Not to our playoff hopes, but to a lot of our guys's jobs. Rule #1 in managing a team at a high level is to create a roster where during practice the players are competing for their jobs. It pushes them to try harder and achieve at their maximal level.

I don't see this happening in this team. Anyone with a pulse and half a brain that follows the Kickers knows that, barring suspension or injury, Ronnie, Fox, Tony, Luzak, Knight, Richie, and Brown will be starting. Absolute fact. The forwards rotate some, but it really seems to be random. My question is, how are these guys supposed to be inspired to perform their best? They aren't by any means dumb, they have to realize that they aren't going to be benched. And the same goes for the guys on the bench. Guys like Bobo, Hare, O'Toole, and Kofi, why should they bother to play hard, they know that the only way they'll ever see the field is if someone is hurt or suspended. Ssejjemba seems to be falling into that hole now too where he can't get a start no matter what, since the combos seem to be set in stone at Deli/Carrieri and KJ/Cephas.

Now, in every workplace that I know of, if you aren't getting the job done they'll find someone else who will. Does anyone really think that there will be any substantial change the rest of the season? They go and sign Mingo, an attacker, but he doesn't even make the bench on a team that couldn't score in a sorority house right now? What can it hurt to give him the chance to prove that he belongs at the USL1 level?

The way the roster is built also reflects the safety of certain jobs. More specifically, Ronnie's. That man has zero reason to fear for his job. I'm not saying he isn't a good keeper, and he's far from the problem, but what kind of message does it send when the coach publically states that he has zero confidence in playing the backup keeper in a real game setting? I personally believe that Ronnie was far better in 2003 when he had at least some competition from the loaned Doug Warren. It may be coincidental, but I'm not so sure it is. I have little doubt that Ronnie could have a game where he looks like a U-9 keeper and he'd still be inked into the lineup for the next game.

Bottom line is something needs to change because the urgency is not there right now, and all signs point to these guys being content with playing out the season and getting to their "real" jobs.

GGGGGGGiddyup Matt.

I say Jemba should be starting on the wing, with Cephas up front. Second striker should be Deli or Carrieri with Burke on the left.

I just liked the speed of Bob and Macca working together, looks like a better way of getting around the defense than lumping it up the field.

And put Bobo in Richie's position, I've liked him there every time I've seen him come in. Brown can stay.

But defense? You're right! After the regular back four (+1) there's a big drop in talent and I would be hesitant to rotate anybody in there, even if the defense lets in four or five. We have limited options and it's not a good position to be in.

I think I agree with everything in that post EF. I would go with Carrieri up front with Cephas. I would like to see KJ as an attacking midfielder because he obviously is not going to score but I think he would fair well in that role. What about switching to a 3-5-2. I would be reluctant as a coach switching formations midseason but we need something.

There really isn't much cover at centerback. But it's hard to gripe too much about guys who went 4 games without being scored on. (Then again, it's easy to gripe when one of them costs you a point with an own goal!)

Richie was great against DC, but he didn't bring it against Vancouver. Given the lack of scoring and his lack of scoring punch these days, I think starting Burke (or KJ) in the center with Brown as cover, and Gorres and Ssjemba on the wings would be better--save Richie for tougher games. That's the second half lineup against V. of course so nothing works unless the players are fired up.

Looking at teams like Montreal, Seattle, Vancouver, I wish we had more big, fast, strong, technically OK midfielders who are physical but clean and can make leading passes on the ground that fast strikers can get to. Joey Worthen matches the description and his injury and the slide into suckiness seem to have gone together. Bobo comes close, but I don't think his touch and vision as an attacker are quite up to snuff.

If you run Burke in the mid put KJ in for Gorres.
Gorres seems to be a mystery will he or wont he produce. Honestly I am stumped we just can't score our play isnt bad nice ball movement great chances. This causes a small problem not scoring means we suck, our dip into suckiness needs to end now before the season is over.

I like the idea of fighting for your job anything right now to change the feel.

ohhhh yeah Mingo, put his butt in, he can not score just as good as everybody else. Maybe the team jinx does not include the newbie.

AS I have been saying all season, at least try JK as a play making Mid Fielder. He is creative, he looks to pass, and it might give him some space to score if the chance were to come.

What do we have to loose? Lets try something new.

Lets try a 3-5-2 lookin like this:

T. Williams Knight Luzak

Bobo Brown
Burke Carrieri
KJ

Jemba Cephas

that didnt come out how i wanted it to look but carrieri and burke on the wings with bobo and brown more defensive and kj pushing forward...

but i dunno i like richie goin like 60 mins with BOBO coming on for him. just some food for thought.

3-5-2 I think would be the best set up for us right now, then we could work players into it. With good communication and some patience our possesion time would increase.

A 3-5-2 requires wing backs for it to work properly. Players who can tirelessy run up and down the flank to create chances and defend the wings. I would play Tony on the left, not at center back since he is a converted winger anyway.

On the right I don't think Fox is quick enough for the wing-back position so we would need a midfielder willing to track back, that rules out Burke or Carrieri. In fact I really don't like anybody in that position.

Middle three would be Knight, Luzak and Bobo sweeping that's a no brainer.

Then you've got to deal with a crowded midfield, Richie would actually suit the d-mid position. And Brown could play more centrally leaving someone with speed and creativity in the third spot - Carrieri I reckon.

And then the top two, pick 'em out of what we have. I like Cephas and Deli, tall strong guy with a small fast guy - and the guys played 50+ games together with VCU and the Future.

But I really don't like this formation, it doesn't utilize our best assets, we need four players on the flank I think. I say 4-3-3 is a better bet.

Usual back five
Gorres - Bobo - Ssejemba
Deli-Carrieri-Cephas

I just feel that right now Deli's size is useless, he rarely won anything in the air against Vancouver and it was the same situation when we played Seattle. With smaller fast strikers we can use our wings to spread the defense and then thread the d and put our forwards through. I just can't stand watching us play ball after ball to Deli's head and nothing comes out of it. These bigger teams cannot stay with the speed of Cephas or Jemba.

I just watched a tape of the game at Rochester. Deli's finishing that game makes KJ against Vancouver look like Shevchencko

Well after two 1-1 ties in the NW it looks like we are finally remembering how to score. Now if only the goalscorers could show our forwards how it's done.