So, does anybody think that Kevin Payne can smell the coffee yet? It's been about a month to a month and a half (at the very least) since the rest of North America conceded that United were never going to make the playoffs. Which is not to say that the team is completely hopeless. Indeed, in most phases of the game, United matched a very good RSL side.
The big problem? In the phases that matter most in the game of soccer—scoring goals and keeping them out—DC United flat out sucks. Ergo, the wrong side of a 3-0.
Tell me, how much is it again that we pay Perkins? And for that matter...remember what we gave up in order to pay him as much as we do? Can we agree that Hamid should start the rest of the season? Sure he'll make mistakes born of youth, but he'll also make saves and benefit from the experience, and that's more than you can say for Perkins at the moment. I still think Perkins might crawl out the other end of this nightmare and still be a reasonable MLS keeper. But that's all he is, and anybody who thinks any different...is probably in the DC United front office (buh-dum-dum, I'll be here all week folks!).
Of course, he had a back line arrayed ahead of him that should probably be plying its trade a division lower (James excepted...perhaps), so that didn't help matters. Another one to lay at the feet of both FO and training staff (who may have lost another couple of soldiers today). Anybody seen that infamous letter from the ownership promising accountability?
Anybody? Anybody? Beuler?
You know what? I was going to add a whole riff here about some of the promising attacking play but pathetic lack of speed and quality and runs that might benefit from said play, but it all seems so pointless. It's the same riff, week in and week out. We're toothless. Hernandez and Boskovic both look like they can contribute, given time, but we have nothing up top to take advantage of their contributions, and, more importantly, we have no time left for those contributions to matter, save perhaps in the Open Cup (Hello Egg Deployment Team, there's your rather small and ragged basket. Have at it!).
Watching Simms limp off and Tino tweak his ankle in the dying minutes, watching Talley labor to haul his ancient ass around the pitch and then bitch at the refs like it's their fault he's slow and mis-times tackles, wondering that a seventeen year old is the thing most worth watching on this miserable trainwreck, pitying Jaime that he's past it and that he has to bow out like this after such a tremendous career...it's all more comedy than tragedy now, and we're getting our just desserts for mocking the misery of the Crimson Cows last year. Painful as it may seem, we should emulate their model this off-season, if not earlier...
Let some big heads roll. Excise the dead wood as deep as the blade will cut and burn the lot of it. Accountability time is past due and so is the headsman.
Anybody think he'll show?
Me neither.
Ugh.
WTF MLS?
Can someone please explain to me how Justin Braun, who has been in tremendous form for a terrible Chivas side (6 goals, 3 assists, and consistently making highlight-worthy plays) gets snubbed for the All Stars? In favor of who? Kasey Keller, who I'm sure is hurting without that bonus check and has consistently been making highlight reels for a series of high-profile mistakes? Freddie Ljungberg? Robbie Rogers? Really?
Pathetic.
Pathetic.
MLS Table Talk | Back on Trial
The Table Talk column did some yeoman work for FBF last year, but it never drummed up much conversation or traffic. I don't know if it'll do any different this year, but I've decided to allow it back for a couple of weeks—a trial if you will—and we'll see how it goes. So...
We've got a rather well defined trio of leaders, with LA well in front and the Crew and RSL trailing within striking distance. The usual logjam is arranged behind them, though its numbers are not so great as in years past. Six teams are currently in the four point swing of teams vying for the five remaining playoff spots. The Dynamo are somewhat off the pace, but can get back in the mix quickly while three points separate the not-yet-buried 11th place Fire from the 15th place Revs. Bringing up the rear are United, rock bottom and with extra games played.
The points-per-game table wouldn't pitch up many changes (two teams swapping spots in a couple of places) but does give the Fire more of a say in the playoff scrum owing to their games in hand. Predictably, the league-leading Galaxy boast the most wins (12) and least losses (2), though Dallas match them on the latter count. So why are Dallas in 5th? How about pointing that finger at their league-leading 8 draws?
On the fancy new Goals Table, we can see that the Galaxy nearly sweep the honors. Most goals scored? Check (29-tied with RSL). Least goals allowed? Check (10, 0.556 per game). Goal difference? Check (+19). The one category where they don't rule the roost is in goals per game, where RSL's impressive 1.706 tally takes the top spot.
