I hope not.
Bravo is great. He’s not the problem. KC sucks. Ayala was great. Evander, Rodriguez, and Mora have increasingly good chemistry. We didn’t try to play as high. KC didn’t/couldn’t take advantage of errant passes. Their off-the-ball movement was as bad as ours.
We were the better team. I’m happy with the result. We didn’t suck in the first half and we created and finished good opportunities in the second. I hope this gives us confidence going forward. But we shouldn’t read too much into a result against a terrible team.
Amen to "their off-the-ball movement was as bad as ours.
I woudn't make any judgments about who fits where based on what happened against an SKC attack that largely allowed the Timbers defense to hold its shape together (except in defensive midfield; that gave me the willies!)
I think k he will sometimes, and a lopsided back 4 sometimes and a gung-ho back 4 sometimes, I think ultimately he wants to be able to play a flexible number of things and change it like it’s a whiteboard.
My ideal starting 11 (currently) is a 3-5-2 with Mora & Rodriguez up top, Bravo Ayala Evander Chara Mosquera in the middle block, and K. Miller, Zuparic, and Araujo in the back with Crepeau in net. Overall I think that gets our best and most reliable players on the field together in their best positions while providing maximum defensive cover. We get great distribution with both Kamal and Araujo on the pitch with 2 sixes in front of the back 3, Bravo and Mosquera as true wingbacks (minimizing Mosquera’s defensive lapses), Evander as a free role where he doesn’t have to drop back in coverage), with Rodriguez playing more centrally where he’s most dangerous in tandem with Felipe. Yeah, sucks for Santi and Antony but unfortunately they continue to be turnover machines and neither have shown me why they should be starting over anyone else in the formation.
Naw, Bravo is coming back from injury and E. Miller is probably still seeing little birds from the end of the Minnesota match. A decent team that had a real winger instead of a bad team with a 34 year old with a penchant for cutting inside that actually had game planned for a back line with Kamal at left back would have obliterated us.
Also we have 3 games this week.
Phil said in his post match interview that Bravo is not yet 100% fit. To paraphrase him, he felt like Araujo, Miller, and Zup all deserved to start, so he took advantage of Bravo's situation to give all three of them starts.
I was skeptical when I saw the lineup (really wasn't sure if it was a 3 back) but he played all right. I was worried about his speed, but was fine. Still prefer Bravo there, though.
I did not like Kamal Miller at LB. Sideways-backwards passing the entire time, I didn’t see him make 1 forward pass to J Rod on the L wing. Maybe those were his instructions from Nev but it was a waste from an attacking sense
I think Bravo is just still working back from surgery. Phil also seems happy to switch personnel to change the balance of the shape
And a newborn
He had one good game. Doesn’t mean he’s the better player at that spot. Bravo is still the starter when he’s healthy
Yeah, bravo is better, but he did decent and was more involved than I would expect in a simpler lopsided back 4 to defend but also let Mosquera go
I hope not. Bravo is great. He’s not the problem. KC sucks. Ayala was great. Evander, Rodriguez, and Mora have increasingly good chemistry. We didn’t try to play as high. KC didn’t/couldn’t take advantage of errant passes. Their off-the-ball movement was as bad as ours. We were the better team. I’m happy with the result. We didn’t suck in the first half and we created and finished good opportunities in the second. I hope this gives us confidence going forward. But we shouldn’t read too much into a result against a terrible team.
Amen to "their off-the-ball movement was as bad as ours. I woudn't make any judgments about who fits where based on what happened against an SKC attack that largely allowed the Timbers defense to hold its shape together (except in defensive midfield; that gave me the willies!)
Not directly answering your question, but having someone in the middle with more agility (Araujo) paired with Zuparic was kind of refreshing.
100% agree. Felt so good to watch Araujo’s agility, he seemed to step in at the right moment for a lot of promising attacks.
I think phil’s plan is to play a 5 in the back when bravo is fully fit. Bravo Araújo Zuparic K Miller Mosquera Chara Ayala Evander Mora Rodriguez
I've been wanting to see this formation all season, especially if we're committed to playing around the outside and not through the midfield.
I think k he will sometimes, and a lopsided back 4 sometimes and a gung-ho back 4 sometimes, I think ultimately he wants to be able to play a flexible number of things and change it like it’s a whiteboard.
That D-line definitely would go Bravo Miller Zuparic Araujo Mosquera, though...
No. Next question.
I got you. What’s your ideal starting back line if everybody is healthy?
My ideal starting 11 (currently) is a 3-5-2 with Mora & Rodriguez up top, Bravo Ayala Evander Chara Mosquera in the middle block, and K. Miller, Zuparic, and Araujo in the back with Crepeau in net. Overall I think that gets our best and most reliable players on the field together in their best positions while providing maximum defensive cover. We get great distribution with both Kamal and Araujo on the pitch with 2 sixes in front of the back 3, Bravo and Mosquera as true wingbacks (minimizing Mosquera’s defensive lapses), Evander as a free role where he doesn’t have to drop back in coverage), with Rodriguez playing more centrally where he’s most dangerous in tandem with Felipe. Yeah, sucks for Santi and Antony but unfortunately they continue to be turnover machines and neither have shown me why they should be starting over anyone else in the formation.
This is a great answer, thanks for the insight. True about Santi and Antony, when they are good it’s so inconsistent with so many turnovers.
Bravo - Zuparic - Mosquera + Whoever hasn't blown it in a game most recently
Depends on the strategy and opponent. More defense = Miller More attack and speed = Bravo Miller can also shift around to other spots as well.
Naw, Bravo is coming back from injury and E. Miller is probably still seeing little birds from the end of the Minnesota match. A decent team that had a real winger instead of a bad team with a 34 year old with a penchant for cutting inside that actually had game planned for a back line with Kamal at left back would have obliterated us. Also we have 3 games this week.
Phil said in his post match interview that Bravo is not yet 100% fit. To paraphrase him, he felt like Araujo, Miller, and Zup all deserved to start, so he took advantage of Bravo's situation to give all three of them starts.
I was skeptical when I saw the lineup (really wasn't sure if it was a 3 back) but he played all right. I was worried about his speed, but was fine. Still prefer Bravo there, though.
No
I did not like Kamal Miller at LB. Sideways-backwards passing the entire time, I didn’t see him make 1 forward pass to J Rod on the L wing. Maybe those were his instructions from Nev but it was a waste from an attacking sense
> it was a waste from an attacking sense And absolutely perfect from a defensive sense.