And on Cronin, the comfort level he has with JDG, barret and white already is worth something. these guys should have some advantage of confidence and familiarity with each other when on the field at the same time as so many around are strangers.
And on Cronin, the comfort level he has with JDG, barret and white already is worth something. these guys should have some advantage of confidence and familiarity with each other when on the field at the same time as so many around are strangers.
Barrett up front?...last year all over again, did you see last night's game at all?.....A sure header delivered right to his head, and again Barrett misses the net, he had to actually direct it past the net because he was right in front of it.....he.needs 8 shots on net to score 1 goal......He is effective as a winger digging up the ball, and running with it then distrbuting it....THATs all. How soon we forget.Originally Posted by Pachuco
The actual context behind this quotation was in regards to being a physical team with one reporter asking if the guys were playing too dangerously, or too physical. It had nothing to do with Saric, Sanyang or Cronin. I guess it had more to do with Alphabet Soup than anyone else.
FYI - Its on TFCTV Preki's post-match press conference.
Theres more to being a forward than finishing. Pace, positioning, off-the-ball movement, technique... these are all positive attributes that Barrett possesses. Sure, we would like for him to score more goals, but he does all of the little things to make sure that he's on the pitch day-in and day-out
He never talks about specific players. I stand by my translation!
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Agreed which is why for the lack of wingers , I'd like to use his positive qualities, on the side creating width and a threat with his aggressiveness, just don't make him a target man.
huh?
i like barret as a winger - heck even thought of him as an outside mid if his ego could handle it. i still believe in his striking ability - tho he really has to hit the net on opportunities like last night. I also want to see the lads move upfield more as they get more comfortable at the back so they can start shooting more from just outside the box.
April 15th TFC in Toronto
April 18th TFC in Colorado
I suspect Preki's just keeping a couple of guys rested for Sunday. If Cronin does not play Sunday then he may not figure at all in Preki's plans.
I'm probley stating the obvious here but if Cronin doesn't play sunday he's as good as gone.
that would suck. he's a starter in this league and at least a super sub.
[quote=P-NUTZ;980920]i suspect saric is better than he appears right now - but right now he's been unproductive with the ball.
I totally agree. I think the whole team is a little tentative but will come around. I think that Preki knows what he is doing with regards to Cronin. I do not believe that he is benching him because of the type of player he is. We know that he runs the entire game, plays both sides of the ball well and can play multiple positions which is exactly what Preki wants in his players.
I think he might be lighting a fire under his ass to push him to the next level.
He must have pissed Preki off.
He's a far better player than Saric.
That is what I was thinking also, but who knows.
Here's hoping so, but Cronin didn't have a problem with back-to-back games. And the guys who should've been rested because of injuries (Peterson, Barrett) were brought on as second half subs.
I have faith in Preki but FFS we need to know whats going on with Cronin.
This must be personal. There is no way anyone with any soccer knowledge (which Preki seems to think he has in abundance) would ever rate Saric and Gargan over Cronin in the mid, and if he can play in the back like we're told, then throw Ustanov and Hsanoviciash(whatever) into that pool. These guys are dreadful...Cronin may be simple and not exactly the flashiest player, but I'd have him over everyone of these guys in any position every day of the year.
Funny...because you could also suggest that Barca is a bunch of ballerinas, with the sweet and smooth passing and trickery, and I think they are highliy regarded in the football world...lol...
However I am not suggesting that Cronin plays anything like the Champions League Title holders
I would suggest that if you ever meet Puyols or Xavi or Yaya Toure in a bar, just to name three, you'd be wise not call them ballerinas
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Cronin is a true box to box midfielder. IMO he was our best corner kicker and created many scoring opportunities even when playing as the ratter. Preki's failure to use one of our best young resources has already significantly dropped my confidence in him and is pissing me off. The fact he fucked up the first two away games with Garcia in the lineup was very bad too.
Understand that every time a new coach comes in for a short time the Hawthorne effect kicks in. A change in the work atmosphere motivates all employees but only for a little while. Demo a new golf driver or clubs, borrow a tennis racquet and we all hit the ball better than what is our norm. Demo and then spend 300 bucks on a new driver and three rounds later you are topping, skying, shanking, hooking or slicing again and you have actually dumped your money in the toilet. New feel and feedback stimulates our brain and improves us but it is nowhere near permanent.
The fact that the strange lineups and poor results in the first two games and the fact Preki is in the temporary Hawthorne zone is why I have no faith in Preki or Mo.
OB WHite will never be a winger and Nick Labrocca is too much of a two-way mid to waste sitting deep. Plus, defences stack backwards in MLS and are tough to catch on the break, so playing a one-man frontline is a last resort tactic.
[QUOTE=Snoop;981140]Why? What about Saric's record of not staying with one club for more than a year in his entire career suggests we're gonna see something better.
He's Kevin Harmse, redux. Not a terrible mid, but not a very good one, prone to bad fouls, can't pass, can't jump forward (whomever suggested here he's better going forward than Cronin is mental, period.)
He'll be a backup within three games.
i kinda expect this and am not angry provided we arent paying him stupid money. I do kinda have more faith in him than Harmse, as to why? im not sure, i got this feeling we might see more from him
Cronin, while he played well, was thrust into a starters role due to a lack of depth. Now he can focus on developing his game. I think its good for him to have to work for a spot and improve. I am fine with him on the bench, the club looks like its battling more.
Yup I agree with this. I think I'm starting to see Preki's new strategy.
Signing reletively easily tradeable players at a reasonable salary till we get some big salaries off the books next year and start over.
Last edited by Stryker; 04-17-2010 at 11:18 AM.
^ Yep.
Cronin will likely start in Colorado. I just have a feeling that Preki sat him in New England to send a message, and at the home opener because he needed a rested midfielder for Colorado.
This is the lineup I was proposing...OBW is definately not a winger.
-----------------------Frei------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Gargan-------Attakora------Cann-------------Rai
--------------------------------------------------
-------------Cronin---------LeBrocca--------------
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------DeGuzman--------------------
Barrett--------------------------------------DeRosario
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------OBW-----------------------
You are correct about Labrocca, I missed the fact he had Lebrocca playing deeper than Deguz. Those two should be switched as well.
I think people on this board are overrating Cronin’s current ability as a player and his contribution to the team last year. He’s a decent young player and I think he will have a good long career in MLS. He’s a level headed, consistent but unspectacular player. His greatest strength is that he reads the game well, and really seems to understand how to play within the organized shape of the team. He combines well with teammates in basic passing sequences (makes himself available to recive the ball, offers support and works give and go plays on the outside). However, he still has a lot to work on, and as it stands right now he doesn’t have a natural position. Is he DM or a wing player?
Cronin as a DM
When the team has possession, of the ball, seems like a natural holding mid, and looks pretty effective moving the ball out of the backfield. Defensively his positional sense is pretty good but he’s to timid in his challenges, he just looks unwilling to get ‘stuck in’ - to play DM he has to get better a winning possession of the ball.
Cronin as Winger
On the wing, his problems are the inverse. Defensively he’s a good wing player, but he’s pretty useless in the attacking third. He has no eye for the goal. Last year, he looked completely uncomfortable with the ball at his feet in the attack. At times it was actually embarrassing see him treat the ball like hot potato, reflexively dumping it off to team-mates instead of passing to penetrate, getting down the wing or attacking defenders 1 on 1. As LM last year he mostly relied give and go and overlap support from Brennan vs. attacking himself.
He is starting today, along with Saric - Sanyang and Gargan out.
Gargan imo have been one of the few positives so far. Benching him is a poor decision.
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