My quick review of this match: Markovic looked pretty good. Our offense, well, it was offensive. Sometime in October, I'm going to have to pay for playoff tickets. Because of this match. And that will make me a little bit cranky.
That about sums it up for me also; 90 minutes of my life that I will never get back. Was I asking too much by expecting my team to try to score at least once in a meaningless friendly? I liked Aiyegbusi's energy, but Saad is even slower than I thought, Dwyer does not look much like a first-round draft pick, and everyone's decision-making left a lot to be desired. It seemed like the entire squad was afraid to go forward or even attempt to counter when an opportunity presented itself. No one earned more playing time from where I sat.
No shots on goal. Wow. I think Montpelier maybe had 3 goal kicks the whole game. We just couldn't penetrate the midfield. Saad once again showed how slow he is to the ball. Warzycha again showed his weaknesses in their full glory. Markovic looks like he could step into the MLS at any time, and was getting on Konrad and Olum for being out of position several times. Olum threw it right back at him, but Warzycha seemed lost at times. The big difference between these guys and the top 18 seems to be reaction time. The first half the mids and forwards were all standing flat footed waiting for passes to get to them and getting jumped by defenders. The guys who start and actually play MLS games check to the ball and receive it and don't get run around like traffic cones.
I think you may have been expecting too much from that lineup. The backline was tolerable, and Cesar did what he usually does, but had no one to pass the ball to. But the rest of them...they not only looked like they haven't played together much, they looked like they aren't even on speaking terms with one another. I do like mini-K's energy, but I'm afraid he's just too mini for this league. As for Saad, I think he could function as a withdrawn forward in a 4-4-2, playing off a big target forward. He has that nose for the ball. But expecting him to chase down a long ball, beat a decent defender 1v1, and then get off a good shot, that's not a recipe for success.
Saad got left on an island most of the night, there was one point in the first half where there was 20-30 yards between Saad on the last defender and our closest player. There were times when Aiyegbusi and Dwyer were literally 5 yards away from Markovic and Ellis. A lot of that had to do with Montpellier's high play.
I agree though he did scuff several clearances and he was target weak thing forward, part of which may be due to him not being used to a system where the outside backs get so far forward so often. his 1 v 1 defending was strong
Glad I didn't waste my time to sit in 105 degree heat and watch the Rangers get schooled. Wondering if it will be the same type of lineup against Stoke next week....
I caught about 30% of the game on youtube, we looked like a reserve side against a team that had just won the French league.
Disappointed in what I saw out of Dom and mostly not terribly pleased with how we set up (am I nuts or do we not usually set-up exactly like that? I thought that our wing forwards were usually like 3-5 yards farther upfield on offense, we looked flat straight across the wingers and two advanced CMs) All I can say is that I felt like this was an opportunity for the reserves to make a case for getting more of a look for first team action and Markovic and Kronberg were the only two I think made that case. Maybe Aiyegbusi... he wasn't horrible. Saad wasn't getting much help and he's not the type of forward you expect to hold the ball up against two CD while the rest of your team walks their way up to your position. Maybe I'm being to harsh - it was just a friendly, it was hot... perhaps asking these guys to show some desire and drive is unreasonable... but most of them aren't going to be out there Saturday... so I wouldn't have minded a bit more out of them.
Saad is slow, not just a little bit off the pace slow. Combine that pace with his youth and Im worried. At 30, he may even be Blanco slow. In the USOC game that he scored twice, I questioned whether he was injured in the first half watching him run at the north goal. Joseph's physical play stood out to me. I dont know that he had a good game or anything, but I was impressed with him muscling up on a few plays. Maybe Im wrong on that though.
What SombraAla said, although I thought that Kronberg could have done better on the second goal. Was anyone else surprised that Bunbury did not even suit up? It might lead some to jump to an unwarranted conclusion, like maybe he is in the process of being traded. Sapong played even though he went most of the way on Saturday. There were a couple of times when it looked like a center forward with Teal's speed could have had a breakaway, had he been in the lineup rather than Saad. Of course, the defense probably would have dealt with him differently. By the way--I thought that Dwyer was supposed to be really fast, but he did not seem to show it last night.
I read in the post game notes that Teal had oral surgery monday and therefore was held out last nite. As SombrAla said I think Saad would work best under/off a target foward in a 4-4-2. His lack of physical tools will limit him in this setup if we continue playing mainly thru the wings with crosses into the box. What he may need to learn is how Bravo last yr and Convey this yr are playing the left wing. I dont think he can play in the middle-just cant hold up or win balls enough. Dwyer has a ways to go. I dont remember hearing his name called much. Montpellier Herault SC earns 3-0 victory in international friendly at LSP | Sporting Kansas City
So much for trying to start a baseless rumor! I think someone has suggested elsewhere that he might have a future in the 4-3-3 as an attacking midfielder. However, he seems to have a nose for goal much more so than an ability to break down a defense or sense and execute a perfect pass. My son has made the observation more than once that Saad seems like a younger, obviously less experienced, and probably less talented version of Bravo. He still has to learn the game well enough to make the right runs at the right times. I see Convey as a different type of player than both Saad and Bravo.
Either Saad is super slow, or he just doesn't put forth the effort. Given that Vermes wouldn't put up with someone who half-assed it, I have to conclude he is, in fact, slow. He can compensate for it by anticipating where to be, but I haven't seen any evidence of that kind of good field sense. Watching Saad play, you get the sense of scene going through the motions. Although when he does get the ball in a dangerous position, you see potential, but without the speed or size, the Bravo comparison seems apt.
Since he is a step slow, he really suffers when he plays with the second teamers--since there is little anticipation or movement. [Was there ANY third man activity in that game!? A: No.] I actually think he does have good field sense, but when all the passes are poredictable, then the D can easily zone him out of the play. He should watch Bravo (and Blanco) tapes. But there is no way he can succeed as target man.