Andy Najar's Best Position
by Martin Shatzer on Sep 9, 2010 10:04 PM EDT
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For months now during D.C. United broadcasts on Comcast Sportsnet, we've heard Thomas Rongen say that he believes Andy Najar is best suited to play forward.
Last week on Fox Soccer Channel, Christopher Sullivan lamented that a big reason for United's struggles in 2010 are due to the fact that they don't have a true #10 attacking midfielder, and went on to suggest that the team should try Najar in that spot next year.
Do these guys know something our coaches don't?
In various different settings, we've seen Andy Najar start at right wing, right back, and even defensive midfield, but never as a forward or central attacking midfielder. He's been moved up to striker temporarily in some late game situations, but hasn't been given a shot there yet over 90 minutes.
Even if forward is Najar's best position though, as many have suggested, is it worth moving him? United has no other players on the active roster right now who could adequately fill in at right wing if the team moved him up top. As a winger, he is the best player on our team. He's our best attacking option, and our best counterattacking option.
So do we really want to mess with a good thing? Or would moving him closer to the net actually earn D.C. United a couple goals?
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Stadium and Politics
Below is a link to an article on the stadium issue and the local politicians current stance on it.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39713/dc-united-shut-out-at-ballot-box-no-candidates-are
Nahar played as an a-mid/withdrawn forward partnered with Cristman, I believe in an Open Cup qualifier earlier this season, and did a pretty damn good job of it. That said, I think he’s more effective, for now, when he has more space. The majority of MLS defenses do a solid job of clogging up the area an a-mid would be operating in. Going forward, using him as a withdrawn forward with freedom of movement to pop up on either flank would be my choice.
Move him up
I think Andy could do some damage moved up top. With Pontius and Cristman both out and Allsopp playing poorly for long stretches, I think we could shuffle the midfield around. I’d like to see something more along the lines of this..
Hernandez-Najar
Boskovic Quaranta
Simms-King
As much as we want Branko to be our playmaker, he’s not. He can surely be an impact player (isn’t he left footed?) on the wing. His defense also isn’t as “honest” as Payne/Kapser led us to believe when we got him. King does a decent job at that and seems to do a good job as the 2-way player.
As for the forwards, maybe we should move past the bulky-speedy tandem? RSL did pretty well without a massive forward pummeling the defenders. As long as someone is open and/or can take shots, goals can happen.
Expanding on Branko for a second, he’s even inferred that he might be better on the left side.
I understand the need to put Najar in the midfield to see if it works and because there’s nothing else left to play for, but with his size (or lack thereof), going up against a CDM on the other side of the field, I’d imagine he’d get beat up and frustrated until he got moved back to the wing.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 10, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Play Him Where He is Most Likely to Develop
He is a prospect, treat him as such. Focus on his future development, not what plugs a hole for the team in the short term in an already lost season.
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Sep 10, 2010 5:31 PM EDT reply actions
I prefer him as a winger
I think he creates more chances coming from deep than playing up top, because defenders can body up to him at the start of his run, preventing him from getting to top speed. On the wing, he gets loads of space and faces both fewer defenders and lower-quality defenders when he wants to cut in (MLS left backs in general are not as good as MLS center backs). I’m not saying he should never play forward; I just think he’s a better winger.
I don’t know if Najar will ever have the reliability of touch or the vision to play as an attacking midfielder. That’s fine, because his primary skills (speed, work rate, running at defenders) are more suited for playing wide or up front. Sullivan generally wants every player that’s able to create danger to play as an attacking midfielder.
If Najar were a natural playmaker, he’d have found a way to create more goals for others (or at least more chances). I think it’s no coincidence that Najar is more of a goal threat than a set-up man. Someone else needs to pull the strings.
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