Hey everyone, I haven't seen a dedicated thread on this topic yet, so I thought I would start one. So, as the thread title suggests, how exactly will we line up under our new coach? Most folks around this forum seem to believe we will line up in a 4-3-3. Is this the case? I wasn't a Premiership fan back when Ruud coached Chelsea and Newcastle, so anyone who was and knows how they used to play please enlighten us on how you believe the Galaxy might line up. Take into consideration our current roster as well. As for me, well, I still think a 4-4-2 would suit us best. In the back we have Cronin @ GK, Randolph @ LB, Harden @ LCB, Xavier @ RCB, and Franklin @ RB. In the midfield, we have Babayaro @ LM, Harmse @ DM, Beckham @ CM, and Klein @ RM. Finally, at forward we have of course Donovan and Ruiz, possibly in a staggered formation with Donovan slightly withdrawn and to the left of Ruiz. Explanations? Well let's see, as far as Babayaro-Randolph, I refuse to believe we are bringing Babayaro in to play LB. In MLS, he will be a great LM with the skill set he brings, and I think Randolph needs to stay at LB in order to increase his Olympic team prospects. The center of defense is solid, provided X can stay healthy and focused, and Harden is a great prospect (tougher, stronger, and better feet than Roberts). On the right, I have to think that we traded Albright because our brain trust believes Franklin is the real deal and can step in from day one and be successful. Klein is simply a lock to be in the starting 11, he showed us this with his performances last season. As for Harmse, he has what our other DM's do not, and that is a physical presence. I am sick of us giving up size in the midfield. Yes he is intense and thuggish at times, but I saw real glimpses of his potential last season (especially vs. Dallas in Superliga) to believe he is the one midfielder we have who can handle the DM position by himself. Forwards are self-explanatory. HOWEVER, the right side is where I think we can go in another direction as well. Should Franklin not be quite ready to go at the start, we can move Klein back into that RB spot, move Beckham to RM, drop Donovan to AM, and start Buddle at forward. If we wanted to see offensive fireworks, this is definitely the lineup to provide that. In my heart that is the lineup I hope Gullit has the guts to start. We may give up 2+ goals a game, but when you are scoring 4+ a game what does it matter anyway? What's sexier football than that? Factor in our reserve players (Buddle, Vagenas, Gordon, Gray, Tudela, Kirk, Martino, Sesay, Jazic, Roberts, all our new draftees), and we are painting quite the promising picture here don’t you think? I mean look at what we have on the bench. We can change the complexion of how we want to play in a multitude of ways, both to start the game and with our substitution patterns. Our bench is that diverse. Now that I’ve finally sat down and thought about it we have a very dynamic team, made all the more exciting when you think about other potential moves we might make before the season starts. One thing I know about Coach Gullit is that fitness is extremely important to him, so combine that with the uptempo style of play he’s bound to bring to the table and we have excitement on the field we haven’t had in a while. I for one can’t wait. Thanks in advance guys!
Yeah, cause Ruud is Dutch and the 4-3-3 is part of their DNA there. It would be awesome if we could play like this, but in today's modern game, it's very hard to dictate a game with only three midfielders unless you are clearly a step above in class. Not sure we could pull it off in MLS with our existing midfielders, especially since Donovan would be pushed forward in such a formation as one of the attacking three. But if we had a solid D with not exceptional, but hard working mid-f's, then our attacking trio could go buck wild, and I hardly remember a time when we attacked in 3's last year... Of course, this is all speculation
Vagenas' contract wasn't renewed for the new season if I heard correctly. From the way you describe that hypothetical formation, you would prefer a diamond in the middle, or perhaps the 4-4-1-1 that Italian teams are prone to using?
That bold part made me spit out my coffee laughing! Ha! I have a legit question though. Has anyone seen the HDC field lately? Now that Yallop is gone have we widened it back to a proper width? One of the many reasons Yallop sucked IMO was that he shrunk the field to near Spartan Stadium dimensions.
This is my expectation as well. Given how shaky our defense is likely to be, I'd rather play 4 than 3 in the midfield. It wouldn't surprise me if we switch to this in the second half if we are behind or want to push for a win. A variation would be to play Donovan, Ruiz and Buddle up top in a 4-3-3 and maybe bring in another defensive mid.
