So what's worse, United fans, having the worst offense in the league or the worst defense? Unless we get somebody planted on the bench that has a clue about how to structure a defense or import a player that's going to be vocal, bang some thick (or just inexperienced) heads, and do the organizing on the field, we're looking at another year wandering lost in the non-playoff forest.
Ugh.
There was a minute there, when Burch capped an ever so slow pendulum swing with a blast through a disintegrating wall, were it almost looked like we were a decent team. In typical fashion United had already shipped the early goal in the traditional fashion: lose the ball in a bad spot, fail to close down the midfield passer, leave a gaping channel for a forward to slip into, and bang! You'd think we'd be running out of bullets to shoot ourselves in the foot with.
But alas, that gun seems to be one of those revolvers in the Westerns that never runs out of slugs. Just as we managed to fight our way back into the game, showing flashes of connective play and tightening up at the back, finally capping the comeback with the Burch Bomb set piece, a dropped mark on a cross meant a header thumped past a flailing Hamid.
There was a chance coming out of halftime that United might find a way to fight back, particularly with Najar showing signs early in the second stanza that he hasn't forgotten how to play like he did last year. But United is nothing if not well stocked with Achilles' Heels. Set piece defending has been highlighted on these pages far too often, and two more wound up in the net, first on another poorly marked header, then on what you might charitably call a rookie mistake from Ethan White, though even rookies should know you can't be offside on a throw in.
Sigh.
The talking points are the usual suspects, so let's just skip right to the Quick Hits, shall we?
* The ref bit both ways. We should have had a penalty. Probably should have had a red called against us too. But then Houston got away with card-worthy crap as well and had their fair share of calls to bitch about. It is what it is, and it's not going to get better any time soon.
* Davies had two good chances when it mattered and didn't put either on target. I'm looking for improvement game after game as he gets his wheels and sharpness back, but I'm not seeing it.
* Houston dumping balls into the corners for slowish forwards created danger. United dumping balls into corners for quick forwards (all right, Wolff ain't so speedy anymore, but still...) resulted in squat. Can't cross? No dangerous runs to cross for? Don't have anybody who can finish a cross? D. All of the above. Oh wait, Pontius might be able to, but seeing as how he's the only one creating danger with the ball at his feet, it's hard to ask him to beat his man and cross to himself, though didn't FSC have him on the lineup card twice earlier in the season? Maybe they had a point?
* Minute 23. McCarty kills a promising move on the break. Again. On a side note: he was better in this match. Not good, but better. Of course, most of that better was happening when we were already dead and buried. Simms the back-or-lateral pass machine + Dax the turnover machine = fingernails all over anybody's tactical chalkboard.
* Anybody else getting sick of Wolff's "tricky" flicks? You know, the ones that come off about once in ten attempts? Would he start for any other team in this league?
* Our lines are too static going forward. Shape is fine for defense. In attack? Predictable.
* I know I'm not the only one that cringes every time Burch takes that big touch forward, lifts his head, and cranks back the left. Pretty much a guarantee that possession is about to be surrendered.
I'd like to close with a thought I had during the match. As header after header was lost and Houston's physical forward line battered our backs into submission, I said to myself, "Man, it would be great to have a veteran back there not afraid to bang bodies and take no prisoners. Somebody who wouldn't be falling down as his mark nodded a cross home or attacked the ball when defending a set piece."
We had that guy in pre-season. We let him go for nothing. He's played every minute for a Crew defense that's only let in four goals in six games. His name is Julius James, and he's not the greatest defender on the planet, but he was the best of a bad lot last year, and I'd take him over every goddamn one of the options we've got back there now. That includes Jakovic, who I've long admired from a technical standpoint, but just can't defend (oh the irony) any more.
Ugh on a stick. It's going to be another long, painful season, isn't it?
Still Not There
RSL were good. They sold their joint out on a weeknight for a competition that's only just registered on the lay MLS fan's radar. They got a fantastic result away in Mexico. They went toe to toe with an opponent of superior quality over two legs. And that quality told in one moment that undid RSL. A late flurry couldn't find them the solitary goal they needed to take the next step on the world stage.
MLS is still not there.
A snapshot of where MLS is going? Olave is the type of player the league is increasingly moving towards. He was tremendous. Winning defensive battles, a handful on set pieces, inspired by the big stage. As good as he was, Arturo Alvarez, poster-child of the theoretically talented but underachieving domestic product, trotting on as a sub to provide an offensive spark, was miserable. Tentative, ineffective, overawed by the occasion, and constantly losing possession. There comes a point when promise is no longer good enough, and the league has its fair share of dead wood rotting on its rosters. But the transition is happening, slowly but surely.
So no, MLS is still not there, but it's getting damned close.
MLS is still not there.
