the problem with the off-season is that you get out of practice of looking at all the different websites. i apologize in advance if this has been posted (i did go back and look, dammit!) http://unitedmania.mlsfansites.com/...34&PHPSESSID=d80ee1e8dfdbac90a9c2b5ff169102aa from Trask: i guess my paranoia is starting to kick in. i am almost certain these were the exact words of last year's coaching staff. the one obvious weakness is the lack of depth for the flanks and defensive midfield. certainly convey and olsen are starting. if either of those players get hurt, who? a converted defender in reyes? or, which attacking central midfielder? namoff and alegria showed mediocre on the flanks over the last couple of seasons. even hudson admits that kovolenko is not comfortable on the flanks. although it sounds as if our rookie class is of good quality, 2001 taught us to not start rookies for any extended amount of time without knowing that they will lose. as for defensive midfield, if nelsen gets hurt we do not know who his backup is at the moment, if anyone has been designated. i suppose if there is a "problem" that needs to be addressed, then this is not a big one. however, the tone and "good feelings" that are being spouted are driving me nuts!
I just think it's so damn cool that 10 Ali Curtis will be able to tell his kids: "Yeah, I played with Hristo Stoitchkov."
“To be honest, if we had a game tomorrow, I don’t think anyone in this locker room would argue if we started Hristo Stoichkov and Eskandarian as the two front runners. And that’s no disrespect to Ernie (Stewert) because he just got off the plane, and no disrespect to ‘Tino’ because he’s playing very well. But those guys are playing extremely well.” Eskandarian: “Yeah, I’ve been fortunate enough to be paired with him (Hristo) for the last 3 or 4 sessions running up top." Interesting.
Actually, I think DCU doesn't have much of a problem at outside mid. Stewart has played there. Quaranta got his start there (youth national side and DCU) at right outside mid. Kovalenko can play there (admittedly, he's stronger inside). Quintanilla or Alegria could play outside. Digi may be an option. There are decent reserve outside mids floating around for minimum salary or near that. As for the talk with this year and last, I (for one) detect some substantial differences. Then, Hudson was praising his stars but also making it very clear that the stars had to come through and that the team might be undermanned (with Moreno hurt, Olsen hurt, Amman hurt). Hudson was also praising the team but talking about the need to show hunger--and then openly challenging the team very early in the season over this issue. Look at it this way--Trask is saying "a big name (Etcheverry, Stewart, Stoichkov)" won't start the openning match. Did anyone hear Hudson or Trask say "Moreno or Etcheverry might not start our openner b/c we've got someone hotter"? Injuries maybe, but not b/c of competition. I'd be a little happier if DCU: (a) had someone on the frontline who was a target threat (even as a reserve); and (b) a little more experience at holding/d-mid. Otherwise, this is one of the deepest teams in MLS. The only teams that have comparable depth are: Dallas and LA.