At least in 2017 , we will not really need to worry about replacing Lampard and Pirlo since we have Poku and Mix.
If a guy needs 4 or 5 specific types of players around him to be effective, he's probably not the best choice for an expansion team in MLS.
It's not that he needs 4-5 players to be good. He's already done great with a deficient bunch surrounding him. It's that he needs the option to pass to actual wingers to feed out to (unless you count grabavoy, mix, and the consistent changes every game to those positions as adequate) as well as another central partner (or 2 in my opinion) that actually shows his face for an outlet to pass to and ease pressure off. We have the players to fill the holes in the center mid category. Would I love a legit CDM like Kitchen instead of Jacobson? Hell yes. But first priority is to have strong CBs. Second priority are wingers. Anything else is silly in my opinion. How people are calling for another striker signing is just crazy to me. We have major problems at the core of a team and people are worried about a position that should be looked at as a cherry on top. dont even get me started with formations lol
This works only if the CB in this equation are quality. We don't currently have those.
I'm sorry but I definitely disagree with this. Not only does it keep pirlo too defensively responsible but it overloads mix and more importantly lampard's responsibility to be in great shape without injury. I also notice you tried to answer Villa's wishes of a striking partner but Shelton is unfortunately not the answer (I want him to be great so badly). I think Kreis needs to realize we don't have the personnel to rely on attacking wide. In my personal fantasy of kreis using his "famed" knowledge of the game we would use players where they are strongest. I would play a 4-3-2-1 or a modified 4-3-3 if it helps ease the modern purists. It would read more literally as 4-2-1-2-1. Back four with 2 very solid CBs would be crucial, followed by the 2 deeper CMs (one purely defensive central midfield that stays home to break up counter attacks and doesn't run too far up field to keep numbers back if/when our fullbacks make an attacking run, and Mix acting as a box to box CM. Above them creating a triangle should be our prized playmaker Pirlo given freedom to float anywhere due to his 2 henchman beneath him and also having Mix to play off of. 2 above Pirlo creating another triangle would be Poku!!! and Lampard as CAM. However Lampard would also be given freedom as a floating role to help Villa up top and free up space from defenders. We do not have a physical team so it's time to start playing smarter, especially with the knowledge of our DPs. Brain before brawn
Wait. So you're telling me Lampard plays awful as a CAM? We all know how many bumps in the road there was regarding him this year. So on top of that you're going to judge him for one game (while he's scored and almost scored on many occasions in past games) he's suddenly "AWFUL"? You do realize Frank Lampard has broken countless records as a CAM right? You also made a point where he needs people in front. He'll have two of our best talents in front of him. I also suggested him as a floating role. Which means he'd be all over wherever his genius soccer mind takes him which gives him plenty of people to work with as he sees fit. The lack of link up play was not his fault; It was the teams lack of adequate players in the proper position which led to unopen passing lanes to smoothly fulfill the possession based game Kreis wanted to see. Relying on these 2 DPs to perform physically demanding roles is a recipe for disaster.
