Watched some of the first half. The team played okay (especially Frankowski). The uniforms are ass ugly.
This wasn't the full team yet, and the midfield looked good for large stretches of the game, particularly in the first half. Bronico was bad defensively at right back. I feel better about the coming season than I did before this game. I think Azira's goal would've been called back in a regular season game. Did they have VAR for this game? The commentators were talking like they did.
They did have VAR but I assume not enough camera angles. I’m surprised people thought the midfield looked good in all honesty. I’m in the opposite camp but not going to panic.
Pineda was the best of the midfield lot. I like his on the ball skills, but I have to see if he can cover ground and protect the backline at the MLS level. It seems, sans Gimenez, that he's the starter at the #6 for now. It was a bit confusing trying to figure out if it was a 4-3-3, or something else. Was Hebers, or Medran the third forward? It was a very inconsistent performance regardless, with poor efforts tracking runs from deep positions.
It was mainly in the first half that I was impressed. Lots of good passing plays to transition from defense to offense, and other times to keep possession when they were under pressure. The score should have been 2-0 at HT with the Beric and Herbers chances.
there was a notable lack of individual creativity out there last night, but I did feel like the scheme set up several chances, especially coming down the right flank
I thought Djordge had a piss poor performance, hence my feeling that the midfield wasn’t ready. Nelson has been pushed aside. Djordge needs to get over it quick.
Djordje had some good moments and the desire is there. He gets pushed off the ball too easily and needs to give and take some fouls in those situations. It's been mentioned before, but if he's not fast/quick enough to be a winger and he's not skilled enough to be a #10 and not busy & tough enough to be a #8, then where does he fit in?
Baseball? Seriously though, he’s skilled enough to play in the middle. I don’t dream of a “#10” the way some people do. There aren’t enough of them and they can be marked out of a game by a Mo Adams. Try him at regista.
Better than I thought. Should have scored twice in the 1st half. Considering a bunch of starters were missing, I'm pleased. Liked Pineda, Frankowski and Beric.
But Gimenez & probably Pineda can give you the same skills in possession with more without the ball. What formation would you play? As a regista Djordje will need Gimenez, or Pineda behind him anyways.
Bench him if he can’t beat out the other players I’m not worried about that. And I only mentioned regista because based on the limitations you mentioned, it sounds like it would be best to have him next to or behind the #6. Calvo and Kappelhof would have to be fairly aggressive to help him.
Frankly I am not convinced at all that Djordje should be starting especially not as our CAM. He is depth. Hope he gets better but he certainly should be the one position we should have gone out and gotten a kick ass player in.