I know I'm late on this one, so I'm just going to throw a handful of darts at the already-pockmarked board and see what sticks, alright?
* Where were the fullbacks? What is the point of playing with two holding mids and wingers pinching in if your fullbacks aren't going to be rampaging down the flanks to provide width in the attack? I guess maybe Bradley decided to tell them to get forward in the second half, which Hejduk did to good effect (still wish he was miles more technical though), though Pearce didn't seem to get the memo, leading to the yanking of his lazy ass. Still, the spot must have been cursed because Beasley didn't get forward enough either. I lost count of the number of times that a player inside took a look out to the flank, hoping for an outlet or to feed a runner, and found nothing but acres of empty space. Dear Bob: fix this please.
* Long ball madness! Does Califf have another pass in his arsenal besides the dump over the top? Not that it's entirely his fault. With no width to speak of coming from the fullbacks, Ching boasting limited mobility, and Donovan often too deep to stretch the defense, there really wasn't much midfield space to play in. This is where we would benefit from having either (1) rampaging fullbacks to pull defenses wide, (2) intelligent pace up top that knows how and when to make runs that pull defenses apart, or (3) honest to goodness wingers that stay wide and run at defenders.
* Can I get a billboard too? What the hell was up with USL and Miami FC claiming all the signboards? Is it El Salvador or CONCACAF that's selling those signs? I know the global economy is a wounded beast, but sheesh! Wonder if I can drop a couple of bucks for a nice "Fullback Files" Salvadoran advertising campaign. Also: the sirens. Stop them. Likewise with the screaming and diving and rolling about behavior from the guys in blue shirts.
* More Torres? Good showing from the kid. I liked his confidence and quick touches, particularly in contrast with the often wasteful Kljestan who seemed unable to decide between taking too many touches, trying impossible through balls, or playing it safe with the horizontal or backwards passing. Maybe Kljestan just had an off day, but can we see more of Torres against T&T, please?
* Thank Jeebus for small miracles. We had a decent ref who had little patience for time-wasting shenanigans and diving. The question is, now that we've had a good outing from a CONCACAF ref, does that mean we're going to get absolutely jobbed next time around?
So it is what it is. One point instead of three, but still not a loss. The late comeback will provide positive momentum, and we had to expect a few dropped points on our travels at some point. As long as we win the home games and manage a few points on the road, we'll be fine. Still, I would have liked a more aggressive approach from the onset, particularly from the fullbacks. If we hadn't given the Salvadorans time on the ball and pressured them from the off, both with and without the ball, I don't think they play with the confidence they did.
MLS Dogpile | Paging the Parity Police
So what's going on here? The teams that were supposed to be dominant are stumbling out of the gates. Those supposedly on the decline are picking up points. And, to top it all off, the expansion side are unbeaten and unscored upon. Ah, I see you've met my fine feathered friends in the Parity Police! You're not from around these parts are you? Let me explain. See, here in Major League Soccer we don't do that whole "predictable results" sham. Thus the massive movement that tends to dominate the Dogpile until things settle down about 5-8 weeks in. 'Nuff said? Right! On with the Dogpile!
The Alpha Dog
1. +4 Seattle Sounders (WW)
I know, I know. I don't expect them to stay here either, but who else has two shutouts and two multi-goal wins? They were nowhere near as dominant as they were in Week One, but another great goal from Montero will have the home fans buzzing and stuffing the Goal of the Week ballot box. Now the question becomes: how will the Sounders handle the road, traditionally a weakness of expansion clubs?
Next: TFC (Away)
The Playoff Pack
2. -1 Chicago Fire (WD)
Hamstrung by injury and international call-ups all along their back line, Chicago still managed a point away to DC United and probably shaded the chances, having more shots in total and more shots on goal, particularly in the second half. That said, United's back line was equally injury-hit, and they were missing their starting keeper and half of their starting midfield to boot. Given DC's lowly position on the Dogpile, such qualifications make the Fire's draw seem like less to shout about.
Next: Red Bulls (Home)
3. +3 Toronto FC (WD)
Yes, the Crew looked have control of the match, and yes, it took an own goal to equalize matters late on, but TFC are undefeated on the road thus far this season, a massive change from their prior tendency towards capitulation on their travels. Next week brings the red-hot new boys from Seattle to town. Will Fortress BMO be reborn?
Next: Seattle (Home)
4. -2 Columbus Crew (DD)
The Crew looked to have the run of the match until an own-goal did them in to frustrate the fans in the home opener. The highlights indicated pretty much one-way traffic, though the stat line reveals things were fairly even as far as chances went. The question is: are they pacing themselves, or are they perhaps not as strong as pre-season punditry would have us believe? I'll lean on the former until proven otherwise.
Next: RSL (Away), Chivas (Away)
5. +4 Chivas USA (WW)
Hmmm. What's wrong with this picture? I had supposed, and I'm sure many of my fellow pundits were aboard the same vessel, that the good ship Stripey-Goat was going down in shark-infested waters. So how is it that they managed their second win of the season, this time away and with their best player off serving his national team? Of course, we'll temper that with the recognition that Dallas dominated the early chances and really should have been in the lead multiple times. For the second week running, Chivas get the job done with some luck and startling efficiency--three shots on goal, two goals.
Next: Crew (Home)
6. +1 New England Revolution (WD)
See? It's like I told you. Nicol, with the smoke and the mirrors, will somehow manage results. Last week, they scored on their only shot and watched the Quakes struggle to find net. This week, they benefited from the Bulls' lack of accuracy and grabbed a late equalizer. That said, the attack was more dangerous this week, as should have been expected given New York's Week One defensive woes. How long can Nicol the Illusionist keep this run going?
Next: FCD (Home)
7. -3 Real Salt Lake (L)
A strong performance despite the loss, but a loss nonetheless. On another day, RSL might have finished any of their number of chances, but Seattle has had a charmed start, and Keller has proven his worth in one-on-ones. Despite the setback in their season opener, I was still impressed enough by what I saw to keep RSL in the Playoff Pack.
Next: Crew (Home)
8. San Jose Earthquakes (LW)
After seeming like they could have played for hours and not found the net in the opener, this time around the Quakes managed three to outpace their former selves, despite the third seeming to have an assist coming from a player in an offsides position. Still, the goals will comfort a Quakes side that has significant worries about being toothless this season.
Next: Wizards (Away)
Bum-Sniffing Omega Mutts
9. -6 Houston Dynamo (DL)
Ouch! After fighting back from two goals down, it will be a bitter pill to swallow a Quakes' winner that seemed to have more than a whiff of offsides about it to my highlight-viewin' eyes. The Dynamo attack was limited by having Ching away on national team duty and Kamara still suspended for having a potty-mouth. Still, with only Wondolowski to lead the line, it was a bit of a surprise that the game seemed so open. I didn't want to drop them this far down the Pile, but that's the way things shake out this week. I fully expect the Dynamo to recover, perhaps as early as next week, but for now they're dumped from the Playoff Pack.
Next: DC (Away)
10. Colorado Rapids (LW)
A pathetic attendance at the home opener, though perhaps those piles of snow on the sidelines had something to do with that. Despite the lack of crowd, the Rapids looked strong on the field, creating numerous chances and finding the finishing touch that eluded them last week. Still, the defense looked frightfully vulnerable to the counter, something that Gary Smith is going to need to address if the Rapids are to make a strong showing in the West. Luckily, they were not punished...this time.
Next: Galaxy (Away)
11. DC United (DD)
DC limped into their home opener down a goalkeeper, two midfielders, a defender, and a hybrid defender/midfielder. That's 4-5 likely starters. Chicago were also weakened at the back, but United surprisingly carried the early stages of the match. Unfortunately, they pulled back once they had the lead and didn't go for the jugular. Predictably, Chicago made them pay. Will the return of the injured starters see a move from draws to wins?
Next: Houston (Home)
12. +2 Los Angeles Galaxy (D)
A bye week for Arena to get his all of his aging ducks and spring chickens in something resembling an organized row. If only all weeks could be like this for the Gals--sit tight while those around you pull up lame. Sadly for the Herbalifers, they'll have to return to "action" next week, where they'll have plenty of chances to come up lame themselves.
Next: Rapids (Home)
13. +2 New York Red Bulls (LD)
The Bulls had a lot of chances, but little accuracy, as indicated by their 4 shots on goal out of 18 taken. Fittingly, their only goal came from a Revs own-goal. Still, their speed looked dangerous on that crappy rug, and they did only manage to concede once this week despite facing 10 shots on frame from their visitors. How long will it take Osorio to get the mix right?
Next: Fire (Away)
14. -1 Kansas City Wizards (LL)
Two losses to open the season, and already the pick of many to challenge for third in the East (including yours truly!) seems to be in trouble. The one spot of encouragement might be the fact that Lopez looks much more fit and quick this year, as demonstrated by his chances on the break. If he's a bit sharper with his finishing touch, maybe the Wiz are singing a different song after this weekend and beginning to claw their way towards the Playoff Pack. As it stands, only unlucky Dallas keep them off the bottom.
Next: Quakes (Home)
15. -3 FC Dallas (LL)
Second straight home game, second straight loss. It's not as if they didn't have chances, it's just that they couldn't make them count, even with two lethal beasts up top in Cooper and Cunningham. After failing to capitalize on their early pressure, they got caught on the break and paid. Of course, with that rowdy crowd of what, twelve folks, cheering them on, how could they fail? No really, those seats were pretty empty, how many were out at PHP? 6.5k? Six-and-a-half? Jumpin' Jeebus! Can we relegate them yet?
Next: Revs (Away)
Monday Back-Pass | International Fixture Fun Day!
I trust a lovely international weekend was had by all. And, of course, another weekend of domestic goodness was there to be enjoyed by those of us fortunate, or unfortunate, enough to be saddled with a league that ignores international fixture dates. What caught your eye? Here's what I was looking at.
Trip, Stumble, But Don't Fall
The Gooch-less US Nats went down 2-0 in San Salvador, only to claw their way back to earn a point. Three would have set the table for an easy march to qualification. As it stands, we're still stuck in the mire with the rest of the Hex. A strong showing against T&T should open a little gap, but nothing that will be entirely comfortable. Does Bradley need to shake the lineup up, or was this just a predictable wobble given the environment and missing Gooch and Howard?
Natty Dressers
In other international news, apparently the futblogosphere is falling all over itself to say how sharp the new England uniforms are. I don't get it. They look like a bunch of cricketers in shorts or rejects from the All England Club. Am I missing something?
Topsy-Turvy MLS
What the hell is going on with the Parity Police? They must be going taser-happy or snorting the evidence. The Crew and Dynamo winless? The expansion Sounders atop the league? TFC unbeaten on the road? Quick, somebody check the seventh seal! I don't think we really have any idea yet how things are going to shake out. Can the Goats and Sounders continue atop the league? Doubtful. Will the Crew and Dynamo stay stuck in second gear long. Also doubtful. But this is the joy and the frustration of MLS, our unpredictable little harlot!
So what made you sit up and take notice this weekend? Surprised that the US couldn't get all three against El Salvador? See any other international jerseys that caught your fancy? Wondering how long it'll take for the roiling waters of MLS to settle so we can figure out who's the real deal and who isn't this year?
Trip, Stumble, But Don't Fall
The Gooch-less US Nats went down 2-0 in San Salvador, only to claw their way back to earn a point. Three would have set the table for an easy march to qualification. As it stands, we're still stuck in the mire with the rest of the Hex. A strong showing against T&T should open a little gap, but nothing that will be entirely comfortable. Does Bradley need to shake the lineup up, or was this just a predictable wobble given the environment and missing Gooch and Howard?
Natty Dressers
In other international news, apparently the futblogosphere is falling all over itself to say how sharp the new England uniforms are. I don't get it. They look like a bunch of cricketers in shorts or rejects from the All England Club. Am I missing something?
Topsy-Turvy MLS
What the hell is going on with the Parity Police? They must be going taser-happy or snorting the evidence. The Crew and Dynamo winless? The expansion Sounders atop the league? TFC unbeaten on the road? Quick, somebody check the seventh seal! I don't think we really have any idea yet how things are going to shake out. Can the Goats and Sounders continue atop the league? Doubtful. Will the Crew and Dynamo stay stuck in second gear long. Also doubtful. But this is the joy and the frustration of MLS, our unpredictable little harlot!
So what made you sit up and take notice this weekend? Surprised that the US couldn't get all three against El Salvador? See any other international jerseys that caught your fancy? Wondering how long it'll take for the roiling waters of MLS to settle so we can figure out who's the real deal and who isn't this year?
United Match Reaction | Dazed and Confused
There's a frustrating trend that seems to be developing thus far in DC United's season. Stage 1: Enter the game with few expectations, save those of gloomy foreboding. Stage 2: Encounter a pleasantly surprising turn of events surrounded by a mysterious avoidance of punishment for slip-ups. Stage 3: Aforementioned slip-ups come back to haunt us, and it's beginning to look like all will be lost, thus fulfilling the earlier gloomy foreboding. Stage 4: All is not lost, leaving yours truly confused as to whether...
(a) The meeting or exceeding of pre-match expectations merits a warm, fuzzy feeling about the result.
(b) The inability to maintain the form (and lead!) of early in the match warrants a high tick on D's Angst-O-Graph.
(c) Keeping hold of the point when the tide seems to have violently turned deserves to be regarded as some sort of victory, heroic failure though it may be.
Never a good feeling is it--to be confused as to how you're supposed to feel when the last ball has been kicked in anger? I think I'm settling on vaguely disappointed bordering on mildly angry. So let's hit those talking points!
* Two great tastes that taste great together. Yes, Emilio's dash and finish was excellent, but it would not have occurred at all were it not for the Bearded Bombardier's energy and commitment to not give up on his own heavy touch that set Luci free to charge toward goal. Welcome back Benny, long may you hack, lunge, and snarl!
