2015 Offseason Megathread

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Kjbert said:
I actually think we have miserable depth defensively right now. And while we all would like to shed the dead weight contracts, we can't do this. This isn't the NFL. Most of these contracts are guaranteed, especially to the older players like a Grabavoy, Wingert or Jacobsen - so we can't just say goodbye.

Another reason to be upset with Kreis is that those guys, who have provided little value for their contracts, may very well have long term contracts, crippling our roster flexibility for years forward.
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Simple misunderstanding. Depth in the sense of talent, we have shit. However, in the case of players being injury free for next season we do have depth in numbers. Each defensive position has about 2-3 subs.
I was also under the impression that we may be able to trade players still if we couldn't flat out cut them. Perhaps trading a few of our kreis boys for a good player could work in a business pitch of having "veterans that have played together before and undertand the style of play in MLS". I mean Kreis got away with it. Why not again? :(
 
For anyone that's a tactics buff or that agreed with my unnaturally obsessive breakdown of who should play where next season in a tiki-taka style of play, I found a very interesting piece of writing. I promise it's better than the work you need to complete :p. There's some irrelevance in it because I believe the writer was involved in some sort of game but if you disregard anything related to this app/game it's worth a read. Basically a manual of how to defeat very physically imposing teams by using intelligence in the center of the field. Can't help but get excited because we have the players to execute (mostly). Obviously we're not Barcelona but the teams in our league aren't exactly world champions either.

http://www.passion4fm.com/football-manager-2015-possession-tactic-barcelona-tiki-taka-tactics/
 
ktdNYCFC said:
Agreed, and how do we pull that off? As long as Pirlo is here it will be tough to play 2 ST and not be vulnerable in the back. Either we sell him and buy a sick CDM, or (more realistically) we go with something like below (?). We know Kreis wants a diamond mid. Either way we require some serious offseason investment in new CBs that can allow the LB/RB to add width on the attack.

View attachment 3547
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I'd prefer to sell him lol but like you said it's not realistic. I like your picks except I'd put jacobson where mix is and take mix out (maybe a sub for pirlo when he gets tired) although that would put Pirlo out of position.

Then again....Kreis was just fired this week so it'll be interesting to see what changes actually come now.....
 
This is a sincere request for input from people with more soccer knowledge than I have. Would the following make any sense as a way to get our best players on the field and in relatively appropriate positions for each of them:

-----Villa----------Poku----------
-------------Lamps---------------
--TMac-------------------Shelton--
----------Pirlo---Mix--------------
---Mena----NewCB----Iraola----

This is my best understanding of the basic shape of a 3-5-2. Feel free to imagine other new signings (or keeping Facey, 69, etc). But with one really good CB signing, we could get a lot of our young and old talent on the field in pretty good positions.

Of course, we'd need a coach who knows how to make this formation work. But am I crazy with this?
 
I don't like Poku or TMac out wide. Poku, IMO, needs to be central, same as Macnamara. Biggest problem here is that Iraola plays RB not RCB and Mena has barely shown to play CB let alone the left back position. I think you are hoping for too much.

I say get quality starters, stop trying to shove round pegs in square holes with these formations. We need new players for a lot of potential formations for 2016.

Unless you guys are theorizing for the Puerto Rico game... :)
 
MagnusPax said:
Unless you guys are theorizing for the Puerto Rico game... :)
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It's going to be so hot down there it'll be shirts & skins with pickup game quality play and minds wandering off to the after-game poolside drinking. I doubt we'll learn too much from that match.
 
FootyLovin said:
This is a sincere request for input from people with more soccer knowledge than I have. Would the following make any sense as a way to get our best players on the field and in relatively appropriate positions for each of them:

-----Villa----------Poku----------
-------------Lamps---------------
--TMac-------------------Shelton--
----------Pirlo---Mix--------------
---Mena----NewCB----Iraola----

This is my best understanding of the basic shape of a 3-5-2. Feel free to imagine other new signings (or keeping Facey, 69, etc). But with one really good CB signing, we could get a lot of our young and old talent on the field in pretty good positions.

Of course, we'd need a coach who knows how to make this formation work. But am I crazy with this?
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You are crazy with that. There is no way we can switch to 3 backs when 1 is Iraola after bleeding more goals than any other team in 2015, but I love where you put Mix. We should try developing him as Beckman's more skilled replacement. I saw him play the 6 as Beckman's replacement for the USMNT against Ecuador and he was fantastic. Mix can cover for Pirlo defensively and combine with him in a way that opens up the field for everyone else. You are spot on with 2 forwards. Just having Villa up top does not work.
 