A snapshot of where MLS is going? Olave is the type of player the league is increasingly moving towards. He was tremendous. Winning defensive battles, a handful on set pieces, inspired by the big stage. As good as he was, Arturo Alvarez, poster-child of the theoretically talented but underachieving domestic product, trotting on as a sub to provide an offensive spark, was miserable. Tentative, ineffective, overawed by the occasion, and constantly losing possession. There comes a point when promise is no longer good enough, and the league has its fair share of dead wood rotting on its rosters. But the transition is happening, slowly but surely.
So no, MLS is still not there, but it's getting damned close.
Reality Check on Memory Lane | a DC United Match Reaction
I'm going to keep this mercifully brief, or at least I'll try. Why brief? Well, I could pretty much point you to a couple dozen match reaction posts from last year that would sound almost word for word what I'm going to say here. Defenders who didn't appear to speak the same language? Check. Lots of possession but no idea what to do with it? Check. Excessive vulnerability to the counter? Check. Big zilch in the finishing department?
Big ... fat ... check.
They're all there. All of last year's squalid crew. The stench of 2010 was all over this abomination. You remember the feeling? That one you got 5-10 minutes into the match when you realized there was no way United was going to get a result, no way they were even going to find the net? Damn if I didn't have that feeling. Normally when I watch a team I'm heavily invested in, I've got this fluttering combination of excitement and nervousness playing havoc with mind and body. This match? Not a flutter to be found. Much like last year, the result felt pre-determined.
Talking points? If I must...
* Our fullbacks suck. Suck at marking/positioning. Suck at crossing. Both were caught wrong-side of attackers on the opening goals. I think Korb even managed to lose an aerial "battle" to the tiny Luke Rodgers...with Rodgers winning the ball with his foot. Ugh. Now Korb is a rookie and probably #3 on the right back depth chart, forced into action by injury. What latest excuse can we dredge up for Burch? You'd maybe forgive his defensive shortcomings if he could contribute to the attack, but my abiding memory of the first half was hearing Olsen shouting "Burchie! Forward!" after yet another pause, survey the field, cut it back, negative pass sequence. He's the "ugh" that keeps on giving, and no one's willing to put the lame horse down (at least I assume he's lame, why else would a professional soccer player only use one foot?)
* No cutting edge. Sure, we've been scoring at a decent clip thus far, but here, against decent opposition (much like against LA), we were found out. The dual problem? Lack of ideas and quick feet in midfield combined with some mis-timed runs (or runs not even made though the space and ball were on) by Davies (though he was mistakenly called off on what should have been a one-on-one when United were only down 1-0), who still isn't all there yet. Wolff had the opposite problem. Great runs, but nothing to show for them, even on those few occasions where the ball was delivered. There comes a point when, for all of his useful hustle, off-the-ball work, and connecting play, he needs to step up, be a forward, and put the ball on frame. Too many times he got caught with the ball at his feet or couldn't pull the trigger soon enough. Ngwenya? Runs a lot, I guess. Didn't ever feel like he was going to be a threat. And Pontius? Lots of endeavor, but was it him who whiffed on that glorious crossed chance at the back stick in the first half? Still, he's the only guy in a black shirt who looks like he really wants to take defenders on, and, until Boskovic arrived, the only one who looked like he might pose a threat to Condoul's net.
* Molasses on the passes. Last year's big bugaboo, the slooooooow play, not only in the build up, but on those occasions where United actually mounted something resembling a break. McCarty had a few positive switches of field, but those were completely overshadowed by his dwelling on the ball in useful positions. Of course, the other thing that was too slow was another that haunted us last year—the closing down, particularly of the opposition midfield. Sure the spacing and communication of the back line were sub-par, but with the opposition midfield and fullbacks given ages on the ball, it looked much worse as they were able to get their heads up and pick useful passes.
* What does Boskovic have to do to get a goal? If there was anything positive to be taken from this dire match, it was how dangerous Boskovic proved after his introduction at the half. Unlike in the opening stanza, where the ideas in midfield were limited to Fred, who often arrived at said ideas after spending a few long moments with the gears sparking and spinning, Boskovic came in looking to get the ball moving into dangerous spots. That said, he often as not failed to connect. But he more than made up for it by having his shooting boots on. Only the crossbar, post, and a strong hand from Condoul kept him from finding the net in a performance that really deserved a goal.
I suppose I could point out here that the referee seemed to have missed the "call anything physical and card half of it" memo, but both teams were hurt by that. I guess if nothing else, it made the 2010 bad vibes resonate even more strongly. I think I just want to bury this hurt now and move on, so let's wrap this up.