On the wrong end of the goal stats, it's not really a shock to find cellar-dwellers DC United claiming most of the "honors." Their goals scored (12, 0.706 per game) is really only under threat by KC (13, 0.813 per game), the only other team scoring less than a goal per game. And while United's league-worst goal differential (-16) is a long way ahead of the nearest challenger, their (also league-worst) 28 goals allowed doesn't net them the worst goals allowed per game. That dubious honor falls to the expansion Union, who let in 1.857 per game. Want another surprise? United isn't even second-worst; that distinction belongs to the Revs at 1.733 allowed per game.
Any anomalies in the goals stats? How about 4th placed New York's -1 goal difference, the only negative mark in amongst the playoff sides and a mark matched by the 11th placed Fire? Or what about the Union banging in 1.286 goals per game? Not exactly an average to brag about, but it does put them ahead of half of the playoff field. In fact, there are only four teams in the league scoring at a higher clip than Nowak's men (a fifth side, Chicago, are level).
And what about that old "defense wins championships" saw? Well, half of the playoff sides allow less than a goal per game, the most being San Jose at 1.2 allowed per game. For a point of comparison, if we exclude KC's 1.25 allowed, the rest of the non-playoff sides are all at 1.357 allowed per game or worse.
So what do we think? Does Table Talk stay on trial, or do we send him packing for the lower divisions?
We've got a rather well defined trio of leaders, with LA well in front and the Crew and RSL trailing within striking distance. The usual logjam is arranged behind them, though its numbers are not so great as in years past. Six teams are currently in the four point swing of teams vying for the five remaining playoff spots. The Dynamo are somewhat off the pace, but can get back in the mix quickly while three points separate the not-yet-buried 11th place Fire from the 15th place Revs. Bringing up the rear are United, rock bottom and with extra games played.
The points-per-game table wouldn't pitch up many changes (two teams swapping spots in a couple of places) but does give the Fire more of a say in the playoff scrum owing to their games in hand. Predictably, the league-leading Galaxy boast the most wins (12) and least losses (2), though Dallas match them on the latter count. So why are Dallas in 5th? How about pointing that finger at their league-leading 8 draws?
On the fancy new Goals Table, we can see that the Galaxy nearly sweep the honors. Most goals scored? Check (29-tied with RSL). Least goals allowed? Check (10, 0.556 per game). Goal difference? Check (+19). The one category where they don't rule the roost is in goals per game, where RSL's impressive 1.706 tally takes the top spot.
On the wrong end of the goal stats, it's not really a shock to find cellar-dwellers DC United claiming most of the "honors." Their goals scored (12, 0.706 per game) is really only under threat by KC (13, 0.813 per game), the only other team scoring less than a goal per game. And while United's league-worst goal differential (-16) is a long way ahead of the nearest challenger, their (also league-worst) 28 goals allowed doesn't net them the worst goals allowed per game. That dubious honor falls to the expansion Union, who let in 1.857 per game. Want another surprise? United isn't even second-worst; that distinction belongs to the Revs at 1.733 allowed per game.
Any anomalies in the goals stats? How about 4th placed New York's -1 goal difference, the only negative mark in amongst the playoff sides and a mark matched by the 11th placed Fire? Or what about the Union banging in 1.286 goals per game? Not exactly an average to brag about, but it does put them ahead of half of the playoff field. In fact, there are only four teams in the league scoring at a higher clip than Nowak's men (a fifth side, Chicago, are level).
And what about that old "defense wins championships" saw? Well, half of the playoff sides allow less than a goal per game, the most being San Jose at 1.2 allowed per game. For a point of comparison, if we exclude KC's 1.25 allowed, the rest of the non-playoff sides are all at 1.357 allowed per game or worse.
So what do we think? Does Table Talk stay on trial, or do we send him packing for the lower divisions?
