Josh Gros[R]

Not much of a thought, but I think you're right. He could be the MLS assist leader if he had guys making back post runs for him.

 

He put a great move on one of the defenders for the Crew last night and almost juked him out of his socks. I'm a big Josh Gros fan.

 

Josh definately looks like a great addition to the club. I'm looking forward to watching the guy develop.

 

He's a great Winger..where did he play at Rutgers when he scored all those goals?

 

Forward.

 

At the risk of Stating the Obvious....I'll state the obvious.

Josh Gros, starting Forward? hmmmmmmm....

 

It's a thought, but with Convey out of the action for probably a few weeks at least, and Quintanilla still a week or two away from significant time, this would mean throwing Ara into the fray out of nowhere. It might work, but I don't think Nowak is going to do that.

 

I doubt that would happen as it wouldn't be fair to Esky and Cerritos. I'd rather see Cerritos in midfield w/ Moreno and Esky up top. But Gros at Forward he's already bigger than the other 3 options.

 

Has Cerritos ever even played midfield before though? Although he may be better at it now, and could be used there, Jaime Moreno never filled in that well for Etcheverry in the AM slot. It would be possible to see Jaime drop back into the role he has basically been playing as a withdrawn forward/AM and push Stewart wider (where his errant shots would turn into crosses) and then have a pair of Cerritos, Adu, or Esky up front.

That way, you still have someone who has gotten significant playing time to come on as a sub both in midfield and at forward.

 

I've been a Gros fan like the rest of you. That said, I was a bit disappointed in some cheap shots he was throwing at Hejduk in the second half. I know Gros embarassed Hejduk at one point, then it went the other way and Gros retaliated and got the card. Later, though, I was watching the two of them as Gros was running back to the midfield to defend and as he passed Frankie he gave him a senseless elbow to the back of the head. It looked really childish. I can see where he's coming from; I wouldn't want to get around Hejduk, either, but there's no need to get cheap. Other than that, I think when Gros gets his crosses dialed in, he's going to be scary good.

 

I thought Josh played very well and if we had true wingers who would cover the far post (from either side of the attacking pitch), we could have had at least a couple of more goals.

JG made some very nice runs, with good crosses, which were not rewarded. He also made a couple of rookie mistakes (the missed pass to Adu, the soft roller to Busch) which I hope he learned from and won't repeat, again.

Overall, he's a pretty sound player for a youngster and I look for more and better play from him in the future.

 

Cerritos hasn't played AM for US. He did w/ SJ and maybe Dallas, but Moreno could fit that role, but this is a different team than when Moreno was Etch's substitute.

 

Why is everyone looking to tinker with forwards, and midfielders.

If Convey's out, that simplifies the midfield. No more Dema/Convey rotating out wide every so often. Dema stays in the middle, where he's tons more effective, and Gros plays wide, where he can run all day long.

Plus, Dema's on a roll, let him stay in the middle where he can get into the thick of things.

 

So who becomes are creative spark then?

 

With Convey out only Moreno is a creator, full time. Olsen has some moments, Dema and Gros some runs, there's some potential exhibited from Adu but all together those guys don't equal Moreno's central role on this team. As such I am starting to think that Cerritos needs some more time either at forward or a-mid. Move Olsen back wide if Adu has to start.

 

Watch the replay and you will see he clearly got the ball. Hejduk is a "diver." Hejduk pulled his best Greg Luganas impersanation twice last night and both times Terry Vaughn fell for it.

 

Why would you want Cerritos in MF? He does nothing for us as far as possession or distribution. At best Cerritos is a good sub. He has lost the athleticism that made him so good when he was with the Smurfs. I think we need Jaime to drop back as an attacking mid and find a good target forward to pair up with Adu. If you watch the Crew match you will see the numerous occasions where Freddy had to drop back, win possession, and hold the ball. That's not his job and he is not big enough physically to handle it.

 

Gros.

He did well when he came on for Convey and seems to work a little harder than Convey on defense. We are all going to have fun watching Gros develop over the years and become a solid staple of D.C.'s side

 

Then again it's not like Esky and Cerritos have really done anything to earn playing time. One goal surrounded by pretty uninspired play does not a starting striker make.

But I agree that with Convey out Gros is going to be playing midfield, so the discussion of whether or not he should play up front is a moot point.

 

Here's what I think: Gros is good enough, and has shown enough already, that if he gets enough minutes he could be MLS Rookie of the Year.

That's what I think. You heard it here first.

 

Well, when I think Creative spark I mean dangerous balls into the area. Gros has done some of that on the left but not enough, I think he can play Forward or striker w/ Adu or Cerritos or Esky and Moreno in midfield. Actually in the center, holding the ball and moving the attack forward. W/out drifting left.

 

I laughed out loud on the play where Heyduk tackled Gros just before the retaliation. It sure looked like Josh was trying the stepover move on Frankie.

 

Not enough dangerous balls in the area?! He could have had 3 assists in the second half last night if United made a back post run to tap in any of the balls he slid across the goal mouth. How much more dangerous can you get?