Bubba's obviously awesome, but I don't know if he's so clearly the most dynamic player on offense to the point they will sacrifice the other facets of the game they had him involved in, that no one else at the midfield has shown the capability of doing at the same level, to put him down low at attack. Especially when they have a #1 guy at attack already - who you could argue is the best player on the offense as is - and have just added a prime dodger like Holden.Wheels wrote: ↑Thu May 07, 2020 12:08 amHe plays up top, on the wing, and behind the goal.jrn19 wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 11:24 pmHolden is an attackmen. He's played there his entire career. Doesn't preclude him from moving to midfield, but not like Brown who played midfield for 3 years. And they used Fairman for so much at the midfield this year - played wing on FO's at times, did some defensive midfield - that I don't think they sacrifice that when they have a dodger who can plug in for Jared coming in.Wheels wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 11:17 pmI really think this means that Bubba will be replace Jared behind the goal. Holden and Brown fill in the midfield quite nicely.jrn19 wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 11:08 pm Terps bringing in another big transfer. Holden had 20 goals in 5 games this year and 45 goals + 20 assists a year ago for Hobart. Big time scorer at attack https://twitter.com/tyxanders/status/12 ... 0429569035
Without Bernhardt, Fairman is easily the most dynamic player on the offense. The question is where does he make the biggest impact? If he's your most dynamic player, do you only want him on the field 1 out of every 2 (or 2 of every 3) offensive possessions?
Holden, Brown, and Long can all invert against shorties. All three can handle being poled. Holden and Brown can sling it from outside (something the Terps have lacked since Kelly graduated...but Brennan showed some promise). Tillman's whole thing is getting your 6 best players on the field at any time. So who plays where is kind of semantics. The discussion might mean more when the 2nd midfield line is in, which is why I think Bubba takes over that Kelly role of staying on the field all game but moving between up top and down low depending on what other personnel packages are in.
What a great problem for Tills and Rep to have, though, right? So much offensive talent.
Holden does do lots of dodging above the cage and from the top you're right, so he could play midfield. I'm just not sure that's the direction I see them going.
I think considering the additions of Brown and Holden, we'll likely see a legit 2nd midfield line like we did in 2016 and not what we saw in 2018-19 with Kelly staying on the field all game. Assuming Jared leaves, you could have Maltz-Logan-Holden at attack, and then Brown-Fairman-DeMaio at midfield, which leaves you Brennan and Long, guys with starting experience, and then Smith, who showed some potential, left over. That could be a legit unit that has a shooter in Brennan and a crafty dodger and handler in Long...I think we really could see them contribute and get run as their own unit, it has far more talent than any 2nd midfield the Terps have had since 2016 with Young-Rotanz-Gradinger.
And we haven't even mentioned the three big incoming freshmen who would normally be capable of being immediate contributors as well. Salivating potential on the offensive side next year.