Ok why don't we run a 3-4-3. why are a lot of people still stuck on that 3-5-2 We could run this at the backline: Reyes-Ivanov-Petke-Nelsen I'm not sure about the midfielders, there are so many combinations. We could run this upfront: Quaranta-Stewart-Eskadarian Any thoughts?
As good as that backline is, I thin we need someone to break the momentum. Reyes-Ivanov-Petke-Nelsen That's a all new backline. That will take a long time for that to adjust. Also. There is a lot of fan optimism towards Ivanov. I agree (for the most part) with these fans. I think he will be super. He will really add to our defense. The main question is.....What if he sucks?!? Not that MLS has acquired crappy players before...but what if he's another Dunga, Ian Woan, or Mattheus??? We're so close, yet we could easily end up missing the playoffs again. Let's hope we get there soon!!! Luckily, there is a lot of optimism. We could be the 2001 Fusion, but we could also be the really bad NJ team (99/). Just as well.
The best part about our lineup is that the shape of it can change around, it can look like, or rather play like, a 3-5-2 or maybe a 4-4-2 or even a 3-6-1 or some other formation. So since I haven't seen something exactly like this I say we should play the Dutch Christmas tree formation: 4-3-2-1 ----------Rimando------- Reyes---Ivanov---Nelsen---Prideaux ---Olsen---Etcheverry---Convey ------Stewart-----Kovalenko -----------Quaranta-------
I just don't think there's any chance we will be as bad as that 99' Tards team.. That team simply had no good players.. This is not the case with this team.. Convey Olsen Reyes Rimando Nelsen Stewart Kovalenko Quaranta Any one of those players would have been the best player on that 99' team and we have all of them here... I wouldn't expect a 5-0 start out of the gate for this team, but there will be a definite improvement of this team from the past 3 seasons...
Wash your mouth out with soap! It's good to temper one's expectations until the team actually starts to play. GM
I think numbers and formations are going to be kind of useless with the group we have. We'll have defenders and attackers. But if you look at Olsen, Etch, Convey, Dema, Earnie and Quaranta, I think all will roam with a responsibility to help out defensively while Nelsen, Ivanov, Petke and Reyes will be in charge of stopping the attacks. I just don't think we're going to be able to slap a lot of labels on guys and I think that's a good thing.
I need to stop drunk posting. I don't really expect us to be THAT bad, but I threw it out there as an example. We were almost that bad last year at one point.
I wouldn't be surprised if these four turned out to be our starting defenders. The only change I'd make is putting Nelsen in the middle. He's too slow to be an outside back (or any position other than central D).
Actually there's little real difference between the 343 you post and the most likely 352 that's been posted. (I will ignore that you have four in the back in your 343.) 352: ----------Rimando Reyes-----Ivanov------Petke -----------Nelsen Olsen--Etcheverry---Convey --------Kovalenko ---Stewart-----Q1/Eski Now the 343 can happen with Dema moving up to forward: ----------Rimando Reyes-----Ivanov------Petke -----------Nelsen Olsen--Etcheverry---Convey Stewart--Dema---Q1/Eski I would suspect that Dema wil be playing pretty far forward anyway. Also., it's important to see that Stewart and Quaranta often play pretty far back and that Convey and Olsen and Etch will be allowed to roam to the middle and other sides and the formation will begin to look fluid.
Skip nailed it. I think we'll probably see Santino on the right and Stewart on the left, but that's the lineup I envision. And like Skip said, there's very little difference, because Ray's 352 sends a midfielder into the forward line on most occasions, the difference is that it's not a specific midfielder moving forward in a predictable way. It's any of the 4 attacking midfielders (minues Nelsen usually) depending upon the defense. Hudson allows his attackers to fill defensive gaps when they arise to take advantage of defensive breakdowns. I love that strategy! I expect Etch to start as the midfielder closest to the forwards because he provides the least defense, and Ray's 352 with Dema attacking will probably not be as good defensively as last season's team. But Dema, Convey and Olsen will play through to the forward line, and in many cases Etch will fall back to take their places. We'll be very vulnerable to counter attacks, particularly with Nelsen's lack of pace, but hopefully our defensive line's speed and experience can handle it. The problem with the 343 is two fold. 1) It doesn't have a 4 man back line to absorb constant attacks while neutralizing the flank play and crosses. 2) It doesn't have the extra central midfielder to win balls, keep possession, deflect attacks wide and blunt counter-attacks. So, the 343 tends to create very few chances for the 3 forwards and allow a lot of goals. But if you play a 352 you can protect the back line by having more ball winners in the midfield. This is what Bob Bradley does so well, and why the Metros acquiring Ricardo Clark was so devestating in my mind. Ray's 352 is a true 352 defensively, for ball winning, and for possession, but it morphs into a 343 only when on the attack. But it requires 4 solid positional defenders in midfield and requires them to all be ball winners and counter attack stoppers. I think Nelsen and Dema can do that in the middle, so I expect Etch to be closer to the forwards. -Tron
maybe you actually need to be more drunk before posting. don't limit yourself, think outside the box...
Anything I would have added has already been said. The team will be extremely flexible...our starting forwards can also play right midfield and, in Stewart's case, attacking midfield as well. Olsen can play either flank and even as a striker. Convey can play on the left or move into Etcheverry's or Kovalenko's spot. Nelsen will probably maintain a fairly rigid position, but the rest of our midfield and attack will be moving and switching constantly. This is a very good thing. Tron's defensive analysis is spot on as usual. The 352 for Ray becomes positionally more rigid when we don't have the ball. Kovalenko and Nelsen will be the central midfielders, with Etcheverry (and his improved defensive work) helping out here and there. However, once we win it back, positions go pretty much out the window. Teams are going to have a hell of a time trying to track our attackers and slow us down. It's going to be fun to watch.
There are several problems employing either a 3-4-3 or a 4-3-3 with the personnel Hudson has. Tactically, a 3-4-3 is problematic because it leaves a team more exposed at the back than a 3-5-2 because you have fewer midfielders supporting. A 3-4-3 is a very aggressive attacking formation, but you can leak goals like a sieve unless you're absolutely airtight at the back. I don't think Reyes, Ivanov and Petke will play like Moe, Larry and Curly, but I'm certain no one will confuse them with Desailly, Cafu and Maldini. Similarly, a 4-3-3 demands more than the club, at present, can deliver. It requires three midfielders with lungs of leather. Olsen could do it, Convey comes close, and .... well, that's really about it. If you have doubts, early last year Columbus used a 4-3-3 because they were able to get their forwards out on the field at the same time, but the midfield was as porous as swiss cheese. Maybe the Dutch can do it (or, for that matter, the US Women's team circa 1999), because they have some truly dominant athletes, but not United. Not really. That leaves us with the somewhat stodgy 4-4-2 and the more adventurous 3-5-2. Unless you want to play catenaccio (4-5-1) or Sampson-ball (3-6-1). With the guys we've got, a 3-5-2 is probably a good choice.
Just a follow-on -- a 3-5-2 with United's current personnel would look like this: Rimando Reyes Ivanov Petke Kovalenko Nelsen Olsen Etcheverry Convey Quaranta Stewart