Official DC United vs Colorado Rapids POST Match Thread [R]

[Knave]

:: Final Score ::

DC United 1 :: 2 Colorado Rapids

No Flames :: No Trolls

[NattyBo]

My first thought is that even though we lost, Perkins looked pretty good in net. Better and more confident than Rimando has all year.

Once again, DC came so close to winning; two off the woodwork and one JUST over the crossbar. We could've come out with a point, or even three points, if our defense hadnt played so sloppy.

Stokes looked awful, and in general the defense was just lacking tonight. We clearly need Nelly back.

[onefineesq]

Great effort. No luck on finishing. Another loss. Just a damn shame.

[Barbara]

Sorry for the lack of news and analysis but all I can say right now is "ugh." Is Nowak on crack? Was starting Stokes absolutely necessary? Cripes - I stuck up for the kid last week but it never occurred to me he'd get a start!

Again, ugh.

[GUTuna]

This just kills me. Two posts!!!

Even on the TV replay I couldn't tell if the Rapids' second goal was offside since we couldn't see the defender on the far side.

We pressured well in the second half, but again missing Olsen and Nelsen killed us. Stokes looked just outclassed.

[DutchFootballRulez]

Yeah I'm not sticking up for him anymore. He did have a hand in the goal. A Dummy run.. but that Henderson cross..and the early goal he's not cut out for Full-Back and he's not disciplined enough for Centre-back

[roundfootball]

First half - Really bad.
Second half - Much better. Gros scores, two off the post.

Stokes needs some time in the A-league. Freddy had a bad game. Earnie is possessed by bad demons. Gros is the man.

[NattyBo]

Ok, I also want to add that Gros is CLEARLY a starter now, even with all the injured starters coming back. He has gotten better game by game, and he was definatly the MoTM tonight.

Perkins looked good. Neither goal was soft, he took crosses out of the air with confidence, and stopped a nice zinger or two. IMO, he earned the starting keeper spot.

Jaime looked ok, but he is holding on to the ball too long it seems like.

Freddy improved again, although he had two poor touches, one that instead of having a lob into the box, he mishandled and let roll out of bounds.

Esky and Cerritos looked like a dangerous combination, but then again, they came in very late and were playing fresh against a defense that had played the whole game.

Earnie...what can I say. The guy is an on field leader, but he ABSOLUTELY HAS to fix his free kick taking. Every time I see him taking the corner or a free kick, I just know its going to be in the upper deck.

[onefineesq]

First half - Really bad.
Second half - Much better. Gros scores, two off the post.

Stokes needs some time in the A-league. Freddy had a bad game. Earnie is possessed by bad demons. Gros is the man.

Freddy had a bad game???!! he was the most dangerous guy on the team in the first half. he assisted on the 2nd half goal. And he hit the post on an insane flick. you have to be kidding me, right?

[Jester64]

Earnie...what can I say. The guy is an on field leader, but he ABSOLUTELY HAS to fix his free kick taking. Every time I see him taking the corner or a free kick, I just know its going to be in the upper deck.

He can be a leader, and still let others take free kicks. He doesn't even seem dangerous on them. They're just useless.

[DutchFootballRulez]

Freddy didn't have a bad game.. He sent Earnie through and then Earnie found Gros. Gros played great. Adu's corners were better than EARNIES!!

Adu got in the box..and tried to do what was necessary. But nobody will give Adu a penalty this season. Nobody unless its a Red Card tackle.

Gros's parents must be Brazillian or something..or somebody cloned Harkes and Olsen...and created Gros.

[Jimbo]

DC almost pulled even on Cerritos' header off the post but they couldn't pull even after giving up a tough goal after evening the score.

The Stokes experiement continues. Boy did he get schooled by Chung on the first goal. On the second goal, if it wasn't offside, it was only because Stokes kept the guy on side after he got beat by the guy who crossed the ball in (the crappy camera work was insufficent to sort out that issue). Stokes is, to put it nicely, a bit rough. I guess the idea is to play him to give him experience. If Stokes could have put that late header on frame to tie the game, he would have saved a lot of keystrokes from the United faithful tonight.

Early in the season DC played the ball through midfield quickly. When Moreno drops into that role he really slows the play down. Gros, however, took on that butt ugly Della Torre guy and looked very good doing it. Some really good crosses from him. I like how Gros plays with speed. Namoff and Carrol were doing that in the second half too and DC looked most dangerous when they were involved in building the play.

Oh well, at least the boys get to play on Uncle Phil's ranch for a while.