Andrew Madden said:
For anyone that's a tactics buff or that agreed with my unnaturally obsessive breakdown of who should play where next season in a tiki-taka style of play, I found a very interesting piece of writing. I promise it's better than the work you need to complete :p. There's some irrelevance in it because I believe the writer was involved in some sort of game but if you disregard anything related to this app/game it's worth a read. Basically a manual of how to defeat very physically imposing teams by using intelligence in the center of the field. Can't help but get excited because we have the players to execute (mostly). Obviously we're not Barcelona but the teams in our league aren't exactly world champions either.

http://www.passion4fm.com/football-manager-2015-possession-tactic-barcelona-tiki-taka-tactics/
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That was pretty turgid but I dug the gist of it. If only it were that easy to assess players in real life ;)
 
Sabo said:
You are crazy with that. There is no way we can switch to 3 backs when 1 is Iraola after bleeding more goals than any other team in 2015, but I love where you put Mix. We should try developing him as Beckman's more skilled replacement. I saw him play the 6 as Beckman's replacement for the USMNT against Ecuador and he was fantastic. Mix can cover for Pirlo defensively and combine with him in a way that opens up the field for everyone else. You are spot on with 2 forwards. Just having Villa up top does not work.
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I hear you regarding the D. My goal is to get our top five players on the field in relatively natural positions. If Mix plays next to Pirlo, then I don't see anyway to get Lamp and Poku on the field together and both central without a 3-5-2. Iraola might be the wrong name there. Maybe it's Facey if we can bring him back. I don't know how much of a difference coaching and a single really strong CB in the middle could make. I don't know enough about the game to judge that.
 
Poku is at his best running at the defense. He could be a great target man up top some day with his physical presence and ball control, but I don't think we have seen that skill set yet. I think a 4-2-2-2 with a lot of inside-out movement and using the backs to attack down the wing will be our strongest lineup
------------------------------- Villa ------------------- Mullins (Shelton?)
-------------------------------- Lamps ----------------- Poku
-------------------------------- Mix --------------------- Pirlo
---------------------------------- Unknown Back 4

TMac and Shelton attacking subs. AJ defensive sub. Seattle (when healthy) has a lot of success attacking mostly straight down the gut. I think thats the way we maximize the talent on our team.
 
FootyLovin said:
This is a sincere request for input from people with more soccer knowledge than I have. Would the following make any sense as a way to get our best players on the field and in relatively appropriate positions for each of them:

-----Villa----------Poku----------
-------------Lamps---------------
--TMac-------------------Shelton--
----------Pirlo---Mix--------------
---Mena----NewCB----Iraola----

This is my best understanding of the basic shape of a 3-5-2. Feel free to imagine other new signings (or keeping Facey, 69, etc). But with one really good CB signing, we could get a lot of our young and old talent on the field in pretty good positions.

Of course, we'd need a coach who knows how to make this formation work. But am I crazy with this?
Click to expand...
When you think of a 3 man back line, you have to think of is as a 5 man back line also. So would you be happy with Mcnamara---Mena--CB--Iraola---Shelton as your defense?

It looks fine when you write it out as a 3-5-2, but that defense would get picked apart.

Sabo said:
Poku is at his best running at the defense. He could be a great target man up top some day with his physical presence and ball control, but I don't think we have seen that skill set yet. I think a 4-2-2-2 with a lot of inside-out movement and using the backs to attack down the wing will be our strongest lineup
------------------------------- Villa ------------------- Mullins (Shelton?)
-------------------------------- Lamps ----------------- Poku
-------------------------------- Mix --------------------- Pirlo
---------------------------------- Unknown Back 4

TMac and Shelton attacking subs. AJ defensive sub. Seattle (when healthy) has a lot of success attacking mostly straight down the gut. I think thats the way we maximize the talent on our team.
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The 4-2-2-2 has no width, you can say that the players will drift wide, but without defined positions, you are asking for the Fullbacks to get exposed. Unless we seriously up the talent of our defense I don't see a narrow midfield working.
 
Tom in Fairfield CT said:
When you think of a 3 man back line, you have to think of is as a 5 man back line also. So would you be happy with Mcnamara---Mena--CB--Iraola---Shelton as your defense?

It looks fine when you write it out as a 3-5-2, but that defense would get picked apart.



The 4-2-2-2 has no width, you can say that the players will drift wide, but without defined positions, you are asking for the Fullbacks to get exposed. Unless we seriously up the talent of our defense I don't see a narrow midfield working.
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So does this mean in your opinion that we are destined to see one of Lamps, Poku, Mix either on the bench or out of position for 2016 (minus the Pirlo summer hiatus when a central spot opens up)?
 
