Jump to content

Imhof Must Start


Keegan

Recommended Posts

He is playing full matches in the B1 and even got a Man of the Match award. He has to start.

He would give us such good options, allow him to play DM then that in turn allows De Guzman and Hutchinson to attack more!

I also believe Hirschfeld should start, he may not be playing but he is our best keeper and I am not worried about his lack of PT. Stalteri is still starting.

-----------Hirschfeld-------------

Stalteri--McKenna--Serioux--Klukowski

------------Imhof---------------

------De Guzman--De Rosario-------

Radzinski-----------------Hutchinson

------------Friend-----------------

McKenna has seen some time for Koln we could use his strength and HEIGHT. No way Honduras could handle us on Set Pieces with McKenna and Friend two Bundesliga Giants. Look at the central midfield beautiful. Hutchinson and Radz on the wings both speedy players who can score. Friend the big giant up top.

Really how can Honduras deal with Friend? He had ONE OFF GAME vs. Jamaica on FIELD TURF. It won't happen again with Friend he has too much pride for that to happen, look at his last game on grass for us vs. Brazil.

I can't see that lineup losing vs. Honduras. Too experienced, too good defensively, too tall, too quick, too skilled. Total threat lineup, total football.

I like Hastings but I don't want him to start vs. Honduras. He isn't quick or really strong and just boots the ball, better for the game vs. Jamaica then this match.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IF Hastings could make a decent forward pass out of the back, I would keep him in the starting IX. He might not be quick, strong or tall but he does work well with Serioux and he's more defensively reliable than I thought he could be. He looked strong in terms of ball winning against Jamaica but with the ball at his feet, he doesn't really contribute positively. However, I'm far from convinced that McKenna would be any better.

I wish Brennan was a bit more reliable defensively because then I'd slide Klukowski into a centerback role and have Brennan at LB because Jim would help the transition game tremendously. He is a very capable crosser of the ball off an overlapping run and would create space for our attacking midfielders. However, If Brennan and Kluka were manning the left side of D, I'm quite certain that Honduras and Mexico would try to pick apart them apart all night

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brennan can also score from distance as we saw a couple years back with his brace against Austria, and indeed all throughout his Canada career. I think Klukowski is right to start but if he tires again like last match bring Brennan on. We know what he can do.

Oh, and yes I'd like to see Imhof, but how will he play with the rest of the midfielders? Thing is that Bernier who's place in midfield he'd most likely be taking, spent the Gold Cup and a lot of friendlies working together with guys like Hutch, DeRo and de Guzman. They know each others' games and have chemistry. Do we have time to get Imhof on the same page? It's a gamble, but Martin Nash in Gold Cup set precedent. Nash came in as a deep lying midfielder with little or no experience with the other players and did OK. Maybe Imhof who is a higher caliber player could have similar success in that role. Sort 'em out Stephen Hart! :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by Keegan

I also believe Hirschfeld should start, he may not be playing but he is our best keeper and I am not worried about his lack of PT.

Sorry, but no. He should no be playing because of opinion that he is our best. He is not showing it and continues to go to clubs where he may get a run before he inevitably rides the pine. This to me does not prove he is our best keeper.

We have keepers like Sutton starting in MLS, and Begovic starting in League 1 who are more deserving of the opportunity right now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote: He is playing full matches in the B1 and even got a Man of the Match award. He has to start.

He would give us such good options, allow him to play DM then that in turn allows De Guzman and Hutchinson to attack more!

I also believe Hirschfeld should start, he may not be playing but he is our best keeper and I am not worried about his lack of PT. Stalteri is still starting.

-----------Hirschfeld-------------

Stalteri--McKenna--Serioux--Klukowski

------------Imhof---------------

------De Guzman--De Rosario-------

Radzinski-----------------Hutchinson

------------Friend-----------------

McKenna has seen some time for Koln we could use his strength and HEIGHT. No way Honduras could handle us on Set Pieces with McKenna and Friend two Bundesliga Giants. Look at the central midfield beautiful. Hutchinson and Radz on the wings both speedy players who can score. Friend the big giant up top.

