I have been waiting a few matches under the 4-3-3 to post this question. Where do we need the help? Given the following assumptions: 1) Geoff is gone 2) We continue to play a 4-3-3 3) This is indeed Chingy's last year I was thinking a month ago that need help in the back but Taylor has seemed solid in the middle and Creavalle has seemed solid in the midfield. We still have Moffat too. Now I thinking we need help up top. Playing essentially with 3 up top leaves us essentially with Ching as a sub coming off the bench. Let's face it, I don't think we are going to see any more of Weaver. With CCL coming up, I think it's going to be difficult for us to plug along only with these guys up top. IMO-I think DM is solid. The whole backline is solid. The midfield is actually pretty deep, with the maturing of Ownby and Creavalle. Thoughts?
We need a speedier RB. Andre did play better last night and could be getting used to the new way, but an upgrade in wing backs could help the team.
if that is a problem-what do you think about moving Hainault back to the middle and move JT over to outside?
Cam Weaver needs to get traded, I'll be willing to take ANYTHING for him. I'm pretty sure there are teams out there that want him or at least HAVE to deal with him due to cap space and a change in line-up. Our D-Line shouldn't get ********ed with. We finally found a working formula. Ching is great as a bench player, what'd he expect to be at this point in his career? Once he retires, if he's still in this league, I say we make a run for Shea. At first I found the idea of Shea coming to Houston laughable, but we may have the cap space next year.
Still need a QB. A #10 to take it away from Watson. JR Riquelme sez he has nothing left to give to Boca. Sign that dude ASAP. Half season contract.
let me throw this scenario at you-OBG plays in the middle, We deal Moffat and Carmargo to Dallas for Shea. Could that work? I am not sure I would lose either guy, but do you think OBG could be a QB?
Yes. If you watched the SKC game, dude sat deep and dropped passes on a dime to his teammates. He was totally a deep lying QB in that game and he played it perfectly. It was his 20 yard or so pass into a forward (thought it was Carr) at the top of the box that kicked it out wide to Davis that led to the game winner. 100% certain he could pull the a-mid strings if needed. IMHO, we depth at forward suited for the 4-3-3 we play. Right now we have Carr on the right (OBG if needed) and Kandji on the left. Bruin in the center has a backup in Ching. But what if Kandji goes down or Carr? Clark pushed up on the left v. SKC last year in a 4-3-3 and looked good so that might work, but we just need to get some additional forward depth that fits into the system. I think our team is at its best of late when the Camargo, Davis, OBG trifecta is on the field at the same time. All three have great vision, passing, and quality to their game that makes Houston difficult to defend. You put three active forwards (Bruin, Kanjdi, Carr) in front of them making runs and let those three do whatever they want in the run of play with Camargo as more the defensive anchor. I am completely torn on upgrading our outside backs. Hainault provides additional CB quality cover which is needed at times. I think it's easy to say upgrade LB with a more dynamic attacking player, but the extra speed Ashe brings may be an important part of our team's overall defensive performance. Yes, Hainault is a CB and Ashe struggles offensively at times. Crevalle, Moffat, Sturgis, Clark are the surplus players IMHO that have some trade value. I don't think Weaver has much trade value at all. Same with Watson. If you could package 2-3 of those for un upgrade at LB and an upgrade at forward. The team might be set.
I think people need to specify their comments. Some seem to be talking what we need to do with the remaining time in the transfer period and others what we do long term. 1) This year: With this new lineup I am not sure I do much of anything beyond maybe some depth/options up top. If Rico is available, I take him ONLY at the right price and I make Creavalle my primary back-up. I can then look to deal Moffat/ Weaver for another winger up top. We also need to add a depth player in the back. With the injury troubles of Sarkodie, we have no speedy option on the bench for defense and only two true defenders (Sarkodie/Sturgis/Recio/maybe Creavalle but I want him in middie). 2) Long term help: Outside back is primary focus next year. This is based on my assumption that Andre is gone after this season. If that is true, we will need solid right back and we will need another depth addition at CB. Beyond that, it is time to start grooming Davis replacement (couple year process) likely through the draft. I would then focus on better attacking options if Ching retires and Weaver is gone. IF - and this is a likely IF - we do not get Rico this transfer period, I would place a high urgency on the DM position in the 4-3-3. Creavalle shows promise but I would love an upgrade over him for a few years. Think Cameron's ability to switch the field and start the attack. Notice I do not talk about a CAM or QB as some people want. Why? Well because in a 4-3-3 we don't need or use one. Your central middie is more withdrawn as a defensive player think Rico/Creavalle or how Cameron played briefly. IF we move back to a 4-4-2. Then my above changes to CAM as the primary position of need in addition to defensive depth this year.
After just watching the FCD development Academy team win the Championship in our own stadium tonight, I think it's about time to put the Dynamo Academy under different leadership.
Boniek is our number 10. And he doesn't even have to be playing in the middle! It's incredible. He's been a big part of most of our goals, either directly assisting or starting the play, since he came here. He and Brad being our playmaking wingers balances things out as if we had a central number 10. At least that's how I think of it.
Yup. Miss me some Kofi getting on the job training as our rightback of the future. That position is special for me. Waibel's old role. Kofi comes across as an equally likeable dude and doesn't mind getting stuck in.
I think that leaves us too exposed with a lack of speed in the middle. BB.com and Andre aren't the speediest guys, Taylor isn't a blazer but he's fast enough to be serviceable. Paring BB and Andre is going to leave us vulnerable on the counter IMO. Only thing is that Kofi isn't a big dude, he plays pretty physically but he's not going to be your enforcer back there (although I think we have that role covered between Andre and Taylor). As far as what we need...surprisingly, not much. I'd love to sign Rico as I think he'd solidify us defensively. And although Kandji had a career night last night we could use at least some support on the left and/or up top. A player like Shea, a left winger who can also slot in at striker if needed, would be ideal.
We have the cap space now. Even without the Cameron Allocation funds. I would not trade both. If I had to chose, I'd trade Moffat as he has more value, and Camargo is more versatile for us. Would FCD trade Shea for Moffat? I know they're fcuking retards, but they can't be that stupid. Moffat and some allocation? I'd toss some fund their way, sure. We've got plenty and won't miss $100K or two. I question whether Shea is the answer though. At least in the 4-3-3. Leo is right: drop Weaver on someone else and get a striker. I'd say an outside striker, DP, and keep Bruin in the center and put Carr/Mac on the other side. Bringing Rico in would help, too. Especially if you do trade Moffat. Give Warren a good tutor to learn from and would help us defensively a ton. Long-term thinking: Sign Andre to an extension. Now. Use the allocation to buy down his cap hit over the course of his contract.
Actually, I'd argue the left spot in the top of the 4-3-3 is ideally suited for Shea. The outside spots are more wingers than true strikers, as a lefty with great pace and solid technical and attacking skill Shea is exactly the sort of player I'd want for that role. Agreed on Hainault, if we can get him signed to an extension do it now. I'd also like to see us look at bumping Taylor's salary a bit and extending his contract, at $60k he may be the best deal in MLS this season.
But is what we'd have to give up to acquire Shea, plus putting someone on the bench, really worth it? If we do get a DP ST, that means putting Carr and Mac on the bench. I'm not sure it is worth all that. I know this is going to sound heartless, but with the way our cap is, I'd ride Taylor's contract out as long as possible.