Some Burn news in the DMN

That backs up what I talked with Colin about yesterday.

The Allocation is targeted at central mid, although Colin actaully corrected calling it a defensive mid as he wants a flat four in midfield. Colin is also still targeting a discovery signing in the back.

FYI Colin and Elliott have told me the initial plan is to play Davis in the middle. Quill was acquired for the left.

Quill Davis Allocation O'Brien

 

Vaca

I"m a little confused as to why all these potential lineups for the upcoming season don't have Vaca playing center mid? When he first came to the Burn wasn't he supposed to be the second coming of Valderama or something? From what I"ve seen of him he looks like he has all the skills and has flashed of brilliance this could be his breakout year. Noone should forget his run through the whole field where he split defends like Clint Mathis and scored.

 

and where does that leave Vaca? Reports out of south america were that he did well in the olympic qualifiers. Could he be sold for a third allocation?

 

Re: Re: Re: Some Burn news in the DMN

That means that next week when camp opens, Davis in the middle with an allocaiton is the first set up. Quill was brought in to play left and allow Davis to move. One thing I get from listening to Clarke is that he will not hesitate to cahnge it if it is not working. Which is why I said 'initial plan'.

I think you are underestimating Quill and O'Brien a bit and Davis made some strides with that last season. But I would agree that the other player needs to be strong on the defensive side, but he also has to be able to pass and go forward. As Colin put it to me "I am looking for a guy to hold the whole thing together in the middle."

Nunez is not a ball winner, but is a two way player in my book. I consider him very similar to Oscar in his ability to hold the ball, dribble, and distribute. He is short, but is strong on the ball. He is just now freshman college age, so expect a few growing pains. Will he start right away? no. But I have never seen a player come into camp and compete like him from day 1 with the mental speed to play at MLS level, and that was at age 15. All the physcial tools are there, he just needs the maturity and experience. If I have to pick a current MLS player who's game he most resembles it is Bobby Convey.

 

Re: Vaca

Vaca does not like to play centrally in a 4-4-2. He prefers the outside. Right now he is Ronnie's back up. Vaca has never adjusted to the US well, and has frequently commented he was homesick. He was just an 18 year old kid when he got here.

Yes reports did indicate he played very well in Olympic Qualifiers... much of it as a LEFT midfielder.
Maybe he is finally maturing into the player everyone hoped. Maybe he was just home and felt more comfortable.

Either way this is the last year on his MLS deal, so it is a make or break year for him.

 

Re: Vaca

Just look at who the coach is for your answer (too easy). Actually Vaca is an interesting case. His game is limited only by his confidence, but he seems to lose it quite easily. When that happens, he dissappears from the game. Vaca is still young and has tons of potential, but one has to wonder if Clarke will be able to relate to him well enough to push the right buttons.

I keep hearing these glowing revues from the Pre-Olimpico, but I doubt anybody giving these revues actually watched the games. I did watch all of Bolivia's games on GolTV and I can tell you that Vaca was not very good at the pre-olimpico. Even the announcers mentioned how easily he dissappeared several times throughout the tournament with the obligatory shot at the level of play of MLS.

Valderrama? No. Etcheverry? Yes. Except that he is smaller, right footed, and does not have the educated foot on free kicks that El Diablo had.

 

Vaca's style and build are more suitable to a more traditional SA style. While SA defenders are still physical, they don't compare with the very physical style and builds of MLS defenders. If Vaca was built like Pareja, he'd be able to cope. Oscar has a thick middle and legs, Vaca is very easily knocked off the ball. And O'Brien plays well offensively, AND defensively.

Vaca's future is in SA or CA.

 

I agree with your comments about Vaca's future. I also agree w/ stopper's assessment that we will run a crapppy Euro-tread flat 4 midfield. Brainless kick and rush stuff that you can watch at any low level youth game. Oh man, I cannot wait for this pathetic year to start and end, so that a team can be reassembled from the embers.

You know, if they are going to play that style, a fast synthetic surface would be advantageous. With the impending move to Frisco, I don't know why the Burn didn't just move the whole carnival to the Frisco High school stadium this year. They have a carbon copy of the Southlake stadium, and HSG could pinch even more pennies in the process. Too boot, they could get an early start on converting the Frisco Football fanatics into soccer fans.

 

Yeah, cause watching Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle play with flat four midfields sucks. Who wants to watch that kind of soccer.

 

Someone missed taking their meds. The depressive cycle is kicking in again.

 

Does that style work in Dallas summer heat?

 

It could, but from the many time I have seen Arsenal play this season, they have scored alot of goals on the counter attack with quick passing.

With Davis, ROB, EJ, and Curtis(when he plays) I can see this working and with Big Fat Toni running people over people trying to get the ball or setting up the CA.

 

European style of soccer is not a kick ball style. It is a technical, well planned placing of ball to create a fast pace game with more opportunities to score.

Also for a professional league, heat should not and will not be a major factor.

 

I can understand Valerie's ignorance, being from Burk, the closest thing to soccer she is probably exposed to is a Boomtown Babes Can-Can routine.

But as for you Buzz, come on. Your sarcastic post is contradictory to past comments you have made about your hope for a style of play. Either you don't know any better yourself, (not very likely). Or, you have lowered your standards just to stay in the good graces of people who will give you information.

