Great game versus the Wiz but now what..? Cunningham and Buddle looked good but McBride is coming back... Perez looked tired but had some good works, especially that set of give and goes with Buddle that ended with the Jeffro goal... Duncan has been playing well in the defensive midfield role. Martino returns next game and Maissoneuve is still healthy... West is dependable out wide. Harkes is still on the bench waiting to get healthy. And we have Garcia waiting for the wings... Even though I like Jeff as a sub, I'd let both he and Buddle start the next match. Get McBride minutes when possible as a sub and if one of the others goes cold. I'm not sure about the midfield. I would consider starting Martino over Perez for the same reason I'd keep McBride on the bench and use him as a sub. Let him get healthy but get him minutes. Keep Duncan in there with West and Maissoneuve... Any thoughts?
Clark, Mais, Oughton, and Torres are all one yellow away from suspension. If Torres can make it thru our next match without one, he's clear, but the other three are hovering near 21 caution points. I say Torres sits in favor of Denton for the next match, if just to reduce the odds of us missing 4 players at once thru suspension. I'd like to rest one of the midfielders for the same reason, but I can't see us sitting Mais or Oughton if available, given how they are playing right now.
Seeing as how we don't play again for a good long stretch, and assuming that Greg won't even let Mias on the bus, let alone on the field, for this "exhibition" match, the mids ought to be in good shape for the final run of four games (which are all seven days apart - no Wed/Sat) I do wish they were a little more forthcoming about injuries though; what about Harkes for example? He's appeared in only 11 games, and we haven't seen him in forever ISTM. What's the story? (And count that as a roster opening for next year - I just have to believe this is it for John)
Hey Foos, didn't Clark sit this game because of caution points, so how would getting another yellow after serving time give him another suspension? As for not playing people, well I can't imagine we'd be nearly as good as we've been if not for Oughton. I know he seems suseptable to getting cards because of his tough play, but I think you have to risk it. On a side note: I wish we had the backline talent to play a 3-5-2 again. We have too many quality midfielders sitting on the bench. I would really love to see a midfield like this: Garcia -- Martino -- West -----Mais-----Oughton---- This might happen if Harkes and Perez are done with the Crew after this season. We'd have Matteo as a sub, and Denton too I suppose.
Curious question - Can a 3-5-2 midfield work, if you have 3 so-so defenders back there, as long as your wing middies (West and Garcia) in this case are able to play the entire field and are able and willing to come back to do the dirty work in the back, as well as assist in the attack? I know midfielders do this kind of running normally in any game, but obviously in a 3-5-2 they have even more defensive responsibilites. Are West and Garcia up to the task, in that case? I'm not sure.
Suppose Warzycha is officially retires as well. Then what? I'm not counting you wrong, just seeing what you'd do. I'd almost trade a forward, but that's risky because then we'd be down to three, and if one gets injured, then you're SOL.
Okay, I know we are all excited about Garcia cause he is a new signing and this and that and he comes with good credentials etc etc.... What has anyone seen in his limited time that shows he should be plugged into the starting lineup ahead of anyone yet. Yes he is fast, great. But he has really yet to show me he has the confidence to go at Defenders 1-v-1 and hasn't really put in many dangerous crosses or anything to warrant shifting around our whole lineup to get him more time. Lets face it, he is an acquisition for next season, and afterwards. Let him get his feet wet this season, hopefully he'll give us a moment or two to remember in the offseason and that he'll be ready to challenge for a startin spot next year. Right now, at least from the limited gametime I've seen him play in he is far fromdeserving us to switch around our whole midfield and backline to get him in.
I won "the admiration of my friends and peers" but since I have no friends and no peers I guess I'm SOL... I wouldn't count on Perez or Harkes being gone next season. This is the Crew, as long as they contribute or are perceived as contributing they will be here. I wouldn't be surprised is McBride is still here, too. For what it's worth I see the same core returning next year. I imagine that Garcia will eventually work his way in but maybe he will end up being an offensive "super-sub" until he works his way into the starting eleven.
Bill, Harkes could have gone in the KC game but they wanted to give him the extra 13 days to fully recover. The question now is whether he'll be able to break the starting lineup for the rest of the season.
Gee Andy, maybe that is why I made the disclaimer of "I wish we had the backline talent to play a 3-5-2 again". Currently, I agree, it would be sketchy at best. As for people middies dropping back, I think Garcia can do it. He's done a pretty good job of shutting people down when he tracks back. I remember him doing so at least a couple weeks back. As for the D needing the mids to drop back, in a 5 man middle, you usually have 2 d-mids, 2 wings, and an a-mid... guess who is really supposed to help out on defense? Remember the US WC game when Bruce used a 3-5-2 (against Mexico, I believe) and how it was really like having a 5-3-2... if you have the right players and tactics ingrained, then it shouldn't be an issue. ANYWAY, it's all just hypothetical and really won't matter until next season when we see if anybody has decided to retire or not.