Colorado with big issues on defense? How do you figure? We look to line up across the back as Ihemelu - Erpen - Petke - Burciaga Jr. with Bouna Time! in nets and Mastroeni playing the destroyer in front.. We did pretty well last year when we had the likes of Dan Gargan and Brandon Prideaux in the starting 11 on a regular basis. Now on offense we're a mess I'll grant you.
1) D.C. 2) Chicago 3) NE 4) NYRB West: 1) Chivas 2) Houston 3) Dallas 4) TFC (moving from east) Playoffs: DC over NYRB Chicago over NE TFC over Chivas Houston over Dallas DC over Chicago Houston over TFC DC over Houston
Depth and talent-wise, he's one of your top 14 or so players. He's "key" in that he's one of the players who will be expected to get serious playing time as a sub and fill in as a starter on occasion. I can't say that I rate him that highly, but Yallop must as he has brought in no one that would push him farther down the pecking order.
It depends on how you rate certain players. I don't think Petke or Erpen are all that stellar. Maybe they work better in a four-man backline and have found solutions to their deficiencies (Petke's lack of speed, Erpen's brainfarts), but I'm not convinced of that. Nor do I rate Bouna Coundul that highly; I can think of at least five goalkeepers that started last year that I would rather have on my team in MLS, and a couple of backups as well. Burciaga's known for his offensive skill rather than his defense and for good reason (he doesn't use it or show it that often). And Pablo was on the trading block for most of the offseason, which tells me that Clavijo isn't that enamored with him. But that's JMO.
Yes well apparently you're insane. Bouna was in the top 3 of almost all the goalkeeping stats last year and is clearly in the top half of MLS keepers, and he's only been a pro for two years, a starter for one.
East 1) NE - SS 2) DC - Miss SS by a hair 3) NY 4) Chicago 5) TFC 6) Columbus 7) KC - Loosing EJ hurts West 1) Chivas - 3rd Overall 2) Houston 3) FCD 4) RSL 5) Colo 6) LAG 7) SJ Assuming its Top 4 from each conference for playoffs... East NE over Chicago DC over NY in a very physical match-up West Chivas over RSL...just barely. RSL is the surprise kid Hou over FCD...expect more of the same when these two go at it ECC DC over NE...the streak is broken...finally WCC Chivas over Hou...I'd love to say we make it 3 in a row but Chivas is a ***** to beat at home, and look to be so this year again. MLSC Chivas v DC If Chivas still has Guzano, they win a 1-0 game. If they don't, they loose 2-1 to DC
And yet his positioning and decision-making mean more to me. He reminds me of Rimando, which is hardly a good thing. And clearly in the top half? A short list of who I would rather have ahead of him: Cannon, Reis, Perkins, Onstad, Guzan, Pickens, Wells, and possibly Hartman and Seitz So that's 9 right there. Yeah, his stats were great, but I've seen enough of his play to not want him on my team.
I'll give you Cannon, Reis, Onstad, and Guzan without a fight (Though I do think Cannon is on the downslope of his career). The others though, are you serious? Goals Against Average: Bouna 1.08 Perkins 1.1 Pickens 1.15 Hartman 1.5 Seitz (based on 3 games): 2.67 Wells (based on 4 games): .32 Saves/shots faced/Save % Bouna 120/152/78.9% Perkins 117/149/78.5% Pickens 102/133/76.7% Hartman 110/155/71.0% Seitz: 6/14/42.8% Wells: 8/9/88.9% Shutouts Bouna 9 Perkins 8 Pickens 10 Hartman 5 Seitz 0 Wells 2 Not only that, but the flaws you point out in Bouna's game, which I admit are there, are the exact flaws that can be reduced with training of a young keeper. And while Bouna does go walkabout far too often he really never got burned by it last season. I'm not arguing that Bouna is the best keeper in the league, but really, reserves than are better than him? There isn't much there to back that up.
