Will this be the week that Scott Sealy actually gets onto the Dallas bench, if not in the game? While he's still not fully healthy, for the first time this year he's not listed as "Out" in the injury report: Elsewhere, Ryan Cochrane and Pablo Campos started for the San Antonio Scorpions in the opening game of the NASL season. The Scorpions tied 0-0 .
Ryan Johnson... still not a target forward: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzH2qh_hy6k&feature=g-all-u&context=G2c96217FAAAAAAAALAA"]MISS: Ryan Johnson misses a sitter - YouTube[/ame]
Scott Sealy is actually off the injured list, and played in the Dallas Reserve match today. Dallas beat RSL 3-0, and Sealy scored a goal. I also looked it up and he was in the 18 for Dallas last weekend, but didn't get into the game. Elsewhere, Ryan Cochrane and Pablo Campos played the full match for the NASL San Antonio Scorpions, who lost 4-0 to the Puerto Rico Islanders in their home opener. Interestingly, there was a crowd of over 13k at the game in San Antonio.
13k at the game in San Antonio? Wow that is cool. I remember not so long ago when the Mayor of that town said he could care less about soccer and putting a stadium there. I'll bet he is eating his words now. You wonder if an MLS team came forth how much they could draw?
I read somewhere that the Scorpions have sold close to 5000 season tickets. This is their first year, and they have very good fan support.
In case you missed it, Scott Sealy made his debut this past weekend with Dallas. He played the final 18 minutes of the Dallas match at Vancouver. With Blas Perez just having gotten suspended by the DC for Dallas' match tomorrow against RSL, I wonder if we'll see them start Sealy at forward? Yeah, I actually said that.....Sealy may be the starter tomorrow night at forward for Dallas!
It's honestly really frustrating as a fan of the league to see a guy like Sealy who, to any semi-competent observer that made it past the 3rd grade, obviously has no business in any professional league at any level, take up money and a roster slot in our country's top division. And while Sealy is basically stealing money from the league's fans, we have incredibly talented forwards like Darren Mattocks and Diego Fagundez unable to see field for their respective teams. What FCD should do if they had half a brain is engineer a trade for one of the many deserving talents out there riding the bench. Trade the allocation money that they got for Marvin Chavez and I'm sure they could pick up a talented and deserving forward like Houston's Colin Rolfe.
LoL, what else is new? http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/04/23/frustration-continues-mount-johnson-toronto-fc I don't care if we got nothing for him in return, I'm so glad Frank got rid of this guy!
The interesting part of what RJ said in that article is exactly what the old Quakes did when he was with the team. I am not saying leaking goals is his fault. Also, he set up some goals but he missed more of his chances than setting up others. I am so glad that our team is doing better now in many aspects, and I don't want to live through the horrible past again.
I watched some of that last Toronto match against Chicago, and it was pretty much what you'd expect from RJ. He did get an assist I think, but when he had shots at goal, it was that big, slow, arching windup with his left leg, and by that time the opportunity was gone. Or he'd just miss on a header. And he didn't win many long passes sent his way. I don't think he's a regular starter anymore with TFC but got a chance due to some injuries.
Actually he has started every game and played every minute for TFC so far this year (MLS and CCL). That probably tells you all you need to know about TFC! When Koevermans is healthy, Johnson has played at left forward when they were playing a 4-3-3 formation, and in one game (in the CCL I think) he played in central midfield, kind of an attacking mid/withdrawn forward position. He hasn't played badly, but he seems very much what he was like when he was with the Quakes. He gets into good positions but has been very poor at finishing. Just like we saw - he's too slow to pull the trigger on shots, he doesn't know how to pull off a volley or one touch shot, won't (or can't) shoot with his right foot, and he often waits too long to pass the ball to an open man. However, he also has done some good things, using his speed and hustle to win balls and beat defenders on the wing to get a cross off. He played pretty well against LA in the CCL (2 goals and 1 assist in 2 games), but that was when LA's defense was horrid. Against a good team (Santos) he didn't do much. I just think he's the kind of guy that plays pretty well against poor defenses, but put him against a good defense and he gets closed down quickly and can't do anything in the box. I still can't really remember how he scored 11 goals in 2009, but whatever it was, he hasn't come close to duplicating that feat. I think he's a decent MLS player, but if Toronto has to rely on him to be their big scorer they're going to continue to struggle to get any wins. I'm glad that SJ traded him - even if it was a straight up swap, I'd rather have just Alan Gordon. The Quakes also have Attakora's rights from that trade, which may end up being worth something. Johnson seemed like a hard working player, but I do remember a bit of attitude at the end of the 2009 year. It was discussed here in the "Ryan Johnson" thread. Go to page 9 of the thread to see the discussion - there was an article in the SJ Merc (not there anymore, the link doesn't work). IIRC, Doyle was quoted in the article saying that he wanted to go out and get a proven goal scorer in the offseason, and implied that all of the players needed to earn their positions the following year. Ryan was then quoted saying something about not wanting to stay in San Jose if he wasn't a starter, feeling he had proven himself in 2009. Looking back on it all, it's pretty interesting how things played out. Doyle had already traded for the goalscorer he needed (Wondo), he just hadn't been playing much because Johnson was playing ahead of him. Then in 2010 when Wondo started scoring, Johnson was still the regular starter alongside him but couldn't score to save his life.
We got Alan Gordon and at some point, I hope, he'll be healthy. And we have the rights to Attakora which still has the chance to amount to something.
Something weird is going on with Quincy Amarikwa and the Rapids. He was in the 18 man roster and played in the first 3 games as a late game sub. He even scored in the first game of the year. But in the past 3 games, he hasn't been in the 18 man roster. Over that time the team added 3 offensive players (Rivero, Castrillon, and Kamani Hill), and now most recently have acquired a midfielder (Henao). A story came out last week that he's back in Nigeria dealing with some kind of family issue, but along with that story there have been quotes from Oscar Pareja that sound like they plan on trading or cutting him. In this article on the MLS site today: They may need to release someone to make room for Henao on the roster, and Quincy may be odd man out. If that happens, it will be interesting to see if he gets picked up by anyone.
He was awful tonight. Some highlights: - blocked one of his own teammates' shots on goal - laughably pulled a pretty open look on goal from 12 yards out about 20 yards wide. - open header on goal from 6 yards out on a sweet brek shea cross, mishit it so bad that it rolled all the way down parallel the endline and over the sideline for a throw-in. Even ryan johnson could have finished that one.
I notice that he was the first guy in to celebrate with Shea after the PK, as if to associate himself to a positive play. I think it's time for another hamstring injury before anyone starts noticing. Gotta maintain that "good player who just can't stay healthy" narrative.
We sure can use him now http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-exports-burling-searching-opportunity-europe