Okay, we did a little of this back before preseason gave us more looks at people. Now we're getting closer, and have a decent idea of who can do what. I'm assuming that Andy Williams makes the team, and obviously, Razov is out on opening day. GK Thornton D Brown Curtin Bocanegra M Whitfield Mapp Armas Marsch Beasley F Faria Williams Some of this is almost random speculation based on training reports. Mapp definitely brings something to the table, so you want him on the pitch. Whitfield could line up as the right back in a 4-4-2, but I've always been wary of that formation with Armas and Marsch on the field. So we overload a bit on the right side of the midfield, which could give Beasley more room to operate on the left. Starting Williams up top for Razov takes away the Mapp vs. Williams problem for the time being. Pause is ready to go if Armas can't go the full 90. Same for Jaqua or Ralph with either of the forwards, although I'm still hyping that Mapp-Jaqua connection, so I'd lean towards him first. That's mine, what's yours? Later, COZ
Mine is very similar. Take Mapp out and insert Andy Williams, then put Jaqua up top. A. Williams would be pushed up to play behind the strikers.
GK Thornton DF Whitfield Brown Curtin Bocanegra DM Armas Pause MF Marsch Beasley AM Williams FW Faria Something closely resembling that, at least, dependent on player moves.
Pretty much what I had, with a couple of exceptions and minor differences in actual positioning. So, you like Pause over Marsch for the other d-mid spot, and Marsch over Mapp on the right? As much as I like Jesse, I'm thinking Mapp has the most offensive upside of those three. I have a shorter memory than you about the time when Marsch actually played in that spot, but we've discussed that before at great length. And Stogey, I like Jaqua, too, but right now I think I'd rather him coming off the bench. Later, COZ
Yeah...the thing is Jesse actually started out naturally there (not as a d-mid) and only moved back as Armas got hurt or we went with a dual-d-mid setup starting in late 99-2000ish. Mapp's good. He's not ready for a starting spot yet. He may be even by midseason, but you've got to get Jesse on the field. And actually in the setup I presented Armas is more of a center mid than a D-Mid like Pause. I should have clarified that.
Originally I thought or at least hoped Jaqua would be in the starting lineup but since he hasn't scored a goal in preseason I will leave him out. I hope by opening day we will have used our allocation on either a striker or attacking MF,who will be in the starting lineup. I also had hoped that Dipsey would be healthy and play himself into the starting lineup. That also doesn't look like it will happen.Right now though it looks like the following. faria Beasley williams pause marsch armas perez carlos curtin brown thornton
What will the Starting Lineup look like??? Does anyone have a clue what the lineup for the Fire will look like this season.
GK Thornton D Bocanegra D Curtin D CJ Brown M Armas M Gray M Williams M Beasley M Marsch F Faria F Razov (Jaqua for the first three games because of Razov's suspension. That's what I think the starting 11 will look like
Ralph Faria Beasley Armas Marsch Williams Whitfield Boca Curtin Brown Thornton *Slip Razov in after Game 3 for Ralph. *Sub in Gray or Pause for Armas until Armas is 100% match fit. bench: Gray Jaqua Ralph Pause Ring Perez
How about this line-up ? Thornton Whitfield Brown Curtin Bocanegra Gray Armas Marsch Beasley Faria Williams Off the bench: IF LEADING: Pause Mapp Perez IF NEED A GOAL: Jacqua Ralph ONLY IF ZACH IS HURT: Ring NOT LIKELY TO PLAY: Capano Fugati OUT: Razov Dipsy
Re: How about this line-up ? Damn! I was gonna put Capano in goal! (Hey, if you saw the USMNT game last Saturday you know it's possible. )
first eleven i think i like alf's squad the best, the only difference being that i would give both jaqua and ralph a chance in the first three matches to get at least one start. i was surprised that not too many folks mentioned gray. has pause had a better preseason then?
Re: first eleven Pause has been the biggest suprise. All reports out of camp coming from the media have focused around Pause. Should expect good things from him this year.
I'm surprised at how few have Gray penciled in to start after he played so much last year. I know we had injuries, but was that the ONLY reason he was playing? Has he really shown that poorly in the pre-season?
I don't think it's that Gray has played badly, just that he's still behind some people on the depth chart. Who do you put him in front of? Curtin? I don't know that you want to make changes to an already effective defense. Marsch? Gray's defending from the midfield position *was* a bit suspect last year. He's certainly got a shot at the right mid spot, but so do a lot of people, including Whitfield and Mapp. It's a fair question, no doubt about that. Later, COZ
I'm going to go with this... ---- Faria --- Jaqua ------- Williams Beasley -------- Mapp -------- Armas Boca Curtin Brown Gray -------- Zach Razov replaces Jaqua when he's back. Anytime we want to get more defensive (because this is a LOT of attacking power), Marsch can replace one of the midfielders and/or Whitfield can replace Gray. I'd actually prefer to see Gray in the center, but Brown on the outside just gets toasted too much. Actually, my preferred lineup would be Gray in the center and Whitfield on the outside, but I just don't see Brown being left on the bench.
Formation I think we will see a 4-4-2 ---- Faria --- Ralph ------- Williams Beasley -------- Marsch -------- Armas Perez Boca Curtin Brown -------- Zach I can't see Jesse not being included - too much experience. I think Ralph has shown enough in the games to start over Jacqua who has been a big disappointment (too slow). If he wasn't P40 I reckon he'd be gone with Big John Wolyniec. It looks like a strong squad with Whitfield, Pause and Gray coming off the bench, and Razov starting once he is back. My only concern is GK - what of Zach gets injured?
Additional Comment In the practice game I saw, Craig Capano was easily pushed off the ball by bigger and stronger opposing mid's - he's only 5'7'' and 140 pounds. I know that the Bease is not Arnold, but I don't think Capano has the same talent. I hope I'm wrong but I wouldn't look for him to start soon. Anyone else seen similar?
<i>I know that the Bease is not Arnold</i> Do you mean Arnold "WhatchutalkinboutWillis?" Jackson or Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Looks like CJ may be doubtful for Sunday: http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sports_story.asp?intID=37720132
thornton curtin, boca, perez mapp, marsch, pause, armas, beasley, williams, faria i figure mapp could be tossed for ralph or gray or even jaqua... ralph would through williams back, but i still don't expect much from him defensively... gray would go to right back and a 4-4-2 of course, perhaps brown says some hail mary's and can start... bumping perez or the mapp/whoever slot in orther words... its a damn crap shoot so let's just resolve to win this game
With Brown out, I'd probably just swap Whitfield into that spot. Evan might give us a better defensive option against Twellman (because he's quicker than Brown). And you have to consider what a great job Perez did on Ralston in the playoffs last year, but I don't know if that means left back, left mid, or some sort of "in-between" role that still gives DMB the room to maneuver. Right now, I'm leaning 4-5-1 or 3-6-1. Later, COZ