FBF Book Review | Barça: A People's Passion
During the latter stages of the World Cup I was turning the pages of Barça: A People's Passion. Considering the fact that nearly half of the players on the field in the final were current or former Barcelona players and that the majority of the cup-winning Spanish team were Barcelona players playing in Barcelona's formation du jour, my choice of reading material seemed inspired. Heck, throw in the haunting specter of the ever-critical Cruyff that looms over both Holland and Barcelona, and it would have been harder to pick a more Barça-centric culmination to the tournament.
Which is not to say that this is entirely a "football" book. It's not. Of course, FC Barcelona sits in the starring role, but the actual games, championships, tactics, managers, and players take a back-seat to 20th century Spanish history, Catalan regionalism, cultural psychology, and politics, all bound up inextricably in the struggles of a football club. (Side note: It's hard not to regret what's been lost from a competitive standpoint when you read about the long dry spells between championships for both Real and Barça and see the number of clubs that used to vie for, and claim, titles.)
Those looking for an on-field history of the club might put this one down disappointed. To be sure, the highlights are there (FBF tip: if you're not familiar with some of the plays/games/events/players, or if you just need a refresher course, YouTube provides an invaluable assist), but they often feel too broadly painted from the misty-eyed fan's perspective and take a back seat to boardroom political struggles, the seamy chicanery of dealings in the transfer market, and various other off-field intrigues.
But that doesn't detract from what really emerges here: the story of the ties that bind the club to the dream of Catalan independence and nationalism, that bring into focus what its motto, més que un club ("more than a club"), really means to the people who make up that club. The likes of Maradona, Cruyff, and Ronaldo, amongst other stars of earlier ages, all play their parts in that story, but they do so from the wings. Instead, it is the evolution of the club itself and the people who lived and breathed its politics, culture, and history that take the limelight here.
Which is not to say that this is entirely a "football" book. It's not. Of course, FC Barcelona sits in the starring role, but the actual games, championships, tactics, managers, and players take a back-seat to 20th century Spanish history, Catalan regionalism, cultural psychology, and politics, all bound up inextricably in the struggles of a football club. (Side note: It's hard not to regret what's been lost from a competitive standpoint when you read about the long dry spells between championships for both Real and Barça and see the number of clubs that used to vie for, and claim, titles.)
Those looking for an on-field history of the club might put this one down disappointed. To be sure, the highlights are there (FBF tip: if you're not familiar with some of the plays/games/events/players, or if you just need a refresher course, YouTube provides an invaluable assist), but they often feel too broadly painted from the misty-eyed fan's perspective and take a back seat to boardroom political struggles, the seamy chicanery of dealings in the transfer market, and various other off-field intrigues.
But that doesn't detract from what really emerges here: the story of the ties that bind the club to the dream of Catalan independence and nationalism, that bring into focus what its motto, més que un club ("more than a club"), really means to the people who make up that club. The likes of Maradona, Cruyff, and Ronaldo, amongst other stars of earlier ages, all play their parts in that story, but they do so from the wings. Instead, it is the evolution of the club itself and the people who lived and breathed its politics, culture, and history that take the limelight here.
Is Your Pulse Racing Yet?
Mmmm. The current state of Pompey doesn't exactly set the table for some quality stuff tonight, does it? Maybe they'll allow Portsmouth to operate on "MLS Reserve Match" rules and draft in Beninho's brother or something...
Probably just as well though. Disorganized and exhausted euro-trialists against the tactical genius of Onalfo should make for a wide open goal fest, which is pretty much all you can hope for from a friendly.
Oh...wait...forgot this was United. I predict more strikes from the Bum Hammy Hammer than goals. Anyone care to give me odds?
Probably just as well though. Disorganized and exhausted euro-trialists against the tactical genius of Onalfo should make for a wide open goal fest, which is pretty much all you can hope for from a friendly.
Oh...wait...forgot this was United. I predict more strikes from the Bum Hammy Hammer than goals. Anyone care to give me odds?
Graye Matter | a DC United Match Reaction
Some things this post isn't going to be about.
- referees and their questionable parentage
- firing Onalfo (as I show admirable restraint)
- lack of quality in attack (though other aspects...)
- blaming Jordan Graye entirely (despite the title)
Now that we've got that out of the way, let's settle down for a bit of reflection. DC United didn't play an awful game against the best team in the league. They didn't surrender too many clear-cut chances. They managed to maintain possession much better than in previous matches. And there were signs that the new additions were starting to make things tick over in a more attractive manner for United.
