Yallop leaning towards Corrales to replace Hernandez
By Jeff Carlisle · August 28, 2009
Quakes manager Frank Yallop stopped short of saying Ramiro Corrales would definitely start at center back on Saturday against New England, but all signs are pointing in that direction.
With defender Jason Hernandez suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards, Yallop has a dilemma on his hands. New signing Fabio da Silva is not match fit, and Aaron Pitchkolan has just now returned to full training after sustaining a groin injury against Toronto back on July 11. So rather than cannibalize other parts of his back line by sliding someone like Chris Leitch into the middle, Yallop will likely use Corrales as a stand-in center back, with Ramon Sanchez returning to the center of midfield alongside Andre Luiz.
“I may move Corrales inside, and just try to leave the rest of the team the same if I can,” said Yallop. “The last three games we’ve had two clean sheets. So I don’t want to fiddle around too much with that.”
While that statement leaves Yallop with some considerable wiggle room, he then talked about his desire to resume the central midfield partnership of Andre Luiza and Ramon Sanchez, leaving the impression that Corrales will be the man to partner Brandon McDonald in the back.
“I thought [Andre Luiz and Sanchez] had a good game together against Seattle,” said Yallop. “I’m eager to see them play together again to see if they can build up a real partnership.”
Yallop also indicated that Cornell Glen, presumed to be sidelined by a hamstring injury he sustained last week against Kansas City, might be available on Saturday. The Trinidad & Tobago international will be given a fitness test prior to Saturday’s game, at which point a decision will be made on what role he can play.
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man…. I hope glen is okay…. he was playing really well last saturday!!!…
i really hope your kidding, Glen was horrible! He scored two should be goals because of horrid KC mistakes not hard work and effort, he lacks a good first touch, takes too long to get back onside and more, between him and AA were choosing the lesser of two evils, I want RJ and Wondo, with AA subbing in late!
Wow. I just realized that with Sanchez, Alvarez, and Glen that Yallop owns 3 of the 22 starters the U.S. will be facing in the next 2 qualifiers (9/5 and 9/9?)
Not sure what relationship Yallop and Bradley have, but it would be very interesting if any conversations happened in regards to that.
I thought it would be fun to plant a “conspiracy theory” on a Friday afternoon!
But Glen DID create opportunities - it wasn’t just luck. Its obvious that he pressures defences but in a different way from RJ. We could pick apart RJ and Wondo’s game too, and certainly we wish AA wasn’t so hit and miss. In the end I think our better overall field management beginning in the center of the pitch is giving us chances to actually develop an attack. Salinas is getting involved again, so I would not dismiss anyone simply because they have a rough first touch. I like that since Glen has arrived we have looked more dangerous- we’ll always want more goals, but we don’t have the budget to go get a guaranteed goal scoring striker- face it Wondo is not a target and RJ fights for goals despite NOT being a true striker…..it is correct that his impression of a striker looks pretty damn good when he is putting the ball in the back of the net. Okay, I think your suggestion is good, but not because of Glen’s flaws - but because I want him HEALTHY! Hammy injuries are not to be played through though I appreciate that Glen wants to be capped again. In the end you missed the good things Glen does - he is the quickest we have on the turn, he links up quickly as well and he is finding his way in front of goal. We’re getting somewhere here and I just hate to read someone with good talent who is contributing called horrible……
On the other hand can Wondo blossom as the second striker? If he could fill that link up role between the central midfield and Glen or RJ, it would be huge….but it will take time! More than a match or two….I like that we still have some depth at the wide positions- if this is Huckerby’s last season at least he has shown AA and SS the value of direct play! I think San Jose isn’t far off from being a contender in 2010. Can they hang on to a contract like Convey’s for left back? Many questions to be answered but there is actually some depth developing…..
I understand what you’re saying Matt. Although right now I think RJ, unless injured, has to be guaranteed a starting spot, but we don’t really have a quality striker, imo. Glen, I think, doesn’t put in as much effort, and really isn’t all to good at controlling the ball, on the first touch or the turn. His shot is without a doubt better than RJs or Wondo, (AA could compete with his), but for me AA and Glen have to be set up perfectly to score goals, where as RJ has shown that while he screws up some of those chances he can make up for it by creating others. One of the goals that was disallowed he scored because he was walking back onside. I think we need to sign a good forward that can fight for the ball, create chances, give assists and score goals, but right now we have forwards that can only do 1 or 2 of those things well, instead of one that can do all of them decently.