What will the Quakes back line look like this season???

Could it be that THAT is what the big rumored signing could be? Frank seems reluctant to start younger players, but he may have no choice with Dunivant. So, maybe he's got something up his sleeve from his travels abroad-a defender for the right side, perhaps. I don't know, just wishing.

By the way, heard mixed reviews on Russell playing on the back line last weekend. Any insights?

 

back line

Corrales will be given a chance to take the left back spot -- assuming Lagos is healthy and playing well at left mid -- with Dunivant as an alternative.
Agoos and Dayak will be first choice in the middle, with Robinson as first backup as he was last year. Yallop says Waibel can play anywhere on the back line but has the pace to play right back, where he is the projected starter at this point.

 

Thanks for the info, Ridge. Those all sound like very natural moves.

I think that with all of those players (and maybe counting Ian Russell as back-up at RB) the Quakes could have a respectable defense with good offensive production out of the entire line.

 

I agree entirely with your posts. I think they're both viable and seem to be the most logical at this point. But on a side note, what's the status on Sanfilippo? Haven't heard much on him...

 

The back line is the only part of the Quakes I have no worries about. We can play any of seven people in almost any order and end up with a defense as good as any in the league.

 

Do you mean Russell?

Sean

 

Strong

I agree that Dayak, who I think is a wonderful player should be put on the bench and Robinson on the starting team. I will always love Dayak for that Awesome header aganist Miami ( DON'T ANYONE FORGET ABOUT THAT!) but Robinson is not as injury prone. I have trust in Waibel on the outside, maybe Troy can play the flank as mentioned before. One thing I believe is that we need Ian in the mid, he adds pace in the wing. Put Ramiro in the mid again, HELL, bench Lagos, did nothing last year but look at the ground! P.S........ WE NEED A GOALIE!!!!!!!

 

sorry this was supposed to be a post. I am still trying to get a hang of this. Againg sorry.

 

Didn't Dayak play at RB, back in 1996? (I remember, somebody posted that he actually did).

 

Strong

Rename the thread, and your first post would be a good starting point for an interesting discussion.

 

I think it was me. Troy also played right back for the Blackhawks in the APSL (before MLS existed). Good at moving the ball up the wing, and quick enough to catch up to wingers who initially got by him. But age and injuries have definitely made him a better candidate for a more stay-at-home central defender who usually only comes up for set plays.

Frankly, I'm okay with what Ridge reports/predicts. Healthy, that's a step up from our back line last season.

 

Re: Strong

Good point, but since they're already discussing this in the "Who's Going to be on the Backline" thread, I'm going to merge this over there for D'Allesandro...I'm presuming that's where he meant the post to be.

 

Russel at right back in a 4-4-2 would be a disaster. He could play wing in a 3-5-2 perhaps, but I don't really see FY going with 3-5-2.

-KMJvet

 

> Russel at right back in a 4-4-2 would be a disaster

Why do you say this? In his time as outside midfielder, he has often had to track back on defense and has done a good job at that. The game last Sunday showed he can be physical as well. I would much rather have him there than Mulrooney.

 

I like the idea of Russel on the back line more than I do as a midfeilder. That aside, this is a huge issue. My feeling last year was that we were way too slow, and that the narrower confines of Spartan disguised that to an extent. (Certrainly a guy like Agoos is a very smart player and did well covering a confined space.) But we were exposed away from home. We needed more speed!

 

Because I think he'd just be so haphazard on defense. In the 3-5-2, there's a plan to cover for the wing who will sometimes come back to contribute on defense and sometimes not. But in a 4-4-2 the right back has to be consistant and reliable with their positioning and their marking assignment. I don't think Russell's got it in him. His good defensive plays come from dashing in unexpectedly to nip the ball away. All well and good in the 3-5-2 because I think he could be quite good at getting when needed in a 3-5-2. But I think his defensive talents are not sufficient for 4-4-2 and I don't really see him being teachable in this regard... insuffucient defensive judgement...too easily burned, although I would have no way to prove that, JMO.
The other thing that makes me say it is that Russell makes stupid bonehead fouls too often when he's late arriving on defense. Put him right back in 4-4-2 and those stupid bonehead fouls will start happening in the penalty area. Russell looked okay (not great but okay) last Sunday because he played more like 3-5-2 wing with Weibel consistantly covering for him. But it also created communication issues between he and Barclay. I don't know whether FY would say he played 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 the first half of Sunday's game, but Russell didn't play true 4-4-2 right back.

-KMJvet

 

I suspect the defense at the end of the year doesnt look like the defense to start it.

 

Just to set the record straight, Cowboy had a hernia last season. That's why he didn't play. He had surgery at the end of last year to repair it. And he says he's fine, just trying to get back to being match fit since he hasn't had as much time to train fully with the team due to his surgery.

A hernia is not an "age-related" injury. It's more of a "sports related" injury. I believe it is a tear in the wall of the abdomen or groin (but don't quote me on that), and it is an injury that is not uncommon in a sport like soccer. Some other players who have had hernia surgery in the last few years include Bobby Convey who missed the 2001 All Star team, Santino Quaranta who I believe had surgery last year too, and our very own Wade Barrett who had surgery in 2000. However, I'm not disputing that as the body ages it becomes less able to defend itself and heal from injuries. So I'm not denying that he's aging. Just trying to set the record straight and put this in perspective.

 

Every time I see the English word "hernia" that make me smiling..
Because in Russian the word "hernia" is a pretty harsh word and it means "bullsh..." or "very bad thing" too

 

Dunivant-Agoos-Robinson-Waibel

I'm just tossing this out here for how it looks right now. I'm sure it will change as we get closer to Opening Day.

Robinson: Robinson is a pure central defender. He doesn't play well on the flank, and his strengths are better suited for the middle.
Russell: He pushed up a lot in the Shanghai friendly because Barclay provided no option on the right. If anything was to be done on the right flank, Russell or Mullan were going to have to do it.
Roner: His promotion to the senior team shows that Yallop has plans for him. He played on the right for 15/20 minutes against Columbus last season (nothing terrific, nothing horrific). He also played center back against Club America. He can provide an option for us there.
Dunivant: He could contribute very quickly once he gets his feet wet. He has a lot of potential. It's either him or Alvarez that will be the biggest new impact player this year.
Corrales: I like him better in the midfield now. We should be able to fill the left back role with Dunivan. Corrales is too valuable, now, in the midfield either on the flank or center.
Dayak: Before the Shanghai friendly, he was doing a workout, including some sprints. He was moving fast. He could fill the right back role as a substitute, or moved from the center. He still has some legs in him.
Agoos: The anchor in the middle will keep the backline organized and effective. Because of his left foot, he can be on the left for the central pair, giving extra support and instruction to Dunivant.
Waibel: He will be a solid contributor, most likely on the right flank. If he's going to start, it'll be on the right flank. If not, he'd be the first defender off the bench.