I was at the USA-Sweden match and the field was widened about a yard-and-a-half per side. Dont know if it was done because of Ruud or not. In terms of our line up: Ruiz Buddle Donovan Babayaro Harmes Beckham Randolf, X, Roberts/Harden, Klein Cronin I think Harmes has potential and is a good passer. I think he has the most potential to develop into a solid Dmid in our current group. This lineup would look alot better with a new center back but oh well
I made that observation about Harden having better feet than Roberts based on the relative success Harden had last season playing LB on a few emergency occasions. He also managed to look much more comfortable and willing to push forward on his non-natural side than Roberts ever did playing RB. I'm not saying that either of them have Parkhurst-style control on the ball, but of the two I'd prefer Harden to start over Roberts should X be a lock in the center of defense. I also agree with you about the HDC field. Now it's back to normal width, and I think it'll help the team immensely. I hated it when Yallop shrunk the field and tried to induce a short style passing game on a team not built to play that way. Part of the reason I secretly always wanted him gone actually.
If that is in fact true re: Vagenas, then you just made approximately 80% of BigSoccer's Galaxy fans' days! I honestly don't mind him as a veteran player, you need those types in the locker room when things get tough, but unfortunately you have to earn your keep, and with our salary cap he just does not warrant what he earns anymore. It's pretty sad that we're complaining about a good role player and leader who makes not even $200,000 as a professional athlete, but anyway, that topic has already been beaten to death and it won't change any time soon. I don't think in the 4-4-2 I am talking about you could make a case for Beckham playing exclusively as an AM in a diamond formation. He is still a gritty hardworking player and we need him more centrally spraying passes all over the field and tracking back on defense in order for us to be successful. I suppose your 4-4-1-1 is more what I'm talking about, but I wouldn't want to see Ruiz out there on an island by himself. Donovan needs to stay close to relieve pressure off Ruiz so he can do what he's been brought here to do, score MUCHOS GOLES!
Yeah I also think we may at certain times try the 4-3-3, but I definitely think we should only do this when we are in need of some offense. Yallop tried this at the tail end of last season with some success; hopefully a Dutch coach can use this tactic even more successfully. We should start with a 4-4-2 though.
Offensive-oriented 4-3-3: -------------Ruiz----------- Donovan--------------Buddle Babayaro---Beckham---Klein Randolph--Harden--X--Franklin ------------Cronin----------- Defensive-oriented 4-3-3: -------------Ruiz----------- Donovan--------------Buddle ------------Beckham------- Harmse?/Bubba?----------------Gray?/Klein? Randolph--Harden--X--Franklin ------------Cronin----------- Besides Harmse and Gray (and excluding Vagenas), do we have any other Defensive Midfielders to speak of? OP's formation: -------------------Ruiz----- ----------Donovan---------- Babayaro----Beckham----Klein -----------Harmse----------- Randolph--Harden--X--Franklin ------------Cronin-----------
I think we may play a 4-3-3 but I also agree that we have a team suited for a 4-4-2. I would like to see how this does -------------Cronin-------------- Klein-------X-------Harden-Randolph -------------Harmse-------------- Beckham----Martino--------Babayaro ----------Donovan----------------- ---------------------Ruiz----------- I think if Babayaro comes then we can give Martino a shot at his natural position AM (He has the skill and vision). I like Beckham on the wing rather at CM. He serves a great ball that Ruiz will love. Donovan finally has a good target man to play off of.
Tudela? In any case, we have to have one guy who can stay home and protect the back line. There's actually one more 4-3-3 arrangement: -------------Ruiz----------- Donovan--------------Buddle ----Babayaro-----Beckham------- ----------Harmse--------------- Randolph-Harberts-Xavier-Klein ------------Cronin----------- I really have no idea whether Babayaro, Randolph or Tudela could handle the left midfield assignment. For what it's worth (and I think not much) it's pretty much how we lined up in NZ. I've highlighted the "diamond" in bold. Why I like this formation is that the players on the corners of the diamond have very specific roles and provide a framework for the formation. This leaves Donovan and Beckham free to move around and do their magic.
