IF RSL gets Washington, they will waive...

SoccerPrime · 05-20-2005, 05:26 AM

MF Evan Whitfield
http://sltrib.com/realsaltlake/ci_2746795

Not a good call in my book, but what do I know?

Stucki · 05-20-2005, 07:59 AM

I guess that means we have enough veterans and we want to develop young midfielders?

Rover · 05-20-2005, 10:09 AM

I'm a little surprised. I expected O'Brien to be bumped based on performance, but that's hard to judge since Whitfield didn't play much for us.

If Washington gets his second wind, he can be a force for us up front. He's big and strong and will draw the central/leading defenders from other teams. That will open up Kreis even more, and allow him to do what he does best--play off defenders, sprint to the goal, and, of course, score. Since Washington can put it in the net too, RSL now has an intimidating front two.

So I would think the consensus is that Washington is a good acquisition.

We didn't see enough of Whitfield to really judge his performance. Maybe he didn't show as much as the coaches wanted in practice. Maybe they expected more leadership from him. Hard to tell without inside information.

So lacking that, I'll just say that Whitfield has skills and determination but was never able to put together consistent performances with the Fire. He was not the strongest midfielder on the Fire teams that were so successful (seems like long ago) with role players. Waht he gave them was speed on the wings, crosses to the 18, and an occasional attack on goal.

In the end he may just not have fit into the team's structure anymore. The rookies are in development, so they're safe. With leaders like Mathis and Williams running the central midfield and with great output already from Tiger and now Seth Trembly on the wings, somebody else had to go.

AreliusII · 05-20-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

I'm a little surprised. I expected O'Brien to be bumped based on performance, but that's hard to judge since Whitfield didn't play much for us.
.

Ellinger has some kind of love affair with O’Brien. There is no other rational explanation why he would keep turning to O’Brien in light of his lack of production…

Deuce · 05-20-2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusII

Ellinger has some kind of love affair with O’Brien. There is no other rational explanation why he would keep turning to O’Brien in light of his lack of production…

Ellinger feels that O'Brien is the "best pure finisher on the team" that is why he keeps him.

I feel that O'Brien has not produced but obviously Coach E thinks he is worth the risk.

I am OK with that!

SoccerPrime · 05-20-2005, 10:26 AM

Well one possible reason could be that RSL had to pay Seattle to acquire O'Brien.
Meaning that RSL spent time/money to go after him.

They didn't really do anything to "get" Whitfield. They just decided to grab him from the Fire when they couldn't decide who else to get in the Expansion draft.

clarette · 05-20-2005, 10:30 AM

I think Washington is a good acquisition, given our penchant for hitting vertical balls.

The move to release Whitfield, though, does confuse me a bit, especially since speed of play on the wings is one other thing I think we do lack.

I wonder if his early-season injury prevented him from really making any sort of impact on the coaching staff.

Deuce · 05-20-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

Well one possible reason could be that RSL had to pay Seattle to acquire O'Brien.
Meaning that RSL spent time/money to go after him.

They didn't really do anything to "get" Whitfield. They just decided to grab him from the Fire when they couldn't decide who else to get in the Expansion draft.

That is a good possibility, however they got Whitfield after the expansion draft along with Dipsy.

BroncsBomber · 05-20-2005, 10:38 AM

We have many options at outside mid, but very few at central midfield. O'Brien is the first off the bench in the center. Good or bad he is our depth there.

Scarecrow · 05-20-2005, 11:58 AM

i am wondering what you all dislike about o'brien? he seem to me to be the only one pushing forward and making chances when he came in the last game. i do think at times he pulls the ball back when he should push it forward but other than that i havent noticed anything i really dislike about his play.