Evaluation of talent on the FIRE

That makes 6 stays, 6 coin flips, 2 helps and 6 gos.

They will lose two or three to expansion, MAYBE pick up one or two allocation players and if lucky find three to four (tops) in the draft.

My guess:

Going in expansion -- Pickens, Marsch and Whitfield (We could only wish that they leave Pickens alone.)

Going when we use an allocation or two -- My hope is Selolwane first to go followed by Williams, but it will be Andy first to go because of differing salaries(I guess we will only use one allocation because of the salary cap.)

I wish we could trade Perez, Brown or Razov. However that won't happen. CJ will retire, we will drop Perez and Razov will be back. Since Beasley is already gone, we need to drop one of Gray, Griffin, Ibrahim and Pilarski. Since we have already lost Whitfield, Brown and Perez -- Ibrahim first to go followed by Pilarski. And, maybe we get a stud defender to help us teach Gray, Griffin and Pilarski.

So that means we will have to replace:

Beasley, Pickens, Marsch. Whitfield, Williams, Perez, Brown and Ibrahim

It means we need to add:
STUD DEFENDER, two or three other defenders, third deep goalie and three to four midfielders or striker (no more than one striker if a good one available in the draft)

That is just my 2 cents worth !!!

 

Proper positioning is key.

I disagree. If he can stay healthy, and I think he probably can, he's too important.

Fluky, inconsistent, but is capable of scoring. I am not ready to get rid of him yet. I don't think he's through.

I think CJ reacts to the quality of play around him. He doesn't bring it up. When the whole D is on, he's on too. When the D is off, he isn't part of the solution.

I've seen him be a great asset, and a huge liability. He truly is a coin flip.

Good things begin to happen when he leaves the field.

Has not improved at all since he's been with the Fire. I don't think he's developing here. He needs to move on to a team that can use him and improve him... for his own career.

A no-brainer. He needs to stay... and should get more national team callups.

I really haven't seen enough of him. He seems to have hustle.

Nope. I don't think so. His best year was his first, and that certainly wasn't too soon. I have said it many times. I think he's playing out of position. Kelly Gray should have been Peter Nowak's protege. People get down on him, but he's been impressive every time I've seen him as an attacking midfielder.

This player has so much potential. in truth, the way I see it... if Justin Mapp doesn't become a superstar, it's time for a coaching change, not a player change.

I don't think he's being given the opportunity to develop.

Will surpass Ring if given the chance... and quickly. I think he's a better keeper. I do kind of wonder if he's bad luck though.

I still disagree. I think he's had too few bright spots to be a bright spot. I think his hands aren't strong. He bobbles the ball too often. His distribution is pretty poor. He doesn't dive enough and is caught watching the ball head into the net far too often.

I think Henry Ring is about as good a keeper as Zach was in 2003. I think Zach lost a step or 10 last year.

He impressed me in his first match. I don't like him that much as a midfielder. I think he needs to be a target forward. He has a good eye and skills though.

I have always been unimpressed, unfortunately. My wife can't stand him. I just don't think he's that good.

Wouldn't give him up, but I wonder how long we'll be able to keep him. He's scored some of the most spectacular goals I've ever seen. In that hat-trick match v. DC, every single goal was world class. I think he needs to get coordinated with the rest of the offense though. The spark he had with Razov isn't there... well, wasn't there before Razov's injury. I think Razov works well with Damani when Razov feels like a mentor. I think Ante excels when he's given a leadership role.

I need to see more of him. He's made some key plays... and some key blunders.

I've been impressed.

I've been unimpressed. He's an enigma. He looks like he should be blazingly fast. He seems slow though. I saw him beaten to ball after ball at one home game. I don't remember which one.

Haven't seen enough of any of them.

 

My take:

Chris Armas - stay: When he's in his natural spot he can shut down whole teams.
Jesse Marsch – stay: He's a team leader who, once returning is a veteran influence this team badly needs.
Ante Razov - coin flip: His inconsistency doesn't cause headaches, it causes migranes, but when he's on he is one of the best. Would be good trade bait.
C.J. Brown – coin flip: When he plays well he very good, problem is, this hasn't been a good year for him. Good trade bait.
Andy Williams – stay (for now): Another good day/bad day kind of guy, but he has stepped it up this season and has played better for the Fire than any of his previous clubs.
Orlando Perez – go: Just go. Some A-League team has got to need a warmer bench.
Evan Whitfield – go: Another...unpredictable player. Could be used in a trade.
Jim Curtin – stay: Off the last few games, but is the Fire's franchise defender currently.
Craig Capano – stay: Never impressed me much, but I haven't seen too much. He's probably worth developing.
Kelly Gray – coin flip: Needs a more offensive role, he's just not a defender.
Justin Mapp – stay: Needs to pick his game up on his own, could be great.
Dipsy Selolwane – coin flip: He's the Fire's third forward, but if acquisitions come a rolling, he's gone.
D.J. Countess – coin flip: I personally think it's important to have a good backup keeper and DJ is it. Still needs to improve.
Henry Ring – stay: Had a great season, replaced Thornton very well, still has some ugly spots, but he's a talent.
Nate Jaqua – coin flip: Often doesn't impress me, but sometimes comes out of nowhere with big performances.
Logan Pause – go: The Fire can do better. Trade him.
Damani Ralph – stay: No explanation needed. The question is, how long can the Fire keep him?
Scott Buete – stay: Exceptional hustle, but his game still needs work. Worth holding on to.
Denny Clanton – stay: Could fill the D out in a year or so. Massive potential.
Leonard Griffin - coin flip: Not impressive, haven't seen enough yet.
Sumed Ibrahim - coin flip: Haven't seen enough.
Ian Pilarski – coin flip: Developing well in the A-League, can he make the move up?
Matt Pickens – unknown.