Thanks for all your responses guys. This is the dialogue I was hoping to inspire with my original post. All of us have our lineups and formations we could use, and obviously none of us know what Ruud (and Cobi) have in their plans. But the one thing we should all remember is that we are actually slowly turning into a team with all these various options. Different formations, different lineups, all possible because our bench and starting players are of good quality. Don't be deceived by all these BigSoccer haters calling us cheaters and a team with 3 stars and no one else. Obviously injuries, national team call-ups, midseason tourneys and friendlies can all affect the team negatively over the course of the season, but I believe we are in better shape personnel-wise than we have been in a while. On the other hand, maybe some of you aren't as optimistic. If you are, I'd like to know why. Maybe I've been watching that really pretty DVD the Galaxy sent out promising us season ticket holders a championship too many times...
make me a sandwich I wish some of you would stop putting Harmse in your lineups. It is disturbing that the last few games I saw from him made me almost want to sue canada for false advertising putting a hockey player in soccer cleats.
Re: make me a sandwich Its not necessarily out of choice. I wholeheartedly believe Tudela should be given a better chance and Gray could improve under Gullit, but for some reason, Harmse keeps showing up in formations. I personally think he's dirty pool, but I'm not the one calling the shots. Maybe Cobi and co. see something in him. He certainly happy to tackle people, thats for sure. I am just throwing this out there, but how would things play out if Roberts was tucked into the D-Mid position? I know thats not his natural playing position, but he might be a good fit for the hybrid role. Course I could be blowing complete smoke . -------------------Ruiz----- ----Donovan---------------- ----------Beckham---------- Babayaro---------------Klein -----------Roberts----------- Randolph--Harden--X--Franklin ------------Cronin-----------
You Galaxy supporters have obviously seen him more than I have in Canada, but I've never been sold on him. From watching the tapes of matches involving him from last year (CMNT games vs Venezuela and the Gold Cup, Cup matches vs Dallas and the final vs Pachuca), I felt he was not quick enough against faster, technical CONCACAF midfielders, resulting in his taking too many fouls and to me I find him to be too peripheral a figure in the passing game who gives the ball away too easily when under even moderate pressure. Of his performances, his best was in the Dallas game against an opponent that was on very poor form, but overall I wasn't expecting more from him. He's good at following his coach's instructions and being a road block in front of his back four, not freelancing out of position, but that's about it: is that worth his taking up an SI spot on your roster? Also, did he feature much in your line up during your last desperate playoff push at season's end?
No he is not worth a SI and no he did not feature much in our push last season. He is crap. I would rather have Tudela or Vagenas in the lineup than this hack.
BTW, as a result of rule changes, there are no such things as Senior Internationals anymore. There are just "internationals" - I think 8. Which begs the question: is Harmes worth being on the roster at all, international or otherwise.
Wow, there's an awful lot of Harmse hate around here. I personally like the fact he's a true enforcer, and if the Aussies have beef with him sticking up for Beckham, well that's their problem. He's even vilified on his Wikipedia entry, it's kinda sad actually. I still think he starts over Tudela and Vagenas for his size and strength. As great as Tudela was at the end of the season, he and Pete are small, and if Harmse was healthy that spot would have been locked up. People here make it seem as if Harmse is a thug and nothing else, as if Vagenas and Tudela have the silkiest of touches and superior offensive ability. If we go with a dual CM 4-4-2 as we did last year, then I agree that Vagenas or Tudela would probably be better alongside Beckham provided both CM's are responsible for tracking back on defense. But as a dedicated DM Harmse definitely gets the nod. And he's only 23 (going on 24), so there's still plenty of learning to do. I am sure that Gullit and Cobi can help curtail most of this "thuggery" people speak of. Most DM's get better with age anyway. My lone concern with him is that his intensity has made him a bit injury-prone. I really don't understand the hate though. Sure he's Canadian, but come on folks! ;-)
Thanks for the clarification. In the old system Harmse used to be an Senior Youth International (SYI), which was to his benefit last year, IMO.
Okay, I'm not sure if this has been posted yet or if Gomez going to Colorado is official but if he ended up here with us, our attack would not only be dangerous but are players can play in their natural positions. ------------------Ruiz-----Donovan------------------- -------Babayaro/Mike---Gomez---Tudela---Beckham-------- -----Babayaro/Mike---X---Harden/Other CB----Klein/Franklin ------------------------Cronin--------------------------- Mighty Mike and Babayaro could be interchangeable. I would prefer mike as a leftback though. Gomez would be our A-Mid with Tudela as our destroyer. Klein played RB all of last year and wasnt bad so he could cover while Franklin develops. I would like two more CBs. One for cover and a future replacement for X for our turf games and any injuries. As for subs, if we're down a goal Buddle would be our first choice. I know Gomez if just speculation on my part due to our salary cap issues and the belief that we're favored. Imagine the explosion on BS if this happened?