"Yallop: Quakes close to signing Lima" (Wednesday, 7/2/08)

Why? We don't need a 37-year old d-mid.

 

Yallop has stated that he intends to sign up to 3 players, signing Lima only makes sense to me if we also sign a foward ro an A-mod

 

even at 37 this guy is probably still good enough to be quality in MLS....even better that he supposedly wants to play here. As long as Yallop thinks he could be useful.

 

How do you know he's good? Have you seen him? I agree it only makes sense if we also sign an attacking mid and a striker.

 

I don't really know how his current form is, but most of the teams he has played for are above MLS in quality. I'll just assume yallop has seen enough to be willing to sign him.

 

inasmuch as yallop has stated the intention to sign up to three players

i don't see how this signing "only makes sense if they sign a forward or an attacking mid as well"......this is not to be the quakes only intended signing......as i've stated before, d-mid is relatively well-manned, but this squad can use quality just about anywhere we can add it.......yallop is fairly gushing about this addition, so what i'm getting from your posts is that you've lost faith in yallop as a decision-maker

 

Let's assume that a guy that plays for AS Roma is pretty good. Just sayin'.

Lets' look at our roster with him in it.

- - - - - RJ - - - - KK <-still weak up front.
Ivan - - - - Ned - - - - RO'B <-still weak at a-mid.
- - - - - - - Lima <-assume a solid upgrade here.
Ramiro - Ryan - Nick - Jason <-d is better with Ramiro in for EricD, or Ryan.
- - - - - - TheJoe

Alternatively, we could play either Ramiro or Kelly in for Ned and bloster our central midfield. I think that it does make the team stronger, but again, this would not be my first choice signing.

goooooo quaaaaaakes!!!!!!

- Mark

 

Re: inasmuch as yallop has stated the intention to sign up to three players

Pretty much questioning the decision when even fans know that d-mid is not a high priority upgrade.

 

He stopped played for AC Roma in 2004 (Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Lima). I believe that he is with a Seria B team at the moment. Old and midfield are not a good mix. Old and goalie or defenders is usually fine.

My guess is that Frank is looking for a Ekelund type. Someone who can hold the ball and distribute well, but you don't have to really on his work rate. So, he may not play defensive midfield, but he may fullfill more of the Ned role.

 

This seems bizarre since we need a center back, right back and two strikers more than we need this.

 

Probably cause a D-mid really cannot be slow. Just look at the harm an old Makelele did for France in the Euros at D-mid.

 

we can use an upgrade at most positions and d-mid might not be a dire as others but its still a upgrade. If he can still play in seria B then he can still play in MLS.

 

depends if it was a good serie B club or a bad one. this is really an iffy signing. kinda worrying.

 

I agree that while we seem to be OK with D-Mid, we can always use better player (if Lima is better). If the team is going to sign 2 more players and they are strikers and A-mid, then we have a competitive team and especially the midfield will look really well. Then we also have Denton, Cochrane, Gray, Corrales, Grabavoy, Salinas to rotate in the midfield and at the back.

I have not seen Lima play so I can't judge how he is. Being 37 may sound discouraging to some, but I will wait until he signs and we are able to see him on the field to evaluate. For now, I trust that FY knows what he is doing.

These are some pictures of Lima playing in the past. Seems to be a big physical guy. I like that in front of our central defense.
http://www.jamd.com/search?assettype=g&assetid=1680246&text=Francisco+Lima

 

Thanks for the correction. And you could well be right that he steps in for Ned, not the d-mid spot. So Lima/Corrales? or Lima/Gray? What's your preference?

gooooo quaaaaaakes!!!!!!


- Mark

 

Just by looking at him in the pics he looks like a beast. I just hope that he has not changed too much in 6 years. LOL

 

I like your defense except for one aspect. Looking at this purely from who has earned the chance to play vs sit, I don't see how Gray would be excluded from this lineup. And, I have been pleasantly surprised with Denton's play, especially getting forward, which is such a big part of Yallop's system.

The three in your lineup that have not impressed are Cochrane, Kamara and Grabavoy. While Kamara has a big heart and works hard enough his production just isn't there. I'm a little more impressed with Johnson's contributions because he always seems to make something happen (like that back heel out of the blue last game that almost sprung Cunliffe (?) through.)

I want to like Ned but he just doesn't seem to be able to take the game to people. Everytime that he gets the ball and you're thinking "Go at them" or "Slot the ball through" he turns it back around and slows things down. Some blogger put it best when he inserted a Yawn after mentoning Ned. He doesn't do much to change the game yet that is pretty much his job description.

As for those who deserve to play, I would put Gray most anywhere on the field. He's shown well on defense but as evidenced by his booming shots a game or two ago, I think he'd be an upgrade over Kamara at this point. I know it would make too much of a statement but I would relegate Cochrane to the subs bench and move Ramiro back to the center, provided he plays with the same tenacity as last game.

But even with these adjustments it is painfully clear that we aren't going anywhere until we bring in some front line players who can elevate our play. Once we do I think ROB's play will become more consistent. Much as I hate Ruiz, and would not want to see him soil the Black and Blue, we need someone with his bag of skills who has a nose for the goal. I certainly hope that our next signing would be a quality finisher.

 

Just had a thought. Could Lima be moved into center defense? Not a complete stretch from defensive midfield.

 

I like how you think. That I would not be against.

 

Gray falls into the category that is similar to the baseball "utility" player, meaning he does a decent job at multiple positions. Didn't Kelly Gray play in the central defense a few times when he was in San Jose the first time?

It seems to me that San Jose has some speed, but without quality in the midfield, much of that advantage gets scrubbed off in the transition. Being able to hold and distribute the ball is extremely important any time, and in Yallop's system, it is vital to success. MLS has been the home to some great "aging" midfielders like Valderama or Etcheverry. This guy, alone, is not THE answer. Potentially, the answer is this type of player as a part of the puzzle.

 

There has to be someone younger that is a fiesty d-mid.

 

Perhaps.....I haven't seen him play. Will he be able to stay at home? The only center back I really trust to go running off on a lark is Phiippe Baloy since he always gets back.
Gray works going to that position because despite being more a d-mid at heart, he'll stay put.
I'd like to have a way to keep Cochrane off the field, moreso than any other player since he cost us the majority of goals, but I'm not sure FY sees that as a #1 goal.

 

Yea, a 5'8", 165lb beast ....lol

 

BOOOO~! Does he come with a walker or a wheelchair?