* Too many touches in the defensive third. Last season, it was usually Martinez who was the guilty party here. But last night I ticked off the boxes next to pretty much everybody save Wallace, who consistently looked to hoof it out of danger when in doubt. Even the forwards were getting in on the act, Moreno in particular having coughed it up in a particularly dangerous spot. But special blame will have to be reserved for Jakovic. I thought the kid was pretty solid in the first half, but he started the second poorly and it only went downhill from there. His consistently laughable giveaways as the last man back set up the mounting pressure that culminated in the Fire's equalizer.
* Still, I have to question if Wicks needed to be racing out on Chicago's goal. I thought Nyarko's angle was narrow, and Jakovic was keeping it so. Wicks just needed to stay big in that angle and Nyarko was going to have a hard time beating him with power. Of course, given that other little dribbler from a tight angle that snuck past Wicks to come off the post and dance along the line, perhaps we have some evidence to the contrary. When does Crayton get back in the net, please?
* Of course, those defensive wobbles wouldn't have been so costly if Pontius had his finishing boots on. A week after scoring a lovely goal given time and space by the Gax (thanks, bdr!), he had two golden chances to finish off the Fire. Both times, he was under pressure, but at least one, if not both of those, should have been in the net. Still, while I level this criticism, I'm painfully aware that Pontius was actually one of our better players. While Wallace brought energy to his flank, his touches were often lazy, his thinking a second behind, and his first look too often backward--unsurprising for a rookie. By contrast, Pontius looked like he belonged completely--confident on the ball, looking to take defenders on consistently, and covering a lot of ground on the right flank.
* By contrast, where was Gomez? I could ask the same of some of our other attackers, but I want to know what he did, outside of the cross to Olsen and a few neat touches to maintain possession that elicited hopeful cheers from the RFK faithful. Were we simply not able to get him the ball enough? Sadly, even with the ball, my abiding memory is the break where he charged through the middle, Emilio to his left and Pontius to the right with the Fire defense in pursuit. Mysteriously, rather than dishing to Pontius, who seemed to have a better angle and was more clear of his defenders, Gomez pushed it towards Emilio, who was closed down. Shades of the bad old days where Gomez trusted only Jaime with the ball?
* Some questions for Tommy. What did you say at halftime? United were on top of the game going into the half. Chicago had only had a couple of looks while DC were controlling possession. But from the whistle to start the second half, we simply failed to answer the bell. Also, I have to wonder why we didn't see Khumalo when we were consistently failing to test Chicago on the flanks, save for the occasional Pontius run. With Ward consistently charging up the Fire right and gaps appearing in United's back three, I would have been tempted to go to a back four, push Pontius/Moreno high on the left to keep Ward pinned back, and bring in Khumalo on the right wing, thus pulling Pause out of that hybrid d-mid/sweeper position that was frustrating our stabs through the middle. But what the hell do I know anyway? Also, Barklage? When you're chasing a result you bring on a rookie midfielder? Frustrating.
At the end of the day, this is still a result I would have been happy with going into the fray. Despite Chicago being hamstrung on defense, they're still a formidable attacking side, and we were shutting them down until the second half collapse. Still, getting outshot at home (9 shots, 3 on frame for DC versus 10 shots, 7 on frame for the Fire) and the manner of the second half letdown coming out of the locker room leave a bitter taste. The entire first half, I felt nothing but confidence, despite the high number of missing pieces in the starting lineup. The entire second half, my confidence continued to ebb away, until I felt it was only a matter of time until Chicago nicked a winner.
So what am I supposed to feel? Am I happy that we got a point against what looks to be one of the strongest sides in the league? Am I disappointed that we couldn't capitalize on our early possession and chances? Happy that our makeshift defense didn't concede more? Frustrated that we couldn't test Chicago's own weakened back line? What's your feeling? Anything I missed? Fire Soehn?
PS: Anybody else think Tim Ward looks more Bradley Jr. than Michael?
(a) The meeting or exceeding of pre-match expectations merits a warm, fuzzy feeling about the result.
(b) The inability to maintain the form (and lead!) of early in the match warrants a high tick on D's Angst-O-Graph.
(c) Keeping hold of the point when the tide seems to have violently turned deserves to be regarded as some sort of victory, heroic failure though it may be.
Never a good feeling is it--to be confused as to how you're supposed to feel when the last ball has been kicked in anger? I think I'm settling on vaguely disappointed bordering on mildly angry. So let's hit those talking points!
* Two great tastes that taste great together. Yes, Emilio's dash and finish was excellent, but it would not have occurred at all were it not for the Bearded Bombardier's energy and commitment to not give up on his own heavy touch that set Luci free to charge toward goal. Welcome back Benny, long may you hack, lunge, and snarl!
* Too many touches in the defensive third. Last season, it was usually Martinez who was the guilty party here. But last night I ticked off the boxes next to pretty much everybody save Wallace, who consistently looked to hoof it out of danger when in doubt. Even the forwards were getting in on the act, Moreno in particular having coughed it up in a particularly dangerous spot. But special blame will have to be reserved for Jakovic. I thought the kid was pretty solid in the first half, but he started the second poorly and it only went downhill from there. His consistently laughable giveaways as the last man back set up the mounting pressure that culminated in the Fire's equalizer.
* Still, I have to question if Wicks needed to be racing out on Chicago's goal. I thought Nyarko's angle was narrow, and Jakovic was keeping it so. Wicks just needed to stay big in that angle and Nyarko was going to have a hard time beating him with power. Of course, given that other little dribbler from a tight angle that snuck past Wicks to come off the post and dance along the line, perhaps we have some evidence to the contrary. When does Crayton get back in the net, please?
* Of course, those defensive wobbles wouldn't have been so costly if Pontius had his finishing boots on. A week after scoring a lovely goal given time and space by the Gax (thanks, bdr!), he had two golden chances to finish off the Fire. Both times, he was under pressure, but at least one, if not both of those, should have been in the net. Still, while I level this criticism, I'm painfully aware that Pontius was actually one of our better players. While Wallace brought energy to his flank, his touches were often lazy, his thinking a second behind, and his first look too often backward--unsurprising for a rookie. By contrast, Pontius looked like he belonged completely--confident on the ball, looking to take defenders on consistently, and covering a lot of ground on the right flank.
* By contrast, where was Gomez? I could ask the same of some of our other attackers, but I want to know what he did, outside of the cross to Olsen and a few neat touches to maintain possession that elicited hopeful cheers from the RFK faithful. Were we simply not able to get him the ball enough? Sadly, even with the ball, my abiding memory is the break where he charged through the middle, Emilio to his left and Pontius to the right with the Fire defense in pursuit. Mysteriously, rather than dishing to Pontius, who seemed to have a better angle and was more clear of his defenders, Gomez pushed it towards Emilio, who was closed down. Shades of the bad old days where Gomez trusted only Jaime with the ball?
* Some questions for Tommy. What did you say at halftime? United were on top of the game going into the half. Chicago had only had a couple of looks while DC were controlling possession. But from the whistle to start the second half, we simply failed to answer the bell. Also, I have to wonder why we didn't see Khumalo when we were consistently failing to test Chicago on the flanks, save for the occasional Pontius run. With Ward consistently charging up the Fire right and gaps appearing in United's back three, I would have been tempted to go to a back four, push Pontius/Moreno high on the left to keep Ward pinned back, and bring in Khumalo on the right wing, thus pulling Pause out of that hybrid d-mid/sweeper position that was frustrating our stabs through the middle. But what the hell do I know anyway? Also, Barklage? When you're chasing a result you bring on a rookie midfielder? Frustrating.
At the end of the day, this is still a result I would have been happy with going into the fray. Despite Chicago being hamstrung on defense, they're still a formidable attacking side, and we were shutting them down until the second half collapse. Still, getting outshot at home (9 shots, 3 on frame for DC versus 10 shots, 7 on frame for the Fire) and the manner of the second half letdown coming out of the locker room leave a bitter taste. The entire first half, I felt nothing but confidence, despite the high number of missing pieces in the starting lineup. The entire second half, my confidence continued to ebb away, until I felt it was only a matter of time until Chicago nicked a winner.
So what am I supposed to feel? Am I happy that we got a point against what looks to be one of the strongest sides in the league? Am I disappointed that we couldn't capitalize on our early possession and chances? Happy that our makeshift defense didn't concede more? Frustrated that we couldn't test Chicago's own weakened back line? What's your feeling? Anything I missed? Fire Soehn?
PS: Anybody else think Tim Ward looks more Bradley Jr. than Michael?
United Preview | Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
You know, cause like, it's the Fire? And they're away? Fire away? Alright, alright, you can unload your rotten tomato catapults, I'll stop...
Moving along. Let's do this in the format I had in on trial this morning for the USA preview post. We'll outline some of the key factors heading into the match and then take a wild swing at how Tommy might line the boys up tomorrow night.
Some talking points...
What Would Tommy Do?
Given the need to control possession and to keep Chicago on the back foot, I think we see the 3-5-2 continuing, allowing the five in midfield to dominate the battle for the ball. Likewise, with two up top and Gomez tucking in behind them, the five allows us to stretch the defense as the wide men push forward. Olsen and Simms will be vital in winning the ball and recycling possession.
Getting the wide men forward to put pressure on Chicago's young fullbacks probably means we'll see Wallace again, with Khumalo taking over for McT on the right, hopefully giving young Woolard some headaches. The trouble becomes, what happens at the back? We need to contain the running of Mapp, the aerial power of McBride, and presumably either the guile of Blanco or the quickness of Nyarko, given that I don't expect both to start. With those concerns, we can't have either Khumalo or Wallace (or whoever plays in those areas) bombing forward with impunity.
Probable United Lineup:
-------Moreno---Emilio-------
-----------Gomez-------------
Wallace--------------Khumalo-
-------Simms-----Olsen-------
---Burch--Jakovic--Namoff----
----------Crayton------------
Assuming, of course, that Crayton is ready to go. Pontius and Jacobson likely on for Gomez/Moreno and Olsen as the game wears on.
Keys to the Game
Well, that's how I see it anyway. Fire away (I couldn't resist!) in the comments. What's your probable lineup? What are your keys to the match? Any predictions on the scoreline?
Moving along. Let's do this in the format I had in on trial this morning for the USA preview post. We'll outline some of the key factors heading into the match and then take a wild swing at how Tommy might line the boys up tomorrow night.
Some talking points...
- We've got big questions all over the park. Does Crayton return or are we stuck with Wicks in net? With Janicki and McT still nursing their nicked noggins, who goes at the back? Fred and Tino won't man the wings, so who does? Does Pontius deserve another run out? At Moreno's expense? For that matter, does Emilio?
- The Fire have more answers when it comes to midfield, forward, and goalkeeper, but their defense is probably in the weakest state we're going to find it in this season. Segares and Soumare are with their international squads, while Prideaux and Robinson are banged up. That leaves only Conde from their usual starting corps. Presumably, he'll be paired with Brown in the middle, Ward will get another start at right back, and Woolard will go on the left (hot tip for FM/WSM 2009 players--Woolard is a pretty decent pickup for an MLS team). We should be able to do some damage against those flanks, provided we attack in the wide areas.
- Nyarko's quickness was a real thorn in Dallas' side last week. Given that our central defenders tend to be on the lumbering side, that could be a problem for us as well. Likewise, if we concede crosses like we did against LA, McBride will make us pay.
- Who has the most potential off-the-field headaches? Soehn's locker room tirades and seeming lack of communication with some of his veterans is a worry for United, while Chicago has Blanco's vows to leave the club after this season dangling over their heads.
- The home opener should be a big psychological boost for United, but it will be important not to get carried away throwing attackers forward when Chicago have the tools to hurt us on the break.
- The surest way to keep Chicago away from our vulnerable throats is to starve their midfield of possession and keep the pressure on their makeshift back line. That means better distribution out of the back and putting more value on the keeping the ball than we did against LA.
What Would Tommy Do?
Given the need to control possession and to keep Chicago on the back foot, I think we see the 3-5-2 continuing, allowing the five in midfield to dominate the battle for the ball. Likewise, with two up top and Gomez tucking in behind them, the five allows us to stretch the defense as the wide men push forward. Olsen and Simms will be vital in winning the ball and recycling possession.
Getting the wide men forward to put pressure on Chicago's young fullbacks probably means we'll see Wallace again, with Khumalo taking over for McT on the right, hopefully giving young Woolard some headaches. The trouble becomes, what happens at the back? We need to contain the running of Mapp, the aerial power of McBride, and presumably either the guile of Blanco or the quickness of Nyarko, given that I don't expect both to start. With those concerns, we can't have either Khumalo or Wallace (or whoever plays in those areas) bombing forward with impunity.
Probable United Lineup:
-------Moreno---Emilio-------
-----------Gomez-------------
Wallace--------------Khumalo-
-------Simms-----Olsen-------
---Burch--Jakovic--Namoff----
----------Crayton------------
Assuming, of course, that Crayton is ready to go. Pontius and Jacobson likely on for Gomez/Moreno and Olsen as the game wears on.
Keys to the Game
- Defensive Cohesion - Chicago's attack has a lot of movement. We'll need to track and close down off-the-ball runs and shut down passing lanes and/or men on the ball who are looking to spring those runners and the quick counter.
- Possession is nine tenths of the law - Keeping the ball means more chances to put pressure on Chicago's weakened back line, while at the same time limiting their chances to pick away at our own. It's a simple game sometimes.
- Work the Wings - With their experience in the center of defense (Conde + Brown = Conde Nasty?) and a hard-working holding midfield, we need to put pressure on Chicago's width, keeping their wide midfielders pinned back providing defensive cover and taking the game to the weakest and most inexperienced probable part of Chicago's lineup.
Well, that's how I see it anyway. Fire away (I couldn't resist!) in the comments. What's your probable lineup? What are your keys to the match? Any predictions on the scoreline?
USA Match Thoughts - Your Move, Skeletor!
