Martinez if he can adapt his mean left foot to MLS i think could take seattle one step closer to winning the MLS cup. I think with Martinez and tiffert i think we have the attacking force that can win the cup but it comes down to will the defense start doing their job.
I definitely agree. Only reason why i wanted him starting over Fernandez cause Fernandez play was crud during most of the time he was playing.
He's a starter for a bunch of Wednesday games... that's how it goes when you play 50 games in 9 months (36 weeks... 1.4 games per week). Anyway, if we're talking about an MLS Cup-winning starting XI, then Martinez at LW.... but don't discount Caskey's role in this whole parade.
We aren't disagreeing here. Caskey is a bench player at best and as long as Martinez replaces Caskey as our starting LW, then I'm happy.
Quality wise yes he's nothing more than a bench player. Although i am curious to see Martinez, alonso, tiffert, Rosales in the mid compared to Caskey, alonso, tiffert, Rosales. Its nothing rather of Caskey should be starting or not but how much a difference Tiffert would make in the midfield in terms of how the opposing team would react to Seattle actually having a quality Attacking Center mid. They are used to seattle starting Evans or Rose at the other CM spot. I'm kind expecting the Opposing team will have a hard time mostly cause Tiffert is coming to a lesser quality league than the league he is coming form.
Ok, fine. We'll agree to agree then. I just don't enjoy seeing anyone crap on Caskey. That lefty cross he served into the offside EJ in the USOC game was tip-top world class for an off-footed service. But to take this issue sideways suddenly. Honduras' win today almost has sealed them a knock-out round entry... which would be played Aug 4th. Besides Martinez, Espinoza is a great player, so I wish Honduras the best of luck! Oh yeah, and the USOC final is Aug 8th in KC.
Unfortunately, Espinoza is missing Honduras's next game, so even if Honduras makes the Aug 4 game, he should be ready to go for Aug 8.
Only way Honduras is out if they lose to japan and Morocco win vs spain (i will laugh if that happens) and come out with a better GD than Spain. If Spain win or draw then Honduras moves on no matter what the result is vs japan.
Oh really? Man, I never paid much attention to him before the Olympics, but that guy is a very, very talented player... perfectly tuned for MLS in a balance of physicality and skill. Anyway, I really enjoy watching the Honduras team so far... They can't beat Brazil (no one can), but they can win into the medal round, maybe... Their 2 problems are a disorganized defensive formation and a small GK. I like how high they pressure... It's fun to watch.
Yeah. Espinoza will be serving a yellow card accumulation suspension for the Japan game. Also, if they don't beat Japan, Honduras's first knockout will be against Brazil... Eek.
I have been watching Martinez for years, as a fan of Honduran soccer. He is a great talent, but can be frustrating too. He is very skillful with the ball, but tends to try to do too much on his own (i.e. shooting unnecessarily or dribbling too much). The positive news is that he has improved on this as his decision making has noticeably improved due to international tournaments and age. My point to Sounders fans is that he is still young, so don't expect a finished product, but the skill set is certainly...you might need to be a bit patient. I think you are picking up a good player...assuming the deal goes through. The one player on Olympic squad I think MLS needs to pick up is Crisanto, though he may go straight to Europe.
Martinez is not a winger. He is better played just behind a striker and given the freedom to roam in the AM, withdrawn forward role. If you stick him on the wing, he tends to go MIA for long periods of time. He has a good first touch, good short and long passing accuracy, good long range shot, good free kicks, good quickness and dribbling, but he is a little slow and weak. He is pretty similar to Adu. He has shown potential for years now but has not developed as expected. Hopefully your coaches can work on his decision making, vision, and ability to shield the ball from bigger, faster defenders.
Well, that certainly throws a monkey wrench in things. He's not going to get much playing time with us if he's a withdrawn forward. We've already got Montero playing that role and while Montero hasn't been doing much in the scoring department this season, he's doing a lot of other contributing and I don't see us putting the new guy to work at that position if he has the problems you describe.. Hopefully he figures out how to play on the wings because that's really the only starting offensive position that we have open right now.
He plays on the wings for Real Espana all his life. I don't think you have to worry much about anything.
Watch this video and see how Martinez plays. You have to give him the freedom to drift inside and switch from left to right wing. If you stick him on one wing, his talent is wasted and he goes missing for long periods in the game.
That's pretty much how the Sounders play. Positions are just where you stand during kickoffs. Once the game is in motion there will be lots of switching.
Do you know how Real Espana's tactics work under Mario Zanabria??? lol.. Everyone's free roaming!! Mario's tactics are that, you can play wherever you want, as long as you mark the player in your zone or aslong as you get into zone to mark a player. He has a very free flowing formation when it comes to his midfielders. I have seen a billion times Mario line-up at rightwing vs. Olimpia in el Final, and on the left, vs. Marathon in el final. La Makina play a 2 striker system anyways, with Lobos and Lalin lol.
Well, I am sorry for the misunderstanding on the term "winger". If you guys encourage roaming and constant switching of positions, Martinez will fit right in.
He fits perfectly to Sigi's system them. I honestly don't know our players' positions, and I don't trust the formation shown at the start of the game. I've seen a lot of time where Montero moving back to CAM position where Flaco/Evans/Rosales occupying his spot beside EJ. I even see a lot of times where Johansson going forward too much Rosales is forced to move a little bit to the central. Our players switch too much it becomes confusing. I have to admit, Sigi really is hard to understand.
You Caskey haters are crazy. Among the preseason recruits (Eddie J aside) his skills are the best. Admittedly his Colorado game wasn't great, but he did set up the 2nd goal. That's the kind of decision making lots of players will eff up.
Considering the players that we signed pre-season, being the 2nd best is a pretty low bar. I'm not saying the guy should be cut, but he's not an every day starter.
Official via brad evans in seattle times live chat. "I'd like to welcome the newest Sounder Mario Martinez to the team. He's participating in the Olympics right now and will be a great addition." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2018818808_live_chat_with_brad_evans_130.html http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2018827571_sounders_acquire_honduran_midf.html No wonder it took a while. RSL had his discovery claim rights to him so seattle had to give up conditional draft choice to get him.