Let me start by saying the Metrostars seemed to to have the best draft. As usual, anything that comes from Arena (Bradley) not only has an eye for talent, but knows how to build a winner...FAST. I say that as a United Loyalist...and Realist. I now wonder how we can match up to are Atlantic rivals, especially on the defensive end. I see them as the Eastern team to beat as all the teams still have parity. Time will tell... I figure this much...possibly a 4-3-3 formation. With Stewart and Alecko up front, Etcheverry plays withdrawn stiker. Midfield has Kovalenko in the middle with Olsen and Convey on the Flanks. Defense has Petke (Right Back), Prideaux(Stokes), Ivanov, and Reyes (Left Back). Of course, Rimando as our GK. I'm sure it would work in a 4-4-2 format as well. We also should have decent depth on the bench. Man...wouldn't it be great if could could land either Moore or Hejduk. Moore and Stewart looks nice. Hejduk and Reyes gives us speed for a lightening transition. US National lineup just like days of ol'. We'll see...your thoughts?
congrats, you're the first sane person to admit that Eskandarian will be starting and not Quaranta. I don't believe that NJ is the team to beat however. Jaime Moreno is not the answer to NJ's prayers; rather, he'll become their worst nightmare. I like our team, especially now that we have two guys who know how to bury the ball in the back of the net in the starting lineup.
what about ryan nelsen? don't you want him in the center of defense after the terrific year he just had? granted, he did have injury problems at the end and he did not prove anything in 2001, but he did have a great year. he was able to fill in where llamosa, agoos, and pope left off. i think he earned a starting spot from last years performances.
Nice post 4mybroRRT. The Metros definitely look more formidable. Getting rid of Akwari will not hurt, as I never thought he'd be anything special. Losing Davis might hurt a little, but gaining Magee is going to be better in the long run IMHO. I'm a big Magee fan. Getting Ricardo Clark hurts ... me a lot. He instantly makes them a complete team. With Richie Williams there to tutor him, he should make the fastest rookie Dmid adjustment in MLS history. But, despite this, I don't think they're the team to beat, if the JMM rumors are true. If New England gets Moore, they become the team to beat IMHO. Nicol has constructed a very sound defending team. With Twellman and Ralston augmented by Nowak and Moore, they become a juggernaut. Hernandez is an exceptional two-way Dmid. He has the physical side, defensive side, technical side, long passing skills, etc. Also, both Nowak and Moore defend. IMHO, New England can be the best in the league next year. -Tron
............Rimando Reyes.....Nelsen.....Petke .......Ivanov.....Etcheverry Olsen.....Kovalenko.....Convey ......Stewart.....Quaranta
----------Stewart-------Santino-------- ----------------Etcheverry------------- Convey-----------Dema-----------Olsen ------------------Nelsen--------------- ------Petke------Ivanov-----Reyes------ That's what I expect to see for the majority of the matches. -Tron
But it sounds like JMM is way up in the air at this point. Ultimately we have to see with NE if their end of the year win streak was just a streak or the real thing- just like we now see that the Patriots streak in football to win the Super Bowl was just a strak by an average team. They didn't improve themselves in the draft. The thing I don't like about the metros draft is that they took two highly rated youngsters in Magee and Gaven, who have pretty similar games from wht I've hear and the team has no right to expect much out of them for two years, minimum, which is a lifetime in MLS. That they lost Davis to get Magee only compounds their problems. Magee and Gaven are in no way backups to Moreno and Mathis. That team is still very very thin and relying on players like Ziadie. They have to get lucky to really contend. The Fire? Can't wait to see Beasley as an a-mid but they are just to young. I like very much the Cows getting Walsh. I think he'll be the a-mid they never quite had (paired with Martino) and with their forward talent, they could be awsome. Still they need more on defense and it seems likely still to me that we will trade defense for some type of offense with them. As for us, a lot is riding on Escandarian and Tino's feet. we have a chance this year as our defense looks even more solid than last year. But I'm still worried about our forwards.
Winner winner, chicken dinner...... Something of note here, both Tino and Convey will be gone for the opener in KC and here in DC (provided the US make it out of group play at the U-20 WC) and thus look for Esky to get the initial start up top with Quintanilla possibly getting the wide left start (but don't hold me to that - not many other options besides moving Benny over to the left and slotting Dema on the right with Harkes moving into midfield alongside Marco).. But for the most part, what Eric posted should be our starting XI for most of the season...
