"FCD is also nearing a deal with a player from their Brazilian partner CAP, likely right back Andre Rocha. "It's getting closer," Morrow said. "It's something that's been going on for a little while. These things can be quite complicated but we're closer to finalizing something." Also.... "FCD also plans on bringing in a number of guest players early next week to look at. They will then be evaluated in a scrimmage next Saturday, Feb. 9. One player getting an invite is ex-Real Salt Lake forward Jamie Watson, a Dallas native. "He (Watson) will be one of the guest players that we will bring in," Morrow said. "We're bringing in a lot of guys who we think are worth looking at. We'll do that the first week of preseason and have a scrimmage game organized for the ninth to take a look at all of them at one time." http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_new...t_id=137500&vkey=news_fcd&fext=.jsp&team=t104
If we are running three in the back, a classic "right back" wouldn't seem to be a good fit. If he can play on the wing in midfield, it would make more sense.
That is a mistake, CAP's website lists him as a "Volante" which, according to the translation websites, means "steering wheel" - sounds like he is a playmaker, a #10.
Volante means defensive midfielder (according to Wikipedia)... however I believe Buzz said that he is more of a linking midfielder and could play on the right wing. Kinda sounds like a right-footed Toja... which would not be a bad thing at all.
when he was with cap at T&T he played in a deep lying but linking midfielder role. Controlled the game and was clearly the best player at the T&T tournament. Not at #10, more like something between Ricchetti and Toja. Win balls, play in transition, pass from deep to open forward, shoot from range and score, get into the box in danger spots... He could play right mid in a 3-5-2 but I like him better central. One of my Brazilian contacts from their site that is like 3rd Degree told me he started at right back for CAP for a couple season under a previous coach. He wasn't suer why Rocha fell out of favor under the new coach. That's not uncommon transition. Outside back to a deeper midfield spot. Ricchetti was a right back in Spain IIRC. The skill level if Brazil is so high that a player than can be a defender one day is a midfielder the next, particularly when he moves to a level like MLS. I am rarely this excited about a potential signing, I loved this guy's game at the T&T thing. Terrific, terrific player. This will be a Toja/Ricchetti level addition if they pull it off. ...And this is me saying this having seen him in person for 2 games, not someone just trying to sell tickets.
But how does he fit in? If you go 3-5-2, Ricchetti and Serioux are starting defesive mid. Does Ricchetti move to the back three?
How are these players going to fit on the roster? If Gbandi leaves and Saragosa gets his green card then Andre Rocha would have a spot, but if the FO intends to replace Ruiz, then where would such player go? Why would Morrow bring in another mid when the team's only pressing need is a striker? And what are the chances that Pitch and/or Dello-Russo leave? I much rather have Watson than Dello who has done virtualy nothing in his two (three?) seasons. Oh my stars!!! Where will big Bob go? Back to Ecuador to eat some of his momma's home cookin' I suspect. We are going to have a very hard time finding goals...
Don't re-sign Mina and you have enough International spots I think, or you send Ricardinho back home. Or you trade away Ricchetti or Serioux, if this guy would more or less play their position. If this guy can bring Toja-level skill and energy, it would make a huge impact on offense and defense to have one of them on the left and one on the right. Buzz, I heard that with the new International spot rules you can trade for additional spots. Has any team done this yet? How much would it cost to get another spot?
Well, Ricchetti isn't getting any younger, and he didn't look so hot towards the end of the season when he got gassed. It isn't going to hurt to be able to have a little depth at that spot.
Doesn't dax play that position too? That makes toja, dax, serious serioux, richetti, and the new guy that all play more or so the same position (cm)...doesn't make much sense to me, some trades need to go down
You might want to look a little closer at our current roster. However, I'm also confused about how adding this position helps balance out our roster. It's always great to add talent at any position, but how many defensive/linking central mids are we going to add before we address our problems at forward, defender or outside anything? Maybe this is just one signing in the works and others are coming too, but I don't see how this helps at all with our total lack of width. Maybe improving possession play is the thinking, but we'll always be fighting with one arm tied behind our back as long as we can't play outside, no matter who we add centrally.
You've able to trade YI spots for some time. A couple teams did that, including FCD two years ago. But since all International spots are now the same the price/value has gone up.
well first Rocha, if he is the guy, can play right mid. but second IMO he might be better central than some of the pieces there now.
Richetti played full-out injured at the end of the year. He played very physical as well against Houston. BTW, Buzz I trust you, but I could swear I read something about the T & T games and that the talent on those teams was pure doggshitte.
The T&T thing wasn't stellar competition, but considering FCD had a roster fairly close to what they have now and Rocha out shown them all against the same teams makes me think he will be a nice add. I better stop before I oversell him. But I'm jazed if this is indeed the signing.
Intersting is that if he can play right mid, that gives you Ricchetti and Serioux in the central holding position, with Rocha and Toja as two way players on the outside. So, we are missing an attacing midfielder, and I think we can now assume that AA will pair with Cooper up top.
Yep, I think this is looking more and more likely. I have no qualms with giving AA some time up top. I think he needs to see as much of the ball as possible. The midfield of Serioux and Richetti is concerning, though. Neither are great creative passers, especially vertically. I think this combo is way too defensive and will result in a replay of last season.
They are perfect in the 3-5-2, however, as holding midfielders. The depth in the team is nice in those slots too: Wallace and Saragosa at defensive mid. Wagner and Rhine on the outsides. Dax would maybe be the backup at attacking mid or right mid. AA doesn't have the passing skill to play attacking mid, so he is not a viable option there, IMHO. So, Rocha gives us one missing starter. We still don't have a viable starting attacking mid or defender (next to Moor and Davino)
Serioux was the most creative mid we had at the end of the year (once he was a mid). His passes were shocking.
I didn't catch many of the final games so I will take your word for it. Good to know he has this capability as I do recall his much improved performance after moving into midfield in the games I did see, just not the distribution part. Maybe all this talk of lack of service on the board is overreaction? I think we'll need this as our 3-5-2 could quickly become a 3-6-1 if Toja or whoever our AM is relied on to feed the strikers and cannot consistently do so. One of our strikers coming deep to retrieve balls will be a disaster.
jamezyjamez says "One of our strikers coming deep to retrieve balls will be a disaster" I agree that you want to keep the opposing defense worried about good, attacking passes that are actually TO somebody, such as selfish, front-running strikers, but on the other hand, a contradicting train of thought might go: a soccer fan will admire a hustling player who goes above and beyond his job description to help out ... it seems to me that KC, Jr., is this kind of player .. so why not take his warrior mentality into account when pencilling in your offense ... like, for example, allow KC, Jr., to come back towards midfield, either when back-checking [hockey term, harassing the opposing backs as they try to outlet] or presenting himself to receive a pass ... but tell the other FCD guys in the vicinity to definitely provide that high option when KC jr, is doing his thing??? Like have AA or Oduro fly forward to to restraining line.. even Toja in other words let Kenny be Kenny [maybe on hot days tell him NOT to be Kenny ha ha][save your energy]