Previously you stated your love for a team with overlapping wingbacks. A flat midfield grouping kills the space for that type of attack. The whole point of a compact midfield grouping, is to open that space for the runs from the outside backs.

Now, which is it. You DO or now have changed and DO NOT like the outside backs penetrating down the flanks?

Why do I say this leads to kick and rush? Because the passing options become predominantly vertical and horizontal. A single defender can easily shut down the passing options. How is this problem overcome in this type of system? Space is over and beyond, (kick and rush). I and the majority of the human race prefer diagonal options through the middle as well as wide moving options out of the back. Arsenal's makes a valid point saying that some of the EPL teams have switched to a modern SA attacking style. Why do we wish to take this team back to the Medieval days of soccer?

One More, yes a pro team IS very dependent upon climactic conditions in creating its systems and tactics. If you were here for WC '94 then you had to see the obvious adjustments that teams at the highest levels made.


Good soccer is about the geometry of the game. It should be more than just a track meet with a ball.

 

I think the addition of Quill cements the move to a more Euro style of play. He and Toni are definite ball chasers, as opposed to O'Brien who likes 1v1. Also, the 4-4-2 with a flat 4 midfield lends itself to dump and chase.

I liked Drum'r Boy's 4-2-3-1 lineup much better with Toni up top. It would, at least, allow more options that could center on a more SA style of holding and distributing through the midfield.

 

Well you blew it on page 2 theo...but I still want to mention that this is the single most optimistic thing that I've ever seen you post on this board...I'm thrilled that you may be coming around, and looking for the silver linings in the clouds. You actually acknowledge that there may just be a 2005 season for the BURN!!! That is a big step, good for you!

And (although he doesn't need my defense) but your argument that Buzz has changed his style preference is idiotic. He says nothing about the style he prefers, he simply says there is great soccer in the EPL. Is it a difference of opinion? Sure, but I can tell you that 98% of the time, I'd rather watch Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle rather than the top MFL teams. You can still play great, fun and attractive soccer and be based in England.

 

BR,
3rd has posted his love for a possesion type of game with overlapping backs on multiple threads. Do you not recall among other such posts his musings about ROB one day becoming a great outside back?

When the Roman Empire fell, civilization rose from it ashes. It was not the same Empire any more. The sooner the HSG disaster leaves (with or without the Burn), the sooner someone can put a market friendly product in a centralized location. It will probably not be called "Burn". It may not even be called "MLS", but too much money is still being left on the table for someone not to give the people what they want. In short, I am not contradicting previous comments.

As for pessimism or optimism, I am by nature very positive. The HSG kidnapping of our team is negative. When these turkeys are run out of town, I feel very positive about the health of the DFW soccer market. It can be one of the most lucrative markets in the world if it were run in a professional manner

 

Actually, I do recall the posts re: 3rd's preferences. What I am saying is that he never contradicted that statement they way you alleged. (My opinion is) He is not saying that that's not what he prefers, or what he was coach given the chance, he IS saying that you can be an English team, play a flat 4 midfield, and play great, fun and attactive game of soccer.

Finally, I'm sorry to hear that I misinterpreted your optimism. And just to be clear - I understand your concerns/worries about HSG and the direction of the team. But I disagree. Sometimes I probably a bit sarcastic with my replies, but I fully respect your right to your opinion. And I hope that you can respect my opinion that I am excited to see the Burn in the Cotton Bowl in 2004, and thrilled to be at the palace in Frisco for 2005. I think the Burn will be much improved in 2004, and well above A-league quality. Maybe you and others don't agree, but I'm excited about the allocation, about camp opening, about Portugal, about opening day at the Cotton Bowl...maybe I'm crazy, or maybe I'm just getting old and hoping more than thinking, but if so, I'm happy this way!!!

 

I freely admit I don't know as much about the techniques and difference styles. You are much more informed on these topics.

What I don't like is the rude negative and accusatory tone you seem to take. . .but that's been covered in other threads. I simply do not understand why, when you post, you seem to have such a chip on your shoulder so much of the time. We don't have to be cheerleaders for HSG or all their decisions (or Babes, by the way, who are really a waste of money and resources). You have to admit, you do seem to have a cycle of meanness/reasonableness/meaness/reasonableness in your posting patterns. I apologize for starting it first with the remark about the meds.

I've learned a lot from you. Naively, just because we don't agree or sometimes understand where you are coming from, I still expect a certain amount of maturity, and I guess, respect for others who also love the game. I'm just an old mom who loves the game, the Burn, and enjoys talking and reading about soccer with others who do the same.

 

My preference is for the overlapping outside backs.
And yes a compact midfield is part of that. On this Theo and I agree.

But I do not feel that a flat four in midfield is contrary to that. What I meant by saying flat four was that the two central midfielders are both playing side by side, not with an attacking mid (a #10) and a defensive mid (the water carrier in Cantona terms).

So saying flat four was my choice of words not something Colin said. Maybe I chose poor words.
The important part coming from Colin is the difference between a "defensive mid" (aka Richie Williams for example) and a two way guy like Mastro or John O'Brien (not that you can get either one of those).

I happen to like those teams that I mentioned (ok not Arsenal) and enjoy they way they overlap on the outside. I happen to also love watching Argnetina and Brazil with their flying outside backs (Zanetti, Cafu, Roberto Carlos).