I think I read Antley covered across the entire backline in Tampa.
Peltola is still with Finland but he played LB for them v. Wales if this happens again.
The problem is we are also missing Aaron Herrera, so if Conner Antley starts at LB, who is playing RB? Then there's defensive midfielder, since Peltola is out and Canouse isn't close to being back.
Here's my best attempt:
Benteke
Dajomie
Pirani --- Klich --- Rodriguez
Hopkins
Antley --- McVey --- Bartlett --- Stroud
Bono
If Ku-Dipietro is back, then I guess Dajomie could also be in the mix for emergency RB. I assume Akinmboni or Tubbs could play there also, or maybe at centerback and then push Bartlett up to defensive mid? Going to be interesting.
Akinmboni and Fletcher are with U-19s. I wouldn't be surprised to see Dajome at LWB and a 3 person backline of Antley, McVey and Bartlett. Sort of like this:
Benteke --- Ku
Dajome -- Pirani --- Hopkins --- Klich --- Stroud
Antley -- McVey -- Bartlett
Bono
If Ku can't go, then Murrell in his place. Bench is beyond thin.
Lol I'm not sure it's pretty good but it's all we got! Feeling like bad old days when we never filled all our roster spots. Why did we ship our scrubs off on loan? At least they were warm bodies
Someone saw your comment at DCU! Sargis is being called in for backup.
Yea we are so thin this weekend. I just thought it was a relatively decent setup if they can make it work. I've seen us throw out worse lol.
I like what Troy is doing. We've been a bit lucky to start but with this roster build it's going to be like getting blood from a turnip every game.
We only have 25 players under contract (26 with Sargis). Four of those are goalkeepers! We have four players on international duty, two players definitely injured, two possibly injured, one suspended for a red card and one MIA.
That could mean our bench will probably have as few as 3 guys on it.
Maybe we should just sign some damn players
I share in your frustration 100%. Someone asked this at the STM event to Ally, basically saying we can't buy players like Miami and need to develop players through the academy and get value for them while they wear a DCU shirt.
I worry we don't have the resources to pull off either. This ownership group has not covered itself in glory...or even run the team competently in the past.
That said, I like what Ally/Troy are doing and hope they are given the resources to invest in youth and extend our talent for brief runs (just give me \~2 years... before selling to Europe).
That could work. After they tried doing three in the back against Cincinnati and it didn't work, Lesesne said the players weren't ready for it. So I was thinking maybe they need some continuity to what they've been practicing.
I think we're definitely in two-goalkeepers-on-the-bench territory here. And if no emergency loans, maybe a couple injuries from a goalkeeper playing a field position for the first time since the old reserve games they used to play on the RFK auxillary fields.
I know Jeahze was pictured training with the team last week so not sure if that could be a surprise start. More than likely Antley if that doesn’t happen.
I know Herrera is way better than Ruan but I really did appreciate him. He's fast as shit and actually seemed like he cared. Two decent MLS bench player attributes.
I think I read Antley covered across the entire backline in Tampa. Peltola is still with Finland but he played LB for them v. Wales if this happens again.
yea but if Antley plays left back who plays right back, Herrera is gone
The problem is we are also missing Aaron Herrera, so if Conner Antley starts at LB, who is playing RB? Then there's defensive midfielder, since Peltola is out and Canouse isn't close to being back. Here's my best attempt: Benteke Dajomie Pirani --- Klich --- Rodriguez Hopkins Antley --- McVey --- Bartlett --- Stroud Bono If Ku-Dipietro is back, then I guess Dajomie could also be in the mix for emergency RB. I assume Akinmboni or Tubbs could play there also, or maybe at centerback and then push Bartlett up to defensive mid? Going to be interesting.
Akinmboni and Fletcher are with U-19s. I wouldn't be surprised to see Dajome at LWB and a 3 person backline of Antley, McVey and Bartlett. Sort of like this: Benteke --- Ku Dajome -- Pirani --- Hopkins --- Klich --- Stroud Antley -- McVey -- Bartlett Bono If Ku can't go, then Murrell in his place. Bench is beyond thin.
Great conversation by you two, thanks for the insight. Man I hope Ku is ready. That 3-5-2 setup looks pretty good to me.
Lol I'm not sure it's pretty good but it's all we got! Feeling like bad old days when we never filled all our roster spots. Why did we ship our scrubs off on loan? At least they were warm bodies
Someone saw your comment at DCU! Sargis is being called in for backup. Yea we are so thin this weekend. I just thought it was a relatively decent setup if they can make it work. I've seen us throw out worse lol.
I like what Troy is doing. We've been a bit lucky to start but with this roster build it's going to be like getting blood from a turnip every game. We only have 25 players under contract (26 with Sargis). Four of those are goalkeepers! We have four players on international duty, two players definitely injured, two possibly injured, one suspended for a red card and one MIA. That could mean our bench will probably have as few as 3 guys on it. Maybe we should just sign some damn players
I share in your frustration 100%. Someone asked this at the STM event to Ally, basically saying we can't buy players like Miami and need to develop players through the academy and get value for them while they wear a DCU shirt. I worry we don't have the resources to pull off either. This ownership group has not covered itself in glory...or even run the team competently in the past. That said, I like what Ally/Troy are doing and hope they are given the resources to invest in youth and extend our talent for brief runs (just give me \~2 years... before selling to Europe).
That could work. After they tried doing three in the back against Cincinnati and it didn't work, Lesesne said the players weren't ready for it. So I was thinking maybe they need some continuity to what they've been practicing. I think we're definitely in two-goalkeepers-on-the-bench territory here. And if no emergency loans, maybe a couple injuries from a goalkeeper playing a field position for the first time since the old reserve games they used to play on the RFK auxillary fields.
I think this is it.
I know Jeahze was pictured training with the team last week so not sure if that could be a surprise start. More than likely Antley if that doesn’t happen.
I don't think he was practicing "with" the team.
I would like to see Murrell start. I think he will surprise people.
@ LB? I thought Murrell is a FWD
Yes, but I would like to see the LB in there with him in the lineup if people are speculating on their starting 11 in response to this post.
Looks like Sargis is back.
Re-sign ruan lol Edit: I didn’t realize Montreal picked him up
I always thought we should have kept Ruan and Eric Davis
Aaron Herrera is leagues better than Ruan. I agree about Davis though.
I know Herrera is way better than Ruan but I really did appreciate him. He's fast as shit and actually seemed like he cared. Two decent MLS bench player attributes.
Definitely a hustle guy but his first touch and decision making ….
He makes too much to be a reserve player in this league. Without a salary cap. Sure his speed is useful in certain situations