of course we don't need to clean house, the players we have a good enough, we need a good defender, we need outside midfielders that can run up the wings and make crosses, and we need a capable coach who will implement a different style of play
The Metros clearly don't need to clean house. To this day I can't understand why they weren't better. The have good forwards compared to the rest of the league, and I like their midfield with Gaven, Guevara, Brenes, Clark, Gilberto, Vaca, etc. Pope and Parke have some very good stretches, and their outside backs have been OK (Zaidie and Leitch are nothing special, but servicable). Walker is a Nat. Bradley has won an MLS Cup. So, what's the problem. LOOK IN THE MIRROR MR. SAKIEWICZ!!!
what does Nick have to do with what goes on on the field and the results we got, you can blame the guy for a lot of things but not that
we need one starting forward. an mls forward. the kreis, ching, cunningham type of forward. not someone who had a two goal game for a small carribean country or lead a south american league in goals. one that doesn't squander chances and can put away the sitters. when woly is our starting forward and gets the most playing time, you have to worry. who want's to bet that if we trade pope back to DC, he'll play to his ability. of all the players this year, i think pope was the most underachieving when compared to his ability.
I'd settle for a stud ball-winner type in the midfield which would free Guevara to play in the final third and replacing Headband Rey and Taylor up front.
Even though we lead the league in goals, very few of them were from fowards besides Woly. The Metros need a really consistent foward and that could solve the problem. Also good outside defenders could help.
This to me is the most damning comment. Others teams learned and adjusted to or playing style, but we couldn't counteract them.
We all agree that Woly is a backup. Yet the problem was that the quality forwards that we have in Galvan Rey, Glen & Taylor just couldn't put it in the net consistantly (Especially Galvan Rey). Yes Woly would go in and out during the match, yet he always found himself near the net to punch home the goal. Scoring 10 goals is a career high for him. Outside of Woly in the Forwards department, the midfield really scored the majority of the goals. With all that said with the exception of Galvan Rey who I believe can't do it here in MLS. Fabian Taylor and Cornell Glen now have a season under their belts. I truly believe they will feel comfortable next season and score more goals and start as a dangerous combination up front. Remember Amado last year. Scored only three while earning ten helpers and what a difference he made this season with ten goals & ten assists. And let's not forget Amado's 4 goals in 2003 US Open Cup play. Still this club is going in the right direction. There is a good young core of future US Nats players on this squad as well as servicable, role players like a Chris Leitch. Hopefully if Mike Magee can regain his health and get back in the swing of things moving him into the midfield has made his game better and a more well rounded player. This squad basically lived and died with their midfield. Gilberto & Brenes has put themselves in a situation where it looks like both Vaca and possibly Regan could be both left unprotected in the expansion draft for Salt Lake & Chivas USA. As much as I thought Vaca did improve his game during the 1-1 Draw in Chicago before he got hurt in the first 1-1 draw against the Crew at the stadium,Gilberto & Brenes were very good signings and especially Brenes when he returned from the Olympics with Costa Rica. He has found confidence in Athens. Bradley in his very first year with Chicago with tons of veterans won the US Double. Went back to the MLS Cup Final in 2000, lost yet won the US Open Cup in 2000. Last Years Fire US Open Cup Champs was really Bradley's team when Sarachan took over when Bob moved here. It's frustrating about the late season final 1/3 colapse, yes. But this is a squad that is being built for the future. Yes win now and for the future. Growing pains really stinks, but there is plenty of potential with this current Metro crop. Zach Thornton, Kerry Zavagnin, Ezra Hendrickson, etc. The future Metros of the past. Look where they are now. Ezra won a MLS Cup & US Open Cup For LA. Zavagnin won a US Open Cup with KC this season. Zach Thornton an MLS Cup & 3 US Open Cups( I would never say I wanted Zach instead of Timmy, but I am making a point). In Bob I trust. It's going to be difficult and it has. We still have to be patient. Look at Gaven when he truly broke out after the 2 Goal LA game in the Home Depot Center. Rico broke out last year. He got hurt before the Olympic qualifiers this past year and when he got healthy and nailed that fabulous cracker in the last regular season match in DC that is the Rico we all know and love. Jeff Parke has come out of no where and did a great job once Bob gave him the start in the first match of the season in Columbus. So consider the Eddie Pope injury early in the season a blessing, because Parke would be riding the bench. I saw that post someone wants Zambrano back. That's crazy. The only Coach I would say that deserves a second chance in Metros history would be Alfonso Mondelo, but there was a mutiny when the vets like Lalas, Ramos & Meola wanted him out. They didn't want a Parcels type of coach. Bradley is that type of coach that is the no-nonsense type. Bob is setting us up for greater things to come. I'm a believer in Bradley. 2005 will be a better year for Metro. That's how I feel.
John Wolyniec 2051 minutes 10 goals 56 shots Cornell Glenn + Fabian Taylor 1849 minutes 11 goals 87 shots They scored more goals in 200 less minutes. They get more shots off than Woly. Define "very few"?
They could jam the midfield because there was not any threat of the ball going over their heads to the forwards behind their midfield.. The people on this team that could force teams to be honest on D and not allow them the luxury to gang up on our midfield were not given enough playing time. The players who were capable of opening the game up were not used.