I won't really call this a preview, because all I'm going to do is take a look at the roster, highlight some issues, and guess what Bob's going to do over the course of the two games against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tabago. Jeez, this is starting to resemble a preview isn't it? Ah well, too late to change the title now.
Some considerations . . .
-------vs-ES----------- ---------vs-T&T---------
---Ching--------------- -----Ching--------------
----------Donovan------ ------------Donovan-----
Beasley---------Dempsey Beasley----------Dempsey
-----Bradley----------- ----------Kljestan------
----------Mastro------- -------Bradley----------
Pearce----------Hejduk- Pearce-----------Spector
-----Boca----Gooch----- ------Boca----Gooch-----
--------Guzan---------- ---------Howard---------
Like I said, Bob probably won't experiment (yet). Kljestan for Mastroeni isn't a tough call as we'll be much more attack-minded and in possession at home against T&T. Hejduk will probably get the nod at right back in El Salvador, where experience, fitness, and grit will rank high in Bob's consideration, but Spector should get a chance to prove himself against T&T, where he'll be under less pressure.
Off the bench, I think Edu and Torres will both see time, as will (shudder!) EJ, just so Bob can get a look at what sort of toughness (physical and mental) the Championship has wrought upon the Grown-Ass Man. If Jozy and Freddy see time, it'll probably be limited junk minutes against T&T. Similarly DeMerit and/or Califf may get a run out if we're up a few goals, particularly given the fact that Gooch is carrying a slight injury.
What do you think? Is Bob going to tinker or is it same-old, same-old from Skeletor? Happy to see EJ back from the wilderness? Confident that we'll have two more scalps, and six more points in the bag next week? Wondering if we need to be investigating some depth on the wings?
Some considerations . . .
- It goes without saying that these are two eminently winnable matches. Nine points in the bag at the start of qualifying is just the sort of cushion we need to be able to do a little experimenting down the road as we fix our sights on 2010. That means, unfortunately, little experimentation for now. Get the job done first, and then start mixing things up.
- With Howard suspended for El Salvador, who gets the call--the veteran Hahnemann or the kid Guzan? Guzan seems to be Bob's #2, but will he get the call in a hostile environment? I think so.
- Who partners Junior in the middle? It'll be interesting to see Bob's thinking on this. I think Torres picks up time as we progress in qualifying, but I don't see it against El Salvador. Maybe some token minutes against T&T. So the question is: dynamism (Edu), nastiness (Mastroeni), or panache (Kljestan)? Mastroeni might get the nod in El Salvador, but I think we see Kljestan against T&T, if not against both.
- Hejduk or Spector at right back? Long-time readers of FBF will know my feelings on this immediately.
- Young guns on the rack? Will Adu or Altidore see time, or were they just brought in to get them some time with the team in between bouts of watching their club sides from the stands?
-------vs-ES----------- ---------vs-T&T---------
---Ching--------------- -----Ching--------------
----------Donovan------ ------------Donovan-----
Beasley---------Dempsey Beasley----------Dempsey
-----Bradley----------- ----------Kljestan------
----------Mastro------- -------Bradley----------
Pearce----------Hejduk- Pearce-----------Spector
-----Boca----Gooch----- ------Boca----Gooch-----
--------Guzan---------- ---------Howard---------
Like I said, Bob probably won't experiment (yet). Kljestan for Mastroeni isn't a tough call as we'll be much more attack-minded and in possession at home against T&T. Hejduk will probably get the nod at right back in El Salvador, where experience, fitness, and grit will rank high in Bob's consideration, but Spector should get a chance to prove himself against T&T, where he'll be under less pressure.
Off the bench, I think Edu and Torres will both see time, as will (shudder!) EJ, just so Bob can get a look at what sort of toughness (physical and mental) the Championship has wrought upon the Grown-Ass Man. If Jozy and Freddy see time, it'll probably be limited junk minutes against T&T. Similarly DeMerit and/or Califf may get a run out if we're up a few goals, particularly given the fact that Gooch is carrying a slight injury.
What do you think? Is Bob going to tinker or is it same-old, same-old from Skeletor? Happy to see EJ back from the wilderness? Confident that we'll have two more scalps, and six more points in the bag next week? Wondering if we need to be investigating some depth on the wings?
. . . And the Ground Was Littered With Fullbacks
Well, perhaps not exactly littered, but how often do three fullback-related bits of flotsam and jetsam turn up in the wreckage of my RSS feeds (even if one just contains a reference to the other)? Let's begin with item numero uno. Apparently the curse of the #2 has struck again, with Ryan Miller leaving United (and all those tempting Dev Dollars) behind. So does this imply . . ?
Part of that Wilson post was a mention of the Brazilian (et al) usage of "lateral" instead of "full-back" to describe the position. Which makes me ever so happy to have laid claim to the "Fullback" Files. Can you imagine this blog being called "the Lateral Files"? On the other hand, perhaps I'd be a bit more organized?
Update: And one last fullback sighting in the social-media miasma! Unleash the NAMOFF!
- Miller found a higher-paying job as the night-manager at Burger King?
- The injuries in central defense have opened the door for a Danso delivery?
- Tommy is abandoning the 4-4-2 for full-bore 3-5-2 and is jettisoning fullbacks?
- The #2 is cursed and should never be worn by a United player again?
- Miller asked Tommy why Crayton didn't travel to LA?
Part of that Wilson post was a mention of the Brazilian (et al) usage of "lateral" instead of "full-back" to describe the position. Which makes me ever so happy to have laid claim to the "Fullback" Files. Can you imagine this blog being called "the Lateral Files"? On the other hand, perhaps I'd be a bit more organized?
Update: And one last fullback sighting in the social-media miasma! Unleash the NAMOFF!
FBF Glossary: Kapitän Kissypants
Landon Donovan has a lot going for him. All time leading goal-scorer for the US. International youth trophies. A closet full of US Player of the Year awards. Three MLS Cups. Cute wife.
But he's also an insufferable punk at times and can be massively infuriating for fans and foes alike. Why can he only really play when he's angry? Is he the freakin' Hulk? Why do MLS referees continually take his snarling abuse without any hint of admonishment? Why do the pitches of Europe seem to be laced with Kryptonite for him? Why did he ever pose for this?
And for God's sake, what the hell is with the kissing routine before penalties? I haven't seen the full-on orgiastic ritual lately, but I bet you can dig up the sorry evidence on the youtubes somewhere. That pathetic display of self-canoodling, combined with his status as captain of the US team at the time, landed him the moniker of Captain Kissypants here on FBF, a title I've amended to Kapitän Kissypants in light of his continued struggles in Germany, to wit . . .
All hail the Kapitän! (You can now resume your mutinous muttering behind his back).
See also: the Fivehead, when forehead just doesn't express the extent of the depilation.
But he's also an insufferable punk at times and can be massively infuriating for fans and foes alike. Why can he only really play when he's angry? Is he the freakin' Hulk? Why do MLS referees continually take his snarling abuse without any hint of admonishment? Why do the pitches of Europe seem to be laced with Kryptonite for him? Why did he ever pose for this?
And for God's sake, what the hell is with the kissing routine before penalties? I haven't seen the full-on orgiastic ritual lately, but I bet you can dig up the sorry evidence on the youtubes somewhere. That pathetic display of self-canoodling, combined with his status as captain of the US team at the time, landed him the moniker of Captain Kissypants here on FBF, a title I've amended to Kapitän Kissypants in light of his continued struggles in Germany, to wit . . .
Bayer Leverkusen - Strike 1!
World Cup 2006 - Steeeeeerike 2!
Bayern Munich - Strike 3, you're out!
All hail the Kapitän! (You can now resume your mutinous muttering behind his back).
See also: the Fivehead, when forehead just doesn't express the extent of the depilation.
Unbalanced Rhombus Push Left?
I'm planning to do a more thorough "match preview" on Friday, but I just wanted to pose some questions raised by the possibility that both McTavish and Janicki will be sidelined against the Fire. With Fred and Quaranta still on the shelf . . .
(1) Do we stick with the 3-5-2? It didn't look good in the early going last week, but started getting more solid as the game progressed. Still, when the Massive Head Trauma Incident occurred things fell apart. Now, was that entirely down to the system or to who was missing? Do you trust Burch in a back three? Me neither. But what other options do you have? You could go with four at the back, but who are your center backs? Jakovic plus . . ?
(2) Who are your wide midfielders? Wallace certainly did enough in the second half to merit another shot, but who goes on the right if McTavish can't? With Quaranta out of the picture, I think you're looking at either the Bearded Bombardier (if he's able to go) or Boyzzzzzzz. Personally, I'm not sure Benny has the gas or the wheels to get the job done on the flank in a 3-5-2, but Boyzzzzzzz doesn't offer as much defensively. With Mapp likely to be operating on Chicago's left, we'll probably need some help for Namoff.
(3) What happens up top? Pontius was promising, but he's competing with Jaime for that spot. Also, I wasn't terribly impressed by Emilio last week and was wondering if some time on the pine would be a good thing.
Which leads us once again into the land of idle speculation. Anybody else feel like giving the roster a shot? For my money, if Janicki can't go, I see too many holes in the 3-5-2. Hell, I'm not convinced three at the back would be the smartest way to take on Chicago even if we had clean bills of health all around. My whiteboard would look something like . . .
------Doe-------------
-------------Moreno---
---------Gomez--------
Pontius---------------
-------------Olsen----
------Simms-----------
-Wallace-------Namoff-
----Peters--Jakovic---
-------Crayton--------
And I shall call it . . . the Unbalanced Rhombus Push Left! Or that's what I'd call it in Football Manager
. Gomez and Moreno have the freedom to exploit space on the attacking right flank with Olsen moving up in support but not flinging himself forward constantly as he has more defensive responsibilities and is pinched in slightly. Two big boys in the middle of defense to fight McBride for headers. It's not perfect, and there are alternatives. I like having Namoff at right back to keep Mapp in check, but he could also move inside if we don't trust Peters. Likewise, it may be wise to pack the midfield a bit, perhaps by bringing in Jacobson for Pontius and playing Jacobson-Simms-Olsen behind Gomez? Could Pontius and Moreno play up top together despite playing a similar game?
So what do you think? Does Tommy stick with the 3-5-2? Would you? How would you line up against Chicago? Have your say in the comments.
(1) Do we stick with the 3-5-2? It didn't look good in the early going last week, but started getting more solid as the game progressed. Still, when the Massive Head Trauma Incident occurred things fell apart. Now, was that entirely down to the system or to who was missing? Do you trust Burch in a back three? Me neither. But what other options do you have? You could go with four at the back, but who are your center backs? Jakovic plus . . ?
(2) Who are your wide midfielders? Wallace certainly did enough in the second half to merit another shot, but who goes on the right if McTavish can't? With Quaranta out of the picture, I think you're looking at either the Bearded Bombardier (if he's able to go) or Boyzzzzzzz. Personally, I'm not sure Benny has the gas or the wheels to get the job done on the flank in a 3-5-2, but Boyzzzzzzz doesn't offer as much defensively. With Mapp likely to be operating on Chicago's left, we'll probably need some help for Namoff.
(3) What happens up top? Pontius was promising, but he's competing with Jaime for that spot. Also, I wasn't terribly impressed by Emilio last week and was wondering if some time on the pine would be a good thing.
Which leads us once again into the land of idle speculation. Anybody else feel like giving the roster a shot? For my money, if Janicki can't go, I see too many holes in the 3-5-2. Hell, I'm not convinced three at the back would be the smartest way to take on Chicago even if we had clean bills of health all around. My whiteboard would look something like . . .
------Doe-------------
-------------Moreno---
---------Gomez--------
Pontius---------------
-------------Olsen----
------Simms-----------
-Wallace-------Namoff-
----Peters--Jakovic---
-------Crayton--------
And I shall call it . . . the Unbalanced Rhombus Push Left! Or that's what I'd call it in Football Manager
. Gomez and Moreno have the freedom to exploit space on the attacking right flank with Olsen moving up in support but not flinging himself forward constantly as he has more defensive responsibilities and is pinched in slightly. Two big boys in the middle of defense to fight McBride for headers. It's not perfect, and there are alternatives. I like having Namoff at right back to keep Mapp in check, but he could also move inside if we don't trust Peters. Likewise, it may be wise to pack the midfield a bit, perhaps by bringing in Jacobson for Pontius and playing Jacobson-Simms-Olsen behind Gomez? Could Pontius and Moreno play up top together despite playing a similar game?So what do you think? Does Tommy stick with the 3-5-2? Would you? How would you line up against Chicago? Have your say in the comments.
Vote Pontius!
Well, BTB beat me to it, so I'll merely add my encouragement to rally the Pontius vote for Goal of the Week. When I ticked the box he was in third but trailing severely to Cooper's midfield blast (which I will vote for as well, in the interest of fairness, that being the real GOTW) and the ballot-box stuffers in Seattle, who seem to be doing their best TFC end run on the voting.
Monday Back-Pass: Never Mind the Bollocks
I trust a fun weekend was had by all as we witnessed MLS's First Kick 2009, Manchester United's continued unravelling, and the usual suspects torching La Liga in goalfests. How about a little mood music
?
Bodies + Problems = Submission
You know the most frustrating thing about DC United's late collapse against the Galaxy? Was it Jair Maruffo's damnable whistle (or lack thereof)? Was it that Kapitan Kissypants netted a pair in the last 10 minutes? Was it that DC probably would have been home and dry were it not for the double head trauma? Nope. The frustrating thing was that I was beginning to get my hopes up. We looked flat-out awful for stretches, but were starting to connect the dots in the second half. Pontius and Wallace were demonstrating their worth. The defense was actually cutting out the mistakes that had haunted the first half. Chances were coming. Then . . . BONK! Bodies on the floor. Blood on the grass and in the water. Legs mistaken for hands. Poor marking. And two points kissed goodbye.
