This is a solid move with good upside and little downside. A 3rd round pick next year is nothing and if Doyle can develop into something we'll have some good depth.
The problem is its not enough. We are 26 days out from the season opener in San Jose and we have 21 of 28 roster slots filled. Looking at a probable starting XI this season based on our roster:
Doyle
Gashi - Pappa - Serna(?)
Cronin - Powers
Williams(?) - St. Ledger - Burling - Hairston
MacMath/Howard
Bench: Berner/MacMath - Sjoberg - Burch - Watts - Azira - Badji - Solignac
That's a decent but not great starting XI and a very thin bench. I'm assuming at this point Howard will be a done deal so we have 6 roster spots left to fill. What we need, in my opinion:
MLS quality super sub/spot starter at striker - Something like a Kelyn Rowe in NE or Urutti in Dallas last year. We can be pretty sure that at least one and probably both of Kevin Doyle and Gashi will miss time this summer with the Euros and looking at some combination of Conor Doyle, Badji, Calvert, and Solignac up top does not fill me with confidence.
Starting right mid or a commitment to Serna - I think Serna can do the job but Pablo will have to commit to letting a young player own the spot and not yank him back and forth from the bench. If he can't do that then we need to sign somebody who can fill that spot.
Outside back that can play either side - Williams and Hairston seem to be the starting outside backs but I don't know if either one can hold their own in MLS. Burch is the only real backup, with Serna able to drop back if necessary. This is one of the toughest roles to fill in MLS (which is why passing on Brandon Vincent in the draft was such a risk) but we really need a quality signing in this area.
Center back depth signing - Right now our only backup at center back is Sjoberg. The less said about Watts playing back there again this season the better. We need more cover back there.
Draftee - One of these guys better be worth something, as we kept trading down on the assumption there was still some quality.
That leaves one spot open, which ideally would go for another "starter on every MLS team" level signing but my bet will be used on a draftee or trialist.
Six sigings, 26 days. Unless its a draftee or other such depth signing we really need to have the other four signed before the Desert Diamond Cup next Wednesday. So that's four signings in a week. Tick tock.
Current roster:
GK John Berner
GK Zac MacMath
D March Burch
D Bobby Burling
D Marlon Hairston
D Axel Sjoberg
D Sean St. Ledger
D Mekeil Williams
M Michael Azira
M Sam Cronin
M Marco Pappa
M Zach Pfeffer
M Dillon Powers
M Dillon Serna
M Jared Watts
F Dominque Badji
F Caleb Calvert
F Conor Doyle
F Kevin Doyle
F Shkëlzen Gashi
F Luis Solignac
Unsigned draftees:
GK Chris Froschauer
D Dennis Castillo
D Bradley Kamdem
D Javan Torre
M Emmanuel Appiah
F John Manga
Trialists:
D Stephen Keel
M Yann Ekra - Charlotte
M Brian Ownby - Richmond
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1 comment:
I've been riding with this in FIFA 16.
-------------Doyle--------------
Gashi----------------------Serna
--------Papa------Powers--------
------------Cronin--------------
Burch--St.Ledger--Sjoberg--Watts
I think Watts is a good player. Last year was his first ever playing D. He will get better. He can actually pass out of the back since he's a natural midfielder and would conceivably have instincts to get forward, so fullback seems right for him.
I like Sjoberg over Burling. Williams can replace Burch but he's not on the team in FIFA yet.
Then we have Conor Doyle who can sub for striker and midfield. Hairston who can sub for midfield and D. Solignac for striker and midfield. Calvert/Badji for striker. Burling/Burch for D. Trialists/Draftees for depth at all of the above.
I feel thin at creative mid. Power/Pappa/Gashi subs. I like Watts as a Cronin backup. I like Watts over Cronin possibly. Definitely thin at fullback. So, I'd like to see another creative mid/winger and another full back.
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