the ball, he'll do it. Also, there are times when a team NEEDS someone to hold the ball. What if the ball's cleared, you've got you attacking midfielder on the ball, but there's nobody up to join the attack? Metrogo also mentioned Nowak--he often held the ball and dribbled for Bradley's teams, so why not Williams? Seems like Bradley wants to create an entirely new team, and Nick is on one of his trade-happy fits. In this case, I think we're better off with what we have. Granted, if the Metros acquire Joselito Vaca, that could be very good, but there would be room for Williams on the field, too. Just move one of them out to the wing.
If the season stars, and Williams is our Midfield general, watch while the teams wallows and fades to the bottom of the pack Use Williams how he should be, as a back-up striker for Moreno and Mathis
What is a "midfield general" anyway? I'm sorry to sound disrespectful during this holiday season, but anyone who uses the words "midfield general" probably doesn't know a thing about the game of soccer. It's a concept from major american sports put to soccer, but it doesn't apply. Do Manchester United or Arsenal have a midfield general? Do the other great sides? Maybe here and there, but by and large soccer is an 11 man team sport. It doesn't require a point guard or a quarterback. 10 men must hold possession, not one.
No, but they have consistent midfielders. Andy Williams was our only midfielder who consistently played well.
If midfield general means what I think it does, they certainly do: Keane Vieira Gilberto Silva Davids Emerson Or if it means a playmaker: Zidane Rivaldo Scholes Totti Valeron Ballack Having someone like Vieira who will just sit back in front of the defense and absorb all the team's pressure works wonders. If you watch Arsenal matches they score a hell of a lot of goals when Vieira/Gilberto make a tackle and pass it out wide to Ljungberg or Pires on the counter, who either cut in or cross for Henry. That's the function of a midfield general IMO.
He was perhaps the best player on a truly awful team. AWill has now been the "midfield general" for teams in Miami '00, New England '01 and Metro '02 that have failed to make the playoffs. That's not good enough.
Bring back Jim Rooney. They never should have gotten rid of him. Once he left, the second half of 1998 and 1999 were disasters.
Andy Williams should be back. Right now, I'd put him out right in a 5-man midfield with Davis out left, Richie Williams and Moore at d-mid and Paule in front of them. IF we can upgrade at the position which is currently out most gaping hole, right midfield, then AW moves to the center, Paule moves back and Moore moves to the bench. Ziadie is a decent backup right mid, but he is by no means starting calibre in todays MLS. Right mid is where we need to be looking.
If this is our midfield...if Jeff Moore, Ross Paule and Andy Williams are on the field, starting...we will once again miss the playoffs. Thankfully, I'm confident this will not be the case.
If you'd stop complaining and looking for things to gripe about, you might notice that last season, we had a funny looking midfield. When the coach lines up a team with NO left winger, on the side with your weakest defender, the team is not going to do well. Paule had a damn fine year last season. He made the switch from attacking mid to holding mid, and did a good job. With that experience under his belt, I think he'll be even better there next season. Also, if you read what I posted, if we do the smart thing and upgrade at right mid, Moore will not be in the starting 11. As for your irrational hatred of Andy Williams, I'm not even going to start on that, because it's obvious that you have your opinion and I have mine. I think he's a good player that can help our team.