Pretty Vacant
It's been a long off-season, but it's nice to hear the return of the amateurish best that local sportscasts can provide when Direct Kick / MLSNet.com Match Video Center gives them a national stage to perform on. Ouch! Ouch! And triple ouch, stop that you're hurting me! Worst outing I witnessed? The pair out in San Jose. What was that dude's obsession with providing age, nationality, and height for every player whose name he mentioned? But special (and I mean "special") mention goes to Dave Dir and Bobby Rhine in Dallas. Oof! Favorite line? Dir making a plea to not have action in the box while he's trying to mention advertisers. Ah, American soccer broadcasting, how I've missed thee!
Anarchy in the UK!
Fulham blows the race for the Prem crown wide open again with an able assist from Mark Schwarzer in their net and Paul Scholes in the Man United net. Nice save, Ginger Prince! But he's got nothing on Schwarzer, who pulled off some ridiculous saves in preserving Fulham's lead as 10-man United fought for the equalizer. Chelsea, continuing to bring the mediocrity when push comes to shove, failed to take advantage of United's slip leaving them four points back, but Stevie G and the Reds routed Villa (with Friedel, then Guzan, in net) to pull to within just a point. Of course, United still have a game in hand, but it's beginning to look like we may have an honest-to-goodness title challenge on our hands.
Holidays in the Sun?
Real Madrid and Barcelona are continuing to storm through all opposition in La Liga as the pair have moved well clear of the chasing pack. Barca's 6-0 walk in the park, and Madrid's 3-0 stroll in the garden push their respective goal differentials to more than double that of any other sides in the league. Madrid sports an impressive +35, but Barca's +60 tally is astonishing. If you didn't catch Messi bypassing the latest rung on his ladder to futbol divinity, it's the second of six in these highlights.
?Bodies + Problems = Submission
You know the most frustrating thing about DC United's late collapse against the Galaxy? Was it Jair Maruffo's damnable whistle (or lack thereof)? Was it that Kapitan Kissypants netted a pair in the last 10 minutes? Was it that DC probably would have been home and dry were it not for the double head trauma? Nope. The frustrating thing was that I was beginning to get my hopes up. We looked flat-out awful for stretches, but were starting to connect the dots in the second half. Pontius and Wallace were demonstrating their worth. The defense was actually cutting out the mistakes that had haunted the first half. Chances were coming. Then . . . BONK! Bodies on the floor. Blood on the grass and in the water. Legs mistaken for hands. Poor marking. And two points kissed goodbye.
Pretty Vacant
It's been a long off-season, but it's nice to hear the return of the amateurish best that local sportscasts can provide when Direct Kick / MLSNet.com Match Video Center gives them a national stage to perform on. Ouch! Ouch! And triple ouch, stop that you're hurting me! Worst outing I witnessed? The pair out in San Jose. What was that dude's obsession with providing age, nationality, and height for every player whose name he mentioned? But special (and I mean "special") mention goes to Dave Dir and Bobby Rhine in Dallas. Oof! Favorite line? Dir making a plea to not have action in the box while he's trying to mention advertisers. Ah, American soccer broadcasting, how I've missed thee!
Anarchy in the UK!
Fulham blows the race for the Prem crown wide open again with an able assist from Mark Schwarzer in their net and Paul Scholes in the Man United net. Nice save, Ginger Prince! But he's got nothing on Schwarzer, who pulled off some ridiculous saves in preserving Fulham's lead as 10-man United fought for the equalizer. Chelsea, continuing to bring the mediocrity when push comes to shove, failed to take advantage of United's slip leaving them four points back, but Stevie G and the Reds routed Villa (with Friedel, then Guzan, in net) to pull to within just a point. Of course, United still have a game in hand, but it's beginning to look like we may have an honest-to-goodness title challenge on our hands.
Holidays in the Sun?
Real Madrid and Barcelona are continuing to storm through all opposition in La Liga as the pair have moved well clear of the chasing pack. Barca's 6-0 walk in the park, and Madrid's 3-0 stroll in the garden push their respective goal differentials to more than double that of any other sides in the league. Madrid sports an impressive +35, but Barca's +60 tally is astonishing. If you didn't catch Messi bypassing the latest rung on his ladder to futbol divinity, it's the second of six in these highlights.
MLS Dogpile: What, Too Early?
I know, I know. It's far too early to be breaking out the Dogpile. After all, we only have one week's worth of results to go on, right? Well, such are the pleasures (and perils) of being a swashbuckling blogger. We'll give the results a few weeks to ferment before we let the good old Table Talk out of the cage, but this particular menagerie of mongrels is ready to rumble, so without further ado . . .
The Alpha Dog
1. Chicago Fire (W)
3-1 is flattering for Chicago, who were under heavy pressure for large portions of the match. Still, they were missing chunks of their usual starting lineup, including the heart of their offense, Blanco, who came off the bench late, and still managed to do enough to grab the victory against an energetic Dallas side. That's a sign of the quality depth that makes the Fire a real contender over the course of a 30-game season.
Next: DC (Away)
The Playoff Pack
2. Columbus Crew (D)
The defending champs probably shaded the chances away to Houston, but were unable to make them count. Still, Schelotto's late equalizer grabbed a valuable point away to one of the stronger teams in the league. I was also impressed by the contribution of Carroll in midfield. Query: Is it possible for the invisible to stand out?
Next: TFC (Home)
3. Houston Dynamo (D)
Missing a couple of key cogs, the Dynamo still managed to grab a draw against a strong Crew side. Times may change, but the Orange song remains the same: stay compact, work hard, and exploit the counter. Lacking DeRo, they may lack a flair for the dramatic, but they should still get results.
Next: Quakes (Away)
4. Real Salt Lake (-)
It's hard to make a case for RSL being in the top three until we see them in action. Also, I don't think they'll immediately stake a claim as a top side. Rather, I suspect they'll build momentum over the season. To be continued . . .
Next: Sounders (Away)
5. Seattle Sounders (W)
Yes, they were at home. Yes, it's early and their depth hasn't been tested. Yes, the Red Bulls back line looked pretty terrible. But Montero looks impressive, they were organized and allowed a talented Red Bulls attack few chances, and the home crowd was inspiring. Now the questions begin. Will the energy wane at home? Can they travel? Will I get any less nauseated looking at those awful "official color of Web 2.0" lime green jerseys?
Next: RSL (Home)
6. Toronto FC (W)
Debuts for two draftees and a win for Torontopool FC as DeRo predictably causes headaches and Guevara nets as pair. Anybody else think that Brennan's goal for TFC was a mirror image of Beckham's first for Milan? Does that mean that Italian clubs are going to come knocking for the Canadian? Doubtful, but TFC has fired an early shot across the bow of the East, proclaiming their playoff intentions. They may just be a center back away . . .
Next: Crew (Away)
7. New England Revolution (W)
I said in my season previews that Nicol would somehow find a way to get results, and here's the evidence. Despite being outshot 16 to 7 and having only one shot on frame, the Revs made the most of their opportunity to claim a valuable road win against a San Jose side that looks pretty promising. And they managed to do it without three shelved starters. Smoke and mirrors?
Next: Red Bulls (Away)
8. San Jose Earthquakes (L)
Despite having most of the possession and a couple of golden opportunities, the Quakes highlighted their lack of a proven scoring thrust. If they can find such a weapon hidden in their roster somewhere, they should be fine. Without it? Well, they'll have to employ "platoon scoring" from midfield.
Next: Dynamo (Home)
Bum-Sniffing Omega Mutts
9. Chivas USA (W)
A win is a win, but when you get outshot nearly 3 to 1 at home, things aren't going quite as swimmingly as you'd like. I expect 2009 to be an almighty struggle for the Goats, and while they've started with a win, I think the signs of weakness were there for all to see.
Next: Dallas (Away)
10. Colorado Rapids (L)
A tough loss for the Rapids, as they created the majority of chances but couldn't make them count. If Colorado are to mount a serious playoff challenge this year, these are the types of matches they are going to need to win. Was this just an unfortunate result, or a sign of things to come?
Next: Wizards (Home)
11. DC United (D)
The draw will be a bitter pill for United, who were in cruising to three points in LA until it all went horribly wrong in the last 10-15 minutes. Despite missing some key players (to be fair, LA were missing key players as well), United showed glimpses of potential, perhaps even enough to put them in the Playoff Pack. Unfortunately, their potential for defensive disorganization and collapse was also exposed. How will they look with Crayton back in net, their wide midfielders restored, and Moreno on the field? We shall see.
Next: Chicago (Home)
12. FC Dallas (L)
A lesson in efficiency. Chicago had 11 shots, 6 on frame, with 3 ending up on the scoresheet. Dallas had 20 shots, nearly double the Fire's total, but the only one on frame was Cooper's drive from beyond the midfield stripe that ended up in the back of the net. With the chances they fashioned, FCD should have done more to test Busch. Likewise, their defense showed some worrying gaps that will need to be addressed if they hope to separate themselves from the dross puddled at the bottom of the West.
Next: Chivas (Away)
13. Kansas City Wizards (L)
For a team that is supposed to boast a strong defense, KC was sure exposed by TFC. If Barrett had a finishing bone in his body, the damage may have been worse. As it is, we saw what the problem will be for KC: finding a scoring edge. They can't consistently rely on Arnaud hitting lasers from distance if they expect to challenge for a playoff spot. For my money, KC would have been the biggest disappointment of First Kick if it weren't for the Red Bulls lame display.
Next: Rapids (Away)
14. Los Angeles Galaxy (D)
What? A draw and I dump them this far down the list? Yep. Were it not for the fateful confluence of United losing two defenders to head trauma, a phantom handball, and Kovalenko's non-red carded last man drag-down, LA was headed for a comfortable defeat at home to a side many are predicting will miss the playoffs. Still, where there is a Donovan, there is a way for LA. Will they continue to be so fortunate?
Next: bye
15. New York Red Bulls (L)
Ouch! It was always going to be a tough ask taking on the emotion of a home team making their first ever appearance, but the Bulls certainly made a hash of it with slow, poor defending and a lackluster attack. Osorio still has defensive reinforcements to bring on line, but will any of them strengthen what looks to be a shambolic back line? All the attacking pace and power in the world won't do much go otherwise.
Next: Revs (Home)
The Alpha Dog
1. Chicago Fire (W)
3-1 is flattering for Chicago, who were under heavy pressure for large portions of the match. Still, they were missing chunks of their usual starting lineup, including the heart of their offense, Blanco, who came off the bench late, and still managed to do enough to grab the victory against an energetic Dallas side. That's a sign of the quality depth that makes the Fire a real contender over the course of a 30-game season.
Next: DC (Away)
The Playoff Pack
2. Columbus Crew (D)
The defending champs probably shaded the chances away to Houston, but were unable to make them count. Still, Schelotto's late equalizer grabbed a valuable point away to one of the stronger teams in the league. I was also impressed by the contribution of Carroll in midfield. Query: Is it possible for the invisible to stand out?
Next: TFC (Home)
3. Houston Dynamo (D)
Missing a couple of key cogs, the Dynamo still managed to grab a draw against a strong Crew side. Times may change, but the Orange song remains the same: stay compact, work hard, and exploit the counter. Lacking DeRo, they may lack a flair for the dramatic, but they should still get results.
Next: Quakes (Away)
4. Real Salt Lake (-)
It's hard to make a case for RSL being in the top three until we see them in action. Also, I don't think they'll immediately stake a claim as a top side. Rather, I suspect they'll build momentum over the season. To be continued . . .
Next: Sounders (Away)
5. Seattle Sounders (W)
Yes, they were at home. Yes, it's early and their depth hasn't been tested. Yes, the Red Bulls back line looked pretty terrible. But Montero looks impressive, they were organized and allowed a talented Red Bulls attack few chances, and the home crowd was inspiring. Now the questions begin. Will the energy wane at home? Can they travel? Will I get any less nauseated looking at those awful "official color of Web 2.0" lime green jerseys?
Next: RSL (Home)
6. Toronto FC (W)
Debuts for two draftees and a win for Torontopool FC as DeRo predictably causes headaches and Guevara nets as pair. Anybody else think that Brennan's goal for TFC was a mirror image of Beckham's first for Milan? Does that mean that Italian clubs are going to come knocking for the Canadian? Doubtful, but TFC has fired an early shot across the bow of the East, proclaiming their playoff intentions. They may just be a center back away . . .
Next: Crew (Away)
7. New England Revolution (W)
I said in my season previews that Nicol would somehow find a way to get results, and here's the evidence. Despite being outshot 16 to 7 and having only one shot on frame, the Revs made the most of their opportunity to claim a valuable road win against a San Jose side that looks pretty promising. And they managed to do it without three shelved starters. Smoke and mirrors?
Next: Red Bulls (Away)
8. San Jose Earthquakes (L)
Despite having most of the possession and a couple of golden opportunities, the Quakes highlighted their lack of a proven scoring thrust. If they can find such a weapon hidden in their roster somewhere, they should be fine. Without it? Well, they'll have to employ "platoon scoring" from midfield.
Next: Dynamo (Home)
Bum-Sniffing Omega Mutts
9. Chivas USA (W)
A win is a win, but when you get outshot nearly 3 to 1 at home, things aren't going quite as swimmingly as you'd like. I expect 2009 to be an almighty struggle for the Goats, and while they've started with a win, I think the signs of weakness were there for all to see.
Next: Dallas (Away)
10. Colorado Rapids (L)
A tough loss for the Rapids, as they created the majority of chances but couldn't make them count. If Colorado are to mount a serious playoff challenge this year, these are the types of matches they are going to need to win. Was this just an unfortunate result, or a sign of things to come?
Next: Wizards (Home)
11. DC United (D)
The draw will be a bitter pill for United, who were in cruising to three points in LA until it all went horribly wrong in the last 10-15 minutes. Despite missing some key players (to be fair, LA were missing key players as well), United showed glimpses of potential, perhaps even enough to put them in the Playoff Pack. Unfortunately, their potential for defensive disorganization and collapse was also exposed. How will they look with Crayton back in net, their wide midfielders restored, and Moreno on the field? We shall see.