United had their reality check delivered in painful fashion. They're firmly in the third of four tiers of teams in MLS, that group of 4 or 5 that are probably going to be scrapping for those extra two playoff spots come season's end. Could they step up a tier if Boskovic really started asserting himself, Davies got his sharpness back, and the defense got organized? Quite possibly. Until that time, there are going to be some painful lessons, though hopefully none so painful as this.
Ugh.
Big ... fat ... check.
They're all there. All of last year's squalid crew. The stench of 2010 was all over this abomination. You remember the feeling? That one you got 5-10 minutes into the match when you realized there was no way United was going to get a result, no way they were even going to find the net? Damn if I didn't have that feeling. Normally when I watch a team I'm heavily invested in, I've got this fluttering combination of excitement and nervousness playing havoc with mind and body. This match? Not a flutter to be found. Much like last year, the result felt pre-determined.
Talking points? If I must...
* Our fullbacks suck. Suck at marking/positioning. Suck at crossing. Both were caught wrong-side of attackers on the opening goals. I think Korb even managed to lose an aerial "battle" to the tiny Luke Rodgers...with Rodgers winning the ball with his foot. Ugh. Now Korb is a rookie and probably #3 on the right back depth chart, forced into action by injury. What latest excuse can we dredge up for Burch? You'd maybe forgive his defensive shortcomings if he could contribute to the attack, but my abiding memory of the first half was hearing Olsen shouting "Burchie! Forward!" after yet another pause, survey the field, cut it back, negative pass sequence. He's the "ugh" that keeps on giving, and no one's willing to put the lame horse down (at least I assume he's lame, why else would a professional soccer player only use one foot?)
* No cutting edge. Sure, we've been scoring at a decent clip thus far, but here, against decent opposition (much like against LA), we were found out. The dual problem? Lack of ideas and quick feet in midfield combined with some mis-timed runs (or runs not even made though the space and ball were on) by Davies (though he was mistakenly called off on what should have been a one-on-one when United were only down 1-0), who still isn't all there yet. Wolff had the opposite problem. Great runs, but nothing to show for them, even on those few occasions where the ball was delivered. There comes a point when, for all of his useful hustle, off-the-ball work, and connecting play, he needs to step up, be a forward, and put the ball on frame. Too many times he got caught with the ball at his feet or couldn't pull the trigger soon enough. Ngwenya? Runs a lot, I guess. Didn't ever feel like he was going to be a threat. And Pontius? Lots of endeavor, but was it him who whiffed on that glorious crossed chance at the back stick in the first half? Still, he's the only guy in a black shirt who looks like he really wants to take defenders on, and, until Boskovic arrived, the only one who looked like he might pose a threat to Condoul's net.
* Molasses on the passes. Last year's big bugaboo, the slooooooow play, not only in the build up, but on those occasions where United actually mounted something resembling a break. McCarty had a few positive switches of field, but those were completely overshadowed by his dwelling on the ball in useful positions. Of course, the other thing that was too slow was another that haunted us last year—the closing down, particularly of the opposition midfield. Sure the spacing and communication of the back line were sub-par, but with the opposition midfield and fullbacks given ages on the ball, it looked much worse as they were able to get their heads up and pick useful passes.
* What does Boskovic have to do to get a goal? If there was anything positive to be taken from this dire match, it was how dangerous Boskovic proved after his introduction at the half. Unlike in the opening stanza, where the ideas in midfield were limited to Fred, who often arrived at said ideas after spending a few long moments with the gears sparking and spinning, Boskovic came in looking to get the ball moving into dangerous spots. That said, he often as not failed to connect. But he more than made up for it by having his shooting boots on. Only the crossbar, post, and a strong hand from Condoul kept him from finding the net in a performance that really deserved a goal.
I suppose I could point out here that the referee seemed to have missed the "call anything physical and card half of it" memo, but both teams were hurt by that. I guess if nothing else, it made the 2010 bad vibes resonate even more strongly. I think I just want to bury this hurt now and move on, so let's wrap this up.
United had their reality check delivered in painful fashion. They're firmly in the third of four tiers of teams in MLS, that group of 4 or 5 that are probably going to be scrapping for those extra two playoff spots come season's end. Could they step up a tier if Boskovic really started asserting himself, Davies got his sharpness back, and the defense got organized? Quite possibly. Until that time, there are going to be some painful lessons, though hopefully none so painful as this.
Ugh.
Injuries, Numerology & the Perils of Being Chris Korb
So I'm glancing over the latest Goffblog United injury roundup and feeling a little paranoid for Chris Korb. Not only is Zayner, the prospective starter at right back, still down, but McTavish, a utility man but putative right back, continues his concussion troubles as well. As a right fullback myself, that has me a little spooked.
But not as much as when I think of who else has been in that spot recently. Namoff and his concussion woes. Graye getting double-traded into oblivion in Houston. Kinda makes you wonder if trialing double-knee-damaged Barklage in the role is tempting fate a little too much, no?