Really how can Honduras deal with Friend? He had ONE OFF GAME vs. Jamaica on FIELD TURF. It won't happen again with Friend he has too much pride for that to happen, look at his last game on grass for us vs. Brazil.

I can't see that lineup losing vs. Honduras. Too experienced, too good defensively, too tall, too quick, too skilled. Total threat lineup, total football.

I like Hastings but I don't want him to start vs. Honduras. He isn't quick or really strong and just boots the ball, better for the game vs. Jamaica then this match.

This is my ideal lineup as well. It features our best players playing in positions that are very close to, if not identical to their club positions. I would like to see DeRo slightly in front of Deguzman though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by VPjr

I wish Brennan was a bit more reliable defensively because then I'd slide Klukowski into a centerback role and have Brennan at LB because Jim would help the transition game tremendously.

The only time Klukowski has played CB for the MNT was as an emergency measure vs Northern Ireland. We won the game with 10 men, he earned good reviews for his play . . . and he hasn't been tried there since. So that leaves me wondering why, with a plethora of decent LBs, we haven't moved him into that spot. During the second half of the Panama game in June I believe he was played in a central midfield position while Cann and Hainault were tried as a CB pairing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by Soju

Oh, and yes I'd like to see Imhof, but how will he play with the rest of the midfielders? Thing is that Bernier who's place in midfield he'd most likely be taking, spent the Gold Cup and a lot of friendlies working together with guys like Hutch, DeRo and de Guzman. They know each others' games and have chemistry. Do we have time to get Imhof on the same page? It's a gamble, but Martin Nash in Gold Cup set precedent. Nash came in as a deep lying midfielder with little or no experience with the other players and did OK. Maybe Imhof who is a higher caliber player could have similar success in that role. Sort 'em out Stephen Hart! :D

Wasn't Nash with the squad at Hart's Bermuda camp in the spring? If so, that gave him some more familiarity with his midfield mates than just the Venezuela match and subsequent GC, for what it's worth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Imhoff Must Start"

During the last WCQ almost exactly four years ago there were a number of people on here who probably would have started a thread called "Imhoff Must Go." Of that MNT team he seemed one of the least likely to progress upwards in his pro career. Good for him!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll add my support of Imhof as well. I've always liked his work rate and tenacity. He's one guy who'll win more than his fare share of 50/50 balls,recover possession and keep the ball moving to the more skilled attacking players. He's got enough speed to deal with Honduras' quick players. If he tires get Bernier in there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A big difference between this game and the Jamaica one is that we have 6 days of training before the match. Add that to the training pre-Jamaica and Imhof should be getting familiar with the other players. How he plays may not look pretty but I think he brings a higher level of effectiveness to what he does than Bernier. He is also far better defensively and we will need this against speedy Honduran and Mexican forwards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think we are caught in a bit of a dilemna. We want to field our best XI, with our best players, playing at the highest level, but we don't necessarily have the proof that they will gel, and we don't have games to test it out.

I'm speaking in regards to: McKenna,Imhof and Hirshcfeld

That being said, tactically, I thought our biggest formational flaw vs Jamaica was that Friend was left completely isolated, with no one next to him to generate opportunities in conjuction with him. Thus leading me to conclude that a 4-4-2 would be appropriate with Hume or Gerba to support Friend. The trouble is making the pieces fit.

This 4-4-2 line-up is a gamble, no doubt.

Could elevate our play or it could crash and cost us the points.

--------------Hirschfeld---------------

Stalteri---McKenna----Serioux--Klukowski

----------------Imhof-----------------

Hutchinson-----DeGuzman---------DeRosario

-----------Hume------------------------

-------------------Friend--------------

Safer bet 4-4-2 - with players we have seen together:

---------------Onstad-------------------

Stalteri----Hastings----Serioux--Klukowski

----------------DeGuzman----------------

Radzinkski------Hutchinson-------DeRosario

-------------Gerba----------------------

--------------------Friend--------------

Link to comment
Share on other sites

playing a team like honduras, who will keep the ball on the ground and try to break us down through the middle, it is IMPERATIVE to have a a guy like imhof in the middle.