Next: Chicago (Home)
12. FC Dallas (L)
A lesson in efficiency. Chicago had 11 shots, 6 on frame, with 3 ending up on the scoresheet. Dallas had 20 shots, nearly double the Fire's total, but the only one on frame was Cooper's drive from beyond the midfield stripe that ended up in the back of the net. With the chances they fashioned, FCD should have done more to test Busch. Likewise, their defense showed some worrying gaps that will need to be addressed if they hope to separate themselves from the dross puddled at the bottom of the West.
Next: Chivas (Away)
13. Kansas City Wizards (L)
For a team that is supposed to boast a strong defense, KC was sure exposed by TFC. If Barrett had a finishing bone in his body, the damage may have been worse. As it is, we saw what the problem will be for KC: finding a scoring edge. They can't consistently rely on Arnaud hitting lasers from distance if they expect to challenge for a playoff spot. For my money, KC would have been the biggest disappointment of First Kick if it weren't for the Red Bulls lame display.
Next: Rapids (Away)
14. Los Angeles Galaxy (D)
What? A draw and I dump them this far down the list? Yep. Were it not for the fateful confluence of United losing two defenders to head trauma, a phantom handball, and Kovalenko's non-red carded last man drag-down, LA was headed for a comfortable defeat at home to a side many are predicting will miss the playoffs. Still, where there is a Donovan, there is a way for LA. Will they continue to be so fortunate?
Next: bye
15. New York Red Bulls (L)
Ouch! It was always going to be a tough ask taking on the emotion of a home team making their first ever appearance, but the Bulls certainly made a hash of it with slow, poor defending and a lackluster attack. Osorio still has defensive reinforcements to bring on line, but will any of them strengthen what looks to be a shambolic back line? All the attacking pace and power in the world won't do much go otherwise.
Next: Revs (Home)
Match Reaction: Jair's Epic Fail
You know, there are quite a few times when you blame the ref and know, in your heart of hearts, that the result probably would have been the same no matter who was handed the whistle. This is not one of those times. Still, as disappointed as I am, I'm going to view the draw as a positive because, even with Jair's epic fail, we still probably would have earned a result if not for having to play with two defenders bleeding on the sidelines while LA got back into the match. It's been a long off-season, so wait for it . . . wait for it . . . let's hit those talking points. (Damn that felt good!)
* What was in the rooks' halftime orange slices? Let's face it, Wallace was pretty miserable, and Pontius well-nigh invisible in the first half. But from the opening whistle of the second, both started playing with aggression and confidence and increasingly became influential in the match. Wallace broke up plays and had a couple of nice dashes down the left. Pontius was doing his best Moreno impression, first with the weaving dribbling runs, and finally with the curling shot from the edge of the area (we'll ignore the Galaxy's feeble defensive efforts on the later). If these performances are indications of things to come, we might have had a very good draft indeed.
* Speaking of slices. As I mentioned earlier, were it not for the clash of heads that removed McTavish and Janicki from play, I think we hang onto this one easily. I'd like to call out two guys on this one. First, Marrufo. Two players down, bleeding from head wounds and you let play continue? Aren't head injuries the type of play you're supposed to call a halt for? I won't blame the Gals for not putting it into touch, either. They're trying to win a game, and they're supposed to play to the whistle. Marrufo is to blame for not blowing play dead. Second, Tom Soehn. You're under heavy pressure and you've got two cogs missing from the center of your defensive wheelhouse with only ten minutes to play. How do you not throw at least one guy on immediately?
* And while we're on the topic of subs. What was the thinking with bringing on Boyzzz for Olsen? I can understand pulling Olsen if he's out of gas. I can understand bringing on Boyzzz for his pace and guile to operate on the counter against an LA side that was throwing players forward. What I don't get is why you bring on a winger for a holding midfielder when you've got a two-goal lead. Pulling McTavish inside to play Olsen's role left a winger trying to play defense on the flank, which he didn't exactly do a sterling job of.
* Donovan's snarling at the refs has surely got to be punished at some point, rather than continuously rewarded with favorable treatment by the whistlemen. And while we're on the whistlemen, I want to highlight three points. #1: I haven't looked at replays yet, but my initial reaction on the United PK was that Gomez was offsides when Emilio flicked the ball on to him. Nevertheless, the PK was given. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but was Dema not the last man? Did he not deny a certain goal-scoring opportunity? Now explain to me the color of the card he received again. Right. #2: Please see the complaints above about play being allowed to continue with two guys down with bleeding noggins. #3: Yes, the game is fast, but how can you call a handball unless you definitely saw the ball hit the hand? Even in live action, I could see on a crappy web feed that that ball came off the bottom of Wallace's leg. Will Maruffo (or his linesman) face sanctions? Yeah, right.
* Second half improvements, but the defense and passing were still shaky at best. Early season rust is to be expected, but we look behind many of the teams I saw playing yesterday. Some of that will be down to integrating new pieces (particularly Jakovic on the back line) and having four starters sidelined. The encouraging things were: (1) we were pitching a shutout until the bleeding heads debacle and Jair's goddamn whistle, and (2) there were some passages of play that showed how good we can be when we get things moving quickly with the slick, one-touch passing. That said, there were far too many times when we were tentative or wasteful with the ball.
Quick Hits!
* Why didn't Emilio dish to Gomez on that break where he was in behind after Benny did the "inactive" stroll?
* Burch = defensive liability. Still.
* Can Kapitan Kissypants please go back to Europe and stop bothering us?
* I like that Delagarza, or however he wants his name spelled, for LA! Nice little player.
* Where were the anti-Beckham banners, LA fans? Or did the Scientologist thug-squad confiscate them at the gates?
* Benny may be slower and not have the engine anymore, but he's crafty and feisty, two things we missed badly last year. It was massive to see him out there for us wearing the armband. Long may it continue!
As full of rage as I was when Donovan headed home the second, it's some surprise to me that I'm actually feeling a little better about the result upon reflection. I thought a draw would have been a decent result going in, considering what we were missing. Giving up a 2-goal lead stings badly, but the stars that aligned to create this result won't happen every week. Am I confident that we're a playoff team? Not yet. LA was missing major pieces as well, and aren't exactly playoff-calibre either. Also, the soccer on display was often pathetic. Let's put the meter hovering somewhere around tentatively hopeful that we might put in a better showing this year than I expected.
Question: Is there a midpoint between the enthusiastic Vamos United! and the world-weary "ugh"? Vamugh United? Sounds vaguely Gaelic.
* What was in the rooks' halftime orange slices? Let's face it, Wallace was pretty miserable, and Pontius well-nigh invisible in the first half. But from the opening whistle of the second, both started playing with aggression and confidence and increasingly became influential in the match. Wallace broke up plays and had a couple of nice dashes down the left. Pontius was doing his best Moreno impression, first with the weaving dribbling runs, and finally with the curling shot from the edge of the area (we'll ignore the Galaxy's feeble defensive efforts on the later). If these performances are indications of things to come, we might have had a very good draft indeed.
* Speaking of slices. As I mentioned earlier, were it not for the clash of heads that removed McTavish and Janicki from play, I think we hang onto this one easily. I'd like to call out two guys on this one. First, Marrufo. Two players down, bleeding from head wounds and you let play continue? Aren't head injuries the type of play you're supposed to call a halt for? I won't blame the Gals for not putting it into touch, either. They're trying to win a game, and they're supposed to play to the whistle. Marrufo is to blame for not blowing play dead. Second, Tom Soehn. You're under heavy pressure and you've got two cogs missing from the center of your defensive wheelhouse with only ten minutes to play. How do you not throw at least one guy on immediately?
* And while we're on the topic of subs. What was the thinking with bringing on Boyzzz for Olsen? I can understand pulling Olsen if he's out of gas. I can understand bringing on Boyzzz for his pace and guile to operate on the counter against an LA side that was throwing players forward. What I don't get is why you bring on a winger for a holding midfielder when you've got a two-goal lead. Pulling McTavish inside to play Olsen's role left a winger trying to play defense on the flank, which he didn't exactly do a sterling job of.
* Donovan's snarling at the refs has surely got to be punished at some point, rather than continuously rewarded with favorable treatment by the whistlemen. And while we're on the whistlemen, I want to highlight three points. #1: I haven't looked at replays yet, but my initial reaction on the United PK was that Gomez was offsides when Emilio flicked the ball on to him. Nevertheless, the PK was given. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but was Dema not the last man? Did he not deny a certain goal-scoring opportunity? Now explain to me the color of the card he received again. Right. #2: Please see the complaints above about play being allowed to continue with two guys down with bleeding noggins. #3: Yes, the game is fast, but how can you call a handball unless you definitely saw the ball hit the hand? Even in live action, I could see on a crappy web feed that that ball came off the bottom of Wallace's leg. Will Maruffo (or his linesman) face sanctions? Yeah, right.
* Second half improvements, but the defense and passing were still shaky at best. Early season rust is to be expected, but we look behind many of the teams I saw playing yesterday. Some of that will be down to integrating new pieces (particularly Jakovic on the back line) and having four starters sidelined. The encouraging things were: (1) we were pitching a shutout until the bleeding heads debacle and Jair's goddamn whistle, and (2) there were some passages of play that showed how good we can be when we get things moving quickly with the slick, one-touch passing. That said, there were far too many times when we were tentative or wasteful with the ball.
Quick Hits!
* Why didn't Emilio dish to Gomez on that break where he was in behind after Benny did the "inactive" stroll?
* Burch = defensive liability. Still.
* Can Kapitan Kissypants please go back to Europe and stop bothering us?
* I like that Delagarza, or however he wants his name spelled, for LA! Nice little player.
* Where were the anti-Beckham banners, LA fans? Or did the Scientologist thug-squad confiscate them at the gates?
* Benny may be slower and not have the engine anymore, but he's crafty and feisty, two things we missed badly last year. It was massive to see him out there for us wearing the armband. Long may it continue!
As full of rage as I was when Donovan headed home the second, it's some surprise to me that I'm actually feeling a little better about the result upon reflection. I thought a draw would have been a decent result going in, considering what we were missing. Giving up a 2-goal lead stings badly, but the stars that aligned to create this result won't happen every week. Am I confident that we're a playoff team? Not yet. LA was missing major pieces as well, and aren't exactly playoff-calibre either. Also, the soccer on display was often pathetic. Let's put the meter hovering somewhere around tentatively hopeful that we might put in a better showing this year than I expected.
Question: Is there a midpoint between the enthusiastic Vamos United! and the world-weary "ugh"? Vamugh United? Sounds vaguely Gaelic.
First Kick Thoughts
So, how'd you enjoy First Kick 2009? I had a dinner out with friends instead, but the highlights I caught revealed few surprises. The Red Bulls back line is molasses and is going to rival the likes of DC, TFC, and LA for the most goals conceded this year. Osorio will dig up a Sudamericano "savior" in the summer, but he'll probably make things worse.
As for Seattle, the atmosphere looked great, but that's to be expected on opening night for an event so long hyped. Seattle's home kit looked predictably terrible, but it did match the grass nicely. So much so that the players often seemed camouflaged. Oh, and Fredy Montero may be an early Golden Boot candidate. The question becomes, how long does the honeymoon last? And what are the odds that they pull a TFC and travel poorly? What gaps will injuries reveal?
By the way, if you didn't catch the match, you could watch the replay on the new MLSNet.com Match Center Video (formerly MLSLive.tv), now streaming at double the bitrate (800k) and providing 130 regular season games plus playoff matches. They've got my $19.95 already, and I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl this weekend.
In more MLS news, Portland is going to make it a trifecta from the Pacific Northwest joining MLS over the next few years. The question becomes, how long does the East-West conference structure survive? Or will we be back to the three-conference structure? Maybe, just maybe, the time approaches when the single-table holy grail is to be achieved.
But all these new teams dredge up the specter of the talent vacuum I discussed yesterday. Will journeyman MLSers and young, talented collegians continue to bypass the league, leaving it bereft of the domestic talent whose development used to be one of its stated goals? One prime example was on display in the UEFA Cup yesterday as Marcus Tracy finally took his Aalborg bow, and seemingly performed pretty well against Manchester City.
Good news for the national team. Not so much for MLS.
What do you think? Is Seattle the real deal? Is MLSNet's video offering the biggest steal in streaming sports media (beyond Ustream.tv and Justin.tv)? Is MLS expanding too fast? Is there enough talent to pad the rosters? Happy to see Tracy have a good debut? Let's hear your comments below.
As for Seattle, the atmosphere looked great, but that's to be expected on opening night for an event so long hyped. Seattle's home kit looked predictably terrible, but it did match the grass nicely. So much so that the players often seemed camouflaged. Oh, and Fredy Montero may be an early Golden Boot candidate. The question becomes, how long does the honeymoon last? And what are the odds that they pull a TFC and travel poorly? What gaps will injuries reveal?
By the way, if you didn't catch the match, you could watch the replay on the new MLSNet.com Match Center Video (formerly MLSLive.tv), now streaming at double the bitrate (800k) and providing 130 regular season games plus playoff matches. They've got my $19.95 already, and I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl this weekend.
In more MLS news, Portland is going to make it a trifecta from the Pacific Northwest joining MLS over the next few years. The question becomes, how long does the East-West conference structure survive? Or will we be back to the three-conference structure? Maybe, just maybe, the time approaches when the single-table holy grail is to be achieved.
But all these new teams dredge up the specter of the talent vacuum I discussed yesterday. Will journeyman MLSers and young, talented collegians continue to bypass the league, leaving it bereft of the domestic talent whose development used to be one of its stated goals? One prime example was on display in the UEFA Cup yesterday as Marcus Tracy finally took his Aalborg bow, and seemingly performed pretty well against Manchester City.
Good news for the national team. Not so much for MLS.
