2015 Offseason Megathread

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You can see for yourself on Youtube, if you care to subject yourself to needless heartbreak:

I remember feeling like he was operating as a kind of withdrawn striker against Orlando.

Anyway, whatever you think they played him as, they should play him as that.
 
Christopher Jee said:
You can see for yourself on Youtube, if you care to subject yourself to needless heartbreak:

I remember feeling like he was operating as a kind of withdrawn striker against Orlando.

Anyway, whatever you think they played him as, they should play him as that.
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I want a rematch at Yankee Stadium with Villa, Lampard, and Pirlo in the lineup. WE WANT THE CUP!
 
Taurus said:
I hope we pass on Ashley.
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Actually, I'm going to plead momentary insanity. I think I was imagining the PV connection doing something special. But then I started replaying in my mind just how badly he's been toasted whenever Roma has put him on the pitch.

I take back everything I said. I too hope we pass.
 
Kjbert said:
We don't know what Poku's best position is. Which means he could be a Striker for PV.
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So let's take a look at what the lineup looks like with Poku up top if that is an option. Does that put us back to a diamond?

-----Villa-------Poku-------
-----------Lamps------------
PV Buddy--------------Mix
-----------Pirlo--------------
Back4-Back4-Back4-Back4

Now Poku is on, but Mix is back to the outside. Though I'd argue this is a better outside than last year since Poku is in front of him on his side of the field.

Last year Mix on the right was pretty inconsequential. I've argued before that this was greatly affected by the fact that our attack went primarily down the left because that's where Villa was. With Poku-Mix-Iraola as our right column I think we could have potency on that side and see a more dynamic Mix in that role.

That said, I'd love to see Mix in the middle. But I'd love to see Poku on the field. But we need to somehow get all four central mid players on the field at once. But ... aw fuck it. When the hell does the season start?!?!?
 
Why couldn't we play a 4-2-2-2?
----Villa-----Mullins----
--lamps--------Poku----
--Mix----------Pirlo----
-4 smart athletic backs-
--------Saunders------
Personally I think both Poku and Mullins are well under rated players who need more minutes. I know it would be best to play Poku in front of Pirlo got obvious reasons but I'm not sure if they should be best slotted behind Villa or Mullins. Since Poku and Mullins are both hard workers (Poku with the ball at his feet, Mullins making strong runs into the opponents Defence) they would work well together on the right side. What do you all think?
 
JCMore said:
Why couldn't we play a 4-2-2-2?
----Villa-----Mullins----
--lamps--------Poku----
--Mix----------Pirlo----
-4 smart athletic backs-
--------Saunders------
Personally I think both Poku and Mullins are well under rated players who need more minutes. I know it would be best to play Poku in front of Pirlo got obvious reasons but I'm not sure if they should be best slotted behind Villa or Mullins. Since Poku and Mullins are both hard workers (Poku with the ball at his feet, Mullins making strong runs into the opponents Defence) they would work well together on the right side. What do you all think?
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I like this. Play all our midfielders in the middle and let our outside backs provide width. Iraola and RJ like to go forward anyway
 
JCMore said:
Why couldn't we play a 4-2-2-2?
----Villa-----Mullins----
--lamps--------Poku----
--Mix----------Pirlo----
-4 smart athletic backs-
--------Saunders------
Personally I think both Poku and Mullins are well under rated players who need more minutes. I know it would be best to play Poku in front of Pirlo got obvious reasons but I'm not sure if they should be best slotted behind Villa or Mullins. Since Poku and Mullins are both hard workers (Poku with the ball at his feet, Mullins making strong runs into the opponents Defence) they would work well together on the right side. What do you all think?
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It gets all our stars on the field, but I'm concerned with width in the 4-2-2-2. Look at your right side - if we rely on the fullback going forward to provide width, that side would get absolutely destroyed defensively. Often the attacking midfielders play wider in a 4-2-2-2 to the point they're quasi-wingers. But neither Lampard nor Poku are wide players.
 
dannd23 said:
Big upgrade from KWS. Might even be an upgrade over Hernandez. I think it would be a good signing for NYC. Not great, but a good one. He has had injury issues in the past which is a negative, but I don't believe anything too significant. He is also just 24 which is always a plus.
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Of course there are worse options, but think of this: he is being dropped by Philly. You want their leftovers?
At $125k he's kind of an expensive backup. Replaces Hernandez?
 
