Weakest link

praxis · 10-16-2006, 05:16 PM

I am ok with WIlliams, but i am not sure abut Garlick. It seems like he has let a lot of balls go through unchallenged. Sometimes he looks like a Nascar fan watching cars go by. But when Nolly was in there, Nolly let in a lot of goals so maybe i am just seeing the bad.
I like the idea of Having Kreis in midfield.
I wish we had another forward that would complement Cunningham. We need to stop kicking long balls to JC and hoping that it goes in. I think that is where Williams really shows his game. He can get and distribute the ball. Medhi too. Soto has shown promise, but I haven't seen enough of him. Talley in the midfield works well too.
Keep the back line the same. Rotate Torres and Pope and we can see who fits in better.
I do not like Harris. Maybe after a year or two in the reserves he will be dangerous, but right now all he has is his height and he doesn't use it very well. I groan when i see him come on. It seems like it is desperation time when he makes an appearance.
So what's the solution? I dunno, but it sure was much more fun rooting for the team this year.

Loyal1 · 10-16-2006, 07:23 PM

depth at striker and Akwari when he only plays in spots
Nelson seemed to do better with more minutes.
Garlick in a few games for sure.
Ellinger is not out of the mix either.
But if he leads them to MLS Cup in '07 then I never said that.

captkane · 10-17-2006, 08:26 AM

Sweet... somebody deleted my post.
Real cool!

Deuce · 10-17-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkane

Sweet... somebody deleted my post.
Real cool!

There are only three ways to delete a post...

1) You delete it yourself
2) you let someone else log in using your account and they delete it!
3) a MOD deletes it

I am not aware of any mods deleting your post... a MOD usually leaves a reason why it was deleted if in fact a MOD deletes a post.

RSL_Fan · 10-17-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkane

Sweet... somebody deleted my post.
Real cool!

Are you talking about this post???

RSL, UT · 10-17-2006, 11:09 AM

I hate to say it, but I think Pope needs to go. His salary is WAY too high, and I think we have enough depth at center back to replace him. With his salary we need to go out and get another good forward (although I can't imagine another team wanting to pay his salary either). The only other defensive player who hasn't done too well is Akwari, but his versatility is valuable. If Ellinger doesn't plan on using Chris Brown maybe he could go too, but I like that he can play almost any position on the field. It would be great to get a replacement GK for Garlick, but I don't see it happening. I actually wouldn't mind Nolly as our starter, but it seems the coaches aren't too sold on him yet. I think the midfield is in pretty good shape and shouldn't be tinkered with too much. We have a talented team so hopefully not too many changes will take place so they can't give the chemistry excuse if they don't play up to par at the start of next year.

dysko · 10-17-2006, 11:18 AM

Chris Brown... not that i really think that he is the weakest link. But, of the links that are there, I think he has the least room to improve his game.

Brown is a passable player. He can play almost anywhere on the field. However, I believe that he has reached his peak and will never be a regular contributor.

Say what you want about some of the guys that start, but fact of the matter is they are better than the guy who only gets 300 minutes over the course of the season.

So, I say let Brown go and then pick up a guy that can potentially displace one of the starters that isn't quite up to par.

Aerick · 10-17-2006, 11:59 AM

Maybe we can trade Pope for Eddie Johnson. I like Pope, but he's either close to retiring, or on his way out, and if we can pick up a questionable striker on a gamble like Johnson, maybe it will pan out for us. And hopefully not the way the gamble with Mathis did - and more like the gamble with JC did.

utah_heretic · 10-17-2006, 12:20 PM

Pass me some of what you guys are smoking...

get rid of Eddie Pope?? Let me get this straight...with the youngest back line in MLS, including a right back who was a midfielder until this year, you want to get rid of the league's premier center back? Surely you jest...I can't think of anybody on this team who's jobs are more secure than Pope and Cunningham.

Eddie is busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest just covering for a defense which is prone to mental lapses. We gave up 30 goals this year due mostly to an inexperienced defense. For God's sake let them play together for a couple of years before you start yanking out the only player holding it together.

beaveman · 10-17-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSL, UT

I hate to say it, but I think Pope needs to go. His salary is WAY too high, and I think we have enough depth at center back to replace him. With his salary we need to go out and get another good forward (although I can't imagine another team wanting to pay his salary either).

I read in the DesNews that Eddie Pope's contract is up this year.

Quote:

Despite the disappointment of missing out on the playoffs, RSL has plenty to look forward to next year. Nearly all of the club's regulars are already under contract for 2007, even though Eddie Pope isn't among them. If Pope agrees to MLS, Salt Lake could conceivably open the 2007 season with the exact same lineup it finished the 2006 season with.

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650199142,00.html
So maybe his salary won't be as high next year...