What do you think? Is Seattle the real deal? Is MLSNet's video offering the biggest steal in streaming sports media (beyond Ustream.tv and Justin.tv)? Is MLS expanding too fast? Is there enough talent to pad the rosters? Happy to see Tracy have a good debut? Let's hear your comments below.
MLS Preview, Part III: The Final Reckoning
In Part I we broke down the East. Part II dealt with the West. Now we shuffle the deck and see how the single table might pan out. Analysis of each team's prospective fortunes is in the previous posts, so we won't rehash them. Instead, we'll focus on who makes the playoffs, and what happens once they're there.
Note that the playoff format is 2 + 2 this year, with the top two from each conference claiming the top two seeds in their half of the bracket. The next four spots are claimed by the highest finishers on the single table, with any excess from one conference spilling into the other's bracket, as the Red Bulls did last year.
Got it? Prognostication Helmets in place? Good. Let's do this thing.
2009 MLS Final Table
1. Real Salt Lake (W1)
2. Chicago Fire (E1)
3. Columbus Crew (E2)
4. Kansas City Wizards (E3)
5. San Jose Earthquakes (W2)
6. Houston Dynamo (W3)
7. New England Revolution (E4)
8. Toronto FC (W4 - from E5)
-----
9. Colorado Rapids
10. Los Angeles Galaxy
11. DC United
12. New York Red Bulls
13. FC Dallas
14. Seattle Sounders FC
15. Chivas USA
RSL claim the benefits of having more games against the weaker West to pip the crown in a three way race for the Supporters' Shield. United, the Gals, and the Crimson Cows fall away in the final weeks as the playoff field narrows leaving a three-way tussle for the final two spots, with Nicol's magic beans and DeRo's clutch scoring seeing the Revs and TFC edge out the Rapids, who collapse in spectacular fashion on the final day, to the surprise of absolutely nobody.
MLS Cup 2009
The Eastern bracket seems straightforward, with the top two, Chicago and Columbus looking good bets to advance. But a stingy Wiz defense takes the Crew to the wire before eventually giving up the ghost. The other first-round encounter, Revs-Fire, is awash in the usual bad blood and slew of red-cards. Somehow, the Revs find a miracle to knock off one of the favorites and advance to the Eastern Conference final. Unfortunately, the magic abandons them in Columbus, as the defending champs book their passage to Qwest Field.
The West is also a minefield, with RSL's regular season making them the clear favorites. However, their strength over 30 games is not the same as the do-or-die playoffs. In the first round, they do just enough to outlast a late TFC charge. In the Western Conference final, they square off against a Houston side that is peaking just in time for a playoff run. After beating their San Jose doppelgangers in a scrappy, defensive struggle, they frustrate the crowds at Rio Tinto once again and advance to the final.
In the final, the Dynamo go up early, only to be pegged back at the end of the first half. The second half is a stalemate until things begin to open up in the later stages. Unfortunately for Houston, they have no DeRo to pull a miracle out of the hat, and a late Schelotto free kick is bundled over the line. Columbus repeat as MLS Cup champions, whereupon Frankie Hejduk grabs a Seattle scarf from the crowd and proceeds to defile it in front of an aghast Qwest Field and his former boss, Sigi Schmidt.
So that's how I see things playing out. Given the Parity Police and the havoc that reduced rosters will play upon teams this year, I expect that I'll be mightily embarrassed when I revisit these posts in the fall. But such are the perils of MLS prognosticators. Have at it, dear readers. Lay out your playoff scenarios in the comments. Or failing that, at least give me your predictions for MLS Cup champion and the Supporters' Shield winner so that at least one of us (here's hoping!) will be able to gloat in November.
Note that the playoff format is 2 + 2 this year, with the top two from each conference claiming the top two seeds in their half of the bracket. The next four spots are claimed by the highest finishers on the single table, with any excess from one conference spilling into the other's bracket, as the Red Bulls did last year.
Got it? Prognostication Helmets in place? Good. Let's do this thing.
2009 MLS Final Table
1. Real Salt Lake (W1)
2. Chicago Fire (E1)
3. Columbus Crew (E2)
4. Kansas City Wizards (E3)
5. San Jose Earthquakes (W2)
6. Houston Dynamo (W3)
7. New England Revolution (E4)
8. Toronto FC (W4 - from E5)
-----
9. Colorado Rapids
10. Los Angeles Galaxy
11. DC United
12. New York Red Bulls
13. FC Dallas
14. Seattle Sounders FC
15. Chivas USA
RSL claim the benefits of having more games against the weaker West to pip the crown in a three way race for the Supporters' Shield. United, the Gals, and the Crimson Cows fall away in the final weeks as the playoff field narrows leaving a three-way tussle for the final two spots, with Nicol's magic beans and DeRo's clutch scoring seeing the Revs and TFC edge out the Rapids, who collapse in spectacular fashion on the final day, to the surprise of absolutely nobody.
MLS Cup 2009
The Eastern bracket seems straightforward, with the top two, Chicago and Columbus looking good bets to advance. But a stingy Wiz defense takes the Crew to the wire before eventually giving up the ghost. The other first-round encounter, Revs-Fire, is awash in the usual bad blood and slew of red-cards. Somehow, the Revs find a miracle to knock off one of the favorites and advance to the Eastern Conference final. Unfortunately, the magic abandons them in Columbus, as the defending champs book their passage to Qwest Field.
The West is also a minefield, with RSL's regular season making them the clear favorites. However, their strength over 30 games is not the same as the do-or-die playoffs. In the first round, they do just enough to outlast a late TFC charge. In the Western Conference final, they square off against a Houston side that is peaking just in time for a playoff run. After beating their San Jose doppelgangers in a scrappy, defensive struggle, they frustrate the crowds at Rio Tinto once again and advance to the final.
In the final, the Dynamo go up early, only to be pegged back at the end of the first half. The second half is a stalemate until things begin to open up in the later stages. Unfortunately for Houston, they have no DeRo to pull a miracle out of the hat, and a late Schelotto free kick is bundled over the line. Columbus repeat as MLS Cup champions, whereupon Frankie Hejduk grabs a Seattle scarf from the crowd and proceeds to defile it in front of an aghast Qwest Field and his former boss, Sigi Schmidt.
So that's how I see things playing out. Given the Parity Police and the havoc that reduced rosters will play upon teams this year, I expect that I'll be mightily embarrassed when I revisit these posts in the fall. But such are the perils of MLS prognosticators. Have at it, dear readers. Lay out your playoff scenarios in the comments. Or failing that, at least give me your predictions for MLS Cup champion and the Supporters' Shield winner so that at least one of us (here's hoping!) will be able to gloat in November.
Random Ankle Hacking
I've got a few idle thoughts pinging around the old noggin, so if you'll forgive this interruption of the MLS preview-fest . . .
When Advertising Turns Ironically Psychic?
Imagine the chuckles that ensued when a Google Ad for Soccer Charge performance supplement popped up in the feed for Soccer By Ives. Considering the ongoing inanity of Jon Conway's Quest For Amnesia!™ that's unfolding over on Ives' ranch, you've got to wonder what sort of eerie consciousness is arising as the Google-bots piece themselves together into Skynet. Ah well, at least our new Google-botian overlords have a sense of humor, right?
The Mothership has Landed!
Go on, explore. It's fun!
USL Fever, Catch It!
Well, holy crap. Now let's see if Puerto Rico can manage not to blow it like their Canadian cousins so spectacularly did in the last round. And do my eyes deceive me? Former United forward Nicholas Addlery's name seems to be popping up on CONCACRAP scoresheets quite a bit for PR. Huh. Who'd a thunk it?
Blood From a Stone?
Twenty? Twenty teams, Don? By 2012? Really? So you've shrunk the rosters to prohibit the development of younger players in the league, many of the better college prospects and journeyman MLS guys you're nickel-diming on contracts are looking for a Euro-payday, and
you're going to nearly double the size of the league over the course of five years? Yeah, good luck with maintaining quality of play in such a shallow talent pool. Better up the international slots, eh? Screw that "developing young US players" angle. There's gold in them thar hills!
What's that, you're abandoning natural grass in soccer-specific stadiums too? Oy vey!
When Advertising Turns Ironically Psychic?
Imagine the chuckles that ensued when a Google Ad for Soccer Charge performance supplement popped up in the feed for Soccer By Ives. Considering the ongoing inanity of Jon Conway's Quest For Amnesia!™ that's unfolding over on Ives' ranch, you've got to wonder what sort of eerie consciousness is arising as the Google-bots piece themselves together into Skynet. Ah well, at least our new Google-botian overlords have a sense of humor, right?
The Mothership has Landed!
Go on, explore. It's fun!
USL Fever, Catch It!
Well, holy crap. Now let's see if Puerto Rico can manage not to blow it like their Canadian cousins so spectacularly did in the last round. And do my eyes deceive me? Former United forward Nicholas Addlery's name seems to be popping up on CONCACRAP scoresheets quite a bit for PR. Huh. Who'd a thunk it?
Blood From a Stone?
Twenty? Twenty teams, Don? By 2012? Really? So you've shrunk the rosters to prohibit the development of younger players in the league, many of the better college prospects and journeyman MLS guys you're nickel-diming on contracts are looking for a Euro-payday, and
you're going to nearly double the size of the league over the course of five years? Yeah, good luck with maintaining quality of play in such a shallow talent pool. Better up the international slots, eh? Screw that "developing young US players" angle. There's gold in them thar hills!
What's that, you're abandoning natural grass in soccer-specific stadiums too? Oy vey!
MLS Preview, Part II: The Race to the Bottom
In Part I of this series, we took a look at how I though the Eastern Conference might pan out. It's time now to pack our bags and head out west . . .
Perhaps I'm touched by a bit of east coast bias here, but let me lay my cards on the table. While I did lay out a few doomsday scenarios for various clubs in the East, it's also my contention that any of the seven teams could potentially put things together to make a run at the crown. In the West, I see far fewer potential success stories and a great preponderance of crash-and-burn, "Oh, the humanity!", chuck a virgin in the volcano, pray for a messiah type trainwrecks littering the landscape. So, who takes the crown amidst the debris?
1. Real Salt Lake - The Real Deal?
New stadium. Solid core of players. They were only a step away from the final last year. Can Kreis take RSL to the next level? If they were in the East, I wouldn't be so sure. But the West is a shallower pool, and I see them being the steadiest ship in dicey waters. Still, the potential is there for this to be a side that controls games, is solid at the back, but doesn't have that go-to guy that'll finish the key chances. Too many draws or losses in games they dominate might throw a speed bump down in their path.
But where to next? I see a trio of teams that look to be in decent shape to challenge for playoff spots. I don't think any of them will be a threat to be a dominant team in the league, but if they catch fire at the right time, a strong playoff run may be on the cards. Mix and match them how you will, but I'll call it like this . . .
2. San Jose Earthquakes - Are We Out of Beta Yet?
Yallop's charges took a while to get out of the blocks last year, but when they did, they went on a tear that almost saw them sneak in through the back door to the playoffs. Despite that failure, there is a decent core to build around--and build they have. While some of the talent may be unproven in MLS, they've got one of the best keepers in the league, a solid defense, some quality in midfield, and potential up top. Like RSL, they may lack the go-to guy that's going to grab the important goals, but they've got some midfielders with that kind of trick in their bag.
3. Houston Dynamo - StuHo = DeRo?
The Dynamo are a strong side, but they've lost more than just DeRo this offseason. They'll still win more than their fair share of games, but will StuHo (Stuart Holden) be able to grab games by the scruff of the neck and pull out results for the Dynamo? Doubtful. Also, between qualifiers, the Gold Cup, and the Confederations Cup, some important guys may be missing some significant time this summer. Still, the fixture congestion won't be as bad this time around, and Kinnear boasts a solid core of players returning from one of the strongest sides in MLS over the last three years. That should be enough for a playoff run.
4. Colorado Rapids - Rocky Mountain Blackburn?
Rounding out our top four are the solid, if unspectacular, Rapids. Yes, yes, I know that's supposed to be "Rocky Mountain Arsenal," but it looks to me like Gary Smith is excising the flair and going for the grit. While it may not provide for play that is great to watch, it will probably prove effective enough to keep the Rapids solidly in the middle of the pack. A key addition or two to provide a mid-season boost, and perhaps they've got a chance to make some post-season noise.
So that takes care of the sides that should have reasonable expectations of decent seasons. What about the rest of this lot? Well, therein lies a potential tale of woe. I'm not so brazen as to think none of them might actually come out of the MLS summer oven looking scrumptious, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they'll either be charred to a crisp or not cooked the whole way through. It's hard to say which will prove the most spectacular disappointment, but I'm going to go way out on my prophetic limb and pick a surprise leader for this ragged pack . . .
5. Los Angeles Galaxy - Golden Bail Out?
WHAT!?! I know, I know. They're going to be terrible, right? But have you had a look at what else is piled up around then down here? Look, Arena isn't dumb. He's got a solid array of decent, if ancient, veterans. If (big if!) Kapitan Kissypants stays happy and in town, and if (again with the speculation) Golden Balls either bails entirely (thus freeing some cash) or comes to really play, the Gals might actually win a few games. I know that they're rickety as hell at the back, but if they bang them in like they did last year and manage even the slightest defensive improvement, they'll be in playoff contention when we come down the stretch in the fall.
6. FC Dallas - Coop, There He Goes!
Ummm . . . sorry about that. Pretty bad, eh? Regardless, Dallas' chances pretty much boil down to that unfortunate turn of phrase. Will Kenny Cooper be around come the fall? If so, Dallas may have an outside chance. That said, I'm not much convinced that Hyndman knows what he's doing out there, though that seems to be pretty much their FO's calling card. And have you seen what they're going to be fielding as a defense? Coop and Cunningham better be banging them in is all I'm saying.
