GOALKEEPER: Ok, I didn't really spend a lot of time thinking about this one. Bushy has been solid and reliable when he's not being brilliant. He had a handful of mistakes last year. I'm sure he's spent the off season watching them over and over again on film. This guy will be ready for another "Goal Tender of the Year" award in 2010.
DEFENSE: Jees - rough year for defense in 2009. We've had several significant departures. First and formost, Gonzalo Segares, Gonzo, has headed to Apallon FC in Cypress after his contract expired this year. A huge loss. Brandon Prideaux, always reliable if not beloved, having never suffered a significant injury, retired before his luck ran out. And, of course, Sumare left for France during the regular season. However, the Fire still have talent to put on the field in the defense. Here are my choices:
Center Back: C. J. Brown, does he have one more season in his old legs? CJ has the smarts, but he's been prone to injury. If he can keep healthy, he's sure to be on the defensive starter list for Cabos.
Center Back: Wilman "Conde the Barbarian" still has two years on this contract. The Fire are still unlikely to release Wilman, no matter how much he squirms, so I expect to see Wilman anchoring the Defence at Center Back again this year. Although, he would be a formidable holding midfielder if we pick-up a center back in a trade somewhere.
Left Back: Tim Ward? Danny Woolard? Danny's the natural lefty, but I'm going with Timmy, because I think Tim will earn a spot on the lineup, and I also think Woolard will be edged by the superior height of Dasan.
Right Back: Dasan Robinson. If Dasan can't stay healthy or fails to show up, Woolard is ready to step into the role of left back and Timmy will take the right. But I have a feeling Robinson is going to show and be ready to start. Of course, Dasan would prefer to take C.J.'s spot in the middle - we'll see.
Right Back: Dasan Robinson. If Dasan can't stay healthy or fails to show up, Woolard is ready to step into the role of left back and Timmy will take the right. But I have a feeling Robinson is going to show and be ready to start. Of course, Dasan would prefer to take C.J.'s spot in the middle - we'll see.
MIDFIELD: Here's where the talent for the fire is perhaps the deepest, and also the most uncertain. Who will emerge as the starters for 2010? Here are my picks.
Defensive Mid: It must be Logan Pause yes? Conde, no doubt wants this position. Can he convince Cabos to move him there? I don't think so. Cabos will want the consistency at this position, given the experimentation he's going to have to do at the other spots around the field.
Wing Mids: Marco Papa and Justin Mapp. Baggio wants Justin's spot, and there is no player on the roster who is more inc
onsistant than Mapp. But Mapp is still very young but very experienced. He needs to show early, capture the starter spot and hold on to it. Besides, Papa is a lock and Mapp has shown that he is the perfect foil for Papa.
Maestro: Who else, John Thorington. With Rolfe's engine out of the line-up there is only one player who can bring comparable pace and endurance and that's Thor. He's proven he can score from outside the box. He only needs to show that he can pull the trigger quick. This could be a massive year for Thorington.
FORWARDS: Scoring, scoring, scoring. It was the biggest disappointment from 2009. Plus, we had scoring from virtually every quarter of the field. Minus, not very much scoring. We need McBride to get immediately back on the wagon and we need someone to step up as a second target. Dimitrov? Nyarko? Banner? Carr? Here's my pick.
Striker: Brian McBride remains the craftiest forward on the team. He's lethal with his head in the box and he can get open and muscle off centerbacks. He will be Cabos' choice for striker and I think he'll immediately start to produce.
Forward: I'm going with Nyarko. Without Blanco play making, we are going to need to stretch the field and make space for play. Nyarko has the speed to turn defenders and cause havoc. Havoc and space that can be exploited by Mapp, Papa and McBride. What about Carr? Yes, his speed is comparable to Nyarko's, or used to be. He just didn't show after his return from injury last year. But if he prepared well during the off season, his longer pro experience might just give him the edge over Nyarko.
SUPERSUBS: Who will be the super sub for the Fire this year? Here are a few ideas:
Dimitrov: With his height and quick shot, this guy looks like he's ready to do something. He is the only player with a chance of commanding the air in the box like McBride. Look for Dimitrov to enter the game for McBride on occasion.
Peter Lowery: I expect Lowery to get a fair amount of starting time this year, but look for him as a frequent 60 minute sub for Mapp or Papa. I think his superior outside shot and carnivore attitude will give him the edge over Banner and Carr as the choice for midfield sub.
Calen Carr: If Nyarko is being made to run, run, run, Carr is going to need to sub for him by 70. Expect Carr's speed to make an impact against a tired defense.
Well, that's my starting 11. Only 70 days until we see the real thing.
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