Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I don't think Novak is a poor defender because of lack of drive or heart, or even technique for that matter. He's a poor defender because he's half the size of the guys he's trying to defend.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I tend to agree with this. At best, he's playing beyond his natural strengths... but it's tough when you have to rely on a player to always put out a Herculean effort to cover his job because sometimes you're going to need a guy who's able to be "adequate" on an off day. Nothing would make me happier to see Novak settle into a permanent position somewhere for RSL (or another MLS team) - it's hard not to cheer for the guy, but I also don't believe deep down he'll be the solution at right back.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> How about playing the player in his natural position of Right Midfield?
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> Agreed. And how about not resigning Pope ($393K)--his contract is now up--and using that money to find two big, legitimate backs?
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I honestly wouldnt be surprised to see this happen... well atleast the not re-signing pope thing. I think part of the reason we went out and spent the money on him is that he is a name and face the casual US soccer fan easily recognizes from his National team play. They signed him to put some butts in the seats in the innaugural season. And now that they have a fairly decent sized loyal fan base, I can easily see him being dropped. Now what they will do with the money if they do drop him is the scary questions cause they dont have the greatest of track records...
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> He's been hurt so we've all forgotten, but Danny Torres is actually quite a good center back. No matter what happens with Pope I believe Torres should start. Agreed in principle, but look how many right midfielders (or at least guys who can/have played it) RSL has: Williams, Klein, Mehdi, Trembly, Worthen, Kreis. Unfortunately Novak may be the odd man out. Which sucks because I'd like to see him succeed - nobody works harder out there than Novak.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I can agree with this. I love Eddie, and I still think he's worth that kind of cash flow, I just don't think that RSL should be paying that much when we are lacking size with Novak. We've got Stewart, Broome, Torres, Novak and Pope for next season (right?) Let's take out Pope and lil Novak and add two big men to the equation.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I don't think he's good enough to displace who we have available at right midfield...
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I definitely agree with this. My take on this: Williams: Has become our main Left back. Klein: Will always start at right back if he is in an RSL uniform. Mehdi: Seems to be doing great in the middle, and will be a great Kreis replacement. Trembly: Not quite sure why we are paying this guy to ride the bench with an injury. Pretty sure we could drop him and pick up more defense. Worthen: Plays left back, IIRC. Kreis: Will hopefully not be back next season. Seems to me that Klein is the only right back we have right now.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> On Pope: I think he might be worth keeping around (he played well for us this season) if he gets re-signed at a much lower number. However, in the wacky world of MLS, what you get paid has as much (or more) to do with name recognition as it does with playing ability... On Kreis: Same as Pope.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> Yes, but my point was any of these guys CAN play right mid and likely would if the spot were open. If the need for a right midfielder arises (say Klein gets injured), there are many options ahead of Novak. On another note, why do some people think Kreis shouldn't come back? Is it because his output is down? I'll remind you that he's not the go-to guy he was in 2005.....in fact, in 2006 he didn't even play forward most of the year. But yet he still had 8 goals and 5 assists (in 2005 he had 9 and 4). Is it the way he seems to control Ellinger? Or how he plays so deep defensively? Why is everyone throwing him under the bus? Why?
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I'm not sure it can be said Pope "played well for us this season". At least not consistantly well. He mailed it in before the WC. He had as many (or more) terrible, botched matches as he did solid matches. We tend to forgive Pope because of his pedigree. Pope can be outstanding in one-on-one play. He's great at defusing breakdowns after they've happened. But his problem has always been working in synch with others along the back line. Torres & Stewart were much better in that respect.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> Same reason as Pope: high salary compared to output. Personally, I rate Eddie Pope as highly as any defender in MLS from about the second week of August to the end of the season. And I think you pay the high salary to someone who plays as well as any defender in the league. Put Torres in the lineup and get stronger outside right and we're solid. Except for the question of goalkeeping. If you have one of eight other team's GK in net for RSL, I think you see RSL in the playoffs. That is the difference between Ellinger coaching us to the playoffs or not.
Anyone remember the give-away to Donovan at the beginning of the season? A player like Pope shouldn't ever make that mistake.
Keep Kreis. Dump Pope (unless he can be signed for less money than he makes now.) I still think the RSL backline needs to be upgraded as much as possible. It's hard to evaluate guys who have been hurt all season (Broome), but the guys who were out there still made too many mistakes. A stronger defense which is better at distribution will make the offense better too. Probably should be looking for a keeper too.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> It's time for fresh legs. Kreis did play much better the second half of the season, but he still seemed very lazy and very slow. If we could get rid of Kreis and bring in another "Mehdi" calibre player I'd be happy.
If only Garlick were consistent. When he's on he's great. But too often he's flat footed as a "cross" from the left curls into the side of the net.
Where to start? How about keeper: Garlick is a basic, good keeper. Nothing glamorous, but he usually gets the job done. Replace him? With who? Nolly? I don't think so. Other options around the league include Walker of Crew, Cassar of FCD and maybe Rimando of DC. Although some feel beholden to the current crop of college GKs, I have not been impressed. So unless Garlick has a massive drop of form during the offseason or Checketts signs some Euro keeper great, Garlick will be in goal next year. Unless Countess comes back.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I agree, Kreis has lost a step or two. But the fact is, he still produces. Mehdi is my hero and I would be very happy if we picked up another Mehdi in this year's draft. But I'm curious, would you still make this trade if it meant trading Kreis' output (8G, 5A) for Mehdi's (2G, 2A)? I wouldn't. They both have their place on the team, so my vote (as it were) is to keep Kreis.
I wouldnt mind Rimando. Thorton might be available too although I am not as impressed with him. I think we need to look outside the US, preferable South of the border cause most keepers in Europe would be too spendy. I honestly thought Countess could be a better keeper with a better defense in front of him. He had really good athleticism. But I dont think he is the answer to the keeper problem cause I dont think he is much of an improvement over Garlick. Rimando looked decent against Chicago last week and had a good PK save. I hope we loose Garlick and find someone...
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> I'm afraid I can't agree with this...Selected post-August Pope lowlights: #1 #2Pope is easily forgiven b/c of his vast pedigree. But IMO, his outrageous salary ($393K) demands he face a higher (not lower) level of scrutiny.
Keep Kries and Pope for much less though. With the free'd up money we could go after another big time forward. Novak only makes like $20k so his salary shouldn't be really a concern, especially if we drop Brownie.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> Pope has been my favorite player for years now and I was ecstatic when we got him, but I have to agree with you. Pope is not worth that much money. I hope that they can resign him to a lower salary and keep him around, but we could get 4 pretty solid players for $100K each and I think that would be better for the team as a whole. And that's extremely hard for me to say as a huge fan of Eddie.
Re: RSL vs. Goats Final Season Game <<PRE PBP POST>> Can you identify a defender in MLS who did not make similar mistakes over a similar time period? I cannot. That's a span of I didn't say Pope was flawless since early August - only that he played as well as any defender in MLS, which your examples do not address. He certainly played better than other touted center backs (Erpen, Robinson, Garcia, and arguably Suarez) with the possible exception of Bobby Bowell - but DC's defense gave up plenty of goals over the same span.