Didn't he also score a late regulation equalizer in that game?
NYCFC Players Wanted Thread
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
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Majik
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We should be all over that guy.
Current Depth Chart
The below assumes a 4-3-3, so some players who would be wingers or attacking mids in other formations are shown as forwards.
Forward: Villa, Mullins, Poku, Shelton, Harrison, Taylor
Midfield: Pirlo, Lampard, Mix, Jacobson, McNamara, Ballouchy
Fullbacks: Iraola, Matarrita, Martinez, Allen, Brandt
Centerbacks: Mena, Hernandez, Wingert, White
Goalies: Saunders, Johanson
The below assumes a 4-3-3, so some players who would be wingers or attacking mids in other formations are shown as forwards.
Forward: Villa, Mullins, Poku, Shelton, Harrison, Taylor
Midfield: Pirlo, Lampard, Mix, Jacobson, McNamara, Ballouchy
Fullbacks: Iraola, Matarrita, Martinez, Allen, Brandt
Centerbacks: Mena, Hernandez, Wingert, White
Goalies: Saunders, Johanson
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The above makes 22 players, so we have 6 remaining. How would you break down the remaining 6 spots among the different positions? Assume that we have the cap space for 2 of those to be potentially high contributors (starter or regular sub). Which two positions do you spend that money on?
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I thought the roster size limit was 28 players?
I think we definitely need the following:
(1) Starting CB - this is where I'd devote the most resources. Not a very novel thought, I know.
(2) Third string GK - Wouldn't spend a lot here, but we should add a body.
(3) DM - I don't get any sense they are looking for a starting caliber DM, but it would be nice to add someone who naturally plays there, even if he will be just a backup and could help kill off games if we are ahead.
Beyond that, I'd look for value plays and/or potential. It is hard to find a lot of playing time left, but other types of players that would help round out our team:
(1) Speed on the wings
(2) A physical forward
(3) Another FB to provide depth
I think #3 above kind of depends what PV wants to play and where he sees Mix playing. If he sees Mix as filling that DM role this year, then I see no need to sign a DM that would expect playing time for this year.
However, maybe he sees Mix as a DM for this year, and then moving more forward next year when Lamps is gone, then it may make sense to go ahead and snag a young DM.
Brandt is a left mid converted to left FB, I don;t see him gettign time at CB, unless something changed that I dont know about.
Good points SoupInNYC and Tom in Fairfield CT. Fixed above.
I also added Martinez and moved Wingert from FB to CB.
I also added Martinez and moved Wingert from FB to CB.
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Here are the moves I think we need, in order of priority.
1. CB - a strong guy who can start.
2. CB - another guy who is younger and has potential to develop.
3. Third Goalkeeper.
4. Defensive Mid.
5. RB
6. Best Player Available.
Spend extra money on #1 and then on either #2 or #4.
1. CB - a strong guy who can start.
2. CB - another guy who is younger and has potential to develop.
3. Third Goalkeeper.
4. Defensive Mid.
5. RB
6. Best Player Available.
Spend extra money on #1 and then on either #2 or #4.
I'd prioritize an experienced forward preferably with some speed above a DM at this point. We all have high hopes for Harrison/Shelton/Taylor/Mullins but it's all based on upside and not a lot of experience. If Villa is out at any point it would be nice to have another vet as an option along with the young guys. Mullins is pretty solid with 44 MLS appearances but the rest are still pretty new:
Harrison - 0
Taylor - 3
Shelton- 17
Mullins - 44
Assuming PV sees Poku and Mix as midfielders a starting caliber DM is only going to cost those guys more playing time. I do agree some depth would be nice but not at the cost of a proven wing player.
Where Poku plays is a big piece of the puzzle. My guess is that in a 4-3-3, he ends up on the wing or as a False 9. But, he could easily end up in midfield, in which case, you are correct that a quality player up top becomes a higher priority.
Only 5 spots left.
Only 5 spots left.
You can actually move Wingert from CB to "Native NYer Ambassador". I would like to avoid making this face
as much as possible this season.
I see your point, I am just worried that if we bring in a veteran forward, when will these young guys get to play besides spot sub minutes, or open cup matches.
I would much rather us use money that would be spent on a veteran forward elsewhere, and hope that at least one of Harrison/Taylor/Mullins/Shelton works out. I think thats a good gamble, especially after seeing the way Mullins played last year.
When asked about Poku earlier this week PV stated that he sees him as a box to box midfielder -- so unless that opinion changes during the preseason (or there are a slew of injuries to our forwards) we will not see Poku used as a forward this year. I think the PR friendly where Poku, Lampard and Pirlo played interchangeably in midfield was a preview.
Which means Mix doesn't see the field.
I wonder how much PV views himself as the key to Poku's development. In the long run, maybe he's most valuable as a YaYa Toure type player. But I see him further up the pitch a la Ross Barkley.
That's interesting. If PV can get Poku to play defense they way he did in his prime without compromising his attacking game he will be unstoppable.
I agree.
Teams like Barcelona and Man City can get away from a central midfielder like Toure who is, perhaps, an indifferent defender because, on the whole, they are much more talented than the teams the are playing against.
I don't think that works in MLS as well in where the whole league is structured to ensure relative parity among the teams.
So, giving Poku meaningful defensive responsibilities is problematic if you don't think he can commit to that type of role. And, even if he can, are you better off giving him more freedom playing further upfield? You actually sometimes see Man City do this later in games where they bring on a more defensive CM and push Toure up as the most attacking of the central midfielders.
FIFY
I see what you are saying but I still think it's risky. I agree we can count on Mullins but the rest are huge question marks. Can Harrison play a full MLS schedule? Can Shelton do the same and stay healthy all year?
The biggest question: Is Taylor even an MLS quality player? We all remember the awesome goal from preseason last year, while forgetting that the year before last with NE Taylor played 1 game. That's less than Brandt played for us last year. No one's counting on Brandt for anything and he's not coming off a huge injury. Assuming we play the 4-3-3 and Villa or Mullins go down for a few games you're okay with:
Starting forwards: Harrison/Villa or Mullins/Shelton
Sub: Taylor
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