BTW this subject came up just a couple of weeks ago in N&A. Here's the link. Oddly enough with the exception of one Crew fan it was also DC fans who were panning Bouna in the last thread. I know you're upset that you guys can never win in Denver, but take the blinders off. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=655366
The Rapids had the 3rd best backline in the MLS, with some pretty decent players. This year we are improved and have a much better mid than all of last year. Pablo adds to our already stingy defense. I think we only allowed 30/31 goals last year, Bouna had a large part of that. Sure Bouna has his flaws, but it all can be fixed with some coaching. I think Pablo was the one who asked to be put on, and then asked to be removed ( the trading block that is). When your team gets one of the better A-mids and has one of the better D-mids, toped with one of the best defenses in the league, I really think we can make a run for things. Our offense is our only question mark, and its a pretty big one. But hopefully we can get the Brazilian Reinaldo, and hopefully he can add to our attack. My predictions follow: East 1. D.C. 2. Chicago 3. NYRB 4. New England West 1. Chivas 2. Houston 3. Colorado 4. FCD East DC finally beats NE JP Angel beats Chicago West Chivas over FCD Colorado over Houston WCC Colorado over Chivas: There defense will pay off, and win a 1-0 game. Because thats all they can score. ECC NYRB over DC: Don't ask me why, I just think that the RB may want it more than DC. MLS Cup: Colorado vs NYRB: result ????????????
The Galaxy is going to suck. Razor thin talent in depth will crush us. Our starting XI will be formidable. But beyond that... not so much. And you can't win off just a starting XI.
Which is why I made the point If there's no one being signed to push him to the end of the bench, then Yallop has determined that he's important enough to keep around.
It's probably because I have flashbacks of him coming in as a sub against us and letting in a fairly easy shot. My opinion of him is just that: an opinion. He can have the best stats in the league, but I've seen enough of him that I don't rate him as one of the premier keepers in the league. Your opinion is obviously different. However, using a GAA where the decimal points vary by .02 or .07 amounts to a couple of goals over the course of a season. In some games (say a 4-1 or 3-1 game) that extra goal allowed really doesn't make a difference in the end result. The same is true of the save percentage; Perkins faced 3 less shots and let in three less goals, so he ranks below Condoul, which proves what? Do you honestly think that Condoul was better than Perkins last year? Do the stats really prove that? As for the comment on reserve goalkeepers being better (well, Wells was the only one I was adamant about), I'll stand by it. Wells has shown himself to be a quality keeper when given the opportunity. The problem is that he backed up the best goalkeeper in the league for the past few seasons. It's hard to stand out when you have that kind of player in front of you on the roster. This season is his chance to prove himself for an entire season's worth of games, and I expect him to do well. Again, YMMV, but the stats (for what they are) show that he is, at the very least, a competent player for his position.
is the mls keeping its playoff format from 2007 with top 2 seeds from each conf. make the playoffs then its the next 4 best teams no matter which side they play on?
After watching the back line in the disaster in Hawai'i the other night I have to agree with you. Vanney is just plain awful. You better hope that some of those young kids step up and really win time away from the aging, slipping players.
To me the LAG have one of the WORST team of all the MLS. I really want this to to be good. Because it could mean HUGE things for the MLS, but since they lack depth I really don't think they can compete. Don't get me wrong they have a few good players; Donovan, Xavier, Beckham, Ruiz, but those guys aren't the answer to win games....
It is to early for prediction, if teams like New York can get they hands in a Good Central and Left Defenders and a Play Maker, the Red Bulls will be at the doors where they keep the MLS CUP...
It's probably going to be effectively the same. The only way it wouldn't is if the 6th best team in one conference is better than the 3rd best team in the other conference. Ex. Overall standings. 1. E1 2. W1 3. E2 4. W2 5. W3 6. W4 7. W5 8. W6 9. E3 Under the 2008 rules the E3 team would still make the playoffs while under the 2007 rules they would not have.