I hope he stays 1-2 more years. Looks like he has the legs in him at the moment. I really only wanted him to stay as a TAM player before the season. But he was our Ironman playing almost every minute in that crazy stretch with the USOC, int break and injuries. I’m fine with him staying as DP next year as long as we replace Medina with a functional player.
2019 Roster Discussion
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I hope he stays 1-2 more years. Looks like he has the legs in him at the moment. I really only wanted him to stay as a TAM player before the season. But he was our Ironman playing almost every minute in that crazy stretch with the USOC, int break and injuries. I’m fine with him staying as DP next year as long as we replace Medina with a functional player.
Yep. He's up there in the "most important player on the team" poll, so if he doesn't deserve DP status, who does? Neither the fact that we have done generally very well with our TAM signings (Isi, Heber, Ring, et al) nor that you can always do better with your DPs (Vela, Giovinco, etc) negate the fact that Maxi is undoubtedly our second most successful DP signing ever, out of like 8. He seems very durable and is still trending up somehow, so...
That would be cool but unfortunately only sprites/smilies are accepted due to tiny amount of pixels. I think the options at the moment are fine.
NYCFC player sprites would be adorable
The current are fine, yes!
That's why I dropped the teenage "like", 'cause I was too lazy and foggy-brained to count accurately
On the verge of economic collapse? There economy crashed years ago!
Their economy crashes every so many years, and their prospects are pretty bad right now.
Due to injuries and rotation, we haven't really talked much lately about what is the preferred XI if all are healthy and rested. Has Parks jumped Ofori on the depth chart? Has Castellanos jumped Tajouri-Shradi as the preferred third attacker? That assumes Mitrita is still the starter at LW, is he?
I think, without context as to the opponent, my preferred XI would be this 3-5-2:
F | Heber, Castellanos | Mitrita, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven
M | Matarrita, Maxi, Ring, Parks, Tinnerholm | Ofori
D | Callens, Sands, Chanot | Ibeagha, Sweat
If the situation called for it, I would line up the 4-3-3 like this:
F | Mitrita, Heber, Tajouri-Shradi | Castellanos, Mackay-Steven
M | Maxi, Ring, Parks | Ofori
D | Matarrita, Callens, Sands, Tinnerholm | Chanot, Ibeagha, Sweat
I'd call this our third-best formation, the 3-4-3, because I don't like Maxi out of position and think we play better with 3 CMs, historically:
F | Mitrita, Heber, Maxi | Castellanos, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven
M | Matarrita, Ring, Parks, Tinnerholm | Ofori
D | Callens, Sands, Chanot | Ibeagha, Sweat
Thoughts?
EDIT: I forgot Mackay-Steven. Also, I agree with the below that the 3-5-2 should have Mitrita as supporting striker rather than Castellanos, and the 4-3-3 should have Chanot in for Sands.
I think, without context as to the opponent, my preferred XI would be this 3-5-2:
F | Heber, Castellanos | Mitrita, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven
M | Matarrita, Maxi, Ring, Parks, Tinnerholm | Ofori
D | Callens, Sands, Chanot | Ibeagha, Sweat
If the situation called for it, I would line up the 4-3-3 like this:
F | Mitrita, Heber, Tajouri-Shradi | Castellanos, Mackay-Steven
M | Maxi, Ring, Parks | Ofori
D | Matarrita, Callens, Sands, Tinnerholm | Chanot, Ibeagha, Sweat
I'd call this our third-best formation, the 3-4-3, because I don't like Maxi out of position and think we play better with 3 CMs, historically:
F | Mitrita, Heber, Maxi | Castellanos, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Steven
M | Matarrita, Ring, Parks, Tinnerholm | Ofori
D | Callens, Sands, Chanot | Ibeagha, Sweat
Thoughts?
EDIT: I forgot Mackay-Steven. Also, I agree with the below that the 3-5-2 should have Mitrita as supporting striker rather than Castellanos, and the 4-3-3 should have Chanot in for Sands.
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I would put Mitrita above Castellanos in the 3-5-2, and Chanot needs to be in the XI in the 4-3-3, he's one of the best CB's in the league. But I don't know what you do with Sands. Maybe he goes in for Parks? Tough decision, which is why the 3-5-2 seems to make the most sense.
Sands was not good in the midfield during his early season stint there - but he began to shine in defense. Parks is a much better option in the midfield as he brings something/skill set that Ring and Sands doesn’t.