If Pirlo, Lampard, Poku and Mix are all with the team next season. Then only two of them can play at any one time. We need a defensive midfielder who is mobile, can tackle and protect the back four.

The other positions we need to bring players in are at Goalkeeper, Centre Half, Left Back, Right Wing & Striker.

There are quite a few players who we need to move on if we can. These include Grabavoy, Wingert, Brovsky & Jacobsen.
 
FootyLovin said:
So does this mean in your opinion that we are destined to see one of Lamps, Poku, Mix either on the bench or out of position for 2016 (minus the Pirlo summer hiatus when a central spot opens up)?
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Its such a badly constructed roster isn't it? The addition of Pirlo was so unnecessary, and puts a wrench in everything. He has to be central, Mix has to be central and Lamps has to be central. Poku should really be central too. I don't know what i would do. Maybe 4-3-3? Pirlo (or lampard) looking more and more like a mistake to get. I just don't see where he fits.
 
william straiton said:
If Pirlo, Lampard, Poku and Mix are all with the team next season. Then only two of them can play at any one time. We need a defensive midfielder who is mobile, can tackle and protect the back four.

The other positions we need to bring players in are at Goalkeeper, Centre Half, Left Back, Right Wing & Striker.

There are quite a few players who we need to move on if we can. These include Grabavoy, Wingert, Brovsky & Jacobsen.
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All we need are six top new players and we'll be fine.
 
william straiton said:
If Pirlo, Lampard, Poku and Mix are all with the team next season. Then only two of them can play at any one time. We need a defensive midfielder who is mobile, can tackle and protect the back four.

The other positions we need to bring players in are at Goalkeeper, Centre Half, Left Back, Right Wing & Striker.

There are quite a few players who we need to move on if we can. These include Grabavoy, Wingert, Brovsky & Jacobsen.
Click to expand...

I saw Mix play that D mid position for the USMNT against Ecuador and it really worked. Footy and Tom have the problem pegged. Poku, Mix and our DPs = too many central players and no width -- of course that isn't as much of a problem in YS as it is on the road.

Tom had an interesting thought about Shelton as a wingback. I don't think Zizzo played as a back before this season and that has worked out well for NJRB. Is that Khiry's best position for us in 2016? If he has the stamina he will give us instant width and danger on his flank in the attack.
 
Tom in Fairfield CT said:
Its such a badly constructed roster isn't it? The addition of Pirlo was so unnecessary, and puts a wrench in everything. He has to be central, Mix has to be central and Lamps has to be central. Poku should really be central too. I don't know what i would do. Maybe 4-3-3? Pirlo (or lampard) looking more and more like a mistake to get. I just don't see where he fits.
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I think its also important to note that Lampard was playing as a #10 for the first time rather than a #8. He has the game of a box to box midfielder without the legs but the #10 role I think is the only position that he can play. I think the more practical solution is to face the fact that Lamps is only a 55-60 minute player and sub Poku on for the last half hour and start him during cup games.

A 4-3-3 would be interesting. We played one game in an interesting 4-3-3 formation. Villa play LW with no defensive responsibility and Mix played RW that was more of a RM.

Villa-------Poku-------------------
------------Lamps-------RW/RM
-----------Mix-Pirlo---------------
???------CB----CB-----AI/Allen

LB would not have forward responsibilities. Put Mix on the left side for defensive help. AI or Allen would be able to go up the right flank because of the RW/RM. Not in love with this though. I don't know if this is better than the 4-2-3-1. I think we might just have to live with Villa as the sole striker.
 
Sabo said:
I saw Mix play that D mid position for the USMNT against Ecuador and it really worked. Footy and Tom have the problem pegged. Poku, Mix and our DPs = too many central players and no width -- of course that isn't as much of a problem in YS as it is on the road.

Tom had an interesting thought about Shelton as a wingback. I don't think Zizzo played as a back before this season and that has worked out well for NJRB. Is that Khiry's best position for us in 2016? If he has the stamina he will give us instant width and danger on his flank in the attack.
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Interesting thought. I tremor at the thought of his one of his poor first touches in the middle or defensive thirds though :p
 
Sabo said:
I saw Mix play that D mid position for the USMNT against Ecuador and it really worked. Footy and Tom have the problem pegged. Poku, Mix and our DPs = too many central players and no width -- of course that isn't as much of a problem in YS as it is on the road.

Tom had an interesting thought about Shelton as a wingback. I don't think Zizzo played as a back before this season and that has worked out well for NJRB. Is that Khiry's best position for us in 2016? If he has the stamina he will give us instant width and danger on his flank in the attack.
Click to expand...
I don't know if striker to wing back is the best idea. I think Shelton needs to focus on his first touch so he can be most effective in the offensive third.
 
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