sbrylski said:
It gets all our stars on the field, but I'm concerned with width in the 4-2-2-2. Look at your right side - if we rely on the fullback going forward to provide width, that side would get absolutely destroyed defensively. Often the attacking midfielders play wider in a 4-2-2-2 to the point they're quasi-wingers. But neither Lampard nor Poku are wide players.
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I totally agree with you that there would be flaws with the width. Yes you could have your outside backs provide that width but then you would need some really strong CBs to be able to back up the whole team which we clearly don't have. I'm pretty new to the sport, this is the only team I've ever watched and I love rooting for a new team that pretty close to where I live (Upstate NY). But that means I'm not really good at understanding formations and specific positioning. But my response to the width problem is kind of a inverted 4-2-2-2. Have Villa and Mullins play wider. Not exactly wingers but not CFs either. And when Poku and or Lamps come down the field Villa/Mullins can decide whether to push towards the net and get the ball inside the box or get the ball wide and lob it in towards our CAMs or the other forward who are in the box. I'm not sure how well this would work though. But I definitely see the width concern as a problem.
 
Two things.

1) Can someone explain to me, with the narrow field dimensions, whether it is even possible for us to play with width? It would be interesting to see how a team like Columbus, which relies on width, would adapt to Yankee Stadium.

2) The issue with playing a guy like Villa as a true wide player is that he is a goal poacher. He needs to be in front of goal. A true wide player provides an outlet and crossing ability. You would prefer to get them from a fullback or midfielder, and not your number 1 offensive player. My two cents.
 
JCMore said:
I totally agree with you that there would be flaws with the width. Yes you could have your outside backs provide that width but then you would need some really strong CBs to be able to back up the whole team which we clearly don't have. I'm pretty new to the sport, this is the only team I've ever watched and I love rooting for a new team that pretty close to where I live (Upstate NY). But that means I'm not really good at understanding formations and specific positioning. But my response to the width problem is kind of a inverted 4-2-2-2. Have Villa and Mullins play wider. Not exactly wingers but not CFs either. And when Poku and or Lamps come down the field Villa/Mullins can decide whether to push towards the net and get the ball inside the box or get the ball wide and lob it in towards our CAMs or the other forward who are in the box. I'm not sure how well this would work though. But I definitely see the width concern as a problem.
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That would almost be a 4-6-0, where no single player is expected to occupy the forward role, rather, you have four attacking midfielders or wingers that play fluidly upfront. It's an interesting suggestion, but it is tough to play.

Kjbert said:
1) Can someone explain to me, with the narrow field dimensions, whether it is even possible for us to play with width? It would be interesting to see how a team like Columbus, which relies on width, would adapt to Yankee Stadium.
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One advantage of "width" is providing lateral passing options. If you're in a narrow formation, your only passing options are forward (difficult), to the middle (usually well covered), or backwards (Grabavoy). Having a wide player involved in the attack gives a high percentage outlet pass when there's trouble, and another way to advance the ball forward.
 
sbrylski said:
That would almost be a 4-6-0, where no single player is expected to occupy the forward role, rather, you have four attacking midfielders or wingers that play fluidly upfront. It's an interesting suggestion, but it is tough to play.



One advantage of "width" is providing lateral passing options. If you're in a narrow formation, your only passing options are forward (difficult), to the middle (usually well covered), or backwards (Grabavoy). Having a wide player involved in the attack gives a high percentage outlet pass when there's trouble, and another way to advance the ball forward.
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Yes. But can you play that way at Yankee Stadium? I don't know either way. Just wanted to see if anyone had any insight as to whether that is even doable on our pitch.
 
Kjbert said:
Yes. But can you play that way at Yankee Stadium? I don't know either way. Just wanted to see if anyone had any insight as to whether that is even doable on our pitch.
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Angelino certainly did. He would sit along the sideline just past midfield and rely on his speed to cover defensively. We didn't see a ton of wide play from anyone else, but I at least partially blame that on the fact that all our players are naturally middle-of-the-field guys. Mix gave playing along the sideline a good effort, but he wasn't effective in the position and eventually Kreis just benched him.
 
FootyLovin said:
Actually, I'm going to plead momentary insanity. I think I was imagining the PV connection doing something special. But then I started replaying in my mind just how badly he's been toasted whenever Roma has put him on the pitch.

I take back everything I said. I too hope we pass.
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But I would welcome Sturridge signing...don't think we can afford him. Jurgen Klopp still needs him over there.
 
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