Fabian Estay might be coming to LA

Coach Steve has been groping for players so much that he's been mistaken for the pond monster in Lord of the Rings. Not that it's a bad thing.

And, I don't think another 36 year old is what we need....no matter how good. A #10 needs to play both ways.

PS. Grabavoy better not sit. Dammit.

 

I don't like the way our team is beginning to shape up. All these new faces don't bode well for team chemistry, often. Plus, we just picked up another allocation today from Chivas...we need to get some REAL talent. Some fresh talent that will be staying longer than one season...

 

No, a #10 doesn't need to play both ways in all systems, and in many that player doesn't. Lest we forget, the #10 comes from the old way of identifying the players positions by the numbers they wore. The #10 has always been an attacking player, although I suppose in theory you would like all of your players to defend all over the field. Recently the #10 player has become an attacking/creative midfielder, through which the attack flows. Sometimes that player is merely a withdrawn forward, who plays underneath a target player or a couple of players who play higher up against the opponents last defenders. Your two-way central midfielders are in the Roy Keene, Patrick Viera mold. Tough tacklers who can drive forward and score goals as well.

The problem with our young Master Grabavoy is that he is not the two-way engine room dynamo that we all with him to be. In truth he is a shorter, less experienced version of Jovan Kirovski. He'll defend up high and track back when he has to. He likes the ball at his feet in space because he's a good passer and can beat the odd defender one-on-one. He'll shoot from distance because he is much more comfortable facing the goal. He doesn't have great pace, but he works hard. He's got good technique, good vision and solid tactical awareness. He's also very young, and it takes time to become a great midfield general. Just ask Memo. In another league, he might suffice out wide in the midfield, but MLS puts a premium on speed and athleticism at that position, which makes it even more amazing that Steve Ralston does what he does. Unfortunately for Ned, Pando Ramirez will eat up a lot of minutes doing the same things, and they didn't get Ramirez so they could sit him on the bench.

 

Fabian Estay has said he's coming to play and not to retired and have a nice vacation, but well see if its true.

 

Sasha can do the the 40 in 4.9 deconds?!?!? Does that include the two seconds he runs in place?

Back to Estay real fast, do we have slots to bring him in? And if we pair him up top with Ruiz, I would pretty much throw in the towel on getting goals off headers. If we put him in the middle we are basically in the same position as last year with Herzog. I still say pass, even if he does come to play.

 

Does anyone know if the Estay signing has officially materialized?
I will provide info on the player tomorrow as I'm a in a bit of a rush.
Metro

 

Estay is not so much a 10 playmaker, but in his better days was more like an 8. This is what in Spanish-speaking countries would be considered a "back and forth midfielder", something along the lines of a 2-way. I'm not quite sure how much he is able to bring to the table with the LAG, because his best days seem to be past him (he hasn't been a regular starter for any club in the past year or year and a half or so).
As a player, he was very reliable, and he is also well-travelled (St. Gallen and Olympiakos)--I do not know how well he fared in Switzerland or Greece. He is also one of the few players to have played in all 3 bigs clubs in Chile (Colo Colo, UC, U. de Chile). For the NT, he was always at least reliable; was also part and played a few minuted during the 98 WC. I hope he does well with the LAG.

 

I much rather have a younger/less experienced player thrown into the fire at a.mid than have another guy at the end of his career who's gonna be around for one year. Herzog was great when he played last year, but he's gone now and we have the same hole to fill that we had last offseason. We would have this same hole to fill a year from now if we got Estay. If we had thrown Ned or Memo (yeah, even Memo) or just used Kirovski at a.mid all year, who knows? One of them might have claimed the spot outright and established themselves as a fixture in the lineup for the next few years.

We need to get off this carousel of temporary fixes and look towards the longterm development of our players and success of our team.

 

Didn't we get a late-30s attacking minded midfielder last season only to watch him become an unimportant bit player at the end of the season last year?

Why go through it again?

Completely agree with Ace. We should have gotten him in 98 when he still had something left.

Then again, if he comes and plays instead of Vagenas...

 

technically we got a late 30s attacking minded midfielder last season who despite being our leading assist guy was marginalized and played out of position by our new "attractive attacking soccer so let's play 2 defensive mid-fielders" coach.

 

have to agree. i used to watch him in mfl when he had something and i remember when he started to fade. i think it was with santos or more probably aguilas...he lost his starting position and was soon out of the league. i think we should pass on this guy. why do you think he doesn't want to come here on trial. he just wants a contract. some people are underestimating pando. he's a good player on his way up. forget about fabian...

 

The old attacking midfielder we got was probably one of the more productive and skillful offensive players we had. He got benched come August by our manager and then the team began to have trouble scoring goals. Hmmmmm................

 

I saw him play in the scrimmage this Thusday and was not impressed

 

Now, I agree w/ your overall premise that Andreas shouldn't have been benched by Sampson, but the Galaxy had been playing poorly for over a month, which is why Sigi got fired.

 

The more I think about this, the more frustrated I get.

First of all, wouldn't Fabian Estay take up an international spot? Why would you waste it on him?

Second of all, if Sampson didn't play Herzog last year (I thought benching Herzog was the worst move he made, completely destroyed the offense) why would he get himself in the same position with another similar player? Steve, you wouldn't play an old midfielder at the end of last year, why play one this year?

 

I thought they were doing their pre-season in Pamplona, Spain?

 

No actually they arrived in Spain this saturday, probably left Friday.

And I agree, Steve-O benched Herzog, 35, yet he has a 37 year old forward in camp?

Unless the plan is to have Estay fake heart attacks during the game while Ruiz scores goals, this doesn't look good.

 

ESTAY played in France '98 and played in all 3 matches (starting 2?) for his country .. ..

36?? Hmmmm ... ...