There are bad problems and there are good problems.
Finally, Jason Kreis is faced with the latter.
The Lions are at full strength. Cristian Higuita. Pedro Ribeiro. Rafael Ramos. Antonio Nocerino. José Aja. All back from injury. And all fighting for spots.
After conceding more goals than they’d like in their last two games, the Lions are getting reinforcements at all the right places, but it’s still no guarantee of a lineup change.
Ramos will have to earn the right back job over Kevin Alston, an eight-year MLS veteran who’s as reliable as they come. Aja, the recently acquired Uruguayan who seems to get better with every passing minute, will have to prove he belongs in the XI over Seb “Headmaster” Hines – also back to 100 percent – and David Mateos.
Maybe the toughest position battle of all, though, is in the defensive midfield. Servando Carrasco has clearly proven himself to Kreis and it seems so has young Tony Rocha, who Kreis signed from OCB in early August. But waiting in the wings are Nocerino, who’s also done well under Kreis, and the bruising ball-winner Higuita. Four worthy starters – two spots.
“As a coach you want difficult decisions,” Kreis said. “You want to have to make difficult choices. You want to have to deliver difficult messages to players that expect to play and want to play.”
It means that some players that will feel – and perhaps rightfully so – that they should be given the opportunity to contribute to the team won’t get that chance because someone else will. But that, in and of itself, is a contribution.
The competition makes everyone better. It keeps everyone sharp. It forces players to be at their best because there’s someone chomping at the bit to earn those minutes. And nowadays, minutes are at a premium.
“Everybody wants to be a part of things right now, certainly as we get close to the playoffs,” Kreis said. “Everybody wants to be a part of it.”
With just five games remaining, the race for the playoffs is tightening and opportunities to prove themselves to the coach are fleeting.
The result of such scarcity is an increase in the intensity level at training. Not even the sweltering September sun stops the players from sprinting for every ball, sliding for every challenge or screaming at every mistake.
It’s created a self-imposed mandate for perfection. And as he mulls over his starting lineup, that’s all Kreis can ask for.
“It’s a good situation for us,” he said. “Difficult choices, but we’re happy with that.”
