Closing Arguments: Roster Questions

Lots of good comments this week in response to my opening argument post.  Read them below.

maxq

I think you hit the nail on the head. Lack of depth is the fundamental problem with this team. Hurts our ability to strategize before and during games, not to mention the fatigue issue. I would rather see us sign depth in any area of the field than sign a DP-level player.

However, as long as we're talking about DPs, I think the loss of Omar Bravo hurts more than we would have admitted during the offseason. Convey hasn't been bad, but we miss Bravo's cold-blooded finishing.

Mathew

Definitely think depth is an issue, however, I would rather approach improving depth by adding a high caliber DP-level player or two, which would then move a starter or two to the bench/spot starter level.

Biggest weakness in our side that I see is a lack of creativity in the midfield/wings. Love our midfield of Zusi/Espinoza/Cesar, however, none are what I'd call creative playmakers.

I'd prefer to sign a high level creative midfielder, which would send one of our 3 starting mids to the bench, which would create ability to rotate starting midfield on week to week basis a lot more. Also consider advantage of bringing someone like Espinoza off the bench around 65th min. mark. Would love to see him in role of super sub.

Think creative mid would also fix our on goal %. Believe our problem lies more in the fact that we're taking a lot of low percentage shots, rather than lack of clinical finishing (though that also does need work). Creative mid will make better runs that will help our other players get in better spots on the field to take a higher percentage shot than we currently are.

h

Actually, I think our depth is fine. But PV needs to rotate some players in and out from time to time.

And even rotate some responsibilities. For example, how about giving Kamara a go a center forward when neither CJ or Teal are really doing anything.

This leads to my point -- as a team we need to be able to change tactics during a match. If our "usual" press up, force turnovers, and make the other team pay isn't working we have to find a way to possess the ball, pull the defense out, and make that final pass to score.

Sometimes we look like we are doing the Arsenal thing where we are trying to find that perfect pass for that beautiful goal. Don't try perfection, just play. And take the shot or make the pass instead of dribbling sooooo much.

hartley

Hey, does anyone know why the home team had to wear split color kits instead of Montreal wearing their all dark blue kits? It seems the league always has KC switch their kits to accommodate the other team -- no matter who is home and who is away.

If the Impact wear their home kits and KC wears their home kits, you can easily tell which team is which.

RyanHetu

The only hard thing about pulling a DP in during the summer is theat it takes some time to acclimate with the club and style of play in mls. However, I'd love to see this happen and for them to be carried over to next season.

I agree with all of the above on subbing and depth. We could use a cb, winger/finishing forward (bravo esc..(bravo is/was a cf/st who can play on the wing)) and creative center mid.

Please and thank you sporting. Also please give Saad or Dwyer a shot!!

Nathan W Martin

The team has been a two-trick pony thus far. The field tilts drastically towards whichever side Kei Kamara is: where the best result is a set piece for our most consistent threat, the center back.

In the middle of the field, Roger Espinoza's destruction creates more offensive danger than Graham Zusi's creativity. That's a problem.

Also, I'd like to see at least 2 offensive substitutions available on the bench. (Jacob Peterson doesn't count in my book).

A forward that can finish with his feet will definitely be on the summer wishlist. If Zusi doesn't show that he can beat the first man on the dribble and open up the defense then Marinelli 3.0 is possible.

Anonymous

Wow, here we are still on top of the east and after the first bump the crap is starting to fly. We out shot Montreal by a wide margin and bounced one off the post. With some finishing drills and a reminder that protection of the ball is paramount, we are right back on track. Watch the game again and we can see a few poor passing ecisions that probably cost us the game. We are OK. Go Sporting...we still believe that we will win!

mmMouf
I think a great factor is the poor shooting % is we get a lot of half chances. It's not like the fwds are blowing...

Chances that some clinical finisher would bury, we aren't creating outside of hopefully hoofing it in on deep crosses

you can't score on a counter if the person advancing the ball does nothing but crap his pants in space

teams r shutting off the wings & sitting back, we aren't creating in the midfield & even switching the field seems 2b history