this guy played all of 326 minutes last year,,,will he be able to beat out a healthy Cerritos or Rhine to start next to Kries? Comparing him to Quantara, Buddle, Convey and DMB,,,,,is this guy kind of a let down for the Burn fans? I have not seen enough of him to tell,,,,but he just does not seem to stack up to those other teens as far as progress in the league goes,,,,,like to know what you all think.
My guess is no. Kreis proved his worth yet again last year, and Jeffries needs to justify the trade for Cerritos, which looked really bad last year. If Kreis or Cerritos get cold, look for Milan Eddie, Bobby Rhine, or another striker (Jaqua?) to get some minutes. I am not sure that Jeffires thinks EJ is ready to start. Still, he obviously loves the potential. As Johnno said, "We might as well find out if he is ready or not." If the team has trouble scoring, you have to change something before the team accumulates too many losses. EJ, the only pure preditor the team has, might be the way to do that.
The best thing would be for Kreis, Johnson, and Rhine to all get consistent game time. That way no one would wear down during the season and Johnson could get used to the quality of play in MLS. Unless Cerritos really shows something in before the season, he might not even make the team next year.
Jeffries has already said that he expected EJ to start next year. He said that a year ago too. So that means he won't start.
Well he did get hurt at the start of last season. Then he had a death in his family, which is tough to handle when you are 18.
Based on what? Just because you can organize an "It's the coach, stupid!" banner, now you're deep throat?
That might happen because the league needs to analyse EJ before his contract is over. If he's not starting at Dallas MLS will push for a trade.
Huh? He still has two years left on his contract. I would think that Rhine is quite expendable should we draft Jaqua.
He was injured for a fairly long time, then he had the death in the family thing, so it's not because they haven't been trying to work him in. I suspect that he'll see much more time this year.
If Burn management is too blind to see, maybe a few hundred of these signs might help them 'see the light'.
I just think the league has far too few big target forwards. EJ not starting is a complete waste of talent. That's all I'm going on. These things have a way of working out. He'll start - if not at Dallas than somewhere else.
I agree with 3rd, barring injury, EJ is a starter on opening day. I also think ROB is the starting r-mid, and Gbandi will really be pushing to start at left back.
For the time being, yes. I think (that is the key phrase here!) that he needs to start concentrating on center mid. I see him starting on the bench but sub in for Pareja, with an occasional start and gradually increasing his playing time throughout the season. The only other thing I think may happen is Vaca being traded and Dallas picking up Walsh or one of the p40 center mids in the draft. I really do like Vaca though, and I really want to see what he can do at center mid on a regular basis.
I would also like to see Vaca at AM, I dont think he will get traded because Pareja wont last all season.
I don't think Pareja will either, thus causing Vaca to increase playing time throughout the year and eventually take over the role. Even if that is Jeffrie's plan, I still think they might draft one of the P40 a-mids from the U17 team. Aren't there 2 of them? If Vaca progresses as expected, in 2 or 3 years, I think there will be a lot of outside interest in him, especially if he starts getting serious playing time with Bolivia. Boy am I a genious! I must be the only one that thinks if a player plays well for club and country then he will garner interest from other leagues. Sorry, just had to make fun of myself.
I just don't see Vaca as a bench player. If ROB plays RM and there is no room for Vaca in the middle. How about starting Vaca at LM. He can come into the middle a lot and be as effective as he was on the right. I just want to see the kid play.
ahh, but now you are forgeting our other great hispanic, Chivas Martinez. I would switch out Vaca and ROB and see who produces more. Both are stellar, but IMO ROB is better. As for EJ, well I don't see him starting opening day, but I think he'll get a lot more playing time than last season. Remember, he's competing for this postition with 3 other great strikers in Rhine, Cerritos and of course Kreis.
I'd like to see EJ play more this year, but he didn't look like he had any touch last year. Ronnie O'Brien is at least twice the flank player that Vaca is. Vaca will play in the middle, but that probably means playing 10 to 20 minutes a match this year. If EJ starts that would be great, but I wouldn't count on him being all that effective. If I was coaching Dallas I think I might try to trade Pareja and start Vaca at AM and EJ up front. Kreis EJ Chivas Vaca ROB XXXXXXXXX Gbandi Bonseu Morrow Suarez That's a good looking team. Either keep Pareja and have him play deeper in midfield or trade him and get a midfield ball winner better than Chad Deering. That lineup is all 26 or younger other than Morrow and Kreis which should mean a good 3 or 4 year run could be expected if EJ, Vaca, and Gbandi can perform at good levels for MLS.
trading pareja would mean death to the team. He's like our heart. This is how I see us starting... Kreis Cerritos Martinez Deering Pareja Vaca Broome Morrow T-Bone Suarez Jordan Subs- ROB for Vaca, Gbandi for Broome, and EJ for Cerritos.
That's exactly how the line-up will be. But I would like to see: CERRITOS EJ CHIVAS VACA ROB DEERING PAREJA GBANDI BONSUE SUAREZ DJ
You are the first one to suggest a return to the 3-5-2 but that is what would have to happen for Vaca to start in the middle unless the Burn get a defensive midfield destroyer. One problem might be Chivas on the left. He had trouble with tracking back before and Broome was the starter and might be again in that formation. Could perhaps Gbandi be a Mastroeni starter kit and move to defensive mid or maybe young Stone is ready or the Burn draft Ricardo Clarke.
Vaca just isn't a right wing midfielder. He just plays there in an attempt to get skill on the field. Vaca belongs in the middle, and he should start seeing more time there this year. Keep Pareja and him fresh, especially for that stretch of midweek games. EJ will start a lot this year barring injury.