My family argues all the time about this. It is pronounced A - gus. My coach has us trying different positions in different games to see what we do best. It is always a good idea to learn all positions.
Versatility is a very important tool.
The off-season isn't THAT long, but still we do running, and weightlifting. For the time being, our first priority is qualifying, because its not in stone yet. As far as keeping the younger guys together, it is as simple as me keeping myself calm. The bottom line is that soccer is a player's game. I enjoy it because the coach isn't the one controlling the game, but rather the 11 guys on the field.