Ferdo I saw Burke's best ball when he was Striking at Jacksonville years ago, I saw his success here at Striker & I've seen his efforts with Richmond. I still think that striker is his highest & best use. I'm not trashing the guy, I've had a beer with him,(granted he was underage)- this isn't personal. Do you like a "Landon Donovan type" at striker or outside midfieder? That's the argument here. I thought this thread was about how to get some goal production up top & that's my 2 cents worth based on YEARS of Burke watching. The seasons well underway, you guys better do something. Believe it or not I like the Rhinos less than anyone in this Leauge (including the Knickers) so I would have loved to see you guys take advantage of their fatigue rather than getting your asses handed to you on your own pitch - disgraceful result - if I were you I'd be madder than hell - but not at me!

Our 'dilemma' with Burke is the reverse of what you described with Conway- you had loads of mids, we've got plenty of forwards. It's a matter of having him in the game. I like Donovan at a mid position when you've got a Mathis and McBride up front.

Burke is getting his share of points, and would probably have more without our blown chances. He makes some amazing serves, the best of which I've seen was last year against Pittsburgh where he bent a pass along the ground from midfield behind two defenders to Kevin Jeffrey in the penalty area, which Jeffrey put in the goal (something not happening as much this year)

Glad you're not one of those fans who will dog a player everywhere he goes who spent a little time with their favorite team and not have his best time in his career there. (There's English in this last paragraph somewhere; too many pronouns) It seems sometimes other Battery fans seem to pick out Burke for their digs (But I guess he invites it with his hair and such)

We've just got a bit of France-itis, some great play but no goals. Good thing it's not a three-match group. Perhaps this will be good for us. We usually get out fast and have some late season slumps, maybe this year will be the opposite.

BTW, We were mad at the Charleston game because we were crap. Now we're just frustrated. You know the type of game where you do almost everything right, but don't win? That was Rochester. Unfortunately, this wasn't the only time it's happened. (Charlotte, Toronto) We're baffled, and thus the generation of these topics. I'm not sure if Leigh will tinker, but Burke at forward could be interesting. But then he wouldn't be running all over midfield chasing the ball. He works hard and is exciting for fans to watch.

Let me finish by stating he was pretty exciting cutting around the 6 yard box too. The fans would enjoy it... we did.

Dugferd, if you can come up with an answer for the scoring problem, please let us know in Charlotte. I believe this is the best team the Eagles have ever put on the field, but they are really having trouble finishing. They were beaten pretty well in Charleston and Atlanta, only to come home, play very well against quality teams and beat them every way a team can, except on the scoreboard. Against Atlanta last Saturday, it could easily (and should) have been Eagles up 3 - 0 at half time. It's enormously frustrating as a fan and must drive the team crazy as well. The problem with not finishing when you create great opportunities is that it only takes a small defensive breakdown or a blown call by an official (can we get a hand ball call this year, please) and you are down when you should be winning comfortably. It's painful.

This year's Richmond team is loaded and your forwards are very dangerous, but they have the same problem as the Eagles. I hope we can pull it together quickly or Charleston and Atlanta are going to run away with the division this year.

I would argue that the Eagles played well enough in Richmond to win that game, but just couldn't score. I don't think either team had a significant edge in that one. Both played well enough to win.

Goeagles, start with your corner kicks, they are the worst in the League bar none. I DO agree that this is a good Charlotte team again this year.

We get to see some of that, too. It's not as though he's confined to the wing. We've got David Hayes whom many consider a forward on the other wing position, doing the same things. So with capable attacks from either side it can get the other wing into the scoring area.