An article off majorleaguesoccer.com talks about the different pairs of forwards each team will most likely use. http://www.majorleaguesoccer.com/content/04/connolly0310.html For DC United D.C. United Likely duo: Ronald Cerritos and Alecko Eskandarian Success in '03: 7 goals, 4 assists (includes Cerritos' stats with Dallas) Additional partner-in-crime: Jaime Moreno Comment: With both Freddy Adu and Santino Quaranta in the mix, this could be an ever-changing partnership up front. Perhaps Earnie Stewart gets in a game as a front-runner, as well. It feels as though Cerritos has been around forever, but he just turned 29, and has many years ahead of him. But the key is Eskandarian. Should he follow-up on his successful stint with the U-23s in February and blossom as a second-year professional, this duo could prosper, and make it increasingly difficult for Adu to get playing time up top. I would prefer if Stewart played midfield and Cerritos, Esky, Moreno, and Quaranta were the forwards. Also at the end of this article Questions for D.C. United midfielder Earnie Stewart Most underrated on your team: Ryan Nelsen. Most underrated player in MLS not on your team: John Spencer. Player I'd most want to trade jerseys with after a match: Marco van Basten. Do you remember watching Eric Wynalda score in the first MLS game?: Yes. I was in Holland.
Going into 2004, MLS has only 6 players who scored 10+ non-PK goals in 2003. 15 Twellman 11 Donovan 10 Ralph/Spencer/Noonan/Buddle (Chung scored 11 as a midfielder and McBride has left the league after scoring 10.) I'm not trying to start a debate about the value of PK's versus other goals, but I think these statistics underscore how difficult it will be for DC find a successful "striking duo" much less a single striker who can be counted on to start scoring regularly. Scoring goals is of course not the only measure of a good forward, but it's certainly an important one.
After reading the article I was left with the conclusion that we have the worst forward duo in the league (surprise). The only one who come close to being as woefull as us is the scum. I am getting ready for allot of 0-0 ties this year
This is debatable, but I would say that San Jose may well have 4 forwards that are better than any forward on the DC United squad (i.e. Donovan, Ching, DeRosario, and Jamil Walker). It remains to be seen whether Adu is ready and also whether he plays forward.
i have always dreamed of seeing cerritos and moreno even though they both are not in their prime anymore i hope everything works out
Red and Black would know better than I, but I think if Stewart is playing in a position that he's comfortable in (where was he at NAC R&B?) the man will score and score often. We have my man Jamie back and if he is playing like the Morano of old, that opens up the pitch for others to contribute. I feel this is a 10 goal year minimum for Stewart.
Dave, now what position is that? I think he should be more of a supporting player in the midfield than up top. For at least the first year Adu will not be playing up top consistently. I think he will be out wide where he won't take as much punishment.
A Long Season This is a long season - And with injuries, frequent games, and call-ups you have to think in terms of the best ROTATION of Forwards - (actually ROTATION for all positions but this post is about the Forwards) At least one of the Forwards needs to be big, hold the ball off defenders with his back to the goal, dominant in the air, and be willing and able to take and dish out the physical play in the middle - Cerritos and ?? - He's the Physical Forward - Who should he be matched with consistently?? Eskadarian and Q1 - ?? -- These guys are FORWARDS - NOT HALFBACKS!! - Don't judge their play while they were put out of their natural position - I think both have potential - And Q1 certainly showed a lot more in his 2nd season (before injuries) than Esky did last season - Q1 can be a Physical Forward - I don't think that's Esky's style Moreno -?? - He got fouled so much his last years with DCU that I'm not sure how much steam he's got left in his knees - He didn't show much last year at NY - If he's still got it for a game or two at a time or as a late sub, then GREAT - Otherwise be thankful compensation to NY is dependent on how much he plays Martin - ?? - (uh excuse my ignorance if I missed something if he got cut or something) - A good alternative to Cerritos - Adu - ?? - I'd prefer to see him play at Forward since that's what he is - But it just might be better his first few times to have him as an Outside Halfback without much Defensive responsibility - (OUCH!! - It really hurts to say that about ANY Halfback position) Stewart - ?? - No - If he was a good Forward, his years at DCU are better as a Halfback - And ANYWHERE at Halfback - We need his versatility and maturity more at Halfback than up as a Forward (Q2 - ?? - no, no, no, no - Outside Halfback all the way, especially if designated as the overlapping Halfback) Forward coming back as Midfielder in the Flow of the Game - This is an important factor - Having a Forward who is a good enough distributor to come back and lure Defenders out of position and while the Halfbacks go up to confuse the opposing Defense - (Moreno and Diaz-Arce were great at this in the glory years) - Moreno - ?? - Maybe but only if he's still really mobile on those knees - Esky or Q1 - ?? - Don't know - Only if they really learned something being out of position so much at Outside Halfback CONCLUSION - Don't think just one pair - Think at least 3 or 4 good match-ups because they'll all be needed during a long season
I'm willing to bet money that none of the forwards on our current squad score 10 goals this season. And if Earnie Stewart scores ten I'll take my clothes off and eat them on the midfield line in Section 332 at halftime of the next home match.
Maybe if you're lucky this will happen on Hispanic Heritage night so you accompany them with free beer and nachos......
Did Eskandarian really play last year as outside mid? I don't remember that I guess. Agree that Stewart is unlikely to get 10 goals - at forward or midfield. But I think he's definitely capale of more than five with close to ten assists. I think his high years in Netherlands (playing more matches than MLS does, I believe) were still less than 15 goals, and I think he played a fair amount as a sort of free roaming wide forward in a 4-4-3. We had better hope that one of our many players with "potential" turns out this year (Quaranta, Eskandarian, Adu, Martins) and one veteran regains some measure of prior form (Cerritos, Moreno, stewart). We have a lot of options that could be solid scorers, but NOTHING proven going into the season. It seems like we could trade / cut three of the above players (excepting Adu) for ONE PROVEN scorer and still have a lot of depth and potential. BTW - who will be primary PK taker this year?? Dema? Moreno and Stewart both have some infamous misses, but are also possible options. Regarding other teams - I bet its harder for Ralph this year to rack up the goals, and Noonan as well, now that they will no longer really be surprising anyone.