So what went wrong?
There's a lot to be said about the lack of variety in attack and the lack of a pure finisher. United have (injuries permitting) a broad assortment of clever, slow manipulators and physical, hustle-types in attack, but they lack both pace and that lethal touch in the box. Of course, that ignores the fact that United simply aren't creating enough chances for a predator to take advantage of. And that latter point gets us closer to the big albatross we're dragging around.
You might also point out that the only quick touches that King and Simms had in the midfield wheelhouse went backwards or well out of the reach of any attacker. That's a problem. With the introduction of Boskovic, the ball started to move faster, and even when it went back, the resulting space led to balls played forward with more success. That simply wasn't happening in the first half, though perhaps the lack of mobility from the injured Pontius meant that such balls simply weren't on.
Some criticism might also be spared for United's frustrating inability to pull the trigger in and around the box, victims of the "Arsenal disease," save for Quaranta, who seemingly never met a chance at a long shot or low-odds through ball he didn't like (though, to be fair, he was more guilty of the latter than the former in this match). Cynics might take Kasper's (or was it Payne's?) evaluation of Hernandez (who I definitely liked in this match; more later) as a "different kind of forward" and point out that having the kind that scores might be helpful.
But the big thorn at the moment is decision-making. Over the last two matches, Graye would have to be the obvious scapegoat, but that ignores giveaways by King, Simms, Najar, McTavish...look, the list could go on for quite awhile so I'll keep it brief here...in dangerous spots, whether through an ill-advised attempt to maintain possession or a poorly-chosen or weakly hit pass. Just because Graye's errors have been the highest profile and most punished doesn't mean he's the only culprit. Nor is the defense/transition the only area affected. Earlier I highlighted the lack of dangerous chances. And much of that isn't just because of the final ball, it's because the ball never gets into spots where the final ball comes into play.
So why are we dealing with such a rash of poor choices? Youth might be one excuse. The back line and midfield have their fair share of less-seasoned heads. But LA, and indeed most of MLS, can point to similar issues with far fewer negative consequences. Coaching might be another if you think that either Onalfo and Co. are preaching the wrong messages or setting out their tactical stall in a manner that reduces passing options, adds complexity to the decision-making process, or expects too much from limited or inexperienced players.
But probably the two biggest contributing factors are lack of confidence and consistency of lineup. Losing teams don't play with confidence and the attendant expectation of success. Without confidence, second-guessing becomes the norm, resulting in too much time on the ball and poor decisions both with the ball and without. It also breeds the sort of desperation that seeks the killer ball rather than the patient build-up.
And we've already seen the effect of too many lineup changes as the Soehn era wound to a close. True, both with Soehn and with Onalfo, many of those changes are dictated by injury, but that doesn't lessen their negative consequences. A team not used to playing together at rhythm, picking passes and runs, knowing when to cover, when and where to exploit space—that team is doomed to being static, predictable, and given to unforced errors. Sound familiar?
At least that's how I see it. What's your flavor of interpretation?
Some quick hits before I go...
* I liked Hernandez's play, but it's a shame we don't have a buzzing forward that says high to complement him.
* Boskovic seems to really add a spark when he first hits the field, but fades quickly. Fitness or opponents dealing with an unfamiliar opponent but sussing him out quickly? Or maybe chasing games isn't where he'll be most effective for United? I'll lean heavily on the latter.
* The injury bug is getting beyond ridiculous. Hard to blame Pontius' foot injury on the training staff, but another muscle injury (Jakovic this time)? And we're going to toss another friendly in for good measure? Nice.
Two home losses and we're now 10 points out of a playoff spot with less than half the season to go. And all but one of the teams in current playoff spots have games, often multiple games, in hand on us. All the eggs are in the proverbial basket on Wednesday night. If we don't see a full strength lineup (barring injuries, of course) set out to roll Harrisburg in the Open Cup, heads should be on platters. If we then field a stronger lineup in the friendly at the weekend, I'll build the damn guillotine myself.
Ugh.