7. Seattle Sounders - Thud!
That sound (no more puns, please!) you just heard was the sweet audio goodness of limitless ambition meeting MLS expansion reality. Yes, the crowds will come. Yes, they boast some attacking promise. And yes, like all expansion sides, they'll struggle to get organized, both at the back, and when it comes to fashioning chances. Brand new teams need time to gel. Having Sigi at the helm helps, but it won't be enough. Will the crowds still be around by the time the team has managed to knit together?
8. Chivas USA - Goat Stew, Anyone?
This is a bit like the Galaxy pick, way out there at the edge of the prognostication cliff. Chivas did, after all, finish second in the West last year. But they've hemorrhaged some significant talent this off-season. Couple that to the uncertainty surrounding their one real star, Sacha Kljestan, who will probably miss significant time to national team call-ups and may be out the door come the summer transfer window, and you've got a recipe that comes out tasting significantly like disaster. Plus, their website crashed my browser, causing me to lose half of this post, and the spirit of retribution is upon me like a holy fire. Take that!
So there you have it. The Fullbackian Prognostication Engine has vomited up its dross. Now it's your turn. What do you think of my picks? How do you see the West turning out?
Next time out, we'll take the two conference predictions, mash them together into a single table (the way God intended it . . . joking! . . . kind of), and make some bold claims about how the MLS Cup playoffs are going to proceed. See you then.
Perhaps I'm touched by a bit of east coast bias here, but let me lay my cards on the table. While I did lay out a few doomsday scenarios for various clubs in the East, it's also my contention that any of the seven teams could potentially put things together to make a run at the crown. In the West, I see far fewer potential success stories and a great preponderance of crash-and-burn, "Oh, the humanity!", chuck a virgin in the volcano, pray for a messiah type trainwrecks littering the landscape. So, who takes the crown amidst the debris?
1. Real Salt Lake - The Real Deal?
New stadium. Solid core of players. They were only a step away from the final last year. Can Kreis take RSL to the next level? If they were in the East, I wouldn't be so sure. But the West is a shallower pool, and I see them being the steadiest ship in dicey waters. Still, the potential is there for this to be a side that controls games, is solid at the back, but doesn't have that go-to guy that'll finish the key chances. Too many draws or losses in games they dominate might throw a speed bump down in their path.
But where to next? I see a trio of teams that look to be in decent shape to challenge for playoff spots. I don't think any of them will be a threat to be a dominant team in the league, but if they catch fire at the right time, a strong playoff run may be on the cards. Mix and match them how you will, but I'll call it like this . . .
2. San Jose Earthquakes - Are We Out of Beta Yet?
Yallop's charges took a while to get out of the blocks last year, but when they did, they went on a tear that almost saw them sneak in through the back door to the playoffs. Despite that failure, there is a decent core to build around--and build they have. While some of the talent may be unproven in MLS, they've got one of the best keepers in the league, a solid defense, some quality in midfield, and potential up top. Like RSL, they may lack the go-to guy that's going to grab the important goals, but they've got some midfielders with that kind of trick in their bag.
3. Houston Dynamo - StuHo = DeRo?
The Dynamo are a strong side, but they've lost more than just DeRo this offseason. They'll still win more than their fair share of games, but will StuHo (Stuart Holden) be able to grab games by the scruff of the neck and pull out results for the Dynamo? Doubtful. Also, between qualifiers, the Gold Cup, and the Confederations Cup, some important guys may be missing some significant time this summer. Still, the fixture congestion won't be as bad this time around, and Kinnear boasts a solid core of players returning from one of the strongest sides in MLS over the last three years. That should be enough for a playoff run.
4. Colorado Rapids - Rocky Mountain Blackburn?
Rounding out our top four are the solid, if unspectacular, Rapids. Yes, yes, I know that's supposed to be "Rocky Mountain Arsenal," but it looks to me like Gary Smith is excising the flair and going for the grit. While it may not provide for play that is great to watch, it will probably prove effective enough to keep the Rapids solidly in the middle of the pack. A key addition or two to provide a mid-season boost, and perhaps they've got a chance to make some post-season noise.
So that takes care of the sides that should have reasonable expectations of decent seasons. What about the rest of this lot? Well, therein lies a potential tale of woe. I'm not so brazen as to think none of them might actually come out of the MLS summer oven looking scrumptious, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they'll either be charred to a crisp or not cooked the whole way through. It's hard to say which will prove the most spectacular disappointment, but I'm going to go way out on my prophetic limb and pick a surprise leader for this ragged pack . . .
5. Los Angeles Galaxy - Golden Bail Out?
WHAT!?! I know, I know. They're going to be terrible, right? But have you had a look at what else is piled up around then down here? Look, Arena isn't dumb. He's got a solid array of decent, if ancient, veterans. If (big if!) Kapitan Kissypants stays happy and in town, and if (again with the speculation) Golden Balls either bails entirely (thus freeing some cash) or comes to really play, the Gals might actually win a few games. I know that they're rickety as hell at the back, but if they bang them in like they did last year and manage even the slightest defensive improvement, they'll be in playoff contention when we come down the stretch in the fall.
6. FC Dallas - Coop, There He Goes!
Ummm . . . sorry about that. Pretty bad, eh? Regardless, Dallas' chances pretty much boil down to that unfortunate turn of phrase. Will Kenny Cooper be around come the fall? If so, Dallas may have an outside chance. That said, I'm not much convinced that Hyndman knows what he's doing out there, though that seems to be pretty much their FO's calling card. And have you seen what they're going to be fielding as a defense? Coop and Cunningham better be banging them in is all I'm saying.
7. Seattle Sounders - Thud!
That sound (no more puns, please!) you just heard was the sweet audio goodness of limitless ambition meeting MLS expansion reality. Yes, the crowds will come. Yes, they boast some attacking promise. And yes, like all expansion sides, they'll struggle to get organized, both at the back, and when it comes to fashioning chances. Brand new teams need time to gel. Having Sigi at the helm helps, but it won't be enough. Will the crowds still be around by the time the team has managed to knit together?
8. Chivas USA - Goat Stew, Anyone?
This is a bit like the Galaxy pick, way out there at the edge of the prognostication cliff. Chivas did, after all, finish second in the West last year. But they've hemorrhaged some significant talent this off-season. Couple that to the uncertainty surrounding their one real star, Sacha Kljestan, who will probably miss significant time to national team call-ups and may be out the door come the summer transfer window, and you've got a recipe that comes out tasting significantly like disaster. Plus, their website crashed my browser, causing me to lose half of this post, and the spirit of retribution is upon me like a holy fire. Take that!
So there you have it. The Fullbackian Prognostication Engine has vomited up its dross. Now it's your turn. What do you think of my picks? How do you see the West turning out?
Next time out, we'll take the two conference predictions, mash them together into a single table (the way God intended it . . . joking! . . . kind of), and make some bold claims about how the MLS Cup playoffs are going to proceed. See you then.
MLS Preview, Part I: Beasts of the East
It's time, once again, to stick my neck out where it doesn't belong and fire up the trusty old Prognostication Engine. We'll begin our journey through the MLS Season-to-Come with a look at the Eastern Conference . . .
Last year, the East was a dominant force, claiming five of the eight playoff spots. Then the fifth-placed side in the East, the Red Bulls, displaced to the Western half of the playoff bracket, managed to take all comers and advance to MLS Cup. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the West, but probably an indication of a trend that looks likely to continue this year.
First, let's get the obvious out of the way. The Parity Police pretty much guarantee that things are going to be close, and if anybody, and I do mean anybody, suffers a couple of keys injuries, they may be left foundering by the wayside. With that said, there are three teams with strong, settled defenses, but there are only two that boast measurably deeper rosters than the rest, Chicago and Columbus. But who gets the nod between the two?
1. Chicago Fire - Burn, Baby Burn!
Chicago's defense gets them the nod over the Crew. Sure they've got a couple of aging vets leading the attack, but these were never guys that relied upon speed. Besides, they've got a cadre of young, quick attackers to field around them. Pair that with as solid a defense as MLS can boast, and you've got my pre-season favorites not just for the East, but probably the whole shebang as well. Fingers crossed, United fans, that such predictions fell Chicago much as they did DC last year.
2. Columbus Crew - Crewzin!
The returning champs have lost a decent young midfielder and their coach, but return much the same crew (punnery alert!) that raided the league trophy cabinet last year. That said, I think they're more vulnerable to injury than the Fire are. Similarly, I don't think their attack or defense are quite as strong as Chicago. Add in the fact that they won't be sneaking up on anybody this year, and 2009 may prove a tougher nut to crack than 2008. Still, they are a solid side, back to front, and should have enough about them to easily qualify for the playoffs.
Way to step out on a limb, big guy!
Alright, so I don't think I'd get much argument on the top two. Perhaps some might put the Crew above the Fire, but I think those two are clearly the class of the East. But where to go behind them? It's pretty much a crap-shoot, as the remaining five teams all have questions surrounding vital areas of the team. Will KC find any consistent scoring? How much will the loss of Parkhurst and Twellers' continuing injury troubles rock the Revs? Can TFC, NY, and DC keep the goals out long enough to score a few of their own? With those troubling issues in mind, I'll nominate the teams that have the most settled defenses to win out over the long haul.
3. Kansas City Wizards - How Thin is Too Thin?
There are two big questions that need to be addressed if KC are going to maintain this lofty perch. #1: Can they remain healthy? KC look really thin and/or really young in a lot of places, so a few key injuries might impact them more than other sides. #2: Can they find the goals? KC needs consistent scoring to boost them from playoff scrapper to comfortable qualification.
4. New England Revolution - I'm Givin' Her All She's Got, Captain!
Yes, the loss of Parkhurst will have a big impact. Yes, Twellman's injury woes will be a handicap. But Twellman is always injured, and the Revs do have some guys that might step into the Parkhurstian void. I'm not claiming they're going to be a dominant force as in years past, but Nicol, in true "Scotty" fashion, always manages to pull a rabbit out of the hat and keep the old wreck rolling on dental floss, bubblegum, and little to no financial backing.
The final three all look to be in the same, slowly leaking old barge. All can boast a nice array of attacking weaponry, but start to look more and more a shambles as you progress towards the back line. Sure, they'll make things exciting with lots of goals, but more than their fair share will be goals against. Can any of them find the solidity to make a sustained playoff run? Probably all of them can. But far be it from me to pick which one. So I'll just stick my finger in the wind and go with . . .
5. Toronto FC - Home, Sweet Home! (Eh?)
The Liverpool wannabes are still scrambling to fill the defensive void, but even if they can't, they'll still boast the benefit of some strong home cooking and a dynamic attacking midfield to boot. I do wonder if the sentiment of the support might finally turn at Fortress BMO if TFC can't manage to make a sustained playoff push this year. Maybe Liverpool might not be the most apt comparison. How about Newcastle?
6. DC United - United They Fall?
Yes, yes. Perhaps there's a little bit of homer-ism going on here by keeping United out of the basement, but I'm going to do a little bit of extended prognostication. United will struggle mightily in the early going, shipping goals in mind-boggling numbers and causing major FO shakeups. But the summer will bring the acquisition of a stabilizing presence on the back line. Never too far out of the picture, United rallies, even closing on a playoff position, before the CONCACRAP Champions' League rears its ugly mug and age catches up with them.
7. New York Red Bulls - Tinker Toys?
Osorio's rep as a tinkerman continues with a massive off-season revamp of last year's surprise MLS Cup finalists. The trouble is, I'm not certain that the changes will pay off. Yes, they've brought in some foreign vets, but we saw how well that worked out for DC last year, didn't we? Similarly, they've added speed, but what about speed at the back? Oh, there will be goals. I'm just not certain that Osorio is going to be liking which net the majority end up in.
Okay, so that's the way I see the East. What do you think? Got a beef with my lineup? Want to share your own? Feel free. That's what the comments are for, people!
Tomorrow, we'll head West, for a look at how the mighty Prognostication Engine predicts things will pan out.
No, that was most definitely not a Gold Rush pun. Honestly!
Last year, the East was a dominant force, claiming five of the eight playoff spots. Then the fifth-placed side in the East, the Red Bulls, displaced to the Western half of the playoff bracket, managed to take all comers and advance to MLS Cup. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the West, but probably an indication of a trend that looks likely to continue this year.
First, let's get the obvious out of the way. The Parity Police pretty much guarantee that things are going to be close, and if anybody, and I do mean anybody, suffers a couple of keys injuries, they may be left foundering by the wayside. With that said, there are three teams with strong, settled defenses, but there are only two that boast measurably deeper rosters than the rest, Chicago and Columbus. But who gets the nod between the two?
1. Chicago Fire - Burn, Baby Burn!
Chicago's defense gets them the nod over the Crew. Sure they've got a couple of aging vets leading the attack, but these were never guys that relied upon speed. Besides, they've got a cadre of young, quick attackers to field around them. Pair that with as solid a defense as MLS can boast, and you've got my pre-season favorites not just for the East, but probably the whole shebang as well. Fingers crossed, United fans, that such predictions fell Chicago much as they did DC last year.
2. Columbus Crew - Crewzin!
The returning champs have lost a decent young midfielder and their coach, but return much the same crew (punnery alert!) that raided the league trophy cabinet last year. That said, I think they're more vulnerable to injury than the Fire are. Similarly, I don't think their attack or defense are quite as strong as Chicago. Add in the fact that they won't be sneaking up on anybody this year, and 2009 may prove a tougher nut to crack than 2008. Still, they are a solid side, back to front, and should have enough about them to easily qualify for the playoffs.
Way to step out on a limb, big guy!
Alright, so I don't think I'd get much argument on the top two. Perhaps some might put the Crew above the Fire, but I think those two are clearly the class of the East. But where to go behind them? It's pretty much a crap-shoot, as the remaining five teams all have questions surrounding vital areas of the team. Will KC find any consistent scoring? How much will the loss of Parkhurst and Twellers' continuing injury troubles rock the Revs? Can TFC, NY, and DC keep the goals out long enough to score a few of their own? With those troubling issues in mind, I'll nominate the teams that have the most settled defenses to win out over the long haul.
