http://www.3rddegree.net/ Loads of stuff. 1. Practice Observations 2. Behind Enemy Lines Preview 3. Chamo on branding 4. New picture feature 5. new news index to find old stuff and much much more....
As usual, thanks for being our eyes. An amusing moment was when I thought you had uncovered a new Irish slang thing from CC "On brining in a player". I was speculating that it would be a new form of bringing along young players and then I figured out I had just misunderstood a misstype. I sure do like hearing about the extra help Nunez is getting and that Eddie is growing up (sniff, sniff).
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to 3rd Degree again.\ So much for my green nipple plan.
Buzz predicted: Kreis Thompson Davis O'Brien Valakari Reyes Gbandi Gibbs Jolley Salyer Cassar This lineup get's my soccer weenie quite excited actually. I'm not sure what we'd get from JT but it will be interesting to find out. I like the midfield & defense a lot though. Brad has done better on the left for me than in the middle. ROB has a game under his belt in the middle & with Simo next to him it will be interesting to see what he can do. Hopefully Reyes can keep up the form that has forced CC to move ROB inside. Salyer seems to be learning how to get forward more without sacrificing D. Gbandi the opposite. The way things have worked out Nunez hasn't got the minutes he might have so I feel bad for him but I think it's been down to the tactics we've had to play with injuries etc. Hopefully he keeps his head down. His chances will be coming soon I think.
Jonno, I agree. This lineup has me excited (with the exception of Thompson, I'd rather have EJ or Bull Toni).
Yeah me too but I've always thought that a great midfield is more important to scoring goals than a great striker. Look at what Andy Cole did for so many years.
One thing that really irks me about this team though is the fact that still only one guy on this team makes corners worthwhile. This has been a problem for the Burn for a long time of course but I was hoping to see more out of Gibbs on that front. Maybe JT can add something.
It will be interesting to see how ROB does on Saturday with Simo alongside him. It seemed like Ronnie was dropping back into defense a lot against the Crew, and Davis stayed up. That really took him out of the playmaker role that I would like to see him takeover. He won't have to worry about dropping back with Simo in there. But ROB better show something this week or I will have to declare his move to the middle a failure and demand he return to the wing. Sorry, Milton, but Ronnie did a lot more with that position then you have so far.
[crossing fingers]Oh, if Nunez develops quickly...[/crossing fingers] EJ_Toni Davis_Nunez_Valakari_ROB Gbandi_Gibbs_Jolley_Reyes Cassar/Garlick That is a team that can make a run at the championship next year. Continued development from EJ/Toni up top...Davis and ROB on the wings, Nunez running the show, Simo the destroyer...rock solid defense with athletic guys flying up in overlap...enticing.
Looks good.....except for Gbandi. But I can live with one weak link....everyone in MLS has a weak link. But I'd like to see Salyer over at LB with Reyes on the right before going with Gbandi for the long run. At least Phil has the discipline to stay back when Reyes pushes forward....which will be often. I don't trust Gbandi to do that....and that could leave us open at the back. I think Phil's done a good enough job where he would deserve the look at LB. If he doesn't pan out, then we go back to Gbandi and use Phil as a sub.
New feature, the pic will change every couple days. We also have a new feature, "news index," where you can find older stories.
No like watching PTI, recovering from golf, finishing my midseason grades, posting on big soccer, reading matchnight, reading blogs and posting to said blog, readin post about 3rd Degree articles, thinking about which metro player I want if Burn win lottery.... thinking about the 4 pars I had today.
Here is one more thing I was doing... just talked to Coach Clarke... Toni came through training today ok. He is sore, but should be avaliable for tomorrow.
How is Jamie Watson looking compared to the MLS players? It sounds like he looks like he belongs, but do you think he'll be an impact player for MLS/Europe/US Nats?