And we've already seen the effect of too many lineup changes as the Soehn era wound to a close. True, both with Soehn and with Onalfo, many of those changes are dictated by injury, but that doesn't lessen their negative consequences. A team not used to playing together at rhythm, picking passes and runs, knowing when to cover, when and where to exploit space—that team is doomed to being static, predictable, and given to unforced errors. Sound familiar?
At least that's how I see it. What's your flavor of interpretation?
Some quick hits before I go...
* I liked Hernandez's play, but it's a shame we don't have a buzzing forward that says high to complement him.
* Boskovic seems to really add a spark when he first hits the field, but fades quickly. Fitness or opponents dealing with an unfamiliar opponent but sussing him out quickly? Or maybe chasing games isn't where he'll be most effective for United? I'll lean heavily on the latter.
* The injury bug is getting beyond ridiculous. Hard to blame Pontius' foot injury on the training staff, but another muscle injury (Jakovic this time)? And we're going to toss another friendly in for good measure? Nice.
Two home losses and we're now 10 points out of a playoff spot with less than half the season to go. And all but one of the teams in current playoff spots have games, often multiple games, in hand on us. All the eggs are in the proverbial basket on Wednesday night. If we don't see a full strength lineup (barring injuries, of course) set out to roll Harrisburg in the Open Cup, heads should be on platters. If we then field a stronger lineup in the friendly at the weekend, I'll build the damn guillotine myself.
Ugh.
Unleashed No More
The fraternity of right fullbacks (badge? A black, no-frills boot connecting with a fancy-dan winger's ankle just above some garish neon footwear...of course) salutes one of our own...
Accepting the Inevitable | a DC United Match Reaction
It wasn't so long ago that Kevin Payne railed on about the likes of Colorado and New England making MLS unwatchable by playing a disruptive, counterattacking style that went against everything that Payne claimed that was good about United. So how's that picture look less than a year on? You want a mirror, Kevin?
The "Genius" of Onalfo. Now, assuming my three decades and change in the game haven't lied to me, the general tactical plan in soccer is to have an organized shape defensively and to use movement, both on and off the ball, and position-switching in attack to try and disrupt the organization of your opponent's defense, thereby creating chances to break them down and score. Did I get that right? Because Onalfo's plan seems to be employing a rigid attacking shape and to interchange positions defensively...in order to confuse attackers? Huh? What? Instead of Seattle being punished for being static and narrow, they had more attacking possession, more corners, more danger than they should have carried.
A Tale of Two Rookies. Without seeing their physiques or bios, you'd be hard pressed to figure out which of our rookie starters is 17; Najar's decision-making on the ball is light-years ahead of Graye. And while I appreciate Graye's physical tools, ability to get forward, and generous upside, his choices when passing are often abominable, something I've been harping on for a while now. By the time he gifted Seattle the goal, his ill-fated distribution had already fashioned a couple of half-chances for the opposition.
One Brain Not Enough. Much has been made of Boskovic being the missing link in central midfield, and, upon introduction, things seemed immediately to go to plan. His touches were quick, confident, positive, and opened spaces for his teammates to exploit. The problem? Sigi's boys, Alonso in particular, recognized the problem and started killing the angles and the space around Boskovic, forcing the ball onto Quaranta's boots as the other creative "force" in midfield. Sadly, Quaranta's two settings seem to be (a) fire shots from distance and (b) try killer balls that don't come off. Not particularly conducive to building attacks and maintaining possession. In fact, after a 5 minute flourish, United reverted to the midfield of the first 70 minutes: starved of ideas, bereft of runs, narrow, predictable, tame, and boring.
It's gotten to the point now where my reaction to Seattle's late winner was less heartbreak and more a muttered, weary curse and grudging acceptance. Acceptance that this team is going nowhere. Acceptance that we've been reduced to a disruptive, counterattacking team that can't score, can't keep the ball, can't create enough danger to even worry defensively shoddy teams like Seattle. Najar and Jakovic are the two bright points in a dim firmament. Maybe Boskovic can add a third when he settles, but that's still not enough to light a path to the post-season. Eyes on the prize boys: the Open Cup is your only shot at winning squat this year. Good luck with that.
Ugh.
