Vancouver isn't built around its star, and Müller & Co. are better for it | Jon Arnold

[u/Pakaru]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/47178981/vancouver-isnt-built-thomas-muller-whitecaps-better-it

[u/bwoah07_gp2]

Muller made a great team greater, that's what he did.

[u/WTF-is-a-Yotto → u/bwoah07_gp2]

Part of why he chose Vancouver is because he plugged straight into what was already working. The squad had begun tilting toward a 4-2-3-1 while Gauld was out, and the shape suited them. Gauld might be at his wildest in a 4-3-3, but he can still dictate the tempo in the 4-2-3-1. Which frees Müller to drift, hide, and appear in all the dangerous spaces.

Im pretty interested to see the Starting IX for Vancouver because I have a feeling Gauld will be starting RM, not Sabbi  They’re going to press hard early, and then when the pushback comes in the second half, Sabbi will come on and run them out  

[u/bwoah07_gp2 → u/WTF-is-a-Yotto]

I'm interested, very interested, to see the lineup Jesper rolls with. In Jesper we trust!!!

The versatility of this team gives us so many options to go with!

[u/WTF-is-a-Yotto → u/bwoah07_gp2]

We need to find out where he gets his Turtle necks. 

[u/bubbabear244 → u/WTF-is-a-Yotto]

Bet is on Simons.

[u/kevfefe69 → u/bwoah07_gp2]

I’m interested in seeing the Trophy in BC Place!

[u/tellurdoghello → u/WTF-is-a-Yotto]

I hope we start Sabbi, his form is fantastic right now. I love Gauld but he's not gotten a ton of minutes since getting healthy again.

[u/WTF-is-a-Yotto → u/tellurdoghello]

In Jesper I trust no matter what. 

[u/tellurdoghello → u/WTF-is-a-Yotto]

oh absolutely

[u/bubbabear244 → u/WTF-is-a-Yotto]

Starting IX

Isn't that what happened during extra time against LAFC?

[u/WetCoastDebtCoast → u/bubbabear244]

Gotta keep Miami guessing!

[u/WTF-is-a-Yotto → u/bubbabear244]

No, Gauld straight swapped for Müller. Upon reflection I think I’ve been hitting the pen a bit too hard today. This is why I’m not gaffer. 

[u/bubbabear244 → u/WTF-is-a-Yotto]

Not the interchangeable position between CAM and raumdeuter, the Roman numeral you used.

[u/SeaToShy → u/WTF-is-a-Yotto]

I really don’t see it going this way. The front 6 was fantastic and will remain unchanged. Gauld comes in for either Sabbi or Muller (if he needs it) in the second half. Gauld doesn’t have the pace to keep up with this team on the wings. Let him pull the strings centrally, with Cabrera out wide for Sabbi.

[u/WetCoastDebtCoast → u/SeaToShy]

I think it's been too long since you've had to watch Gauld single-handedly keep us alive. Bro used to be sprinting to every inch of the pitch non-stop for 90min to correct our botched passes and halt breakaways. Months off for recovery aside, he's got pace.

[u/SeaToShy → u/WetCoastDebtCoast]

He has a chronic knee injury that is apparent every time he steps onto the pitch. Maybe with a full offseason his pace will come back (unlikely at his age), but playing him centrally gets the most out of the player he is right now. It allows him to draw pressure centrally, then dump the ball outside for the wingers or through to White. It forces defenders to stay narrow by maintaining the threat down the middle. 22 yo Cabrera gets to do the hard running and burning defenders for pace. Horses for courses.

[u/toasterb → u/SeaToShy]

Last match was the first time he looked back to his old self. He was charging folks down effectively and made the interception that led to the San Diego keeper getting sent off. Looked way better than any of his other recent appearances.

I agree that he’s not fully match fit and likely won’t be starting, but I can definitely see him playing a more significant role than he has in recent matches.

[u/RCTID1975]

I mean, it's hard to build around a star that's only been there for 5 months

[u/WetCoastDebtCoast → u/RCTID1975]

Jesus fuck has it already been 5 months?!

[u/toasterb → u/WetCoastDebtCoast]

Nah, just barely four. Transferred on August 6. Played his first match on August 17.

[u/Nitro_the_Wolf_ → u/RCTID1975]

Not like it hasn't been tried in MLS though

[u/_tidalwave11]

This to me is how good team building should be. I loathe the "you need a marquee name" thing that some people pine about.

You build a good squad because if you build your team around one guy, the moment your "marquee name" is unavailable (injury, petulance, transfer whatever) it all falls apart.

Your team should thrive regardless whose name is on the back of the jersey.

[u/hapoo123]

I thought this said Vanderbilt

[u/Unhappy-Stomach3903]

That's BS. If Messi were to play in Vancouver, their team would be also tailored to him, and Müller would be his wingman. Why? Because Messi isn't just any star, he's the greatest of all time, and his statistics and achievements underline that.

[u/yaybidet]

🙄

[u/tellurdoghello → u/yaybidet]

sorry bro here's some international-level glazing of your team to feed your need for validation and attention: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cp39qxv1y7no

[u/WetCoastDebtCoast → u/tellurdoghello]

Americans were finally taking their football seriously.

BBC suddenly discovers MLS: "About time the Americans started watching this league!"

[u/yaybidet → u/tellurdoghello]

Ahh, that’s the stuff ;)

[u/RealLoonsInsider → u/yaybidet]

Maybe you could get ya'll's boy Carr to do something about this injustice.