buddle and mcbride, bring on jeffrey as a sub in the 70-75 minute when LA's defense it tired and cant handle his speed
I realize this is going to start another debate...but why the hell doesn't JC deserve to start. Unless your sickened by the guy that's scored the most points of anyone in the league the last 2 years combined, he deserves to start. I'm guessing all 3 will be in the line up.
I just don't buy this "let Cunningham come in at the 65' mark and he'll score lots of goals" theory. When last year did he score any substitution goals? I sure can't recall any. That dog just don't hunt. I can see the criticism of Cunningham's play. Sometimes he does hold the ball too long, sometimes he trys the impossible, when he should do the easy. But all those things don't mean a damn thing when you consider the goals he's scored for the Crew the last couple seasons. Without Cunningham, the Crew doesn't make the playoffs the last couple years. Can you say that about any of the other forwards the Crew have on their roster? You definately can't say it about McBride, who is aperently unrepoachable because dispite doing jacksh!t for the Crew, he's done really good with the Nats and Everton. Cunningham has earned his spot as a starting Forward in this league. Buddle may very well take that away from him this year, hell he could even take it away from McBride, but he hasn't done it yet.
please let me weigh in here as a Revs fan- play Cunningham every possible minute, even if it means keeping Buddle or McBride on the bench. Especially against us.
Home vs NY/NJ: Came in at 46 min mark, scored at 60 min mark, 2-3 loss (on a Presthus blunder). During 5 game string of McBride-Washington starts in which, most often, Jeff came in way after the "65 min mark". Home vs LA: Came in at 70 min mark, scored at 78 min mark, 3-2 win (the Martino-Hartman main event). The only other game he didn't start. Buddle-Washington started this one with McBride injured. 6 games off the bench, 2 goals. A goal every 59.5 minutes off the bench (best of all 4 strikers) vs a goal every 132 minutes when starting (also best with Buddle second at a goal every 146 minutes when starting). The above doesn't include quite a few near misses and improved play by the Crew after he came unto the field with his speed/dribbling against tired defenders. Anything else?
You gotta goes with who's hot...Buddle is obviosuly hot and McBride is playing outstandingly well...Cunningham isnt...And whoever says McBride hasnt got it done in the past, your nuts...thats usually because he is the more dangerous forward...drawing defenders off JC....he has also been injured because he puts it all on the line for the black and gold....he has also been out with national team games.... This is prolly irrelevant cuz I'd like to see us go three forwards anyways.... -PB20
i agree with wittler - buddle and mcbride, cunny after the 60th minute... i haven't bother to look at the possible la starting lineups, but i don't think they would chance my mind at this point.
McBride and Buddle start, with cunny it at the 65th-70th, if we only play two of them. But, if West is still a bit banged up does Andrulis start Paule over there or does he just put his best 11 on the field, which would likely send Paule to the bench in favor of Buddle or Cunny.
It doesn't mean much since it was against the Riverhawks, but Paule got a hat-trick (according to another thread) when he started in the midfield for us with McBride and Buddle up top.
I'd rather start Cunningham and Buddle up top, but I do realize that McBride is really playing well, as of late, and had a very good match against D.A.U., though a lot of people did. So, just because of the "start who's playing well" argument, I think J.C sits to start, in favor of Buddle and McB. Oh, and of course Paule over West.
Thank you Captain Obvious. I'm pretty sure we'll start Paule over West for the next couple weeks... Anyway, only 47 hours and 56 minutes until we know for sure!!!
Unless you really believe that "tired defenders" are the corner stone of Cunninghams talent, then from what you said I say give him the full 90.