The "Genius" of Onalfo. Now, assuming my three decades and change in the game haven't lied to me, the general tactical plan in soccer is to have an organized shape defensively and to use movement, both on and off the ball, and position-switching in attack to try and disrupt the organization of your opponent's defense, thereby creating chances to break them down and score. Did I get that right? Because Onalfo's plan seems to be employing a rigid attacking shape and to interchange positions defensively...in order to confuse attackers? Huh? What? Instead of Seattle being punished for being static and narrow, they had more attacking possession, more corners, more danger than they should have carried.
A Tale of Two Rookies. Without seeing their physiques or bios, you'd be hard pressed to figure out which of our rookie starters is 17; Najar's decision-making on the ball is light-years ahead of Graye. And while I appreciate Graye's physical tools, ability to get forward, and generous upside, his choices when passing are often abominable, something I've been harping on for a while now. By the time he gifted Seattle the goal, his ill-fated distribution had already fashioned a couple of half-chances for the opposition.
One Brain Not Enough. Much has been made of Boskovic being the missing link in central midfield, and, upon introduction, things seemed immediately to go to plan. His touches were quick, confident, positive, and opened spaces for his teammates to exploit. The problem? Sigi's boys, Alonso in particular, recognized the problem and started killing the angles and the space around Boskovic, forcing the ball onto Quaranta's boots as the other creative "force" in midfield. Sadly, Quaranta's two settings seem to be (a) fire shots from distance and (b) try killer balls that don't come off. Not particularly conducive to building attacks and maintaining possession. In fact, after a 5 minute flourish, United reverted to the midfield of the first 70 minutes: starved of ideas, bereft of runs, narrow, predictable, tame, and boring.
It's gotten to the point now where my reaction to Seattle's late winner was less heartbreak and more a muttered, weary curse and grudging acceptance. Acceptance that this team is going nowhere. Acceptance that we've been reduced to a disruptive, counterattacking team that can't score, can't keep the ball, can't create enough danger to even worry defensively shoddy teams like Seattle. Najar and Jakovic are the two bright points in a dim firmament. Maybe Boskovic can add a third when he settles, but that's still not enough to light a path to the post-season. Eyes on the prize boys: the Open Cup is your only shot at winning squat this year. Good luck with that.
Ugh.
Monday Musings
This summer is really turning out to be quite a lot busier than I thought it would be. Sadly, the consequences for FBF are readily apparent, are they not? Regardless, I do have a couple of things on my mind coming out of the weekend.
(1) I was out of town at a family wedding but managed to catch the "condensed" 0-0 draw between United and the Metrocows (sidenote to broadcasters: how about a more reasonable time-frame for delaying the availabilty of the "archive" version of the match? 12 hours? 24 hours?). Still not enough scoring punch, but there were chances and the defense looked reasonably solid. Draws won't spark an unlikely dash to the post-season however. Nor will having McTavish on the back line...
(2) I did manage to watch the World Cup final since ABC was among the channels available in the soccer dead-zone that is the in-laws' house. Predictable? Sure. You can add the problem of high-pressure cup finals to that list of speedbumps to soccer-adoption in the USA. No matter that there are some supremely talented individuals on the field and teams capable of magical play. Shove them in such an intense pressure cooker, apply copious amounts of hype, and the result is inevitably dour, defensive, and boring—perfect ammo for the footie-doubters in your life.
(3) Still, there were some dramatic (Robben's breakaway failures, Iniesta's late winner, Busquets' rolling around on the floor), horrifying (de Jong's kung-fu treatment of Xabi Alonso, anything van Bommel, Busquets' rolling around on the floor again), and even touching (Sneijder and Iniesta exchanging laughs when the former, never a defensive stalwart, dove to stop the latter's progress through the Dutch box; Casillas in tears) moments. The better team won, and any lingering sentiment that would have swayed me to the Oranje cause evaporated in the wake of their destructive approach.
(4) Anybody else find the siding-board reminding you that the final was being played in Johannesburg particularly apt, considering the lasting influence Johan Cruyff on both the Dutch and the Spanish (via Barcelona)? Shame both sides didn't embrace that heritage...
