Anyone have any theories about why Ching was not even on the bench in the last 2 USMNT matches? He's not listed on the MLS injury report, so that doesn't seem to be the reason he wasn't on the bench. Has Ching moved that far down the depth chart that quickly that he's not even on the bench even after Davies gets hurt? I also noticed that Brian has not tweeted anything since early Sunday, which is unusual for him. I'm wondering if he's a bit unhappy with how things played out these last 2 matches.
I've heard theories about a tight hamstring, but I think it's more about poor form. He hasn't been very good for the past couple months, and for a striker who earns his paycheck by doing the little things rather than being a huge goal threat, a bad run of form is going to be a pretty big detriment to his chances. I don't think he's out of the picture for South Africa, but he needs to get back on his game to start getting minutes again.
I mentioned something similar in the World Cup 2010 qualifying thread. I found it odd that he was not listed as injured and did not make the gameday roster for either of the matches. I was also surprised when I saw they had given Cooper #11, which is usually what Ching wears (recent years). I think it has a bit to do with form, but I also think that Ching is one of those guys that is a fence-sitter for making the 2010 roster now.
Well, I hope he is well enough to take it out on the Galaxy. Seriously, I was wondering why he wasn't playing, somebody said in the first game they were saving him for the CR game, but that seemed strange since the CR game wasn't really too important. Again, I really hope there's nothing wrong with him.
it may also be a case of Casey being on fire might now and bradley choosing to play him. there are three guys similar on the team (ching, casey, and cooper). bradley knows what he is getting with ching and doesn't have to play him to learn anything. cooper is still an unknown and can't be played in matches that mean so much. expect to see him in the freindly coming up. mix in a bad hammi and a crappy field vs CR and ching doesn't get much time. i think he is still in the mix, just bradley going with whomever is hotter at the moment. that being said, ching has been a little off, but no where near to the point that he needs to be benched. unlike dempsy, who might join his buddy beasley after watching stewie show what a real right winger should be.
Ching finally tweeted something today, first time he's done so since last Sunday. So it sounds like he's healthy, and with his mom out for tomorrow's game he should be motivated! A good time for him to break out and score a couple of goals.
He's frustrated and he isn't playing particularly well. Though DrL brought up a good point, the service he's getting isn't spectacular either. But when the odd good cross does come in, he isn't doing much with it. We need him to get turned around to have any hope of doing something in the playoffs.
Healthy Richie (even with faceshield) and we score and win. No Richie- no service=no goals and no wins. We need Dick back.
It's probably too late to experiment now, but if I were running things I'd give serious thought to playing Holden on the left and moving Davis into the middle. I think Stu is much better than Brad in the middle of the field, but if we're running 2 big, slow forwards, we really need our wingers getting to the end line and providing service. Brad just doesn't have that dimension to his game, and as prettily as he hits the ball, he's putting in about 1 cross per game at this point.
I like Brad-but I'd like im more if he stayed on the left when he's supposed to be playing on the left.
I thought about that too but then I thought back to the beginning of the season when the Dynamo tried that on a couple of occasions. The results were less than stellar. I think the best solution is just to play more quickly. Not necessarily with pace but making decisions faster without rushing. Of course, that sounds easy but I realize it isn't. When the Dynamo had their run of good form earlier this season, it seemed like we were playing like this more often than not. And let's not forget, Davis, on the whole, has had a good season. Sure, a number of his assists have come off set pieces but he's had more than a few in the run of play.
we did that experiment already... it failed! just like the g cam experiment when he was moved away from BB.. that failed also. the experiment i want to see redone is the chabala at Lm one... he is a darn good defender and he can pass the ball... also i like hainault at left back instead or right... i think wade needs to retire as a dynamo.. and go into the coaching staff.
Um, we were playing like crap, they switched Stu and Brad for a couple games, and we were still playing like crap. That's not a failed experiment, that is a continued run of team-wide bad form. Stu was still trying to find his feet at that point, and was coming off an injury and the loss of his father. We've all seen Stu play well on the left many times, so it's absolutely nothing like moving Geoff to CAM, as he's never played well at that position, and isn't even the type of player you ever see there because it doesn't fit his skill set. I would absolutely try Stu on the left again now.
Well if you think the GC 'experiment failed' at midfield, the you won't be happy next year - Rico will be gone and your man will be playing behind SH. I think he does a pretty good job at defensive midfield. Not as good as good as Rico yet but he is still learning the position at the professional level. Right now he plays center back better. I think he has the potential to be as good at def midfield and possibly surpass Rico. The key for this to work is to have someone else to step up and perform as well at center back. No one has yet.
I think that's kind of harsh for a guy that has seen time at F, DM, CB, RM, and RB in the last two years. His AM time wasn't great, but I will reserve judgment on that until I see him there for at least ten matches in a row. It's tough to switch from CB to AM from one game to another, the whole frame of mind in terms of passing is different. How you play the ball is completely different, so are the passing lanes. I think Geoff has attacking tendacies and thus I would have like to see us push him to RM and bump Mullan to F when we were short up top. But that's a moot point now. I think we can do that with ERob, Rhino, and BB in the middle-we now have a plethora of serviceable CBs. Having Geoff back there now is like using a truck with 4 WD just to go to the supermarket and back. You can do it, but you are not using your truck effectively if that's all you do. but next year he'll be the DM-I can guarantee that. B/C the FO went shopping for one and couldn't find another in this league that wouldn't require us losing too much. So that's Geoff's job now. I think he'll be fine there.
You could put him there for 30 games, and he'd still be bad at it. He doesn't pass well enough. His offensive qualities revolve around having quick feet, getting forward quickly, and having a crazy motor. I love the kid, but he's not someone to stick at the top of a midfield diamond.
I pretty much agree with that-b/c of that he's better on the outside. But I just like to give guys a fighting chance at a new position before they are judged.
i agree. in addition, i like to have my CAMs have at least one move (to get past defenders). bowling them over doesn't work well up top, but is ideal in the back.
Not to completely turn this into a Cameron thread but why in the hell do we have to keep moving him? Just because he's able to play a number of positions doesn't mean he should. Next season, hopefully he starts at d-mid, right mid or center back and stays there...forever. I don't want to see him become a jack of all trades and master of none. Oh and while I love Geoff and appreciate that he has only limited experience at F and AM, he's atrocious at both. I'm sure he could get better at either position with enough game time but why on earth would we do that?
Dre00 - I don't think it was intention of Dom to move Cameron all over the field..it just that we got player injured, player on duty with the USMNT and US U-20 and player on red card and so on and so on..
I don't really know, but I'll ask: Is Ching now on that inevitable way down all players go through eventually, or can he still be THE Brian Ching we have been accustomed to?