4-4-2... 4-3-3... 1-0-9(old school).... Which tactic do you think would have worked better for this past season?
I like this equation y=x+1 where y is the number of DC United goals scored and x is the number of Opponents goals scored
The algebra is so simple, yet such a revelation! Lowecifer for Technical Director! Halftime Speeches: "Why are you sucking??? We need less sucking and more goalscoring, ok? We're going to go out this half and score more goals than the other team, that will be the key to victory!"
Our formations were a function of our injuries, ergo, f(i)=formation. Remember, i is an imaginary number, so we're f'd up. Actually, Hudson coaches best in a 352, but our personnel didn't suit it for most of the year. With Pope out injured or away with the World Cup endeavors, we didn't have a solid back line. Nelsen improved immensely this season, but Hudson didn't really have confidence in him for a 3 man back line early in the season because of his lack of speed. Our back line consisted of Prideaux, who can play anywhere, McKinley who has historically been a left back and who is too slow for a 3 man back line, and Reyes who took a little adjustment time to the league. Plus, a 4 man back line allows McKinley and Reyes to play to their attacking strengths, and allows Richie Williams to play to his defensive strength. The real problem arose when Moreno was injured. That left Conteh and Santino as our forwards. Santino cannot handle being a lone forward, but we simply didn't have any other complimentary forwards. Curtis is a counter-attacking lone-striker type of player and didn't mesh well with a partner up top. Conteh did ok, but he's not a creator, so it was typically one way with him as well. So, Ray didn't have any good 2 man forward lines to employ, and instead played that hideous 451 that lost us so many games. Next year Hudson will have remade the team in his style, and we'll have 3 or 4 dependable and compimentary forwards that can both finish and create. He's streamlining his back line with 3 man markers, strengthening his midfield with two box-to-box wingers and dual two-way Dmids. He is stocking the barrells up top with those forwards and an attacking midfielder that can unbalence a defense by sliding up into the forward line or controlling the midfield. Next years team will be a solid 352 and we'll play much more beautiful attacking soccer. At least that's my belief. I only hope Hudson recongizes the durability issue and limits the number of fragile players this season. -Tron
I was told there wouldn't be any math on this thread. When Hudson got faith in the defensive backs (and the defensive abilities of the wing midfielders--remember the comments on Convey's and Chino's play outside?) he was left with trying out combinations up front. What we got was a lot of late-season acquisitions (Lassiter, Zambrano, Villegas, Quintanilla) and a 10-game scoreless streak. I agree with DigitalTron's masterful review, and hope we end up with his 3-5-2, though tactical changes with a 4-4-2 against some opponents (with Nelsen organizing Reyes, Pope, and Prideaux) might be required. I really can't wait. dadman
Oh, and I realize that Convey was covering for McKinley's offensive forays through much of the early season. I Think iMac does better paired in d-mid with another d-mid with better wheels. Any chance at installing NOX boosters on our slower defenders? Reyes can't cover everything... dadman