(1) I was out of town at a family wedding but managed to catch the "condensed" 0-0 draw between United and the Metrocows (sidenote to broadcasters: how about a more reasonable time-frame for delaying the availabilty of the "archive" version of the match? 12 hours? 24 hours?). Still not enough scoring punch, but there were chances and the defense looked reasonably solid. Draws won't spark an unlikely dash to the post-season however. Nor will having McTavish on the back line...
(2) I did manage to watch the World Cup final since ABC was among the channels available in the soccer dead-zone that is the in-laws' house. Predictable? Sure. You can add the problem of high-pressure cup finals to that list of speedbumps to soccer-adoption in the USA. No matter that there are some supremely talented individuals on the field and teams capable of magical play. Shove them in such an intense pressure cooker, apply copious amounts of hype, and the result is inevitably dour, defensive, and boring—perfect ammo for the footie-doubters in your life.
(3) Still, there were some dramatic (Robben's breakaway failures, Iniesta's late winner, Busquets' rolling around on the floor), horrifying (de Jong's kung-fu treatment of Xabi Alonso, anything van Bommel, Busquets' rolling around on the floor again), and even touching (Sneijder and Iniesta exchanging laughs when the former, never a defensive stalwart, dove to stop the latter's progress through the Dutch box; Casillas in tears) moments. The better team won, and any lingering sentiment that would have swayed me to the Oranje cause evaporated in the wake of their destructive approach.
(4) Anybody else find the siding-board reminding you that the final was being played in Johannesburg particularly apt, considering the lasting influence Johan Cruyff on both the Dutch and the Spanish (via Barcelona)? Shame both sides didn't embrace that heritage...
Euro-cent For Your Thoughts?
I'm slowly getting back into the grove here, and the posts should start coming more regularly. But in the meantime, I'm just going to dump a bunch of things that have been pinging around my addled noggin over the last week or so...
* FO Thinking Ahead? Round about the time I usually post my "What I Want For Christmas (in July)" roundup of what moves I think the FO should make, they go and one-up me by grabbing a "sort of" DP for the problem central midfield spot and a mystery Argentine forward. Given that Pontius has found a comfortable home on the wing and that we've seen what the (admittedly limited, but still better than Morsink) King brings to the midfield from an attacking standpoint, these both look like logical moves...assuming, of course, that our new forward brings something to the table besides hustle, a moderate physical/aerial presence, and lukewarm finishing, which we've already got in spades. And that we have better luck in DP's than we had with Gallardo...
* Time Spares Nobody. If you've been watching highlights of Seattle games over the past month or so, you'll have been witness to an astonishing array of errors by Kasey Keller. Is this symptomatic of the sophomore malaise that seems to have struck the Sounders, or is time finally sinking its none-so-tender claws into the former USA #1? If the latter proves the case, how long does his reputation keep him in the starting role? Or are there some tired carrier pigeons beating their way to Albion with missives for the not-quite-so-old Marcus Hahnemann, recently returned from South Africa?
* A Question of Focus. Does anybody believe that DC United is going to reach the MLS post-season? Maybe it's a bit of defeatist thinking on my part, but with just over half the season remaining, United are rock-bottom of the league (-14 goal difference argues so, despite technically being ahead of Chivas on head-to-head) and 8 points off the eighth and final playoff spot. That's not an insurmountable number, but it requires an almost-immediate run of wins and some perilous dips from the teams arrayed ahead of them to get back in the race. Tough to see that happening, even with strong contributions from Branko and the mystery Argentine. So is there any merit to focusing on the "undervalued" Open Cup, given that a continental tourney spot is up for grabs? Clearly, we won't be able to blame fixture congestion for missing the playoffs this year, so why not congest away?
* No-Lose Situation. Says here in my crystal ball that the chances of the Holland-Spain final being one for the ages are pretty dire. Most likely, we'll be treated to Spain-Germany, partido dos, which had its charms but wasn't a classic. Nevertheless, the winner won't be a disappointment to me. Readers of FBF will know that I have a long-held soft spot for the Dutch (more Ajax than the Oranje in general, though they're often inseparable), and the current edition of the Spanish squad is the logical evolution of the "Dutch style," handed on by Cruyff to the Barça squad that currently makes up most of the Spanish starting lineup. Though at times they could be a touch more direct and quicker, Spain's style of play is the closest to what I find most entertaining in futbol, though they've never really hit top gear in South Africa. Let's hold out hope that the final surprises. At least a new name will be etched on the trophy, and I won't be disappointed, whichever it proves.
