I'm taking off my Bias Hat and have to say that the non DOGSO was worse than the Franklin slide. I can't remember the last time I saw a penalty given on a play like Franklin's. I've seen many a red for Johnson's. Not saying you're wrong, but in terms of how the game is called, DC got the worse end.
I'd have to rewatch it, but his feet didn't seem like they were really far off the ground at all, and by the time he encountered the DC player, they appeared to me to be on the ground. A red card was warranted, but it wasn't a vicious tackle. Then again, neither was Franklin's.
Not vicious, but all studs were exposed. It wasn't high on the shin, but it certainly warranted a red. Let's put it this way, when the player committing the foul simply jogs away with little protest, that's a good omission that they were the guilty party.
The ref didn't trust himself on that call and the game went to hell really quick. While he was waiting for the AR to bail him out, there should have been a yellow to at least one other Columbus player when the ball was kicked away from Espindola and there was nearly a skirmish in the goal. I think the ref was ball-watching when Sean Franklin went through the Columbus player in the box.
Yeah...outside of someone literally tackling someone in alone on goal or a field player picking up a ball with his hands as it's going across the line, that call was as easy as it gets. Maybe it's more of a damning indication of EJ than the referee. I can see the conversation being something like: Center: Well, he was in alone on goal AR: Yeah, but he hasn't scored a goal all year Center: Good point, I guess it wasn't "obvious" he was going to score? AR: Can't think of any situation where he would've Center: So a yellow, then AR: 10-4
Those officials would be flat out wrong. Anor's red was 100% clear straight red. Kitchen is very very lucky he slowed down into the tackle. Otherwise he could have been hurt a lot more. Disappointed to give up the goal after Espindola killed the attack and started theirs in the same move. But if you had asked me going in if I would have taken a point AT the conference leaders who had absolutely destroyed us in the first game, I'd have taken it. If we get to be a better team and want to make the playoffs, we'll need to take all three from games like this regularly. Still... baby steps. And how soon is Silva coming back. We can use him.
That could help quite a bit. The team looked actually aggressive and attacking in the few minutes of the Chicago game before he got hurt. We haven't seen that much since despite pulling a result in all our games.
It's hard to rag the goal scorer for not scoring more ... but if Espy buries either one of the two set ups, it's "Goodbye Columbus." I think Jimenez's shot was Columbus's first shot on goal all night. I thought the defense was very good and Higuain really had little influence on the match. Losing Rolfe was a blow because while Neal is competent, he isn't the offensive threat Rolfe is. I also liked Doyle's activity when he replaced Johnson. I'm pissed at the draw, but DCU getting a point on the road is a baby step and give credit to Jimenez for a very nice goal.
I actually think that was intentional time wasting, and they meant to pull DeLeon all along; and I'm glad DeLeon came off, at any rate. He was so tired he could barely stand by that point.
I didn't, much. EJ didn't play that well and didn't threaten; but he occupied defenders' attention and dragged them around, which was of some use. Doyle, while he was out there, didn't do anything. He never threatened, never worked his way into dangerous positions, never occupied much of the defense's attention or mindspace. This was a very weak game of his, for me. OTOH, to say something positive, this might have been Christian's best game since he came to DCU.
Agreed on all points. Though he missed a few at the beginning, EJ's normal dominance on 50/50s was something DC lacked when he came off.
Agreed on the poor defending, although I think Boswell was the culprit. Franklin was caught waaaaaay up field after the botched counter.
Truth is that Philly goal was basically created by that Trapp pass. We're a little eager to assign blame to the back line ... I agree they could of done better ... but really Trapp needs to be closed down so he doesn't have that time and space to quarterback.
Ehh...I mean, the Crew announcers orgasmed over the pass (mainly because the color guy was just pimping him as the player of the game, I think) but 1 v. 1 on the wing like that should be dealt with much better at the professional level. Sure it was a good pass but that really shouldn't have evolved into a goal so quickly.
If you look closely, the stick figure has EJ's face, and the caption references today's date. From which we can clearly deduce that the MLS refereeing pool is a cabal of ill-intentioned fortune tellers who have performed fractal analysis on the outcomes of all possible refereeing decisions and who are trying to start World War III. You know I'm right, but you won't really believe me until it's too late.
Well, at least we got a point in C'bus, as far as I can remember it hadn't happened since 4th July 2009...
I think the next 3 games will tell us more of who we are and what we can do. Players-wise I think this is a decent to pretty good quality team, but I remain of the opinion that - with a different coach we could improve a lot...