Zizi & Spencer battle for starting spot http://mlsnet.com/content/03/oped0205connolly.html John Spencer vs. Zizi Roberts (Colorado): Roberts is a 23-year-old Liberian international and former member of Olympiakos (Greece) who is expected to sign with the Rapids shortly. He’s been somewhat of a disappointment, as he was supposed to succeed George Weah as the top gun in Liberia, but troubles on and off the field have slowed his development. A new change of scenery might be the trick, and could lead to great duel against Spencer as far as starting up top with Chris Carrieri. Apparently, this dude thinks Carrieri has the starter's job locked. Opinions?
i think we'll sooner see Spencer and Roberts up top. Carrieri might end up as third wheel. Spencer's got the armband, giving him priority. i see... ----Roberts------Spencer----- ------------------------------ Chung--------------Henderson -----Grimandi---Mastroeni----- ------------------------------ Rizzo-Herdsman-Fraser-Stewart ------------------------------ ------------Garlick------------
Re: Zizi & Spencer battle for starting spot From the outside looking in, I think you'd be better off with Spencer as the incumbent starter, with Roberts and Carrieri fighting for the second spot. Then again, I see things differently from Connolly a sizeable portion of the time.
That wouldn't be too bad, but considering Carrieri's penchant for scoring after the 80th minute, I'd just as soon see CC as the supersub...
No freakin' way. Spencer has the pedigree and the experience. I can't see any concievable way that Hanki would leave Spennie on the bench while Zizi and CC run around up front.
If Zizi's half the player he's reported to be, he should be starting up front, as the Rapids desperately need a target forward. If Spencer's healthy, I don't see how he doesn't start as well. With his experience, goal scoring prowess, and tenacity, he clearly starts in my mind. I think Chris will come off the bench when the Rapids need a goal, and will start when one of the other two is injured or needs a rest.
Personally, I would like all three of them on the field at the same time, whether using Spencer as an attacking mid or using Chung as a centermid and dropping Carrieri back on the wing in a 3-5-2 or just playing a straight 3-4-3. Last year, I was all about Carrieri as a super sub. This year, he needs to be on the field and if it came down to Zizi, Carrieri and Spenny, I'd take Carrieri. To be fair, I haven't really seen Zizi, 'cept in one practice, so I can't make an unbiased decision on him. But last year, our best forward was Carrieri and he was in the top three on the team in scoring, despite sitting the bench one-fourth of the year.
i say we play a 3-4-3... nobody else in the league does... like this: ---Carrieri------------Spencer--- ------------Roberts------------- Chung----------------Henderson -----Grimiandi-----Mastroeni----- ---Rizzo/Left Back----Stewart--- -------------Fraser-------------
Could it be: Zizi------------Spencer Chung-- Pablo---Grimandi---Hendo Rizzo---Fraser----Herdsman---Stewart
i like that formation, but i still want to see Carrieri on the pitch. though, i think he's behind Spencer and Roberts in the depth chart.
Personally and IMHO, what CC did for the rapids last year, based on pure minutes played, should give him the edge on Zizi. I don't think you reward a player who helped you get in the playoff and to the semi-finals, by now saying he's not good enough to be a starter,. However, based on the political BS of the MLS in general, the one thing CC (and Hanki) have going for him is that he can play forward, wing or attacking mid---which leaves room for him to get plenty of PT--------
as a PS to the above, maybe CC, can be the young American player the Rapids can get behind and support, ala, Donovan, Twellman, Quaranta, Buddle, Johnson, of the other MLS teams
Whatever Hanki decides, he better know before the season starts and sticks with it. I'm a little tired of him changing his lineup every game because someone had a good week of practise. He has got to find his best 11 and get them on the field in whatever capacity. If his best 11 allow him to play 3-5-2 then regardless of his preference, he has to play that. The league is too tight to not put your best players on the field every game, when available. So, if in the preseason, Carrieri and Roberts show an uncanny understanding and score tons of goals, then Spennie could be the odd man out up front. But I would still find a way to get all three of them on the field at one time. IMHO, I think that Hanki should start with 3-5-2 and play Carrieri on the right side and let him run the shite out of opposing left backs. Hell, we got 20+ goals from our wing players last season, so there is no telling what a striker could contribute from the wing, along with Spennie and Roberts banging them in up top. Do I think this will happen? No. I think Hanki will force his players into 4-4-2 and someone will be on the bench in the supersub roll. Is this all bad? No. I just want to see the best 11 fielded every game if possible.
I agree you must get your best 11 out there, and use a formation suited to those players. However, I'm not sure Carieri at an outside mid in a 3-5-2 would be so great. It might work, but playing a 3-5-2 puts a lot of pressure on the outside mids to perform. I have no doubt his work rate would be fine and he would get forward, but with only 3 backs, he would really have to pay attention to his defensive responsibilities, and might be a liability there.
With Carrieri's ability to get clutch late goals, is the reason he does this 1) he wears down the defense for 80 minutes and finally gets one in through as much perseverence as skill or 2) he is able to take advantage of the defense after it has been generally worn down for three quarters of the game? The reason I ask is if it is number 1, he may not be as effective as a last thirty minute forward as he is as a ninety minute player. With his hustle and toughness, I think he would be a great late spark in a tough game but I also wonder if he is not like the American Football (being pc) running backs that always do better in the second half because they have personally pounded the defense for half a game until they finally give way.
With Pablo and Gilles as d-mids, I'm not worried about coverage on the break. Carrieri showed a number of times his willingness and ability to get back into his own box and help out. I'm not sure it would work either but it is definately intriging to get our best attackers on the field at the same time.
I haven't seen Zizi play yet, and I'm guessing that hankinson isn't going to use an international spot on a benchwarmer. But I'm thinking that Carrieri would be more effective late in the game as a 3rd forward. He's such a fighter that putting him in late when he's fresh and defenders are tired would be a good move. The trick is trying to get him to psychologically buy into the fact that that's his role in the club and he shouldn't be down on himself for starting out on the bench.
It'll happen this way... Yes, of course.. On one of the other threads we had this discussion...I think CC will be on the bench, but will be a fill in for the hurt/carded/called-up Spencer, Roberts, Chung, Henderson.....AND he'll come in to sub any game he isn't starting for someone. We cannot expect Chung and Henderson to play all 90 every game like last year. He may log more minutes this year than last year.... RLH "depth is good"
Simply put, the players who will get the starting nod at forward are going to be the ones that perform best over the next month. Performances of last year (Carrieri), the previous year (Spenny) or potential (Zizi) are going to have zero bearing on Hankinson's decision for the start of this year. As for Connolly's statement of "who pairs with Carrieri" I think that's based more on the fact that like most fans (and national media) he knows less about the Rapids than he does most any other MLS club, and much of his words were based on last year's statistics.
I would hope that to be true, but last year Carrieri worked his arse off and produced in preseason training (or so I heard. I'll admit I wasn't there) but come regular season he had splinters in that arse.