3. Kansas City Wizards - How Thin is Too Thin?
There are two big questions that need to be addressed if KC are going to maintain this lofty perch. #1: Can they remain healthy? KC look really thin and/or really young in a lot of places, so a few key injuries might impact them more than other sides. #2: Can they find the goals? KC needs consistent scoring to boost them from playoff scrapper to comfortable qualification.
4. New England Revolution - I'm Givin' Her All She's Got, Captain!
Yes, the loss of Parkhurst will have a big impact. Yes, Twellman's injury woes will be a handicap. But Twellman is always injured, and the Revs do have some guys that might step into the Parkhurstian void. I'm not claiming they're going to be a dominant force as in years past, but Nicol, in true "Scotty" fashion, always manages to pull a rabbit out of the hat and keep the old wreck rolling on dental floss, bubblegum, and little to no financial backing.
The final three all look to be in the same, slowly leaking old barge. All can boast a nice array of attacking weaponry, but start to look more and more a shambles as you progress towards the back line. Sure, they'll make things exciting with lots of goals, but more than their fair share will be goals against. Can any of them find the solidity to make a sustained playoff run? Probably all of them can. But far be it from me to pick which one. So I'll just stick my finger in the wind and go with . . .
5. Toronto FC - Home, Sweet Home! (Eh?)
The Liverpool wannabes are still scrambling to fill the defensive void, but even if they can't, they'll still boast the benefit of some strong home cooking and a dynamic attacking midfield to boot. I do wonder if the sentiment of the support might finally turn at Fortress BMO if TFC can't manage to make a sustained playoff push this year. Maybe Liverpool might not be the most apt comparison. How about Newcastle?
6. DC United - United They Fall?
Yes, yes. Perhaps there's a little bit of homer-ism going on here by keeping United out of the basement, but I'm going to do a little bit of extended prognostication. United will struggle mightily in the early going, shipping goals in mind-boggling numbers and causing major FO shakeups. But the summer will bring the acquisition of a stabilizing presence on the back line. Never too far out of the picture, United rallies, even closing on a playoff position, before the CONCACRAP Champions' League rears its ugly mug and age catches up with them.
7. New York Red Bulls - Tinker Toys?
Osorio's rep as a tinkerman continues with a massive off-season revamp of last year's surprise MLS Cup finalists. The trouble is, I'm not certain that the changes will pay off. Yes, they've brought in some foreign vets, but we saw how well that worked out for DC last year, didn't we? Similarly, they've added speed, but what about speed at the back? Oh, there will be goals. I'm just not certain that Osorio is going to be liking which net the majority end up in.
Okay, so that's the way I see the East. What do you think? Got a beef with my lineup? Want to share your own? Feel free. That's what the comments are for, people!
Tomorrow, we'll head West, for a look at how the mighty Prognostication Engine predicts things will pan out.
No, that was most definitely not a Gold Rush pun. Honestly!
Monday Back-Pass: Hello, Dagger-Ball?
It's time for a look back at the weekend that was, including DC United's last pre-season friendly, MLS's role in youth player development, and Liverpool's shocking 4-1 win at Old Trafford.
Take That, USL!
After a couple of disappointing outings in Charleston, United managed to get a positive result against the hometown Battery, downing the hosts 2-0 in United's final pre-season encounter. All eyes now turn to this coming Sunday, when the Black and Red travel to La-La land to face Kapitan Kissypants and the Beckham-less Gals.
Though injury concerns will raise questions as to who starts the match against LA, another consideration will be what formation Tommy decides to run out. After suffering a match and a half of sub-par play in a 4-4-2, the switch to 3-5-2 resulted in a strong second half against TFC and a victory over the Battery. Might we see more of the same in LA?
Different Strokes for Different Folks?
Brent Latham has an interesting piece over on Yanks Abroad about the role of MLS in US youth player development. His conclusion is to allow clubs more freedom when it comes to roster limits. The salary cap would remain in place, but clubs would have the option, for example, of signing five promising youngsters to decent ($40k) contracts, rather than a single veteran at $200k without having to worry about a 24-player limit. This would give clubs a choice of roster strategies. Do they bring in, and develop, a raft of kids hoping for a gem, or do they pursue the proven contributors?
Despite his use of "the MLS" and the presence of some guy named "Luciano Emiliano" in his column, I'm on board with this idea. In fact, you could take his baseball "wide net and minor leagues" analogy a step further by expanding the use of season-long loans for guys who might not get significant MLS minutes and/or partnership/feeder agreements between MLS and USL clubs. Won't somebody think of the children?
Not So Fast, You Devils!
Liverpool's shocker at Old Trafford raises all manner of questions. Are Manchester United going to run away with the Prem after all? Might Rafa's Reds reel them in? Given his stated mission of taking Liverpool down a peg or six, just how much of bloodbath is Ferguson going to leave in the locker room and on the training pitch this week? Was it all Rooney's fault?
With a game in hand and a four point lead, United are still relatively comfortable, but questions will hover around confidence and momentum. Liverpool will take great heart from the victory, but their problem this season hasn't been against their "big four" rivals, it's been the lack of cutting edge against the lesser sides in the Prem. And if any team have the resiliency to bounce back undeterred, it's United. What may be of significance is the performance of Vidic, normally so steady in defense for United. Can he regain his form to ensure the march for five (or six, or however many trophies are on offer) stays alive?
(God, I hope not!)
The Week Ahead
I thought I'd add this addendum to the Back-Pass wherein we look at what's coming up this week on FBF. Perhaps we'll call it the "Through-Ball"? Or maybe the "Dagger-Ball," in deference to Ray. Whatever the case, here's a bit of a roadmap for the week ahead.
Take That, USL!
After a couple of disappointing outings in Charleston, United managed to get a positive result against the hometown Battery, downing the hosts 2-0 in United's final pre-season encounter. All eyes now turn to this coming Sunday, when the Black and Red travel to La-La land to face Kapitan Kissypants and the Beckham-less Gals.
Though injury concerns will raise questions as to who starts the match against LA, another consideration will be what formation Tommy decides to run out. After suffering a match and a half of sub-par play in a 4-4-2, the switch to 3-5-2 resulted in a strong second half against TFC and a victory over the Battery. Might we see more of the same in LA?
Different Strokes for Different Folks?
Brent Latham has an interesting piece over on Yanks Abroad about the role of MLS in US youth player development. His conclusion is to allow clubs more freedom when it comes to roster limits. The salary cap would remain in place, but clubs would have the option, for example, of signing five promising youngsters to decent ($40k) contracts, rather than a single veteran at $200k without having to worry about a 24-player limit. This would give clubs a choice of roster strategies. Do they bring in, and develop, a raft of kids hoping for a gem, or do they pursue the proven contributors?
Despite his use of "the MLS" and the presence of some guy named "Luciano Emiliano" in his column, I'm on board with this idea. In fact, you could take his baseball "wide net and minor leagues" analogy a step further by expanding the use of season-long loans for guys who might not get significant MLS minutes and/or partnership/feeder agreements between MLS and USL clubs. Won't somebody think of the children?
Not So Fast, You Devils!
Liverpool's shocker at Old Trafford raises all manner of questions. Are Manchester United going to run away with the Prem after all? Might Rafa's Reds reel them in? Given his stated mission of taking Liverpool down a peg or six, just how much of bloodbath is Ferguson going to leave in the locker room and on the training pitch this week? Was it all Rooney's fault?
With a game in hand and a four point lead, United are still relatively comfortable, but questions will hover around confidence and momentum. Liverpool will take great heart from the victory, but their problem this season hasn't been against their "big four" rivals, it's been the lack of cutting edge against the lesser sides in the Prem. And if any team have the resiliency to bounce back undeterred, it's United. What may be of significance is the performance of Vidic, normally so steady in defense for United. Can he regain his form to ensure the march for five (or six, or however many trophies are on offer) stays alive?
(God, I hope not!)
The Week Ahead
I thought I'd add this addendum to the Back-Pass wherein we look at what's coming up this week on FBF. Perhaps we'll call it the "Through-Ball"? Or maybe the "Dagger-Ball," in deference to Ray. Whatever the case, here's a bit of a roadmap for the week ahead.
- We'll kick off the week with a consultation of my Mighty Prognostication Engine to see how things might shake out in MLS this year.
- Later in the week, I'll take a stab at figuring out how I want to do United match previews this year as we look ahead to the game against the Gals.
- And throughout, I'll be making minor tweaks to the design of the site. So I ask your pardon in advance for any unsightly browser wounds I may inflict.
Catfight!
So, Kapitan Kissypants has returned from his Euro-adventure, and apparently, he's in a bitchy mood. Witness his reaction to Becks' "time share" move (via SI.com) . . .
Oh dear! Better hide the women and children, I sense an epic catfight on the horizon.
"That isn't a decision I would take," Donovan said. "I personally wouldn't feel it would be fair to this team to show up midseason and have to try to integrate. I would want to be here from the beginning."
Oh dear! Better hide the women and children, I sense an epic catfight on the horizon.
The Roster . . . Refined!
At long last, it seems that the pre-season pilgrimage has ended with the naming of the final 24-man roster. For your consideration . . .
1. (I) Crayton, GK
2. Wicks, GK
3. (I) Jakovic, D
4. Janicki, D
2. Wicks, GK
3. (I) Jakovic, D
4. Janicki, D
5. Namoff, D
6. Peters, D7. Burch, D/M
8. McTavish, D/M
9. (I) Fred, M
10. Jacobson, M
10. Jacobson, M
11. Olsen, M
12. Simms, M
12. Simms, M
13. (I) Gomez, M/F
14. Khumalo, M/F
14. Khumalo, M/F
15. Pontius M/F
16. Quaranta, M/F
17. (I) Emilio, F
18. Moreno, F
19. (I) Doe, F
20. (I) N'Silu, F
21. (I) Kocic
20. (I) N'Silu, F
21. (I) Kocic
22. (GA) Wallace, D/M
23. Miller, D/M
24. Barklage, M/F
Of course, that's assuming we actually sign Wicks to a senior roster deal, an assumption that I'm making based on the fact that Thorpe has been let go. You have to wonder what was wrong with Platter that we're bringing in a guy who wasn't even projected to make the LA senior roster, and who looked god-awful for them last year in limited minutes. Were the Thunder asking for a transfer fee? Did El Disco want to many pesos?
Also, I do still wonder about Khumalo. I'm assuming he has a green card, but if he doesn't, could this be a possible reason that Barklage beat out Danso (ie. no more international spots)? Given our continued demonstration of defensive frailties, it's no wonder that we brought Danso back in for a look. Maybe the developmental roster is not final yet? Regardless, such changes won't make or break our depth, so let's take our current roster and project a starting and second-team XI, at least for the beginning of the season, shall we? Starters (sticking fingers in ears and whistling while ignoring injuries) . . .
-----Moreno------Emilio-----
-----------Gomez------------
---Fred------------Quaranta-
-----------Simms------------
-Burch---------------Namoff-
------Jakovic---Janicki-----
----------Crayton-----------
I'm not sure which side of central defense Jakovic and Janicki will occupy, but I'm pretty certain that these are your starters to begin with. The narrow diamond in midfield enables Fred and Quaranta to follow their natural inclination to drift inside and allows Gomez more offensive freedom as they cover for him defensively. The big weakness is that such a midfield requires fullbacks bombing up the flanks. Namoff can do this, though I'd like to see better crossing from him and better recovery speed, while Burch doesn't seem to me to be an ideal fit at all. He would seem to slot in better behind a traditional wide midfielder. Wallace, on the other hand? Yeah, that's a bit more to my liking, assuming the kid pans out. As for the second team . . .
-------Doe------N'Silu------
-Pontius------------Khumalo-
------Jacobson--Olsen-------
-Wallace-------------Miller-
------McTavish--Peters------
--------Wicks/Kocic---------
Of course, there are other permutations and combinations, but with the players left over, I think this formation works best. Pontius and Khumalo are much wider and higher than in the previous formation, while Olsen and Jacobson sit deeper and try to control possession, springing attacks up the flank and delivering more direct supply to the physical forward line. The question is: will Tommy experiment and swap formations? Potentially, we've got the horses to adapt to a variety of frameworks, but I'm still not convinced that the braintrust has the tactical acumen to carry it out. We shall see.
Line-by-line assessment?
Goalkeepers - Crayton's a good starter, even if a bit eccentric. As for depth? Uh . . . fingers crossed that Kocic learns quickly?
Defense - We've got fair numbers, but much of it is unproven (Janicki, Jakovic, Peters, Wallace) or inconsistent (Burch, McTavish). The only thing we can count on is Namoff at right back. It's hard to bank on potential, and so many new pieces mean a tough couple of months spent on a steep learning curve. In other words . . . enjoy the tailgate!
Midfield - Not wide enough, but we've got quality depth assuming that Jacobson isn't another Dyachenko and Olsen can log serious minutes. Pontius could be a pleasant surprise, but he's another attack-minded mid. Where are the worker bees? Simms better stay healthy.
Forwards - We've got a lot of starting quality and some young promise in Doe and potentially Pontius. N'Silu is an x-factor. But our starters are not quick and will rely upon possession and good service from midfield. I have no doubts that the likes of Quaranta, Fred, Olsen, and Gomez can set the table, but do we have the ball-winners to ensure solid possession?
Overall - Tough to say at this point. I wonder if the team will have a split personality between the technical boys of yesteryear who want to get the ball down and control play, and the more hurly-burly, physical, "take the game to them" approach we seem to be tending towards. Potentially, a good coach would be able to blend the two effectively, but can Tommy?
Well, let's hear it. Who's in your starting XI? Are you confident in this group of players? Wonder if this is the best set of coaches to get them to the promised land? Do you think we're done "refining" or will the summer bring more changes? Is this a "rebuilding" year?
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