So Coz doesn't have to pimp his own stuff Well written as always. In other news, did Dipsy ever make it back and get checked out by our docs?
Well, look what happened last time we had a new team and a new coach. That said, we won't have near as many game minutes lost to USMNT call-ups this year, we get Armas back and *knock on wood* we won't face ridiculous amounts of injuries like we did last year. So right there, we are better than we were last year. Not having Nowak and Hirsto may be a wash as we really didn't have them for much of last year either. However, so much depends on whether or not the players we picked up from this past Superdraft are immediately suitable replacements for Nowak, Wolff and Kovalenko. If they can come close, we're in the play-offs no problem. If not... well, let's not even go there, shall we? Even in the most realistic "good case scenario", however, I don't think we're as strong as LA's ludicrously overstocked roster and now that Maximum Bob is running the show over at the Swamp, we can't really count the Mutts out either, especially as they had by far the best of the Superdraft. So with all due respect for The Spirit of '98, my best bet right now is we probably won't suck but we probably won't win any trophies either.
Actually, I disagree on a couple of points. First off, the new guys (with the exception of Faria and maybe Justin Mapp) shouldn't be expected to "replace" our big guns. It's the veterans who will need to step in and produce. What we do have, though, are rookies who will be able to back us up at key positions. The fact that we took lots of seniors with youth international experience makes me think that if we are cursed with more injuries, we're not going to need to go outside the team to find replacements. And regarding the Metrostars, wasn't it Jeff Bradley who was just saying they actually don't look so good on paper? Later, COZ
I'm still not convinced, but I'll be A LITTLE patient still. Losing to the U-17s and then the almighty UCF doesn't bode well. I'm not buying the story that its only preseason because we are trying to find the guys that will make our roster as backups. If they are trying hard to make this squad and fail against teenagers and an 10-8-3 team, what will they be able to do in the MLS? I am waiting to see how they "rebound" against the U-17s today. If this streak keeps up, i will officially start worrying about our depth.
I disagree. If we are to be successful, the new guys will have to contribute and do it NOW, especially at the position of attacking midfield. Beasley can't do that by himself all season long. Granted, Razov needs to continue where he left off last year but where our veterans will have to bring game is in defense. Those guys have to step up because we can't count on scoring two goals a game with our attack. If Faria and Ante light up the league somehow, that will be great. But we can't count on them both being having a Ruiz-like season. Neither did the 2000 Wizards. OTOH, the 2002 Revs and Mutts looked great on paper in the preseason but both collapsed until the Revs made some drastic trades. The game is played on grass, not paper. Still, we have reason for some optimism although I think silverware is still unlikely.
I think our new guys will have to contribute, but I don't think they should be expected to replace our big guns that we lost. That will be the job of guys like Zach, Armas, and C.J., and maybe even Damarcus. The new guys are in positions similar to our no-longer-young guys the last time we had a new coach and a bunch of new, unproven players.