Let's give this one possibility a chance to be acceptable: Convey would enjoy ROB as captain and like his salary that would NOT count against Burn cap. Convey would be happy to stay with the Burn in this lineup: Ezra • Thomas/Behncke • Petke • Salyer/Gbandi ROB • Convey • Davis EJ • Toni • Kreis Obviously there would be plenty of subs for multiple positions. Now, obviously, a tremendous amount of responsibility goes to the midfielders, especially Convey. But, when put in that role with the understanding that "he's the man", he actually commits himself 100%, and becomes the Burn's neucleus. Remember, ROB plays excellent defense. Davis played enough defense last year, that he might be confused from it. And NONE of them is slow. I believe Petke can add stability to the back line. But, given the fact that he'd get alot of support from fans here, I think he might be inspired from the prospect of being a long-term man-in-the-middle of a marketable team come Frisco.. and beyond. A commitment to a solid three back at all times needs to be anchored by our two-way midfielders. A key to this lineup is Toni. Most Burn fans realize that he has great value as a big target that can hold. This is crucial to counters and a solid 'outlet' for Burn attacks coming out of their own half. When you can depend on such a target, the outer wings become a danger to opposing defenders. To have Kreis and EJ on the wings for distribution from Toni is an awesome threat. And the forward lineup is not dependent on Jason and his questionable chemistry with EJ. Toni plays a huge (forgive the pun) role. And, if Curtis and Rhine are available off the bench, substitutions become attractive instead of diminishing in this lineup. Opinions?.. Add your own speculation?
I like this, but I would change a few things. First off Behncke is out and will be lucky to get off the pine on my team. I would liek to see Thomas or Dunseth as a partner with Petke. I would put Salyer in place of Erza.If Toni goes, put Curtis up top. DJ Sayler--------Dunseth/Thomas--Petke----Gbandi ROB--------Convey---------Davis EJ-------------Toni/Curtis----------Kreis Now does this make Vaca expandable?
This all sounds great, except.... -I don't know about Behnke either. And I especially have EZ on my sh!t list right now so I wouldn't put him back there -I think it's crucial that Toni is in the middle, Kreis on the left and then we can rotate EJ and Curtis on the Right. This is so exciting, I can't wait for next season, I hope we can get our hands on Petke and Convey (isn't he suppose to goto England when the work permit clears?), becuase they're the only one's I want off of hack United.
I agree. EZ is the first to go from our defensive lineup if it was up to me (and Arsenal knows this better than anyone). I don't think he could ever be trusted to stay back on any team, let alone the Burn. LA probably knew this too. I don't believe Behncke has more upside than a T-Bone, but he's a better man-marker than Dunseth, who I believe is one of the worst in the league. I'd almost put Salyer in place of EZ, but I think EZ will be in the starting lineup no matter what (I think the Burn will be stubborn on giving him half the 2004 season to contribute enough to keep him). But if, and remember, this is PURE speculation, Convey is paid well enough and it doesn't go against Burn cap, he would stay if given this vital role, enjoys ROB's captaincy, and likes the idea of the hype that will go along with his 'nucleus' feature of the coming Frisco excitement. This might make him a very happy camper in MLS and make him stay in this country. A one year contract to Clarke that helps keep ROB as our captain - keeps the possibility of the 4-3-3 lineup. It's impossible to place any world-class allocation into a lineup with Kreis as a 4-4-2 and expect miracles. Kreis, his getting back to form, his approaching retirement, the prospects of him not being the 'depended upon' scorer come Frisco, the variables that are brought up when you consider who you pair the allocation with (given that the allocation is a premier forward from somewhere around the globe) when Jason is gone. Yeah, this is pure speculation, but, right now, it's MUCH easier to entertain this kind of case scenario when so many questions need to be answered. And, quite frankly, I'd be VERY excited at seeing EJ and Toni still involved with a three man forward lineup for 2004. So, why not keep it for a possible case scenario for now? It helps keep interest away from the allocation bitterness that's currently evolving. Diversion, anyone? What's on YOUR mind?
And isn't he more effective on the left side of the midfield, or as a left wingback? I'm not the best at tactics and/or positions but this is what I remember reading back when his Tottenham deal fell through.