* The German Paradigm. Speaking of surprises, I wonder if anybody from the USSF was watching the suddenly-stylish Germans with interest. Think about the pattern. Fit and efficient evolving towards an admitted goal of emulating the Spanish model, but making it quicker and more physical while giving youth its head. I know soaring swine are more likely to come over the horizon than the USSF is to come up with such a coherent plan and the Germans do have a bit of history, player development infrastructure, and league quality on their side, but...some of the parts are there, waiting to be exploited.
I know that was pretty disjointed, but just see it as an opportunity to take advantage in the comments and let fly with whatever's been tickling your fancy of late...
* FO Thinking Ahead? Round about the time I usually post my "What I Want For Christmas (in July)" roundup of what moves I think the FO should make, they go and one-up me by grabbing a "sort of" DP for the problem central midfield spot and a mystery Argentine forward. Given that Pontius has found a comfortable home on the wing and that we've seen what the (admittedly limited, but still better than Morsink) King brings to the midfield from an attacking standpoint, these both look like logical moves...assuming, of course, that our new forward brings something to the table besides hustle, a moderate physical/aerial presence, and lukewarm finishing, which we've already got in spades. And that we have better luck in DP's than we had with Gallardo...
* Time Spares Nobody. If you've been watching highlights of Seattle games over the past month or so, you'll have been witness to an astonishing array of errors by Kasey Keller. Is this symptomatic of the sophomore malaise that seems to have struck the Sounders, or is time finally sinking its none-so-tender claws into the former USA #1? If the latter proves the case, how long does his reputation keep him in the starting role? Or are there some tired carrier pigeons beating their way to Albion with missives for the not-quite-so-old Marcus Hahnemann, recently returned from South Africa?
* A Question of Focus. Does anybody believe that DC United is going to reach the MLS post-season? Maybe it's a bit of defeatist thinking on my part, but with just over half the season remaining, United are rock-bottom of the league (-14 goal difference argues so, despite technically being ahead of Chivas on head-to-head) and 8 points off the eighth and final playoff spot. That's not an insurmountable number, but it requires an almost-immediate run of wins and some perilous dips from the teams arrayed ahead of them to get back in the race. Tough to see that happening, even with strong contributions from Branko and the mystery Argentine. So is there any merit to focusing on the "undervalued" Open Cup, given that a continental tourney spot is up for grabs? Clearly, we won't be able to blame fixture congestion for missing the playoffs this year, so why not congest away?
* No-Lose Situation. Says here in my crystal ball that the chances of the Holland-Spain final being one for the ages are pretty dire. Most likely, we'll be treated to Spain-Germany, partido dos, which had its charms but wasn't a classic. Nevertheless, the winner won't be a disappointment to me. Readers of FBF will know that I have a long-held soft spot for the Dutch (more Ajax than the Oranje in general, though they're often inseparable), and the current edition of the Spanish squad is the logical evolution of the "Dutch style," handed on by Cruyff to the Barça squad that currently makes up most of the Spanish starting lineup. Though at times they could be a touch more direct and quicker, Spain's style of play is the closest to what I find most entertaining in futbol, though they've never really hit top gear in South Africa. Let's hold out hope that the final surprises. At least a new name will be etched on the trophy, and I won't be disappointed, whichever it proves.
* The German Paradigm. Speaking of surprises, I wonder if anybody from the USSF was watching the suddenly-stylish Germans with interest. Think about the pattern. Fit and efficient evolving towards an admitted goal of emulating the Spanish model, but making it quicker and more physical while giving youth its head. I know soaring swine are more likely to come over the horizon than the USSF is to come up with such a coherent plan and the Germans do have a bit of history, player development infrastructure, and league quality on their side, but...some of the parts are there, waiting to be exploited.
I know that was pretty disjointed, but just see it as an opportunity to take advantage in the comments and let fly with whatever's been tickling your fancy of late...
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