Nice $.02 Buzz but what I am really wondering is what Colin (and you for that matter) are thinking with regards to Brad & Ramon.
Very well written. And I agree with you on a couple of major points. Its not time to throw out EJ with the bath water. But it almost is - and if we get a good offer, I hope it is seriously considered. Start Nhlecko. The guy needs more minutes. His size and speed are wasted on the bench.
OK here is what I think about Davis and Nunez. I still think Davis can handle the central job. He has done ok so far. Solid I would call it. Which is not bad since he has never played that role before. I actually really like Brad in the middle as a concept. Still the jury is not in yet on his long term potential at that spot. He has not been as threatening as I would like going forward. I do think Brad has the game to be dominate in there. I think he would benefit from a higher fitness level, more like Freddie Lundberg. Nunez is a phenomenal talent. He is actually very similar to Brad. Lightning quick feet and mind in tight space, not so fast in the 100 yard dash. Both can make splitting passes and shoot well, Brad is better from longer range, Nunez better in close. Both probably have to work a little to be good on defense. But Nunez is not ready to start in the middle. That is too much to ask for someone 18. I would not mind seeing him start at a wide mid spot however. In the long run I feel the team would probably be better with Davis wide and Nunez in the middle, but it could work the other way. They are just too similar to play together in the central mid unless the team went 3.5.2 with the Fin behind them, even that might not work. I would defer to Nunez middle in the long run as I think he is a better at crashing the box and Davis is a better crosser and better at cutting inside and hitting that 30 yard blast. But that can't happen this season I don't think. One could maybe pull it off if you were to commit to Pareja in the middle and Davis wide. That would allow you to bring in Nunez in the last 30 and gradually increase his time until you thought he was ready to start. But even that would not be best for the team this season. In Two years you bet. But this season it would be an early playoff exit. It is still my belief that best option this season is Davis central. Talley is not dangerous enough, Pareja not able to go 90 anymore (at least not an entire year). One thing I might try... Davis Simo O'Brien Nunez it would be very entertaining....
Excellent thoughts thankyou Buzz. For me this is the meat of the problem. The defense I think will sort itself out to be pretty darn good with the players we've got already but probably not until we sort out the rest. The forwards will either get the goals or we bring in someone in August. The mids are much more complicated except for Simo. There are many possibilities and it seems to me that we have plently of talent but how best to make it work?
Great job, Buzz. You always pull something out of the hat - this time, starting Nlecko. I like it, because I don't think Jason is in full form mentally. He was not a factor in the LA game because he wasn't able to make the moves to get open or fight for the ball. I've done an ACL and it took me a year to rehab and a year to trust the knee. I think you see that in Gbandi. He was out a year, last year he had to trust the knee, and then he tweaked the ankle, right? So vs. LA he finally showed me he was coming back with that long run and flying tackle late in the match. Jason was back to playing after what, 6 months? That's amazing in itself. ROB has said he's not 100% after a quick comeback and offseason, so that run through the defense was great to see, trusting the leg, not thinking about it. I don't think Oscar is 100% back yet, certainly not fitnesswise. We just expect these guys to heal magically from some devastating injuries and be in top form every match. What if Gibbs plays with US Nats Wednesday, would he be able to go Saturday? Without screwing up the groin? So do you start Benke? My two cents is to to play Nlecko and Benke because they are healthy. Even play Quill because he's healthy (horrors!). Clarke has got to juggle health, form and fitness vs. talent. An injured talented player may play worse than an inexperienced or backup player who is 100%. Not to mention the injured player may get injured again. I hope all of them can get in top form to push the 2nd half of the season and the Open Cup. Peak at the right time.
Buzz, I couldn't agree more, START TONI NOW!!!! Let him trap and feed Jason. What I'd like to see next game: Toni Jason Davis Ronnie Johnson Simo Salyer Gibbs Jolly Reyes I know last year's experiment with Ronnie in the middle didn't go well, but right now he has the most heart on the team. He needs to be where he gets the ball.
Buzz, you have some interesting ideas. Next time I see you, I'll buy you a drink and we can talk about them. Hitman (note that I am no longer calling you HSG mouthpiece), I cannot figure out why Davis had so low a grade. This was his best game of the year. He has to be on the wing. Cheers! Sir Drinxalot
While I don't disagree with you that Davis might be better suited on the wing (although his defensive work is lacking), my point is that Davis was finally starting to show something in the middle which is a much harder spot to fill. I do disagree with you about the quality of his match this weekend. I had him rated 3rd highest behind Simo and Ronnie. You think he had a better game than those two? What danger offensively did he pose? How many times did he make a great move, only to lose the ball? Frankly, much of his problem is what he is working with. There is nothing up top that can do anything except come backwards to receive a ball. Again, this team needs to force EJ to make the runs behind the defense.