Patching Up The Titanic

By: Dave Martinez | June 16th, 2008

Some things in life are inevitable. If you are born with less than perfect eye sight, you will squint. If your right leg is a tad shorter than your left? Expect a limp. As is the case with being a Metro Bulls follower - if you choose fandom, expect some hardship.

This season, it comes in the form of a new coach and a very thin squad. Additions from last years line up were minimal, with only Fat Cat Thornton, Andrew Boyens and Oscar Echeverry being added to the fold (none of them of starting caliber). So, in effect, Osorio is coaching Bruce Arenas team, and someone, somewhere down the line figured it would be good enough to start with those pieces - the same pieces that could not find our target forwards, or the back of the net in last years playoffs.

With Jozy’s anticipated departure becoming a midseason reality, that thin Arena team has become anorexic. And the fact remains that, even with rumored signings abounding, no new player will be able to make an impact till possibly 2 or 3 games down the line. Until then? These are the parts that they are going to war with.

So the question is: With no signings to bail them out any time soon, what can they do to add some life and danger back to the offensive attack?

Here is one idea:

========Megaloudis====Wolyniec=========
DVB=======Sassano====Magee=====Richards
Goldthwaite===Parke====Mendes=====Freeman
==============Cepero================

Let Sassano play the more CDM role, with Magee having the free reign at midfield to play balls. Freeman has to start - he gives an attacking dimension to the defensive wings. Call up Cepero - its good to have a healthy competition, and I would rather count on Cepero, someone who has been praised by veterans and teammates alike, to an unknown Sewell or a fat Thornton.

And Mega - my boy from Queens New York! He just scored a goal for Puerto Rico in qualifiers yesterday. The kid has the goods and great size to boot. They need that kind of youth and vigor, a kid who is willing to make a cheeky run or dance with the ball at his feet. Someone to create some space up top. Mega can do that. Try him.

A 4-4-2 is the most basic and serviceable lineup that can be featured. the 4-5-1 will keep the team in games, but the threat of an Angel or Jozy isnt there for the lone striker, so that wont work for many goals. 3-5-2 is completely out of the question, even if it is Osorios bread and butter. Keep it simple.

Another idea? Start Borman on the left wing, locate Van Den Bergh centrally, bench Magee.

Other than that, there isnt much that can be done. This whole ordeal is like trying to patch up the Titanic - they’ve hit the iceberg, and the ship is going down no matter what. The only thing left to do is hope for a life preserver - a goal serving/goal scoring life preserver.