It is also imperative to NOT play McKenna in this game. His game just isnt suited to stopping guys like suazo and guevarra. those guys would make him look foolish time and again. no thanks. Serioux will be fine. Hastings i think will at least play a safe positional game and thats all we can ask of him. he did great dealing with Donovan and Ruiz in the gold cup, i think he needs to play.

Brennan must play. Klukowski is not better than Brennan in any way. We need Brennan to inject some toughness and leadership into this team.

--------------Hirsch

Stalteri--Serioux--Hastings--Brennan

--------------Imhof

Hutch----deGuz---------------Radz

-------------------dero

-----------Friend

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by BrennanFan

playing a team like honduras, who will keep the ball on the ground and try to break us down through the middle, it is IMPERATIVE to have a a guy like imhof in the middle.

It is also imperative to NOT play McKenna in this game. His game just isnt suited to stopping guys like suazo and guevarra. those guys would make him look foolish time and again. no thanks. Serioux will be fine. Hastings i think will at least play a safe positional game and thats all we can ask of him. he did great dealing with Donovan and Ruiz in the gold cup, i think he needs to play.

Brennan must play. Klukowski is not better than Brennan in any way. We need Brennan to inject some toughness and leadership into this team.

--------------Hirsch

Stalteri--Serioux--Hastings--Brennan

--------------Imhof

Hutch----deGuz---------------Radz

-------------------dero

-----------Friend

Please. Your name is Brennan fan. Klukowski is better than Brennan in every way, you did watch the Brazil match?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Defensive Midfielders

Daniel Imhof

-Consistent

-Does his job, never fantastic, never terrible

-High Percentage, easy passes

-Cannot move the ball forward quickly

-Never runs at defenders

-Experience in top league

-Good Defensively

-No experience as a defensive midfielder with Canada

Patrice Bernier

-Inconsistent (can be brilliant ie. Costa Rica & Jamaica @ BMO, or terrible @ South Africa)

-Plays at a much lower level than Imhof with his club

-Very good running at defenders

-Can move the ball quickly

-Can cover for wide-backs, but not a great defender, he is beaten by quality wingers on the counter

-Has played the position for Canada.

I think we have to switch between the two. Against Honduras where we want to go out and attack I think we should play Bernier. We often get into a situation where our back four can't get the ball forward to the midfield and DeGuzman often has to retrieve the balls from the Defenders to get anything going. Bernier can get the ball moving quickly. Against Mexico in Mexico, we should play Imhof, because he is much better defensively. He will be able to shut down Blanco and hopefully limit the Mexican's attack.

-

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by Keegan

gotta be Imhof. Doesn't matter if he hasn't played DM for Canada. He plays it every week for his club.

He is consistent, gets the job done. Sign him up.

But if we want to take the game to Honduras, do you really think he can move the ball quick enough for us to play a fast posession game in the midfield. Not keep passing the ball around the back four which seems to happen too often with this set of players.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by leafdolfan

But if we want to take the game to Honduras, do you really think he can move the ball quick enough for us to play a fast posession game in the midfield. Not keep passing the ball around the back four which seems to happen too often with this set of players.

Well all we need is for someone to make the easy pass. De Guzman or whoever can then take it on from there. Bundesliga is a quick league I am pretty sure he can make a quick pass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by leafdolfan

I'm not saying he can't make a quick pass. I mean quick, as in moving the ball forward quickly, not a quick or short ball. As apposed to Bernier who can really get the ball and offense moving.

The thing is, which Bernier will show up? The one who did a quality job in front of the back line a year ago vs Costa Rica at BMO, moving the ball well with the pass as well as the dribble, when necessary? Or the guy who gave the ball away with three horrendous passes in a row within a five minute spell in the second half vs South Africa?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...