And while we're on the subject of possible curses, I'd like to revisit my curse of the #2 theory (don't forget to visit the comments on that post for further info). For those that don't want to bother with the back story outlined in that post, I'll lay it out quickly...
I wore #2 for most of my playing career, such as it was, and noticed United #2's tended towards the lackluster (Peralta ... Stokes ...). As #2 is the "traditional" number of right fullbacks, the memory of this curse was stirred by the current right-back injury pox.
So naturally I went to see who's wearing #2 this year for United. Turns out there are only two jersey numbers between 1 and 31 that haven't been claimed. Namoff's #26 and ... #2.
Hmmm. Suspicious.
So if the curse can't hit #2, where's the next likely place it falls? Double the damage with double the twos, perhaps? Who's number 22? Oh dear...
I've got my fingers crossed for you, buddy.
But not as much as when I think of who else has been in that spot recently. Namoff and his concussion woes. Graye getting double-traded into oblivion in Houston. Kinda makes you wonder if trialing double-knee-damaged Barklage in the role is tempting fate a little too much, no?
And while we're on the subject of possible curses, I'd like to revisit my curse of the #2 theory (don't forget to visit the comments on that post for further info). For those that don't want to bother with the back story outlined in that post, I'll lay it out quickly...
I wore #2 for most of my playing career, such as it was, and noticed United #2's tended towards the lackluster (Peralta ... Stokes ...). As #2 is the "traditional" number of right fullbacks, the memory of this curse was stirred by the current right-back injury pox.
So naturally I went to see who's wearing #2 this year for United. Turns out there are only two jersey numbers between 1 and 31 that haven't been claimed. Namoff's #26 and ... #2.
Hmmm. Suspicious.
So if the curse can't hit #2, where's the next likely place it falls? Double the damage with double the twos, perhaps? Who's number 22? Oh dear...
I've got my fingers crossed for you, buddy.
Shellacking or Softball? | a DC United Match Reaction
So the question runs something along the lines of … Was this a big response after a challenging week or were we pitched a softball by a TFC side that’s clearly struggling tactically and was coming off a mid-week tilt? I’m going to split the difference and take a little from both piles. United clearly came ready to mix it up and put pressure on a back line that TFC head-man Winter has been coaching to play things short, controlled, and on the deck. That gets them into trouble, a familiar scenario for United fans over the past couple of seasons.
Let’s round up the talking points, shall we?
Some Quick Hits?
So the take home message here? We were good. TFC was bad. No matter how bad they were, 3-0 on the road in MLS is a big result, and you’ve got to be delighted with that as a United fan, particularly with the clean sheet despite finishing with three rookies on the back line. I was worried that there would be a let down, first after the two early goals, but more so after the sending off. There were certainly wobbles, but the intensity2 remained. With a little more quality on the break, we might have had more than three.
Oh, it’s going to feel so good to say this without any quibbles or equivocation …
Vamos, United!3
Let’s round up the talking points, shall we?
- Two of last year’s biggest issues (amongst the wealth we had to choose from) were final balls and finishing. We’re still struggling a bit in the former, some evidence from this game to the contrary, but the latter seems to have been addressed. Pontius took his two goals beautifully. During his initial campaign, many, yours truly included, were urging him to put in extra time on the finishing drills. We saw some flashes during an injury-plagued 2010, but if he can consistently finish (and make damaging runs) like he did tonight, he’ll take some of the opposition’s focus away from Najar and Davies, making both of those players more effective. Speaking of Davies, his goal tonight was exactly the sort we’ve been lacking since Emilio was firing them in: the predatory strike. Right place, right time, beat the defender to the ball and hit the net.
- One of my frustrations with the midfield has been how narrow it is. Tonight, that worked in our favor. With Fred and Pontius consistently pinching in from the wings, we were winning the numbers game in central midfield against TFC’s central three. Normally, that hurts us when the opposition punishes the exposed flanks. That didn’t happen here. TFC’s fullbacks didn’t get forward much in support of their wing forwards. Part of that was due to the movement of the United forwards pulling into wide spaces, but I can’t help but think it was a TFC tactical failure as well.
- There is a glaring weakness in this United side, and pretty soon everybody’s going to be exploiting it: we can’t defend set pieces. Every long throw, every corner, every free kick swung into the box. They all set the alarm bells ringing, particularly when we fail to pick up runners at the far stick. Think I know what I’d be focusing on in practice this week … and the week after that, and the week after that …
- Did Jakovic pick up a knock? I was more than a little confused by Olsen bringing on Kitchen for Jakovic at 2-0. Sure you’re up a man and up two goals, but that left two rookies with a handful of MLS starts between them in central defense. Hell, three out of four on the back line were rookies. Throw in second-year keeper Hamid and (sigh) Marc Burch, and that looked either like a huge show of stones or suicide from the Bearded Bombardier. At 3-0? Sure. But after nearly conceding twice at 2-0, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one starting in on the fingernails.
