Defenders for RSL to look into

Zathras · 09-01-2005, 09:14 AM

I'm a Thunder fan, so I'm going to be a bit biased, but it's obvious that RSL needs some defense, and I can try to pick out some more A-league or former A-league guys that might be able to step up.

Dustin Branan - Not getting playing time at KC, and was A-League best XI last year. He led the line for the Thunder last season as the general. His distribution is a little weak, but he'd certainly make a stronger challenge at the back. I feel he is being criminaly underused at KC, but they are stacked at the CB position. I keep coming back to him because I really think that he'd be a supurb pickup for RSL.

Taylor Graham - Another former Wizard, currently playing at Seattle, where he leads that team's defense which is among the best in the USL.

Gabriel Gervais - Canadian defender for the Montreal Impact who've been very strong defensively. He'll get forward for you too. He's a back-to-back winner of the A-League Defender of the year award.

Peter Luzak - Strong defender for Richmond Kickers.

Freddy Juarez - Defensive midfielder and my pick for Player of the Year for the Thunder this year. Yeah, the Thunder have had a disappointing season, but Freddy has had two solid years as the DM. He'll help maintain posession and is always in the right place for a tackle or an outlet pass. I'm afraid I don't know much more about any of the other DMs in the league, but I think Freddy might have a chance at helping out. He's not spectacular, but he's solid.

SoccerPrime · 09-01-2005, 09:35 AM

Considering how nice the Thunder were to loan us our only brightspot right now in Tarley, I'll pass on your recommendations to the coaching staff. I am sure they will weigh it with careful consideration.
I mean it only took 6 months of bad mouthing Benchke to get him off the team.

MomOf8 · 09-01-2005, 09:36 AM

Hmmmm......interesting input. I wish I knew the names of the players better.

prk166 · 09-01-2005, 09:39 AM

Dustin would interesting but with Broome, Dunny, Pope, Pierce, Gregario, Akwari, Lookingland [sic] and whomever else I'm missing, I don't think that's the problem at this point.

Could Freddy make that step up? IIRC he's not the biggest of guys.

SoccerPrime · 09-01-2005, 09:41 AM

Gabriel Gervais's international status maybe a factor.
Is he interested in moving to the US? I mean not every soccer player wants to move up. Maybe he has family in Montreal and likes it there.

Also, maybe he is holding out for the Toronto MLS announcement.

AreliusII · 09-01-2005, 09:51 AM

Who was letting us down so much on defense last night? It seemed like everytime I turned around, DC was getting in behind our defense...

Zathras · 09-01-2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prk166

Could Freddy make that step up? IIRC he's not the biggest of guys.

That's the question in my mind. He's pretty powerfully built, but he is still small.