While none of us have been 100% in favor of every move Ray's made this offseason (particularly me when he traded Mapp), there does seem to be a method to Ray's madness. 1. Injuries. Generally we've traded oft-injured bastions of the team for seldom-injured bastions. 2. Grit. All of the acquisitions share the same burning desire to make the team better and a never-say die attitude. This usually means they're warriors, but there no need to fear them becoming shrinking violets. Come playoff time, the physical and psychological strengths often times trump technical and tactical prowess. 3. Experience. All of these players are veterans, most are still fairly young, but all are the finished article. Ray doesn't need to teach or develop these guys, only motivate them. 4. Versitile. All of the players added can play 2 positions, so Ray gets cover for small injury/callup crises. Additionally, each of them provides both offense and defense. I.e., Petke can play central defender in a 442 or right back in a 3 man back line. He can man-mark defensively and be an offensive aerial threat on set pieces. 5. Flexible. Each of these players can adjust to Ray's preferred free flowing offensive system. It requires every player to be able to move forward, be it as a fullback, midfielder or forward. It's not quite the Dutch "Total Football," but it's a lot closer than the offense Rongen employed, and thus it demands much more experienced and flexible players. When Reyes plays forward, Olsen knows to slide back and fill his vacant right back spot. Ray has added to this with his additions. Dema will fill in Olsen or Convey's wing spots when they move forward, and can himself move forward well. 6. Tactical. Each of the acquisitions has a good tactical sense, and know how to work within Ray's system without being taught. 7. Technical. Each new player can play possession soccer, so we will have less glaring weaknesses offensively. Also, we should be able to play quicker out of the back because every player on the field will be a viable option to pass it to. Last season we'd play Richie, Lazo, Ali, etc. and the offense would peter out as soon as they received a pass. Either they'd make the safe square pass (i.e. Richie) or they'd fail to ever make a return pass (i.e. Ali) and our offense would run itself into the ground. All of the new players possess the ability to blend in seamlessly offensively because of their technical skills. The potential Harkes acquisition would further fit this mold, as while he's not the great player he once was, he's still a decent defensive midfielder, a solid passer, and would be comfortable anywhere in midfield. Ray is best at motivating. As he showed in Miami, he'll organize the defense and encourage lots of creativity and unbalencing on the offensive end. But, it's a very complex/amorphous system, and Ray cannot effectively teach it. He needs veterans who already understand the ramifications of player movements and cycle into the correct spaces, with the ability to be effective in that spot. Then, Ray keeps the defenders compact in the back and places heavy emphasis on ball-winning in midfield to protect the back line. Otherwise, it's a free-flowing attacking offense. All Ray needs to do is select the squad and motivate them to give their best. IMHO, this is a sound theory, and it's a style with which Ray has shown that he is very capable of producing a winner. There's a Method to Ray's Madness. -Tron
Someone else who fits this mold...Brian Kamler. Explaining clearly that the Kamler/Williams trade was the one that RH would later go on to say that he regreted.
Good tea leaf reading, Tron! Looks like all we need are finishers and DCUnited will be far from dull in 2003. Let's hope they inspire other defensive-oriented teams to play more entertaining football. Todd, it was a sad day when Kam left. It was good to see him play so well in the playoffs. He's apparently very happy up there now. GM
Good points, making me curious to see what other moves Hudson makes, to fill the remaining holes. For my money, https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=27035,, Ray must feel fairly happy with his moves so far, and he fills remaining needs directly with the drafts and allocations. Meaning, no deals forthcoming. Not exciting in these winter months, but ... The basic assumption, though (assuming the AP reports), is that Stewart comes to DC. I do think Stewart fits Ray's mold. Professional. Hardworking. Defensive midfielder? We got to go with Clark.
I'm glad he's happy now. Mr. and Mrs. Kamler are two of the classiest people I have ever met, and probably some of the nicest in Professional sports as well. Would love to have him back though.
FWIW, I don't think Stewart is the right direction for United to go. He's not the pure finisher we need up front. But onto my main point: Assuming we land a "daggerman" to partner with Q1 up front, are we to the point where any draft picks are luxury picks and not expected to fill immediate needs? What does everyone think?
i am not quite as comfortable with this as you seem to be. first of all, we don't have a really good ball winner in the middle. second, i think this type of offense while in theory might free up reyes, will in practice probably result in reyes having to continually cover back (think how many times his pure speed made up for glaringly poor play in the midfield). like anyone, i like the kind of free-flowing football you describe, but i still don't think we have the horses (yet) to pull it off. btw--i have seen earnie play striker for NAC many times and he is certainly as effective there as most anyone in MLS, in fact two seasons ago he played mostly forward and had over 20 goals in all competitions and double figures in assists.
I'd agree with R&B that Stewart can be that daggerman up front (NAC Breda isn't Ajax, but the whole league is above MLS as a league). As to whether the drafts become developmental instead of hole-plugging, I'd say Ray still needs to be looking for finishers. Earnie's durable, God love him, but he's 34. Bringing in proven finishers is going to be costly, and we need to have people that work their way up to maximum salary while they hone their killer instincts under Hudson (or, more likely, under player influences and team chemistry--Ray can only motivate, not operate to create a "Frankenforward.") So, Sachin, we're not there yet. The midfield does still need work, but what's really nice is that we're getting close. I'm really sorry to hear that Milton Nuñez may not be in the picture anymore. dadman
Very nice analysis (I rated the thread a five). I, too, have watched (from my NY perch) Hudson struggle last year to implement a plan for which he lacked the personnel. This year should be much more interesting. I don't, however, think you need Stewart, provided (admittedly a big proviso) Ben can stay healthy, since they are both "automatic" starters on the right side of the field. I don't see Hudson flipping Olsen to the left side this season, but I could be wrong. Etch and Bobby are clearly going to be the engines of the midfield this season... If D.C. is even half as entertaining as Miami was, the league can only benefit. (Just so long as disUnited finishes behind my beloved Metros in the regular season and playoffs... LOL)
Maverick, Stewart partners up front with Quaranta, if he signed with United, he would not play on the right. Olsen can easily flop to the left side, he has done this in the past, but Stewart would fit into the holding/creative forward role that Moreno was intended to play last year. While Quaranta is not a speed demon he is able to get onto the end of 1-2 passes that create scoring chances, he just needs toimprove his finishing of those chances.
Nice thread DT and I agree. I like the team we appear to be putting together. Earnie would be a great addition in my opinion. I could go with Earnie abd Tino up front though Tino needs to show he can make through a season healthy.
I agree with the analysis, but I'm not sure where Ivanov fits in the picture. Does anyone know whether he can play Dmid? If he can then he could be the player to fit that hole and yet be flexible enough to go in the back.
Great post DT I actually feel a little better about this year after reading it. What do you feel his theme will be in the draft? I still don't see how Petke fits in, he's not what I would call technical, tactical or flexible. Listing him as a versatile player may be a bit generous, I tend to see him as a donkey regardless of the formation.
Good post Tron, explaining how Hudson chooses to assemble his team on a strategic level. I'd say that Stewart fits Hudson's needs almost exactly as he is a versatile vet who has shown at the international level how to fill spaces, etc better than any other US player. If only he were a target player too...