Don't know why some fans try to differentiate coaches and GM's that much. Outside of having a bad relationship, GMs and coaches are very much in lockstep when it comes to getting players.
If Armas had said that Nealis shouldn't be on the first team, then he wouldn't be here. Simple as that.
Now in any salary cap system you can only allocate a certain amount of resources to certain positions. Our back line gets a good amount of money as it is. That means we basically have to go a bit cheaper on the depth positions on the back line. The problem is that our depth right now isn't usable. Nealis isn't good enough, especially for this system. His short area quickness isn't at the level it needs to be. Someone like Parker is a big strong dude but he's got a plenty quick first step. This system just demands very good athleticism from the back 4 because there are too many times they get stuck on an island.
Bottom line though is that there are just too many guys playing below their ability. Murillo is front and center there. I'd even say Davis. Kaku for most of the year although I like how he's playing now. The discipline is a joke though right now. Murillo and Kaku have taken how many reds? Incredibly stupid reds?
Just too many swings and misses on players this offseason. Epps was a failure. I don't know how anyone could ever watch him play and think he'll fit in this system. He has skill, but his style is slow. This system requires a quickness to decision making. Tarek is OK at best in my opinion. he's been better than I think he is which is OK for a 3rd CB I guess.
We'll still be tough when everyone is healthy. Our back line (outside of the RB position) is just so far ahead of most back lines. It doesn't get better than Parker, Long, and Taxi.