I think Nick is right: a housecleaning is not in order. Ranking our "positions," assuming a normal Bradley 4-4-2. Presumptive starters listed first, backups second) 1) Attacking mid: Guevara (Gaven, Magee, Lisi): An MVP candidate at one of the most critical positions, capably backed. Perhaps too much of a logjam here. 2) "Left" mid: Gaven (Brenes) The problem is that Eddie is a little position-less, and left mid is sort of an excuse to get him on the field along with Amado. However, Brenes is starting to look very capable, and if he wants to come back, it seems wise to keep these two. 3) Central Defender #1: Pope (Arena) Not his best year, but it's not like he's too old. If the team decides to clear cap room, he's one of the three logical casualties (Walker, Galvan Rey), but assuming Sergio is as good as gone, Pope can be kept without being too cap-constrained. 4) Goalkeeper: Walker (Wells) Had some tough games this year, but really is one of the best in the league. Assuming contract demands are reasonable, I'd keep him. Wells looks to have the potential to be more than an average backup in the future. 5) Central Defender #2: Parke (Arena, Bonseu) One of the league's top five or so rookies, and a great building block for the future. Arena was mostly good at CB this year, though somewhat weaker at d-mid in limited time. 6) Forward #1: Wolyniec (Taylor) Wolyniec is the kind of player who builds the character and image of the team, and must be kept; however, for a championship team in this league, he should really be the #2 forward or the first option off of the bench. The struggles of our international strikers made him the #1, though. Taylor had moments of brilliance, and in a world without roster constraints on internationals, we undoubtedly would. In the real world, he may not get the chance, and didn't help himself by failing to pass much. 7) Defensive Midfielder: Clark (Gilberto) At the end of the season, Ricardo laid claim to this spot. For too much of the season, however, Guevara spent too much time bailing us out here. Gilberto is a guy who demands playing time with his performances, and another keeper. 8) Forward #2: Glen (Magee, Galvan Rey) So dangerous at times, but spent too much of the season at less than 100%. Of the international strikers, clearly the one the team would most like to keep. Despite being arguably less productive than Woly, may be more likely for the '05 opening day lineup than Woly. Magee has been a great guy to have around, and showed some versatility; Galvan Rey has had a nightmare and is our #1 choice to free up cap room, if his contract allows for that. If an expansion team wants him, fine, otherwise, MLS just can't do it. Of course, he'll probably sign in Argentina and score 25 goals next year. 9) Left Back: Leitch (Regan) Of course, he's really a right back, but that's just one of our problems. He could arguably be higher on this list, but he's just not. Regan had a decent year, but it's not clear he's going to develop into a really good MLS player, and he's not really a left back either. 10) Right Back: Bonseu (Ziadie) Wasn't really sure who to list at starter. Bonseu had a nice run in the second half of the year, but still was one of our less productive players. Eating up a SI spot isn't necessarily justified here, either. Either move Leitch back to the right and sign a left back, or sign a right back. Free up the SI slot for a wide player or a striker. 11) Right Midfielder: Vaca (Gilberto) A tease all year. Was a hole where we just kept plugging people into to get players on the field. Particularly with a player like Gaven on the left, who doesn't really play wide, we could really use a wide player. Vaca may be one of the players who it just isn't really justified to keep, despite the fact that he's been teasing the league with his skill all year. Not mentioned: Stammler, Bradley. Bradley I assume is protected and will return, Stammler's return is probably contingent on his roster status. The prescription: Decline the option on Galvan Rey, let Lisi move on if he wants to, drop Bonseu to free up a second SI slot. Vaca, Ziadie, Taylor could all also be gone. Use the space to try again to pick up an additional striker to be a replacement for Taylor and Galvan Rey; try to pick up a stud RB, RM, or LB (moving Leitch to the right) to shore up that side of the field and give us a wide attack.
IMHO, the worst thing you guys could do is clean house. You've got the foundations of a pretty damned good team there, and if you keep building on what you got, you're going to be pretty tough to beat. Ouch, it really hurts to say that.
Well, I kinda want the Metro to be good. Otherwise, what's the point of having a rivalry if we can beat you like red-headed step kids every season? No offense to my buddy MetroTard.
I would settle for this too. I'd really like to see Rico improve and become this type of ball winner. Further upgrades on the backline are necessary. We score, we just dont stop others from scoring on us in a quick counter attack.
Yeah, they just need a few enforcers on the team. A tough defensive midfielder (that or Rico needs to play tougher...) and second forward who can get the job done all of the time. Basically, they need a Valencia-Mathis duo up front.
Eleven. Seriously, I'd love Reyna and Berhalter to come home and play for us, I just don't see it. Not yet, anyway. Reyna and the new stadium in 2006? I'm down. Reyna is more likely for 2007 though, unless he can't catch on somewhere else in Europe.
That's a useless way to compare because check this out by the same method: John Wolyniec 2051 minutes 10 goals 56 shots Cornell Glenn + Fabian Taylor + Rey 2720 minutes 13 goals 110 shots With 700 more minutes shouldn't they be more than 3 goals ahead of him especially with twice as many shots. And, shots is a useless thing to compare. Forwards could take shots all day...if they can't adjust and get them on goal they mean nothing. It just means woly did more with the shots that he got. The others were trying to force stuff with the little bit of time they got. Plus flat out comparing stats like this doesn't account for team chemestry. Not that we ever developed it. Certain people play better with certain others. They just never found it...along with the fact that they all actually suck, Woly included. They all looked like oppurtunist forwards this year incapable of making stuff happen if the ball didn't land in the perfect spot for them to score.