 

I was thinking about this after Saturday's loss to the Scum. The boys, as Armas said in the post-game interview, played their hearts out. I didn't see anyone slacking. Right?

But it wasn't good enough. We still lost. And I think that's because the people on the field aren't good enough. And the return of one or two oft-injured players is not going to turn things around.

I am worried that with the current roster, we don't have the talent level to compete. We cannot score goals. We are making defensive mistakes. And we have a midfield that doesn't appear to be able to move the ball forward or stop it before it reaches the defenders.

We need some big time additions right now if we're going to make it to the playoffs.

 

Completely agree with you. We need people who can create, who can make those final great passes. We simply aren't good enough. I would hate to give up on guys like Buette and Jaqua because I think they still can develop into very good players.
Can't wait until the FIFA open season finally comes.

 

I think Wilt might be planning a virtual coup, come August 18th. The Fire could be a very different team in three weeks. Whatever happens I hope the Fire are different in one way or another from the team of the past month.

 

I agree that some of our rookies and second year players have potential. But they're not ready yet and need time to develop and shouldn't be jettisoned.

 

Agree.

REALLY needs more of a midfield presence to get effective again.

I don't know if he's staying much longer in MLS after his current contract runs out.

With both Andy and Ante capable of fading in and out from game to game, it's maddening when both have their 'out' days. We need ONE of these guys to play consistantly, or get a replacement.

Hey Orlando. Divas USA just called. Do you have access to an apartment in the LA area?

Yup.

The kid forces Szetela to play wide when they play for the Nats. He will be very good.

He is NOT an outside mid. He is NOT an outside defender in a 4 back system. He is NOT an outside back in a 3 back system. He is a defensive midfielder, or a central defender.

What he needs is a brain change. He needs to put forth 100% effort on BOTH side of the ball. Maybe we've been spoiled by DMBs fitness, but for gosh sakes, play a full 90 minutes.

And an SI.

Some of the best keepers you'll ever see dive the least. Not that Ring is in this circle yet, but diving a lot means the keeper is out of position. A lot.

Is now and always will be a target forward.

Pause/Buete are probably the future Marsch/Armas.

I've been thinking some more about this, and I'm starting to figure that he might be getting a bit old for a Euro transfer. Sure there have been some people pretty old go to Europe (McBride) but he made it mostly on his work with the Nats and NOT with the Crew. Unless there is a major change in the politics at the Reggae boys and he gets to be the featured forward, his opportunities to go across the pond get more limited.

See above (Pause).

Agreed.

Maybe. Still playing the game at 'college' speed.

Who knows.

 

I'm suprisingly low on Sarachan this year after such a good year last. This team has been poor and right now he's got little to nothing to work with, but we've not played well all year. He could turn it around with some key acquisitions, but there's some worrying signs:

- Draft picks and new players (Dipsy, Costa Rican AM that didn't stay) from last year show little more than potential (other than Ralph, maybe his son can do the scouting). What was up with the draft this year, passing on Grabavoy?

-Forcing players into positions they clearly don't fit. Why must Jaqua keep getting forced to a midfield role he just isn't suited for? Kelly Gray not a defender, give it up. Perez in the midfield (or anywhere for that matter)?

 

I was sad to see Jonathon Bolanos go. We only got to see him play twice, but that second game he really impressed me.

 

The lack of noise from the FO makes me feel good.

No, seriously, PW and co. dan't say anything until deals are done and any sort of rumors I've heard through media channels typically never happen, so in my world, no news is good news.

 

[Homer Simpson] Oh! I can't wait that long![/Homer Simpson]

 

God I hope not.

 

Sounds scary, but I've got to wonder how good Marsch and Armas looked as young players cuase neither are particularly gifted players when it comes to atheticism and raw skills.

 

My Evaluation of the FIRE

While its a truth that our club have lost a great deal talent-wise in recent years, my feeling has been that this is a team that lacks the proper chemistry to win this year.

The captain is a hard worker and a respected member of the national team, but he isn't the most talented player in the club. The player with the biggest ego/personality hasn't been earning his league-max salary this year. Meanwhile, the most talented players left in the team [now that Beasley's in Holland] have been wildly inconsistent from week to week.

The team chemistry was so much easier to manage when the captain/most talented player/hardest working player/biggest personality were all Piotr. In contrast, Sarachan will have to earn his paychecks, and manage a team that seems to be without cohesion, without swagger, and without the right mix of players.


PW has his work cut out to replace some underperforming parts of the team; Until then, Sarachan should sit many of the players who have been cited in this thread. I agree that Gray is better as a midfielder, while Jaqua is only a back-to-the-net forward and nothing but; Why these two are wasting our time playing out of position all year has been a mystery to me.