I think it will be essentially what Tron posted. No one can really say whether Nelsen or Ivanov will play midfield, since no one here has seen Ivanov play. That said, you can't doubt that both of them will be on the field. Chris makes a good point about that opening game. Despite the many things I've said about Eskandarian, I have no doubt he'll be starting with Quaranta on the U20's. I'd say the more likely option is the second one he gave, with Olsen on the left, Kovalenko on the right, and Harkes (provided we do end up getting him) in midfield. Quintanilla is just too slow to play wide. If we don't get Harkes, I'd expect Chino or Namoff in midfield with Nelsen/Ivanov. Normal starting lineup should be this though: ---------- Rimando ---- Reyes Ivanov Petke Olsen Kovalenko Nelsen Convey --------- Etcheverry ------ Quaranta Stewart
One MCL sprain and he has 'injury problems'? It's not like he was pulling a Moreno or anything out there.
Does anybody know much about Ivanov? where did he play previously? Where does he fit into a formation? Is he more of a D-mid or cb?
I think this is right too except I think Nellie and Ivanov will be switched and folks here aren't appreciating the different dimension that Escandarian brings to the team. But what if we go to a 442? What would that look like? We might see us go to this in games that we are ahead and looking to close out: --------------Rimando Reyes--Petke---Ivanov----Prideaux --------------Nelsen Olsen---------------------Convey ------------Kovalenko Stewart----------------Q1/Eski This amounts to a Prideaux for Etcheverry switch, which points to the fact that we don't have a real good option a left back in a 442, a guy who can overlap offensively like Reyes can do on the right.
Actually, I think they see Gaven as more of an Hmid who would play alongside Ricardo Clark in central midfield. Magee is a withdrawn forward type who is most effective closer to goal. While Gaven can play up top, and if he continues to develop those skills he could become a target forward, I don't think he'll be counted on to play Magee's role. Magee is a very talented player, and much like Mathis, many people are not going to realize this by watching only a game or two. But you'll notice about him that he has a few brilliant plays a game and often seems to score or set up a score. In the end, he just brings offense to the game every week, even if he looks very pedestrian for long stretches of the game. Davis is almost the opposite. Davis is bigger, faster, more athletic, and is constantly a threat. But in the final analysis, I don't think Davis brings as much offense as Magee. Plus, Bradley needs to build "his" team, and Davis isn't necessarily a Bradley guy. Dallas benefits greatly because they had Davis rated extremely highly, he gives them cover if Martinez goes to the MFL or Pareja retires, and he can play the big forward or creative forward role. This can complement EJ or provide competition for EJ. The fact that Jason Thompson is there as well, gives Jefferies three big young athletic attacking players. So everybody wins. -Tron
This is definitely the lineup I think Ray has in mind. The only thing I don't know is whether or not Ivanov and Nelsen will be switched. Also, Esky will likely start for at least the time tino and Convey are gone. Thus leaving Convey's spot open to . . . . . . . ? And I think Prideaux (unfortunately its probably him and not Petke) will be shipped to Columbus because they desperately need some defense IMO for either a forward or outside midfielder and possibly draft pick(s). Does anyone remember how Prideaux fell out with Hudson last year? I thought they fell out somehow at the end of the season. I recall Prideaux had played every minute of the season until the second to last or last game when Ray randomly benched him. I was shocked.
There wasn't a falling out and the benching wasn't random. It's just that we had five defenders who Hudson felt were all worthy of starting and only four places to play them. For most of the season we had one defender or another out with injury or in Pope's case at the WC and so Hudson didn't have to choose who to sit.. At the beginning of the season they were all there and Nelsen was the odd man out. At the end of the season when all the defenders were present, Prideaux was the odd man out, mainly because of all the defenders, he brought the least to the offense, and our offense needed as much help as possible. Brandon didn't like it but it wasn't personal from Hudson's point of view. Rather at that point Ray was going with a 352 with the three back guys being Pope, Nelsen, and Reyes, with McKinley and Williams at d-mid.
Sorry to burst your bubble.. Prideaux was on a yellow card suspension for the last game against Dallas....
The good thing is that Ray has options on our lineup now. Remember during the scoreless streak last year when it was hard to figure out who was going to play and all the options sucked?? We are a much improved team and have a chance to win the East this year. One comment on the Metrodonkeys... Davis contributed last year and is ready to contribute more this year. I don't think the same can be said of Magee who did not play high level soccer much last year. He may pay off but I think it is a couple of years down the road.
Marco is horrible and i guarantee you once hudson see's that stewart is better at central mid with kovalenko marco will be riding the pine with alecko and santino up top