Send them any of these guys: Bonseu Vaca Curtis Dunseth Glinton Hendrickson Pareja Send them all if it lands us Convey and Petke. I think Behnke is getting a bad rap because he was played out of position as a wingback. When he plays in the centre of the defence, he's a solid, smart player.
I agree. But I wouldn't send them Pareja, I'd like him to finish his playing days here if possible, I think this is the only team he could really help.
First, I think the Burn palyed a 4-5-1 with Toni up top. Ali and EJ were wings. Remember how far back they would come to defend? My real problem is how the Burn get Convey, how long the Burn would keep him, and how would the Burn get Petke, and how would Sweeper treat him? I would not trade any of the draft picks, not the allocations. I also object to most of the players on the list above. T Bone and EZ are competent, vetran defenders. Not top MLS players, but the Burn need to kepp them until the younger players, like Salyer and Thomas are ready. If you trade Vaca and Pareja, the team has no schemer, no one to distribute the ball. Ali provides depth and speed up front. The rest of the players named might not fetch anyone off the DC rolls.
When I mention 'speculation', I mean it. If Convey is earmarked to go to Europe, one could speculate that he would end up a player that the US would like to see come back to MLS. So, why not bargain with MLS in trying to keep him here, forego any cap penalties toward the Burn, sweeten the deal with Petke, and not let MLS penalize us with a worthless allocation that is COMPLETELY out of our hands?.. This is just one option that Elliot might consider. It may have less variables than other case scenarios. I believe, however, that Convey has great defensive skills and would be invaluable as the center piece of the Burn lineup. Additionally, he has the pace and brains to distribute intelligently and has years of great soccer in him, given the 'proper' role.
I don't believe Bonseu will be here, and I don't believe Oscar will play major minutes, IF he hasn't decided to go back home for one more year of full-time action before he retires. Remember, Oscar is now prone to injury. Convey, given the supporting cast we could provide around him, could be a great option. It's better than the chemistry/health/retirement problems that Kreis brings in a 2-forward lineup, and it's easier to push for the 3-forward (even if it's called a 4-5-1) lineup that gives Kreis and the rest of the forwards more flexibility. I asked for more speculation, but it seems that ther isn't any. Everyone is caught up in blame and finger-pointing. Maybe this will be the case until we find out who the allocation will be. For that, I am sorry. We got great news when we learned that we're going back to the CB, but now we've been lowered into, what seems to be, a return to Dragon Hell. Is there no hope?
I speculate that the Burn will be in a 4-4-2. I think Colin played the 4-5-1/4-3-3 (and you are right, they are very similar) because that was the best way to distribute the players, and get the best talent on the pitch. This year, he will not have to do that. If, in fact, the coach decides to let the palyers dictate the system, and not the other way around, I think we will see this DJ Gbandi-T Bone-allocation/Dunseth/Thomas-EZ Stone/draft pick Davis/ROB Vaca/Pareja/allocation Jason-EJ/Allocation That's right, a 4-4-2 with a diamond in the middle, or just the schemer in the hole. I do not think Deering will be here next year, and I do not think Stone will be able to prove conclusivly he is the d mid. Few major changes in the squad. So there is some speculaiton. Which is not as fun as finger pointing.
Convey is ok. Petke is ok. But as for Gbandi, Behnke, Salyer, and EJ neither have given me a ray of hope that they will cut it in MLS. Much less be an acceptable starter, unless you plan on running another crappy team on the field. Toni and Bonseu are serviceable pro's, but not worth an SI slot. Ditto for Kreis and Pareja. Time has passed these two, and while they used to be the best, the glory days are long gone. We have to look at a total rebuilding project and cut out the sentimentality. Otherwise we will repeat this year's suffering. But, the whole premis of the post scares me. Elliot is not the soccer guy. He is the bean counter put in charge of getting a new stadium up and running. Southlake typifies the type of decisions you get when non-soccer guys are making the calls. Get your soccer expert on staff prior to playing with the player office personnel pencils. I guarantee you, this is a CLASSIC MISTAKE. Non-sports people (Jerry Jones and John Wagner being a prime example) of guys getting enamoured with their egos, and trying to do it alone. It is not as easy as it looks. I hope Elliot leaves it alone.