P.S. Who else thought they were watching a municipal access broadcast of a high school game tonight? The camera zoomed in way too close so you couldn't see enough of the field. The ball would be played forward and you'd have no idea who to because you couldn't see other players. And the close ups of the AR after an offside call for 10 seconds left you in the dark about waht was going on. Plus the coach or subsitute insert box in the middle of the screen obscured what was going on. Is it me or was this particularly crappy production tonight?

[Glorious Save]

....pretty much the usual for this year.

* Strong possession, had more of the play, especially during second half

* Great team speed, aggressive runs forward created a number of chances

* Weak finishing (not unexpected when you field a young team)

* Perkins looked confident in back, couldn't have done much with either goal

[Eastern Bear]

I can't add much more than the fact that I'm absolutely sick and tired of watching bad soccer the last couple of days. Stokes was a wasted pick. I'm not ready to annoint Perkins the new #1. He did flub one cross that never materialized for Colorado. Earnie is really just a complimentary player for any team he plays for. At his salary, DC needs a major contributor. Our team needs more flair players. Besides Moreno, we don't really have that much. Olsen and Convey bring a little bit of suprise to their game, but not at the level of Moreno. I was impressed w/ Cerritos. I think it should be Cerritos and Moreno up top. Freddy just isn't strong enough to play a full game. Roy Lassiter would have finished the chance Freddy had early on in the game. I never knew how spoiled I was w/ Roy. :-(

If we lose Convey mid year and Olsen can't stay healthy, our midfield is in serious danger.

I guess I'm glad that Colorado won for thier big crowd.

My healthy line-up:

-------------Perkins
---Namoff---Nelsen---Petke/Prideaux
Kovalenko------Carroll-------Gros
---------Olsen-----Convey
--------Cerritos----Moreno

[unitedunited]

the good news is that grossie finally got his goal. To me he's brought more this season than Olsen did in his rookie year, which is saying a lot.

[liverbird]

Gros was the MOTM even without the goal -- a real player who has to stay on the field some how.

Carroll has got to go --- when we have everyone back perhaps Namoff can play in the holding role. Every ball Carroll played forward was either to their keeper or a Crapid player.

Stokes is a disaster waiting to happen -- that's what I told my son in the third minute. He gave away both goals.

Carroll played the first goal on side and apparently Stokes did the same for the second -- although we never saw a good replay.

Stewart is a great guy, and a steady influence, but he should never take a corner again. His shot has also disappeared. Perhaps he needs to sit.

Every body else -- good hard work but unlucky.

[roundfootball]

OK. Freddy was the lone light in an ugly first half. He definitely contributed in the second half. He didn't seem to be on the same page on some of his runs, but made some nice passes.

[Donny]

I'm normally not a big N&A guy, but I have to offer this. Given the injuries, our guys seem to have changed the dynamic of this team. From the first few games this season characterized by scoring early and trying to see if we could hang on, unsuccessfully, for a win, the past two games of falling behind (spectacularly so v.LA) early and playing admirable, frenetic, goal crashing comebacks that fail has to be frustrating for the team. It's obvious the peresence of Nelson is missed, and that our older guys are quite necessary to the chemistry of this team. That is assuming they can produce at a higher level than what Nick let happen on Wednesday. I still feel that we are a better team now than at any point in last season's campaign, and I do believe the quality of what's happening with United will eventually come to fruition this year. It's just so frustrating as a fan and, I imagine, as a player or coach to drop these matches. Go United!! Hang in there and fight the good fight, fans!

[Eastern Bear]

When Moreno drops into that role he really slows the play down.

You know, you're right. More ammo for keeping him at striker where he gets most of his touches in the final third...

[vincero]

It is clear Moreno does not like to play with Adu. He expects the ball but wont give it, except, in the last game where he knew Adu would be crushed. I have always thought Adu was a finisher and expect him to bury the break. Cannon came out well(pay attention Rimando).

MOTM- clearly Gros for his work rate and goal. ?DC's new corner taker.

Horrible game by Carroll, Namoff, and Stewart.Carroll doesnt run during play(ie goal) but runs off the field at half. Horrible distribution and long balls. Horrible repeated long balls by Namoff et al with nobody up front. Stewart sent in one nice cross on the gaol, but cannot put a shot on goal if his life depended on it. I say start Ara and sit Stewart. I dont care if he is worse.

Stokes obviously beat on the outside, but I dont entirely blame him on the goals. Why not put him in the middle? The only effective player in the box on the set pieces currntly active.

NowaK-poor use of subs. Why not take a defensive player out and make some changes earlier.