Let's play the first ever game of WILD UPSIDE!

 So, I like to play a game every once in a while I call WILD UPSIDE (shocker). This is a game where I take certain players and scenarios and extrapolate them to their explore the best possible potential development. 

Now, I only explore the possible upside within reason. I'm exploring wild upside, yes, but not impossible upside. For instance, one of my possible wild upsides last year was; what if Kyle Hiebert developed offensively as a left back in addition to his defensive capabilities, and can be an average to above average MLS left back who can contribute offensively? (Spoilers: so far no). That is a good example of wild upside; yeah it probably won't happen, but it could. And it could have had development along that path without reaching the full possible wild upside.

A bad example of wild upside is; what if Aziel Jackson developed into prime Messi level skill? Now, it's not that I don't think Aziel has a high ceiling but last I checked they only made one Messi, and by Aziel's current age Messi was already destroying La Liga. so this is a bad example because realistically it's just not gonna happen. If I'm wrong, I'll gladly take the L on that one.

So with the new season upon us, why don't we play a large form game of WILD UPSIDE. I may play this game using smaller scenarios but lets look big picture this go through.

WILD UPSIDE: What if Nilsson is the CB the front office thinks he is?

This might actually be conservative as a wild upside, but I remember interviews where Lutz was touting this dude as the potential to be one of the best defenders in the league. When Lutz talks about the "spine" of the team, most of my buddies imagine Klauss, Lowen, Parker, and Burki, but the front office signed Nilsson to be that dude instead of Parker, remember. Parker's almost his own game of wild upside coming to fruition last year, and I really think he'll keep that up, but if Nilsson can also get settled and slot in as an even better center back than Parker, things are gonna get FUN.

WILD UPSIDE: What if Totland and Dyhr solve our fullback problem?

This already looks pretty likely. And to be clear what I meant by fullback problem is "there's no really clear #1 guy who can play both sides of the ball well". Watts and Nerwinski were basically one or the other, and kinda same with Hiebert and Markanich. Totland I've watched in preseason and I'm already sold, that dude looks like the TRUTH. I haven't seen Dyhr play all that much, but his pedigree leads me to believe he will most likely also cement himself as the first choice left back. And if he also can go forward and defend well, lord help the teams having to deal with fullback threats from both sides at once with our offence.

WILD UPSIDE: What if when Rasmus Alm recovers from his offseason surgery he stays healthy all season?

I wrote about this earlier in my line-up prediction but I think Rasmus Alm is our best off the ball player. My season tickets are 4 rows back from the field opposite the team benches, and you don't see this on TV but the amount of times this dude tried to make a run in behind so we'd have a long ball opportunity was BANANAS. If we had a defender that could a reliable long ball Alm would have eaten any defense we played against alive. I'm convinced that's half the reason he kept getting injured, his work rate is just so damn high. He had offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia, but if when he's match fit he can stay so, he offers a threat down the wing that we sorely need.

WILD UPSIDE: What if we learn to break down an opposing teams defense through possession?

We do this we're winning the Cup. I'm not kidding. The only really consistent thing negatively about last season was if the other team settled into a low block we didn't really have much for them aside from hoping Pompeu could beat 4 dudes off the dribble or Lowen hitting the corner from 40 yards out. Coach Carnell said in an interview that learning what to do with possession was a focus for them in preseason training, and if we can start cutting a team to pieces with the ball and leverage an effective press into transition chances then Goal Voltron is complete

That's all I can think of for now, I may play this game more during the season, and I probably won't have another post until a match reaction after Tuesday's CONCACAF game. Until then, thanks for reading!