Given a 442, I could imagine something along the following: GK: Countess DR: Hendrickson (*) DL: Gbandi DC: Thomas DC: Allocation DMC: Stone(*) MR: O'Brien/Vaca AMC: Davis/Vaca FC: Allocation FC: Kreis/Johnson ML: Glinton/Johnson/Davis (*) I put the (*) where I felt we were basically settling on a player as a stop-gap measure. I imagine under a better situation Hendrickson would play better, at least I hope so. I'm not sold on Stone and nor Davis at ML - I think he is better served in the middle, where he ends up always when playing on the left anyway. As for the allocations, I think it is essential one is used on a centerback because it is a desperate need and I think it is a position where we could get great value for the money MLS will spend. If Morrow could be a solid player in the MLS, I would imagine in this depressed transfer market we could get somebody with as much experience but still in their late 20s. The other allocation I put for a forward but really could be used on a central midfielder or a bookend to O'Brien. If we were able to secure the services of Toni without using the allocation I would be content with the three-headed monster of Kreis, Johnson and Nhleko up front going into the season.
This paragraph is based on the faulty premise that Greg Elliott is not a soccer guy. As a long-time fan of the game, he is very much a soccer guy.
Parja has ONE bad year on that *#*#*#*# ass field and you all want to write him off?? He had knee surgery twice in the off-season and the last ones just days before the opening game.. He will be back next year on the REAL filed and playing like an MVP.. I guarantee it.. Don't write him off just yet boys and girls....
If you had Oscar look you directly in the eye after asking him if his health is going to hold up - and say: "My heart is still in it"... Well, I share your spirit in this, but Oscar will probably not be able to share his body full time; if he stays on at all. You do not build a team around someone who is a questionable health risk - only to have to reorganize if he falls. Frisco demands better planning.
If I looked him in the eye and asked him wil his health hold up?? Gotta million dollars that he says hell yeah?One year with injuries and he is finished?? You can't start all these young studs. We are going back to the Cotton Bowl, remember??
Is Elliott a soccer guy or a hockey guy that's a fan of soccer? I think more the latter. Either way, I think he seems to have the right mentality to rebuild the team, or at least to compliment the new Maestro well. But going back to the CB, perhaps the team doesn't need all THAT much rebuilding. Jetison Deering, Morrow and Cassar, bring in competition for DJ, like Garlick, plus two allocation studs, a top notch rookie, and add Davis, EJ, Vaca, and O'brien, with a sprinkle of vetaran leadership like Kries and Pareja, and we have a pretty solid team.
I respect your simple perspective, but it in no way addresses the future and the importance of the Frisco opening. It's crucial to field a marketable side that can be identified with by a market that has monetary discretion on their side. Is it important to develop a highly marketable side for all of 2004? I think so. Can Pareja and Kreis be depended upon to be the centerpieces of a season ticket drives for the first couple of years in Frisco? I think not. Even the prospect of having a couple of major allocations has no guarantee that the team will warrant major attraction come Frisco. I strongly believe that these issues need to be addressed ASAP.
I don't disagree with that. I just don't think this teams needs a MAJOR rebuilding effort to field a very competitive team. It needs some re-tooling, but not the rebuilding we think it needs after the disastrous season we just had. I think there's enough talent here for a strong base. Some of the intangibles just need to be fixed. Getting out of the hellhole that was sucklake is one. Getting new blood in the coaching ranks is another. Getting rid of some dead weight on the roster will be another. I don't disagree that a marketable team in 2004 is necessary for success in Frisco in 2005, but there aint nothing like a winning team to help anyones marketing efforts, especially in good ole DFW.
No one is writing him off burn 2002. It probably is time for him to be a part time starter though as time waits for no one. He would be very welcome as a sometime starter or key sub. If every player showed his heart and fire we would have no trouble in the future. Hopefully he will start to be a player coach so that he stays around after his career is over. Too bad they didn't do this for Leonel. If he had been an assistant here for a few years he might be seasoned enough to take over now. I could see Oscar being head coach somewhere down the line.
Yes, his heart and soul are things to be treasured. The next-best-thing to bottling it would be to have Oscar on the coaching staff. Who knows? If the Irish clan don't stay on...