David Mayer

[AkronZip54321]

Can anyone explain why David Mayer did not play last game and if he is in fact injured, how badly.

Also found it a little puzzling that Portillos went from starting game 1 to DNP in game 2 and barely used sub in game 3.

[bisbee]

Can anyone explain why David Mayer did not play last game and if he is in fact injured, how badly.

Also found it a little puzzling that Portillos went from starting game 1 to DNP in game 2 and barely used sub in game 3.

I wondered about Mayer as well. He was kicking ball around with other subs at half time of CSUN game and appeared to be OK.

[yazan07]

Can anyone explain why David Mayer did not play last game and if he is in fact injured, how badly.

Also found it a little puzzling that Portillos went from starting game 1 to DNP in game 2 and barely used sub in game 3.

I wondered about Mayer as well. He was kicking ball around with other subs at half time of CSUN game and appeared to be OK.

Porter is still probably experimenting with the starting XI. I thought for sure that Mayer had the starting LB spot, but maybe it's still up in the air between him and Stevenson? As for Portillos, I'm pretty sure it's just a thing of figuring out that spot. That's the one position that I figured would be up in the air more so than the other ones. I'm glad to see Tommy start because he really does seem to be a hard worker who puts 110% on the field. I am predicting though that when Luke Holmes returns he will probably be fighting for that spot as well.

[fknbuflobo]

Can anyone explain why David Mayer did not play last game and if he is in fact injured, how badly.

Also found it a little puzzling that Portillos went from starting game 1 to DNP in game 2 and barely used sub in game 3.

I wondered about Mayer as well. He was kicking ball around with other subs at half time of CSUN game and appeared to be OK.

Porter is still probably experimenting with the starting XI. I thought for sure that Mayer had the starting LB spot, but maybe it's still up in the air between him and Stevenson? As for Portillos, I'm pretty sure it's just a thing of figuring out that spot. That's the one position that I figured would be up in the air more so than the other ones. I'm glad to see Tommy start because he really does seem to be a hard worker who puts 110% on the field. I am predicting though that when Luke Holmes returns he will probably be fighting for that spot as well.

Based on what has transpired so far, I would bet heavily on Holmes starting when available. Where and in place of whom are the questions.

Zips are having trouble linking in the final third. Holmes is a perfect remedy to that.

I too am troubled by Mayer's absence and sporadic playing time. Mayer seems much better fit than Stevenson at LB.

I think Portillos was always going to be the utility guy, much as Speas was the previous two seasons.

The one I am really wondering about is Brenes. Seems we could have used some of his nastiness vs. Fullerton.

[AkronZip54321]

Being a former high level player, I feel like I can give a little perspective of what I think will happen when everyones available. I expect a system very similar to the one used in 2009. here it is for those who don't remember:

Bunbury

Nagbe

Nanchoff Ampai

Gavin

Zemanski

Korb Valentin Barson Sarkodie

Meves

I'm having trouble making my post have the players names setup positionally like I would want but it was an inverted 4-4-2 and the simple roles were: Nagbe just off of Teal, Ampai in a freerole and Nanchoff on the left. Blair Gavin sitting just in front of Zemanski and the back 4 is self explanatory. The right side was open for Kofi Here's how I'd expect things to shake up by the end of the season:

Mattocks

Holmes

Quinn Caldwell

Trapp

Balogun

Mayer Barson Gallego Yeddelin

Meves

An almost identical system to that one because the personnel fit it very well. Holmes plays best as the second striker, just off of a guy like Mattocks who will want to stay high and on the last guy and have his job primarily be the finisher to the buildup from the skillful playmakers. Caldwell still gets to operate in the hole as a central attacking midfielder and Quinn and his nice left foot will take Nanchoffs old role. Trapp who Porter had even compared to Blair Gavin takes over his role as a central midfielder with Balogun sitting deep as the defensive midielder. The back 4 that played vs CSU looked very good to me so I expect that to ultimately be who it will be and we leave the right side open for the pacy and dymanic Deandre Yeddelin to fly up and down. Of course Caldwell will have to drift out to the right some for defensive responsibilities like Ampai did in '09 but that won't be a problem as Scotty played as a right midfielder for the National Champion 2010 team.

this is just one persons humble opinion but who knows. I can tell you Holmes will make a difference; if he was here last year he might have and probably would have started which says a lot on its own. Hopefully the team can find a way to win until this lineup I have written down gels into being a contender like they have the ability to do so, because being a top 4 seed is a huge advantage when you have a home field advantage like Akron does.

[fknbuflobo]

Bravo AkronZip54321!

As a very long time player, at not quite a high level, I agree with everything you say in your long-winded post. You have the eventual lineup nailed, and your analysis on its functionality is dead on target. I would call Porter’s system a 4-2-2-1-1. And yes, it is exactly what we had 2007-2009.

I have two points:

1) Yes, I too believe Holmes would have started the previous two years, likely displacing a very good player. Holmes is that good; just you wait and see. Personally, I think Holmes would play best as replacing Ampai in the hole, but we really do not have another proven F. Barett and Chiu may mature quickly. I assumed that this is where Speas would have fit; his mysterious departure continues to irk me.

2) Present formation accentuates the real and irreplaceable value of Perry Kitchen. He operated the holding MF all by himself, thereby enabling a formation of 4-1-3-1-1, with one more in attacking MF. Trapp and Balogun are much more like Gavin and Zemanski, respectively.

I genuinely hope that this will not be the reason 2010 will be our only championship.

