Is it time?

With a big loss to DC United, is it time to start seeing some more changes in the starting lineup?

The break-down of our attack was all too common during the DC game @ RFK. A couple crosses by Wingert was showing promise as Deuchar was camped in the middle, but that faded as there were not too many runs up the wings from either of the backs in the last hour of the game. Our attack is getting forced up the middle as teams become more compact in the defense, realizing our weakness out wide.

Deuchar has been forced to make diagonal runs to the corner flag to receive the ball, but that leaves us hoping he can outrun someone (which he is not equipped to do). Findley is camping in the middle, but not playing off of Deuchar very well. I think Movsisyan needs his time in the starting lineup with Deuchar. I believe he can hold the ball up better, and may very well work better with Deuchar. However, he still has finishing to prove. Espindola will be starting when he is 100%, unless one of these forwards can make some consistent plays happen.

Morales has not really created much for other players, but you can't expect much when you have to receive the ball in the middle third and play a little bit conservatively. Plus, his free kicks is a very needed commodity for our team. Beckerman, Kovalenko and Williams all bring good possession to the team, but none of them are really not moving forward on counter attacks. Most of the time, it seems that Kreis has them wanting to stay back and possess the ball. Which is making it easy for defenses to get behind the ball, leaving us to attempt to knife through their defense nearly everytime. Talley is too high of a liability in back right now, but is still a fierce competitor.

Olave showed that our center backs is the best group of field players. Borchers has had a great season. Mantilla has done well, but with him being the aggressor out of the two, you have seen his problems more often than Borchers. The wings are alright, but they are expected to cover too much ground as we lack width in the middle to final third. Beltran should start getting time over Joy to see if we can get less mistakes out of him.

In the end, I think there is one glaring problem. This team is built with too many hustlers, and not enough technical or speedy talent. The mistakes by other teams are not punished, because we have no one looking to push the ball forward. They quickly look to just start the possession game. Once again, we have no wide play, we are forced to go up the middle, where defenses are all-to-prepared for our middle attack.

Give me your latest thoughts on lineups that will improve the team. My suggestion is:

-------------Rimando--------------
-Beltran--Olave-Borchers--Wingert-
------------Kovalenko-------------
------Beckerman---Cordoba---------
-Morales----------------Espindola-
-------------Deuchar--------------

With Joy's overseas experience not showing anything, I think a young guy with a lot of dedication and hustle needs a try with the first-team. Mantilla is right behind Olave and Borchers as the 3rd defender (sorry Horst, but I don't think you will be cracking this lineup anytime soon. But I am sure you are ahead of Besagno). Kovalenko is good at ruining attacks, or at least getting a yellow for a reckless challenge. Beckerman is captain and should be focused on running box to box. Cordoba would be focuses on going forward and wider more often than Beckerman, as Espindola will be moving inside to pair with Deuchar often. Morales will continually drift inwards as Beltran will need to constantly overlap. Deuchar will not move much from his spot, he will be waiting for crosses, or coming to hold up the ball. That is all Deuchar should be doing, no runs to corner flags.

Feel free to rag on me for any of my thoughts by leaving a comments below. Also, I will get a preview of the San Jose Open Cup game either today or tomorrow.