Future Defensive line-ups?

[RSL1]

Scarlett plays lateral defender or wide midfielder. Cabrera plays central defender most often and can play wide, as he has done on a number of occasions, as well. This provides max flexibility with lineups depending on injury and absence due to National Team duty. Keep in mind that Guatemala is in the hex too and Cabrera is Guate's version of Eddie Pope - he plays EVERY game. For that matter, it is safe to assume that for this round of qualifiers, whenever Pope is out, Cabrera is gone too.

Having watched Scarlett play a few times for Jamaica I see a lot of potential, but he's going to have to turn up the consistency and learn defensive positioning better to make an impact here on the backline. That is to say, the skills are there and his movement forward in support of the attack are not to be questioned, but he definitely has a tendency to drift in and out of the game and to make some very good decisions and other times to make bone head decisions defensively. He has to learn how to defend tactically much more rather than rely solely on his speed to recover if he's going to be a full-time defender. These attributes come, I presume, from playing in a league like the one in Jamaica where its a free flowing type of game, not much by the way of tactical coaching at all. For that matter, if Ellinger can work with him to get the basics of defense down as opposed to a "withdrawn flank midfielder" (I use this as a joke), then it'll work. If not, he's better off in midfield. You heard it here first!

Cabrera is more consistent and more refined defensively but has less foot speed and less creativity going forward. He also brings his lunch pail to the field every time out. You'll see that kid sacrifice every body part before he's going to get beaten. Keep in mind that he has far more international experience against the best forwards in our region sp he's logically goint to bring more to the field in the form of tactical IQ. He, of course, also has some challenges ahead. First would be, well, Eddie Pope. He's gotta find time to get adapted to the game here and that will be difficult with Mr. Pope there unless they use a 4-man backline. Second, more importantly, he will have to adapt to the speed of the game here in MLS since an attack has a tendency to build quicker than in Guate leagues.

Once/if either one or both of these guys make the adjustments to their game accordingly, we won't want them to leave the field. My money is on Cabrera showing well immediately if he gets over his knee injury quick enough and can get time in the lineup. I also bet that Scarlett has some dazzling moments at midfield but some nail-biters on defense. Keep in mind that small speedsters don't necessarily make it here - look at Brian West, for example!

[utah_heretic]

My observation of Scarlett is that he is an extremely left dominant player...even moreso than Broome. So he's probably not going to play D-mid or even right back for us. He has tremendous speed and he's got great footskills. Like many Caribbean defenders/midfielders, he loves to dribble, though he makes more frequent and better use of supporting players than Tiger. With Broome anchoring the left back, short of an injury, I expect Scarlett to see time at midfield (especially since our flanking left midfielder is one of our weakest positions...No offence Seth). Scarlett is actually a bigger player than Cabrera, and a da** sight bigger than Trembly.

I have only watched Cabrera play once, and not at all since he's been rehabbing his knee. From all reports, he's a stopper on the national team, so it's really Dunny's position he'd be vying for, but Cabrera is not a big defender, so I'd be surprised to see him as strong in the air as Dunseth. I'll have to wait to see him play a little more to know how he'll fit into the team.

Great post RSL1

[edaw33]

Originally Posted by RSL1

Scarlett plays lateral defender or wide midfielder. Cabrera plays central defender most often and can play wide, as he has done on a number of occasions, as well. This provides max flexibility with lineups depending on injury and absence due to National Team duty. Keep in mind that Guatemala is in the hex too and Cabrera is Guate's version of Eddie Pope - he plays EVERY game. For that matter, it is safe to assume that for this round of qualifiers, whenever Pope is out, Cabrera is gone too.

I looked up Guate's team for the Panama game and Cabrera as not called on perhaps due to injury. He will still be here with us, at least for that game.

[huntingfool12]

ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (3) – Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles Galaxy), Tim Howard (Manchester United), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

Defenders (5) – Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Greg Vanney (FC Dallas)

Midfielders (8) – Chris Armas (Chicago Fire), DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Eddie Lewis (Leeds United), John O’Brien (ADO Den Haag), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City),

Forwards (4) – Jeff Cunningham (Colorado Rapids), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian McBride (Fulham FC), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)