I also think that Sands will not currently show as well in a 2CB formation as he does in a 3CB formation because in the two-set each CB has more responsibility with marking/shifts than the middle CB in a three-set, who is more of a sweeper shielded on both sides. It’s why he’s in the middle and not on the right side with Chanot (the more experienced player) playing to the right.
I'm not sure I agree with this. Sands had a rough game in the opener at Orlando, but he was playing as a 6 in that game with Ring and Ofori as the two midfielders ahead of him. He was in a really odd spot.
But then after that game, he was the 6 against DCU and played masterfully as well as after that. It wasn't until Minnesota when he dropped back to a CB.
I do agree he's better as a CB than as a 6, but he's more than capable of playing there, and without dropping too much in terms of quality. I understand it was against a 10 man Colorado, but that game showed exactly how flexible positionally he can be. Started as the middle CB in a back three, then pushed up to the 6 shortly after Colorado went down a man (kept the play alive just outside the box that lead to Heber's goal). Then in the second half, he moved back to a CB in a back 4 when Mitrita came on for Ibeagha.
I do agree that being a center CB in a back 3 appears to take advantage of his skill sets the best, but I think you're selling him short on his abilities to be the 6, or a CB in a back 4.
Right. Sands has continued to play as a CDM, and not infrequently. We switch formations a lot during games, so even after we started favoring a 3-5-2, we have spent plenty of time in a 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 with Jimmy in midfield.
I actually think he is terrific in both roles and that his positional flexibility (and that of Ring as well) has been key to our season. Dome can adjust tactics and strategy without making substitutions.
I actually think he is terrific in both roles and that his positional flexibility (and that of Ring as well) has been key to our season. Dome can adjust tactics and strategy without making substitutions.
I should also say that I agree with Ulrich that Sands is unlikely to start as part of a two CB lineup absent one of the other guys being unavailable.
If the choice is to play Sands or Parks, then that’s as a #8 and not as a #6 since when Parks is on the field he’s an 8, which is the difference in skill set that I mentioned. If we’re playing two #6 in the midfield, then that’s not the formation that was being discussed nor does it get the best players on the field in their best positions as Parks in an 8 offers more than Sands in a 6 with Ring also on the field.
What if we have Callens go out wide to LB in a 4 at the back setup, with Sands LCB and Chanot RCB (Tinny as RB obviously)? Removes the defensive liability of Mata at times and Sweat. Only negative however is we don't know Callens' ability to go forward, aside from his once or twice a game gallop up the field. The gallop is much different than what a usual LB is tasked with doing.
I guess I underestimate Callens' runs and the chaos it puts on opposing defenses, having to try and cover someone that usually doesn't cross the midfield line with the ball. Reminds me of Mats Hummels' abilities to run through opposition purely on the fact that opposing players will cover the passing lanes because they don't know how to cover a CB running at them with the ball.
I agree with
Gotham Gator and
SoupInNYC in Sands' positional fluidity has been incredibly helpful to the team. I'm just babbling ideas, but it is interesting that our optimal starting 11 is still being debated not only on a personnel level but on a formation level as well.
I guess I underestimate Callens' runs and the chaos it puts on opposing defenses, having to try and cover someone that usually doesn't cross the midfield line with the ball. Reminds me of Mats Hummels' abilities to run through opposition purely on the fact that opposing players will cover the passing lanes because they don't know how to cover a CB running at them with the ball.
I agree with
Gotham Gator and
SoupInNYC in Sands' positional fluidity has been incredibly helpful to the team. I'm just babbling ideas, but it is interesting that our optimal starting 11 is still being debated not only on a personnel level but on a formation level as well.
The issue with that idea is that Mitri is a cut inside wing. If you don't have an overlapping option that opposing teams have to respect to complement him then teams will be able to more easily shut down his ability to cut inside.What if we have Callens go out wide to LB in a 4 at the back setup, with Sands LCB and Chanot RCB (Tinny as RB obviously)? Removes the defensive liability of Mata at times and Sweat. Only negative however is we don't know Callens' ability to go forward, aside from his once or twice a game gallop up the field. The gallop is much different than what a usual LB is tasked with doing.
I guess I underestimate Callens' runs and the chaos it puts on opposing defenses, having to try and cover someone that usually doesn't cross the midfield line with the ball. Reminds me of Mats Hummels' abilities to run through opposition purely on the fact that opposing players will cover the passing lanes because they don't know how to cover a CB running at them with the ball.
I agree with
Yeah I think if Callens plays LB, we'd need a guy who can play like a true left winger, like GMS.
Silly factoid, but James Sands is now tied for the highest potential rating in FIFA among all American players:
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