Now what? Lets get your opinions . . .

By: Dave Martinez | October 16th, 2007

With the playoffs secured, a known opponent set, and nothing to gain, I ask you my loyal readers . . .

What should RBNY do with the next game heading into the playoffs?

We have seen similiar situations in the past – and every coach handles it differently.

Would you put in your best starters?

Or would the scrubs come out to play?

Lets hear whatcha got to say! And if you want my opinion? Read on . . .

SCRUBBA DUB DUB, THIS IS THE RUB!!!!

Look, plain and simple – we have had players that carried the team on its back all season – AND THEY DESERVE A REST!!!!

Juan Pablo Angel
Jozy Altidore
Jeff Parke
Dane Richards

Then there are role players whom have suffered for our gain, whether through injuries or benchings, much like . . .

Dema Kovalenko
Hunter Freeman
Carlos Mendes
Wolyniec

If I were in the coaches boots, i would have three things on my mind.

#1 – My major players need a rest.

#2 – My injured or little used players need more pitch time.

#3 – My weekly tinkering of the line up has caused alot of uncertainty in our starting 11.

MY SUGGESTION?

We have a meaningless week ahead of us.

We have had some excellent lineups, and some horrid ones.

First move – Identify your starting 11. ELIMINATE THAT CONFUSION!

My opinion?

=======Angel====Altidore========
Mathis===Dema===Reyna===Richards
DVB====Parke====Mendes==Freeman
=========Waterrues (tentative)====

Mathis floats towards the middle, creating somewhat of a 4-3-1-2, or 4-3-3. DVB pushing up a bit more freely than Freeman.

And Waterrues? Well, that is tentative mainly due to this
- If Conway can put up stellar performances in this next game WITH a depleted squad, I am sold. If not? Well, we have lived by the Walrus, we would have to die by the Walrus.

THEN WHAT?!

Now that you have indentified starters, ask yourself, whom needs the rest most?

Angel, Altidore, Mathis, Richards, Parke

Next question – which starter needs more time on the pitch to hone their game?

DVB – 1 more game at Left Back wont hurt em.
DEMA – He has been out so long, he needs time to shake the rust. (he wont be available due to yellows)
FREEMAN – See Dema
MENDES – Been sat on the mystery injury/doghouse tour since that conway goal. He needs time.

I know Altidore is injured, but the way he has been getting hacked – please, save him his legs and sit him on the bench.

SO . . . .

Given the above, this is what I would propose.

======DOE====WOLYNIEC========
==UBI===VIDE===MATHIS======SCHOPP
DVB===MENDES=====STAMMY==FREEMAN
=========CONWAY=============

Let Ubi press, lets see what Schopp can do, and most of all, lets try those secondary options, as they face off against a hungry Los Angeles Team.

EDIT: Schopps presence will allow Freeman more movement towards the attack, and DVB can concentrate on honing his D skills.

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But thats just the opinion of one blogger in this world we call “THE WEB.”

What do you folks think?