RunningWise
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That’s actually my thought. Might get to see more of the younger guys.
2025 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread
- Thread starter LionNYC
- Start date
ZYanksRule
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I still think our XI is good. Our bench is a shambles because we have no depth, but a lineup of:
Fernandez-Alonso-Ojeda
-------Maxi-------
---Perea-Parks
Gray-Martins-Risa-O'Toole
There is a chance we score goals, and we'll defend pretty well. This lineup would mean that Fernandez and Ojeda need to pop, but if they do we'd be fine. We would have no depth and wouldn't be able to survive injuries, but that XI is fine. We absolutely need reinforcements though for obvious reasons. But can this lineup hold down the fort for the first few games?
If Fernandez and Ojeda are bad, then yes this is not anywhere near good enough. We just have to hope they pop this year, and we have to hope reinforcements are coming at some point soon.
Fernandez-Alonso-Ojeda
-------Maxi-------
---Perea-Parks
Gray-Martins-Risa-O'Toole
There is a chance we score goals, and we'll defend pretty well. This lineup would mean that Fernandez and Ojeda need to pop, but if they do we'd be fine. We would have no depth and wouldn't be able to survive injuries, but that XI is fine. We absolutely need reinforcements though for obvious reasons. But can this lineup hold down the fort for the first few games?
If Fernandez and Ojeda are bad, then yes this is not anywhere near good enough. We just have to hope they pop this year, and we have to hope reinforcements are coming at some point soon.
Ojeda maybe but I can't see Fernandez starting over Wolf. Watch Fernandez off the ball in some of these preseason games. He constantly makes moves that make no sense. Multiple times today our academy midfielders were doing their little tiki-taka work the ball up the field thing and Fernandez is out on the wing trying to run in behind with his hand up calling for the ball. Its like he's playing a completely different offense than the rest of the team. His effort is there, you can tell he cares but Pascal is going to have to work his development magic and teach him what to do because right now he's completely lost.
ZYanksRule
Registered
You're right -- I totally forgot about Wolf. Fernandez and Bakrar are our two attacking pieces off the bench right now.
100%. Either he's being asked to do what he's doing (We don't really know) or he's just not understanding what's being asked for him. Either way, he looks out of sync with everyone else and most importantly, he looks lost when it's time to press. He doesn't seem to know where to be or when to go.
In Fernandez’s defense, the academy players/second team will probably not be in our starting 11 any time soon. So that impressive ball work and tiki taka probably won’t be seen by our first team. Or at least that version of it. Those kids have been playing together or at least in the same system for damn near a decade so of course they know how to play with one another and not Fernandez. But that doesn’t mean Pascal shouldn’t try to teach this type of on and off the ball movement to the first team, because Fernandez would definitely improve his game if he actually knew what his teammates were going to do.
Any time he was added to the game last year as a late game sub I/we knew that Nick was throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, cause Fernandez didn’t know how to work with his teammates at all. So yeah Fernandez has some work to do which is hopefully the reason Pascal was brought into the club.
Any time he was added to the game last year as a late game sub I/we knew that Nick was throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, cause Fernandez didn’t know how to work with his teammates at all. So yeah Fernandez has some work to do which is hopefully the reason Pascal was brought into the club.
Yeah, we are about to find out if Fernandez always looked lost in the offense because Cushing struggled to teach it or Fernedez struggled to learn it.
Fernandez also seems to be struggling to adapt to MLS defenders' speed and skill. It looks similar to what Magno described in that recent interview as Fernandez is clearly used to being able to use his pace to get in behind and his footwork to beat people off the dribble and its just not happening most of the times he tries it. It's hard to watch as you can see him getting frustrated as games go on.
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So, can we expect Risa to take some free kicks this season? especially if Santi is not around. Not unexpected that Risa has this in his bag as he was originally a striker and still does have a good left foot.
I wouldn't mind seeing some viking free kick magic again.
I wouldn't mind seeing some viking free kick magic again.
I think Risa took a couple of them last year. Santi seemed more willing to give the longer-range ones to him. My bet is that it will come down to who plays RW for us. When Fernandez is on the pitch he pretty consistently tries to take any left-footed set pieces both free kicks and corners. I remember a few times last season Fernandez took the ball for the corner and Maxi or Santi had to go take it from him. If Wolf is on the pitch I bet we see more of a mix between Wilf and Risa depending on distance.
So, we basically need to get Tommy Mac's brain into Fernandez's body...
Do you think we can enroll him into Brown next year?
Good idea, but sadly I think Brown requires you to sharpen up BEFORE you enroll...
Maybe some tutoring from O'Toole and Freese.
Maybe some tutoring from O'Toole and Freese.
well.. if they get 17M for him, then i guess we can't blame the club for saying no. we are just gonna have a big hole to fill and chances are slim we will fill it well this season.
ezbeezy214
Registered
At that price, It’s a positive for the club.
Clubs worldwide are waiting anxiously to see what expensive teenagers they can get on loan from us in 1-2 years after David Lee spends this next windfall of transfer money on them and they don't work out.
Davo15
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It's only a positive if they reinvest it on someone who will help on the field this season.
Timeframe is probably too narrow to expect anyone soon. Earliest is summer but with our history of making good use of transfer money even with a planned move.. I'm not too hopeful
