Handling Halsti

More on Halsti's positive attitude, etc

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...d-markus-halsti-settling-knee-malmo/?page=all

 

Halsti is better than just someone to give Arnaud, et. al., a rest now and then. Based on what I've seen, he should start.

 

No, but he should start.

 

I will be really disappointed if he does not start.

 

Ditto. From what I've seen (including clips from training camp matches) he is more than just someone to give Arnaud an occasional rest.

 

If he starts instead if Arnaud tonight, we win easily.

 

I'm not sure that's true. We were epically poor for about 50 minutes, adequate for 38, and good for about 2 of them. That's not all on Arnaud. Also, Remember that Arnaud got us the second red card by frustrating Nguyen. I do wish we had brought on Halsti, but we'd already burned one with Arrieta. He probably could have opened things up for us, but considering our "finishing" I'm not sure he would have helped enough.

 

Soon, we'll be needing to find ways to get Arnaud minutes. I love Arnaud and he's been great for us, but it's abundantly clear Halsti is a step above (and a couple years younger I think).
Seriously though, both will get their share of minutes (and Kitchen will even have a chance for some rest). I can see lots of games going the way this one did with Arnaud (or Halsti) off the bench for 30 minutes or so depending on game situations.

 

Agree. If we had ever been in front for any of the games Halsti was on the bench for, this would have happened weeks ago.

Had a very solid game. Don't know why but I just like the guy and hope he does well for us.

 

Now we are at the Branco Boskovic phase with Olsen. Halsti has proven himself. He's fit, but not really being given the keys. This was my fear. Ben won't hand him the keys which could even further establish him. If Boskovic, er, I mean Halsti gets injured I don't ever see Ben giving him the keys. I'm already worried the same will happen with Facundo Corria.

 

#TooSoon.
I'm concerned that this may happen, but I'm not at that point yet. Davy and Perry have been successful by and large. In terms or results anyway. I'd rather see Halsti myself, but don't go there just yet.

 

I think Halsti and Arnaud are the two best right now. I'm not sure how they would work together, but I feel like both are a step above from what I've seen from Kitchen this season.

 

I prefer Kitchen to Arnaud, but will agree that Kitchen is not as good this year as he was last season. At least Kitchen to me has a decent first touch. In truth, I'd like to see us play a diamond midfield with Halsti withdrawn and Corria advanced. Move Kitchen to LB. He did well at RB before.

 

I think we need a new RB. Franklin has underwhelmed this year. Once Korb is ready I would like to see him there, at least as long as Birnbaum (and maybe Kemp) are adequate on the left. And yes, I want to see much more of Halsti, especially when smart players like Rolfe and Espindola join him on the pitch.

 

Hopefully, it's just bad timing. Halsti's been injured and, just as he's rounding into form, he gets called up for a Finland national team game. I think that, when he returns, Halsti should be starting alongside Kitchen at D-Mid with Arnaud being held back for second half duty and occasional spot starts. I see no reason for wearing Arnaud down before the playoffs.

 

You know, maybe it's too late in the season to experiment with this but it might be interesting to try Doyle at fullback now that we're so thin that Birnbaum is starting at left back. Just a thought. The guy is a gamer but he just doesn't seem to be a good fit at center forward or on the wing. Why not give him a try on the defensive line?

 

It worked for Albright!

 

Surely he wont be any worse than Franklin. I don't think I have seen a single useful cross from Franklin all season.