- McCarty is gritty. He wins balls and gets around the pitch. But he was so, so wasteful with the ball, and it’s part of a larger pattern that I’ve been cutting him some slack on as he settles with the team. I can’t ignore it any more. The most noticeable was the break just before he was subbed off. Four black shirts with numbers on the counter. McCarty runs with the ball towards the middle and the pass is on to an open runner steaming into the box. Result? McCarty holds it too long, can’t get the pass off, loses possession, and TFC break the other way. That’s crap for a guy who’s supposed to be pulling the strings. And it wasn’t the only occurrence. I’ve got at least four heavily circled “McCarty, bad pass, bad spot” notes on my pad from this game alone. That’s bad news if we’re relying on him to be the engine that drives the team.
Some Quick Hits?
- Made an early note of my surprise at how well Ethan White was passing out of the back … in the first five minutes. Things rapidly sank back to normal from that point on. Solid play cutting out passes and runners plus goal line clearances in back to back games? I think Brasesco just got bumped as the #3 center back option.
- Wolff with some creative flicks in the build up play, particularly to set Pontius free to draw Harden’s red. I’m still not sold, but I’m seeing his value. Still should have finished when Charlie played him through though. Also, is it mandatory for DP’s to clatter him from behind now? Does he have a bullseye on his ankle?
- Fred looks slow and doesn’t cover as much ground as he used to. Still does some magic in tight spaces with the ball though1. Useful option, but wouldn’t want to depend on him as a starter. Reminds me a bit of Andy Williams for RSL. Wonder what he’s doing to justify starting over Boskovic?
- Can’t believe TFC couldn’t exploit Burch more. Martina screwed him into the ground a couple of times, and I’m shocked they didn’t go to that well more often. In Burch’s defense, he did make some solid stops. (Great — now I feel unclean for defending him.)
So the take home message here? We were good. TFC was bad. No matter how bad they were, 3-0 on the road in MLS is a big result, and you’ve got to be delighted with that as a United fan, particularly with the clean sheet despite finishing with three rookies on the back line. I was worried that there would be a let down, first after the two early goals, but more so after the sending off. There were certainly wobbles, but the intensity2 remained. With a little more quality on the break, we might have had more than three.
Oh, it’s going to feel so good to say this without any quibbles or equivocation …
Vamos, United!3
- And with passing. Best quote pulled from my notes (after the third goal and McCarty’s subsequent substitution) … “Fred shows McCarty how to provide on the break, and Olsen shows McCarty the pine.” ↩
- Rhymes with “in Ben’s city”? ↩
- Be even sweeter if we can repeat the trick on Thursday against the Metro-hiefers. ↩
Grand Theft Auto | a DC United Match Reaction
Eighty-eight minutes into this match, the post-mortem taking shape in my head made for grim reading. It was splashed with gory reminders of last year’s numerous “toothless attack, defensive letdown, no creativity in midfield” sad-sack match reactions. It was laced with words and phrases like “stagnant” and “static” and “useless” and “balls magnetically attracted to the touchline” and “pedestrian.”
How then to take a draw delivered on a plate by an incompetent ref fooled by a dive?
There will be those that point to heavy legs after three matches in seven days. There will be those that point to Arena’s Galaxy specializing in 1-0 wins even without their best player. Some may even shrug and nod in the direction of two second- or possibly third-choice rookies (plus Marc Burch) on the back line.
All true to some extent, but then what to make of an incredible lack of decisive balls from midfield, an attack that was largely narrow and static, and giving up a goal on a header direct from a corner to a guy who is what, 5’8”? And let’s not forget that we very easily could have surrendered a stoppage time winner when Franklin came steaming onto Magee’s cross with a big chunk of net to aim at but skied the finish.
That would have been a fitting end to a night that was 90+ minutes of misery with one pinprick of light provided by Davies from the spot…after a bit of professional play-acting.
Some talking points…
So what message am I left with here? Do I praise the late equalizer from 10 men with a mini injury crisis in defense coming off three games in a week? I’ll admit that, as much doom and gloom as I was feeling through almost the full 90, I went 180 degrees when that ball nestled delicately in the back of the net. But when the euphoria wore off, as much as I want to think there’s a different character about this team and as much as I want to believe that we’re taking baby steps in the right direction, those specters of last year loom large. Surrendering a cheap early goal. Not creating enough in the final third. Wasteful in possession. And that late, late Franklin chance… Had the fates been looking a different direction the roller-coaster from despair to exultation would have plunged right back down into the trough of despair.
