Match Report: Centro America vs FCD February 9th, 2008 . By: Jason Benfield http://www.3rddegree.net/
Not that I had huge reservations, but Jason's comments about not necessarily needed a true #10 to make the 3-5-2 is very reassuring. I think the idea that all you really need is a distributor, not necessarily a guy who can deliver amazing through balls to the forwards, makes a ton of sense. Maybe Rocha can be that guy....maybe Toja.....maybe Dax. Basically, it opens up a lot of possibilities. So maybe we won't be the most innovative or eye-openingly creative team in MLS....but I can certainly see us being a lot more attractive to watch than in years past. I'm looking forward to seeing how this all will develop. Please, Morrow....show me that I've been wrong about you since day 1....I BEG YOU!!!
Seeing how it was run was a huge relief to me as well. Rocha, Dax, and Toja would all be candidates. One thing it does mean, though, is that it eliminates AA from the 3-5-2 unless he is the second forward. Considering that Morrow is trying to find a striker to pair up top, we may only see AA if we run the 3-4-3 Buzz was talking about, with Toja and AA behind Cooper.
Well, I hope the amount of time we use AA is #1,245 on the things Morrow should consider when developing a tactical plan. I like Arturo, but he's no one you build a team around. I would like to see him get time paired up with Cooper up top. I have no problem with a forward rotation if they manage to acquire someone else.
just look at the pictures of the game. there were guys out there that shouldnt even be playing soccer, let alone against a professional soccer team.
Well, I hope it's a higher priority than this considering AA is our best offensive player. If he doesn't have a breakout scoring year, we are going to be mediocre like last year. He needs to be on the field somewhere in any formation we play and am pretty sure he will be.
Since when? I guess if you consider shooting at goal everytime the ball lands on your foot, with no regard to anything else, what makes a good "offensive player". Dont' get me wrong, AA is a good MLS level player. But building the team around a player with no right foot, no ability to pass, no regard for possession.....doesn't really sound like a great long term strategy to me. There's more promise in players like Toja, Dax, Rocha (if he's as good as advertised), Cooper, etc. If not using AA means we play better as a team, and I think that's completely possible, then I'm all for it. I think you are putting waaaaay too much stock in a guy that didn't lead a single offensive category for us last year and can't even play defense. I think AA will end up being in the mix as either paired up with Cooper up top, or as a winger if we go with three forwards. But that means he's not an every game starter. Which, again, is just fine by me.
So an offensive player who actually takes shots from further than 3 yards away, doesn't look to pass first, and has a favored foot is bad thing? That describes most of the top strikers in the world. I agree that he could work on his vision and passing, and I hope he is working on it as we speak. I think you listed the young nucleus of our team (+ AWall and Wagner) for the next 3-5 years hopefully. I don't believe you can say any of these guys have more promise than AA other than the fact some are younger and less-developed...do they all have potential? No doubt. But that also means they "ain't done nuthin' yet". Guess we'll have to chalk it up to differing opinion on someone's value. I am not a big believer in stats as a measure of quality when it comes to soccer (maybe it's the midfielder in me). In the games I saw mid-season, he was by far our most dangerous offensive weapon. If he rides the pine for us for an extended period, this will be Morrow's last season at FCD.
Clearly Morrow is changing the system around...which is a damn good thing because the system last season was broken. Where does AA fit into this new system? The only place he really makes sense is as a winger if we go with 3 forwards. If FCD goes ahead and acquires a high quality forward to pair with Cooper, then I can't see AA being a better option than either of them in a 3-5-2. He's not a wingback, because he can't cross and doesn't play a short passing game. He's not a central midfielder, because he can't defend and he doesn't play a short passing game. So where does he play? If Morrow goes 3-4-3 then I can see AA playing the LW position, in fact, I'd expect him to be the immediate starter there. But that remains to be seen. In a 3-5-2 AA is lost, and if Morrow's new tactics make this team better he won't be fired because AA is on the bench for a winning team. I mean what you are basically is saying is that team's fortunes lay entirely with the play of AA......and I gotta say, you aren't going to get much agreement with that thought from anyone.
I agree that either the 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 will be better, but the players are largely the same. If anything, the roster is prob weaker/less-experienced at this point in time - especially offensively. And I think we'll have a hard time bringing in another striker with the same tools as AA...most likely we are looking at older and slower guys I would guess. All I am saying is that IMO, regardless of formation, AA will play a big role in how we do this season. Not that the team's fortunes lay entirely on AA's performance, but I'd say he is up there - especially if we are talking offense.
Again, it all depends on where AA plays. You didnt really address that problem. If he's the wingback then I'd say that Dax and Wagner are better suited for that role. If it's the forward spot than a true striker is a better option, regardless of age and speed. You can't just evaluate players purely on skill, you have to understand if they are suited for a particular role. That's not really what you stated earlier. Your post indicated that, regardless of results, if Morrow didn't play AA he would be fired. Now, obviously that doesn't make sense, so I was left with one other assumption - without AA the results wouldn't be good, therefore Morrow would be fired. Which is basically saying the team's fortunes are all tied into whether or not AA plays.
I just want to see some discussion of how Roberto "Raging Bob" Mina fits in, either in a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2.
Really? Well we have "true" strikers on the team now. So you'd rather have Oduro or Abe on the pitch at striker and AA on the bench since he wouldn't be as good as Dax or Wagner out wide (which I also disagree with btw)? I have always supported the Best XI argument...and I assume Morrow does, too, since we are changing formations. If you have a talent, it's the coaches' job to find a role for him. I'd be curious to know who your top 10 field players on the FCD roster are. That works - I'm good with your summary.
I think a healthy Bob Mina plays wherever he wants on the front line in either formation. He and KCJ up top could be really cool ....
I would if they proved to be better options during the pre-season. Look, AA at striker is a huge question mark. No one knows if he can be effective there. He might not be as effective as Oduro or Abe. If he's not, then, yes, I'd rather see the more effective player on the pitch at that position....call me crazy. I'm quite sure that AA is going to be given the opportunity to prove his value at FW in the preseason. But I disagree with the thought that, because he looked good last season playing in a completely different system in a role that no longer exists he should be an unquestioned starter this season. That, my friend, doesn't make any damn sense, and if Morrow operated like THAT he should be fired. You may disagree that AA isn't as good as Dax or Wagner as a wingback, but clearly Morrow feels that way as there has been zero talk of him playing there so far. Again, saying that we HAVE to find a way to play AA because he's so far ahead of everyone else talentwise is, I believe, a hyperbolic statement of his ability.