Your post makes me wonder who you really are………..

[w00t]

The one I am really wondering about is Brenes. Seems we could have used some of his nastiness vs. Fullerton.

Surprised at his lack of inclusion so far as well... Can anyone confirm whether he's just fallen out of favor with CP or if it's injury related?

Ideally when everyone's eligible and injury free, I think our best XI would be... Meves, Yedlin, Barson, Gallego, Mayer, Brenes, Trapp, Quinn, Caldwell, Holmes, & Mattocks.

[Blue & Gold]

Being a former high level player, I feel like I can give a little perspective of what I think will happen when everyones available. I expect a system very similar to the one used in 2009. here it is for those who don't remember:

Bunbury

Nagbe

Nanchoff Ampai

Gavin

Zemanski

Korb Valentin Barson Sarkodie

Meves

I'm having trouble making my post have the players names setup positionally like I would want but it was an inverted 4-4-2 and the simple roles were: Nagbe just off of Teal, Ampai in a freerole and Nanchoff on the left. Blair Gavin sitting just in front of Zemanski and the back 4 is self explanatory. The right side was open for Kofi Here's how I'd expect things to shake up by the end of the season:

Mattocks

Holmes

Quinn Caldwell

Trapp

Balogun

Mayer Barson Gallego Yeddelin

Meves

An almost identical system to that one because the personnel fit it very well. Holmes plays best as the second striker, just off of a guy like Mattocks who will want to stay high and on the last guy and have his job primarily be the finisher to the buildup from the skillful playmakers. Caldwell still gets to operate in the hole as a central attacking midfielder and Quinn and his nice left foot will take Nanchoffs old role. Trapp who Porter had even compared to Blair Gavin takes over his role as a central midfielder with Balogun sitting deep as the defensive midielder. The back 4 that played vs CSU looked very good to me so I expect that to ultimately be who it will be and we leave the right side open for the pacy and dymanic Deandre Yeddelin to fly up and down. Of course Caldwell will have to drift out to the right some for defensive responsibilities like Ampai did in '09 but that won't be a problem as Scotty played as a right midfielder for the National Champion 2010 team.

this is just one persons humble opinion but who knows. I can tell you Holmes will make a difference; if he was here last year he might have and probably would have started which says a lot on its own. Hopefully the team can find a way to win until this lineup I have written down gels into being a contender like they have the ability to do so, because being a top 4 seed is a huge advantage when you have a home field advantage like Akron does.

Awesome breakdown! Thanks!

As for me? Well, I only know that in soccer you aren't allowed to use your hands.

[Z.I.P.]

Can anyone explain why David Mayer did not play last game and if he is in fact injured, how badly.Also found it a little puzzling that Portillos went from starting game 1 to DNP in game 2 and barely used sub in game 3.

I wondered about Mayer as well. He was kicking ball around with other subs at half time of CSUN game and appeared to be OK.

We talked with David after the game. He wasn't injured, though he's not quite 100% yet from his foot injury.

[GoZipsGoZips]

Being a former high level player, I feel like I can give a little perspective of what I think will happen when everyones available. I expect a system very similar to the one used in 2009. here it is for those who don't remember:

Bunbury Nagbe Nanchoff Ampai Gavin ZemanskiKorb Valentin Barson Sarkodie Meves

I'm having trouble making my post have the players names setup positionally like I would want but it was an inverted 4-4-2 and the simple roles were: Nagbe just off of Teal, Ampai in a freerole and Nanchoff on the left. Blair Gavin sitting just in front of Zemanski and the back 4 is self explanatory. The right side was open for Kofi Here's how I'd expect things to shake up by the end of the season:

Mattocks HolmesQuinn Caldwell Trapp BalogunMayer Barson Gallego Yeddelin Meves

An almost identical system to that one because the personnel fit it very well. Holmes plays best as the second striker, just off of a guy like Mattocks who will want to stay high and on the last guy and have his job primarily be the finisher to the buildup from the skillful playmakers. Caldwell still gets to operate in the hole as a central attacking midfielder and Quinn and his nice left foot will take Nanchoffs old role. Trapp who Porter had even compared to Blair Gavin takes over his role as a central midfielder with Balogun sitting deep as the defensive midielder. The back 4 that played vs CSU looked very good to me so I expect that to ultimately be who it will be and we leave the right side open for the pacy and dymanic Deandre Yeddelin to fly up and down. Of course Caldwell will have to drift out to the right some for defensive responsibilities like Ampai did in '09 but that won't be a problem as Scotty played as a right midfielder for the National Champion 2010 team. this is just one persons humble opinion but who knows. I can tell you Holmes will make a difference; if he was here last year he might have and probably would have started which says a lot on its own. Hopefully the team can find a way to win until this lineup I have written down gels into being a contender like they have the ability to do so, because being a top 4 seed is a huge advantage when you have a home field advantage like Akron does.

Glad to see some Holmes fans... as some previous posts led me to believe that the consensus on here was that he would not start. Your lineup is the same as the last guess that we had in another post, "2011 Lineup Guesses"... but we were not all guessing formations.I watched Holmes in the pre-season practices... before coaching and afterwards. There's little doubt that he's a leader out there... so I am eager to see him play... hopefully at home against OSU.Also... I thknk that Barrett will see some significant time up front... maybe spelling Mattocks or even Holmes at times.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Also... I think that Barrett will see some significant time up front... maybe spelling Mattocks or even Holmes at times.

I bet Barrett would rather spell Mattocks or Holmes than Ampaipitakwong.