I suppose it’s of some small comfort that this team is doing enough to keep me guessing and asking questions. Are they gritty comeback specialists just beginning to come into their own? Are they the type of team that’s unlovely to watch but somehow manages to get results? Are they eking out points on a long, slow march to competence?
Are they just lucky?
There’s that old saw that says you make your own luck, and maybe that’s the difference. This team, for all its faults, can manufacture a bit of luck when they need it. Or, failing luck, penalties…
How then to take a draw delivered on a plate by an incompetent ref fooled by a dive?
There will be those that point to heavy legs after three matches in seven days. There will be those that point to Arena’s Galaxy specializing in 1-0 wins even without their best player. Some may even shrug and nod in the direction of two second- or possibly third-choice rookies (plus Marc Burch) on the back line.
All true to some extent, but then what to make of an incredible lack of decisive balls from midfield, an attack that was largely narrow and static, and giving up a goal on a header direct from a corner to a guy who is what, 5’8”? And let’s not forget that we very easily could have surrendered a stoppage time winner when Franklin came steaming onto Magee’s cross with a big chunk of net to aim at but skied the finish.
That would have been a fitting end to a night that was 90+ minutes of misery with one pinprick of light provided by Davies from the spot…after a bit of professional play-acting.
Some talking points…
- I’m going to say this again because it pisses me off to no end. How does Magee score direct from a corner? With his head? Mike Magee? I’ve been harping on the set piece defending since we got our first glimpses of this team in pre-season, and it hasn’t gotten anything like better.
- Santino Quaranta never sees a low-percentage through ball he doesn’t like. I’ll forgive him the red card. Stupid to give Okulaja the chance to send him off, but at least he was giving his all for the cause. What I can’t forgive is the near constant conceding of possession through wasteful passing and holding the ball too long.
- I was actually not too hard on Burch in my notes. There might even have been a mention of a good ball or two…until he hit three balls in a row into touch just when DC seemed to be building a little momentum in the mid to late second half. Sigh and shrug, that’s all I can do. And while I'm at it... I love Jakovic's potential and the threat he poses when stepping up from the back line with the ball at his feet, but he made some terrible decisions with the ball tonight. There comes a time when potential's not enough any more and progress needs to be made.
- Lots of running, too little quality. Until Boskovic. I’ve been hard on him of late, but at least he brought precise, well-struck balls from midfield that found gaps in the defense. I do have to wonder about Benny waiting so long to bring on Najar and Boskovic. My halftime notes said “Davies for Wolff, Najar for Quaranta.” Thought we might have seen some earlier looks to the bench when we weren’t creating much.
- Shades of Moreno on Davies’ chipped PK down the middle, and, credit to him, he got into a dangerous spot, felt the slightest bit of contact, and made Okulaja make a decision. Since Abbey usually makes the wrong one, that’s a pretty good tactic, even if it’s done with a wink and a nod towards the “rules.” I suppose that’s what strikers do, right? That said…am I the only one who winced a little when he went to get in the car as part of his celebration? Sure, he’s a kid having fun, but still…
So what message am I left with here? Do I praise the late equalizer from 10 men with a mini injury crisis in defense coming off three games in a week? I’ll admit that, as much doom and gloom as I was feeling through almost the full 90, I went 180 degrees when that ball nestled delicately in the back of the net. But when the euphoria wore off, as much as I want to think there’s a different character about this team and as much as I want to believe that we’re taking baby steps in the right direction, those specters of last year loom large. Surrendering a cheap early goal. Not creating enough in the final third. Wasteful in possession. And that late, late Franklin chance… Had the fates been looking a different direction the roller-coaster from despair to exultation would have plunged right back down into the trough of despair.
I suppose it’s of some small comfort that this team is doing enough to keep me guessing and asking questions. Are they gritty comeback specialists just beginning to come into their own? Are they the type of team that’s unlovely to watch but somehow manages to get results? Are they eking out points on a long, slow march to competence?
Are they just lucky?
There’s that old saw that says you make your own luck, and maybe that’s the difference. This team, for all its faults, can manufacture a bit of luck when they need it. Or, failing luck, penalties…
Response, Partido Uno
No television, grainy internet feed, or even radio of the Open Cup qualie up here in the wild hinterlands of central PA, but I was biting my nails watching the final minutes unwind on Twitter...
Okay, so I wasn't exactly biting my nails, but it seemed like a thrilling enough finish. Two goals in the second period of extra time canceling each other out so Hamid could play the hero in PK's on his season debut. Given no video evidence, not much to say beyond: (1) our lineup looked weaker than it could have been, (2) Nowak's looked pretty much first-choice, (3) we advance, and the folks reporting live seemed to think we were carrying much of the game.
So we'll chalk that up to a good response to the unsavory end to this past weekend's match, though giving up an equalizer late in extra time when you're up a man isn't exactly the way to put the Mental Lapse Demons out to pasture, is it?
