Pittsburgh Riverhounds End Affiliation with Dynamo

Yeah, I originally wrote that I thought he would go on loan to Pittsburgh then later retracted that view as I believe that at this stage he isn't even good enough to play there.

Not sure what the kid's issues are, but one clear problem is conditioning. He doesn't seem to work very hard and looks out of shape.

At the Academy level you can get by on pure talent. Once you hit the pros that is not good enough anymore and you have to bust your ass. A lot of kids have a difficult time making that transition. The soccer world is full of players who looked like barn burners at the Academy level and never amounted to anything.

 

I actually thought he was still in Houston. Guess he left yesterday. He is actually on the bench for the Riverhounds today with Arena and Johnson starting again.

 

Pitt not starting its most advanced and dangereous lineup for second week. Behind at half and struggling against Richmond's well organized attack, started subbing. Ownby entered 2nd half and looked ok. Veterans Collins John and Ngwenya also entered and Pitt began pounding Richmond defense scoring once and just missing on several other good chances in final 15 minutes. Gave up meaningless goal with seconds left in stoppage time and everyone forward. JJ not finding himself yet, either pace or reading of game. Could find himself on bench after 2 starts. Arena looks solid and a fixture.

 

Home opener Saturday. Should be a raucous sell out - Wilmington always difficult match up playing very physical and direct. Would be great if team starts its best 11, suggesting JJ will be on bench and Ownby could be inserted. Look for Collins John paired with Angulo on top, with Arteaga and Ngweyna off the bench at 75 min. Danny Earls may have found himself in midfield but also seems comfortable at left back. Right back still a bit shaky with Green and Flunder rotating, meanwhile Arena and Marshall reading game well but in need of some energetic midfield play to improve possession. Team basically played 3-5-2 last 20-30 minutes against Richmond and tempo of game completely changed in Hounds favor. Hoping C'DeBaca and Kerr healthy and ready soon to boost lineup. Kerr was in great form in preseason. Blum earned an other start in net but having Lisch on board is big boost - could see him get a start next week in Richmond. Salazar not likely to be in uniform.

 

No JJ in the line up. Not good.

 

Collins John got a red in stoppage time so he's out for next game. I'm sure Johnson will get play time next week. Sounds like Arena is on his way back too. Ownby looked good.

The Hounds came out with a 4-4-2 and looked flat for the first half again. In the second they shifted to a 3-5-2 due to being down 2 goals and it seemed to work a lot better.

 

At the rate we're going right now, we might be asking PIT to loan us a few players for our roster.

Whaddya got for us???

 

Vesty is right - after coming out third straight game in a cautious, passive 4-4-2 and falling listlessly behind early, coach Evans unleashed the 3-5-2 again and changed the whole dynamics of the match. Ownby started but was invisible until moving wide left in the second half where he came alive and made some nice runs and helped link passes for possession. Arena sat but probably wouldn't have made much difference as the GK looked like a back up much of the night misjudging the first goal, and missing a rather unremarkable PK that he correctly guessed on and stretched his 6'5" frame in the path of the ball only to MISS it. The PK was a poor and unnecessary foul that decided the match. Wilmington's only good goal was on a direct kick just outside the box that curled perfectly over the Hounds wall. Meanwhile, Pitt hit the crossbar twice, and the Hammerheads keeper made 2 great point blank saves including sweeping the ball off the goal line. John, Angulo, Dallman, Ownby and later Ngweyna pounded the Wilmington net, only to see what surely seemed to be the tying goal waved off as time waned. Of course, you know it was a goal when EVERY player on the Hammerheads immediately dropped his knees or grabbed his head in dismay and EVERY Pitts player jumped for joy. Not one Hammerhead complained about offside. Yet the young lady on the side and one of the worst center refs ever decided to award the GK the ball as the stunned Hounds were gathering at midfield. Collins John nabbed a Red Card for disputing the final offside call. Look for Arena back in CB and I'm hoping for Lisch to get the start in Richmond - would be a nice lift for the team after 2 shaky starts in the net. JJ may be back on the bench with John out and Ownby should again suit up.

 

Yes, he sat on the Dynamo bench. He was recalled this week with Horst out suspended in order to provide back up to Cochran. He returned to Pittsburgh yesterday.

 

Our TIFO from the opener-



The Hounds travel to Richmond again this Saturday as they look for their first win of the season. I think we may see Lisch in net as 7 goals in 2 games for Blum (though to be fair it wasn't all his fault) probably killed his confidence.

 

yinz can really paint. Bravo.

Go Pens!

 

No Bryan Salazar on the travel roster again.

 

I watched the final 20 minutes or so. I missed all the goals obviously. From what I saw Lisch played well - Arena I wasn't able to pick out which is typically not a bad thing for a CB. Johnson looked pretty good though IMHO. He just found acres of space - dribbled a bit - and found a teammate with pretty good link-up play. Didn't see a goal or effort near goal, but he was more in a left midfield position with Ngwenya and I don't know who else as the two forwards.

 

That Ownby guy can play.

I wonder if PIT will loan him to us. We could use the help.

 

I remember seeing Ownby in his first preseason action at HASP... you could tell he had speed and talent... still pulling for him to gain a bigger role here.

 

Still needs more polishing before he is really ready for a lot of MLS minutes. Right now there is still a lot of running with no end product.

 

It's not like Andrew driver on the right side of midfield is getting us any end product. That being said I think Cascio may be better than Ownby, but his injury makes that a little unclear.

 

OK DYNAMO FANS - the talent finally came through. Ownby played spirited match against his old side, especially second period when he unleashed bursts of real speed as well as control on left wing and was constant threat getting deep into the box - got a first period goal too! However, tank basically ran empty after 60 min. That's why these guys are playing; to get match fit to be able to fight for a full 90.

Lisch looked solid in net. Wasn't really tested until 3-5-2 wilted at 60 minutes. Why we didn't add defender and to back line and fresh legged wings sooner with 2-0 lead is a mystery and probably cost the game. First goal was "goal of the week" strike that few keepers could handle, but second hurt as he tried to get position against striker who had ball fall to his feet at the 6, turned and nutmegged him. Overall good, consistent job and would like to see him in nets again this week.

Arena was again solid as CB but as his wings and mates on the back line faded from full out work. He would have benefited greatly from insertion of another CB and going to 4-4-2 while still up 2-nil. Nice to see he is fit for the full 90 though. Think he may have even grazed the crossbar with a header.

But the big SUPRISE, JJ was the kind of prospect we all hoped he might be. Big, fast, strong, a bit clever when needed and playing well with his mate up top. Several times he bulled thru the defenders with speed and strength and was dangerous all day. But the most important showing, he was aggressive and playing full out pressure up top creating havoc for the Richmond back line. Good solid showing after offering little previously.

Hoping the team goes back to 4-4-2 and keep the 3-5-2 for attacking, not closing out games.

 

I think JJ has to play forward. He is just not a winger, despite what Dom thinks he can be.

 

Agreed. He was able to support back from the outside and help with possession but he looks like withdrawn forward playing off a striker who can collect and distribute the ball might be his best position. He showed some speed and energy up top that was seriously lacking previously and managed to get into counter attacks effectively..

 

He can get behind defenders. His goal in MLS play last season showed his ability to do that. Alexander Lopez, had a wonderful chip over the CB's, while JJ ran behind, culminating in a very nice goal. JJ has good pace, and decent movement.