Oh, and before I forget...this one's for you, BDR.
Okay, so I wasn't exactly biting my nails, but it seemed like a thrilling enough finish. Two goals in the second period of extra time canceling each other out so Hamid could play the hero in PK's on his season debut. Given no video evidence, not much to say beyond: (1) our lineup looked weaker than it could have been, (2) Nowak's looked pretty much first-choice, (3) we advance, and the folks reporting live seemed to think we were carrying much of the game.
So we'll chalk that up to a good response to the unsavory end to this past weekend's match, though giving up an equalizer late in extra time when you're up a man isn't exactly the way to put the Mental Lapse Demons out to pasture, is it?
Oh, and before I forget...this one's for you, BDR.
Standard Bearers?
Congratulations to RSL on a thoroughly professional performance away to Saprissa to book their passage to the CONCACAF Champions' League final. Despite having a few questionable calls go against them, getting pegged back to 2-1 early in the second half, and losing a second to a dive-induced PK, they never panicked, they played possession as well as they could on that plastic trampoline, and they weren't goaded/intimidated into any silly behavior/cards.
Respect has been building from most pundit quarters about what they're building out in Sandy. I'm with them. RSL are worthy standard bearers for MLS.
Respect has been building from most pundit quarters about what they're building out in Sandy. I'm with them. RSL are worthy standard bearers for MLS.
Shades of 2010 | a DC United Match Reaction
Boy, that felt awfully familiar, didn't it? Makeshift starting lineup due to injuries/suspensions. Decent amount of fight and a few nice combinations in the middle third. Missed marks and poor one-v-one defending. Lack of a cutting edge. Undone on the counter. It could almost be 2010 all over again.
That said, biblical weather at altitude without half of the normal starters...Maybe not so much of a surprise to come out on the wrong end of a spanking, even if things looked pretty even up until 2-1. How about a roundup of talking points?
* Bye-bye Boskovic. So frustrating that he has those neat little touches and moments where he sees (and attempts) things nobody else on this roster can, but then there's all that time he's not on the ball. Barely making an effort on defense. Striding about languidly, or, to put it another way, not making hard runs off the ball. And the diving! I don't remember him going to ground so easily last year, but then maybe I was distracted by Pablo Hernandez falling over if the wind changed direction (speaking of another one that promised much technically, but just didn't fit the league). Boskovic has got to be fourth or so on the depth chart both out wide and in the middle. That's not good enough for a DP. Summer move back to Europe?
* Brasesco burned. Okay, so maybe he'll get better as he learns the league. Maybe he's more comfortable at right back. Maybe Folan is just a beast (he certainly looked the part — big, strong, quick, and technical). But Brasesco's footing/positioning wasn't great on Folan's first, and he wasn't exactly dominating the air on the second. All of that aside, I thought that Braseco and Woolard, though nowhere near the level of physically brought by the Rapids' forwards, did a decent enough job for most of the match. Things fell apart at the end, but considering they're not the starters and I'm not sure they've even played together in the middle in a competitive match, they held their own until...
* Things fall apart. Until the second goal, United might even have staked a claim to being on top in this game. They weren't giving up much defensively, only being undone by a moment of magic and some suspect defending at the end of the first half. We saw the fight we've come to expect, and the equalizer was a nice piece of play from Korb (with possibly the only good cross of the match save one Tino corner) and a good finish from Quaranta. But when that second went in from Smith, it was like United hit a brick wall. True, maybe the weather and altitude had an effect physically, but the crushing blow was the psychological one, combined with...
* Impact subs? Unless I missed something, I only saw a handful of touches from Wolff after he came on for Pontius, and only one of them went in a positive direction. This was the big problem last year. No cutting edge up top and nothing dangerous coming off the bench. Now, of course you have to look at Davies being missing as a big factor here, but where was the insistent, driving Wolff of his debut at RFK? For that matter, how long do we wait for Najar, also on as a sub, to start sparking again before we begin to whisper about the dreaded Sophomore Season Curse (something I've been worried about since those first few glimpses in pre-season)? Contrast, if you will, Colorado having the depth to go to Cummings off the bench.
Quick hits?
* Brettscheider looks a useful player, though not one that should be starting at this point. Can he transition his reserve scoring to the first team or is he just Cristman in a younger package?
* The Marc Burch plan of attack: cross first, get your head up and think later. Sigh.
* Should Onstad have come for the cross that Smith nodded in for their second?
* Is Woolard that slow or Folan that fast?
* If there's a d-mid that dives and bitches more than Morsink in this league, it's Mastroeni.
Be honest. When you looked at who we were missing and what we were going up against (and where), did you really expect to take anything here? I had outside hopes of riding a hard working defensive outing and the crappy weather/field conditions to a draw, but little more. Still, it stings to ship four considering we played decently enough for the better part of the match and even managed to find an equalizer.
The response this week (home in the Open Cup qualifier to the Union midweek and home to LA at the weekend) is a defining moment early in the Olsen Era. What response does he get and does the returning depth make the difference? I know it's still very early and this may smack of hysterical over-reaction (what else are fans/bloggers for? ;-), but to my mind, the answer shapes the season. Is this a brave new dawn or are the shades of 2010 rearing their ugly heads?
That said, biblical weather at altitude without half of the normal starters...Maybe not so much of a surprise to come out on the wrong end of a spanking, even if things looked pretty even up until 2-1. How about a roundup of talking points?
* Bye-bye Boskovic. So frustrating that he has those neat little touches and moments where he sees (and attempts) things nobody else on this roster can, but then there's all that time he's not on the ball. Barely making an effort on defense. Striding about languidly, or, to put it another way, not making hard runs off the ball. And the diving! I don't remember him going to ground so easily last year, but then maybe I was distracted by Pablo Hernandez falling over if the wind changed direction (speaking of another one that promised much technically, but just didn't fit the league). Boskovic has got to be fourth or so on the depth chart both out wide and in the middle. That's not good enough for a DP. Summer move back to Europe?
* Brasesco burned. Okay, so maybe he'll get better as he learns the league. Maybe he's more comfortable at right back. Maybe Folan is just a beast (he certainly looked the part — big, strong, quick, and technical). But Brasesco's footing/positioning wasn't great on Folan's first, and he wasn't exactly dominating the air on the second. All of that aside, I thought that Braseco and Woolard, though nowhere near the level of physically brought by the Rapids' forwards, did a decent enough job for most of the match. Things fell apart at the end, but considering they're not the starters and I'm not sure they've even played together in the middle in a competitive match, they held their own until...
* Things fall apart. Until the second goal, United might even have staked a claim to being on top in this game. They weren't giving up much defensively, only being undone by a moment of magic and some suspect defending at the end of the first half. We saw the fight we've come to expect, and the equalizer was a nice piece of play from Korb (with possibly the only good cross of the match save one Tino corner) and a good finish from Quaranta. But when that second went in from Smith, it was like United hit a brick wall. True, maybe the weather and altitude had an effect physically, but the crushing blow was the psychological one, combined with...
* Impact subs? Unless I missed something, I only saw a handful of touches from Wolff after he came on for Pontius, and only one of them went in a positive direction. This was the big problem last year. No cutting edge up top and nothing dangerous coming off the bench. Now, of course you have to look at Davies being missing as a big factor here, but where was the insistent, driving Wolff of his debut at RFK? For that matter, how long do we wait for Najar, also on as a sub, to start sparking again before we begin to whisper about the dreaded Sophomore Season Curse (something I've been worried about since those first few glimpses in pre-season)? Contrast, if you will, Colorado having the depth to go to Cummings off the bench.
Quick hits?
* Brettscheider looks a useful player, though not one that should be starting at this point. Can he transition his reserve scoring to the first team or is he just Cristman in a younger package?
* The Marc Burch plan of attack: cross first, get your head up and think later. Sigh.
* Should Onstad have come for the cross that Smith nodded in for their second?
* Is Woolard that slow or Folan that fast?
* If there's a d-mid that dives and bitches more than Morsink in this league, it's Mastroeni.
Be honest. When you looked at who we were missing and what we were going up against (and where), did you really expect to take anything here? I had outside hopes of riding a hard working defensive outing and the crappy weather/field conditions to a draw, but little more. Still, it stings to ship four considering we played decently enough for the better part of the match and even managed to find an equalizer.
The response this week (home in the Open Cup qualifier to the Union midweek and home to LA at the weekend) is a defining moment early in the Olsen Era. What response does he get and does the returning depth make the difference? I know it's still very early and this may smack of hysterical over-reaction (what else are fans/bloggers for? ;-), but to my mind, the answer shapes the season. Is this a brave new dawn or are the shades of 2010 rearing their ugly heads?
Extracurricular Reading
The guy walking across the parking lot is famous. That's easy to tell from the reactions. Crowds part for him. Security guards mirror his every step. Other cricketers who made this same trip to the locker room tiptoed around the puddles. He strides over them, head up, confident. I am following an Indian cricket superstar, but I don't know who he is. That's the kind of trip this is going to be -- one of constant confusion and mystery.
Fair warning to you. This article is long. It's also about cricket rather than soccer, football, futbol, whatever, and therefore falls outside the normal bounds of this blog. But it does sit squarely in that pocket at the intersection of sport and culture that's always been one of the major attractions of soccer for me, so I thought I'd share it here just in case you're of a similar mindset.
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