The Stokes Report: Colorado Rapids 5/22/04 [N+A][R]

[Th4119]

I watched the game tonight taking down every single play Stokes made. This is an unbiased account of his play, with my comments at the end.

Minute - Play

3' - Header backwards on goal to Perkins--"save" made by goalie
5' - Foul at midfield
8' - Lost header in Colorado box that starts counterattack that Gros and Perkins keep out
9' - Missed tackle; Colorado corner
10' - No attempt on cross, Perkins comes off line to catch
11' - Trap, square pass to Gros
11' - Hits long ball upfield to Moreno, 15 yards too long, gives Rapids possesion
12' - Intercepts ball, clears directly to Colorado
13' - Burned by Chung on wing, attempts to two foot tackle Chung from behind in the box, leads directly to Colorado goal
15' - Soft pressure extends Colorado possession
15' - Missed tackle
17' - Deflects Chung's pass, Roberts was in an offside position either way
17' - Backpass
18' - Clearance to 50/50 ball, United wins
18' - No pressure pass forward
19' - Caught out of position, Robers offside because of step by Petke and Prideaux
19' - Square ball across field, turnover to Colorado
21' - Late overlapping run to Gros, stops run instead of offering Gros and option back on the sideline
22' - No recovery from offensive position. Stewart started 10 yards behind Stokes when the ball was cleared, and was 10 yards ahead of him by the time either one showed up on camera on Comcast
24' - Almost dribbles out of bounds, 50 yard thru ball to endline, Cannon gets instead of letting roll out for a goal kick. No United players within 20 yards
26' - Out of position for cross from left side
27' - Beaten by Kotchsou (sp) for cross
27' - Header cleared to Colorado
28' - Lazy pressure followed by a bad clearance to Colorado, then gets fouled on a 50/50 ball
29' - Throw in, foul on Colorado
30' - Late coming back, Petke tackles in his position leaving the middle open
31' - Backpass
31' - Trap, good pass upfield
34' - Good defensive positioning for Petke's cover
35' - Out of position
36' - Missed ball on CK
37' - Backpass in defensive third
37' - Throw in 10 yards from Colorado endline, threw ball out of bounds for a goal kick with no United players within 15 yards
38' - Tackle, backpass
40' - Pass upfield
42' - Missed tackle led to Colorado chance, Rapids foul
43' - Lofts ball to Colorado despite not being pressured

END OF 1ST HALF

2ND HALF

46' - Missed crossing pass
47' - Throw-in, 50/50 ball
47' - Throw-in square
47' - Back Pass
47' - Overlapping run on right side
49' - Throw-in forward, struck square ball at thigh level, difficult ball to control
50' - Forward pass
50' - Bad offensive positioning, too close to be effective
51' - Backpass
51' - Backpass
52' - Burned by Henderson after losing header to Chung, lack of step kept Peguero onside and gives Colorado eventual winning goal after United had tied the game
53' - Dribbled out of the back and lost with no cover immediately behind
55' - Didn't cut off the line, missed tackle after recovering, Colorado eventually offside
57' - Won header directly to Colorado, led to Rapid shot on goal
59' - Backpass
60' - Overlapping run, slow recovery
61' - Beaten by pass, fouled during double team
61' - Headed out for Corner Kick
62' - Beaten by Powell, header shot over bar
62' - Backpass
62' - Square ball
63' - Square ball
63' - Received give and go, lost possession on first touch
65' - Recovers well from United corner kick
66' - Backpass
66' - Square ball
66' - Square ball
67' - Soft pressure does not disrupt Colorado attack
68' - Misses mark, Rapid shot on goal
69' - Missed header on defense
NOTE--At this point, Colorado drops into 1 forward set and lowers level of pressure by 20+ yards and also decreases intensity of pressure by attackers
70' - Lost ball, foul called against Rapid player
72' - Successful forward pass under no pressure
73' - Intercepts ball, passes forward, beats man and forces Corner Kick
74' - No pressure, pass forward
76' - Square ball
79' - Lost header
82' - Soft defense, fouled
84' - Bad positioning led to Colorado cross, bad positioning on crossed ball led to shot from within 10 yards
86' - Ball forward, lost to Rapids
87' - Heavy square pass
88' - Heavy cross leads to United Corner kick
89' - Long ball to Colorado
90' - Lets ball bounce out for throw-in, square throw-in
91' - Loses ball, toe pokes forward to United player
92' - Stokes header over bar
93' - Square ball

END OF GAME

As I predicted, Stokes started, United didn't win. In fact, United lost because of two horrendous errors that led to the only goals the Rapids scored.

[DutchFootballRulez]

I have nothing to say...

[Th4119]

Overall:

Stokes was slightly better tonight than on Wednesday versus LA, but this can be expected because they were in a very defensively organized 4-5-1 which provides cover all over the field except up front.

He passes square and backwards way too much, only a handful of forward passes all night, and most of these were when Colorado dropped off after the 70th minute.

Despite being taller than everyone on the field, he didn't win even half of his headers.

His defensive positioning was bad.

The chance he missed over the bar was easier than Alecko's last year against the Metrostars, and Alecko was absolutely murdered on these boards because of that play. Some might say that it wasn't easier because the goalie was in better position, but the ball was hit a little below Stokes' height, making it absolutely perfect to drive down off the goal line and in. Intstead, it was inexplicably missed over the bar.

He was absolutely victimized numerous times on both goals. Most goals in soccer come from a series of mistakes that occur consecutively. Rarely in professional soccer (or any other level) does one player make the majority of mistakes that lead to a goal where multiple mistakes occured to create the opportunity.

[DutchFootballRulez]

I disagree a little about the header. Alecko was WIDE OPEN vs. The Metros. Not even a blade of grass was on him. Stokes' was still right there but someone was a little on his shoulder, and he was slightly turning into the header..but..they both shoulda scored. Goddammit!! My concern is Stokes always going forward. Maybe Nowak should try training him as a Forward..because if he's not going to cover crosses..maybe he can be a damned target..

[Jester64]

I disagree a little about the header. Alecko was WIDE OPEN vs. The Metros. Not even a blade of grass was on him. Stokes' was still right there but someone was a little on his shoulder, and he was slightly turning into the header..but..they both shoulda scored. Goddammit!! My concern is Stokes always going forward. Maybe Nowak should try training him as a Forward..because if he's not going to cover crosses..maybe he can be a damned target..

A good thought, and move Esky to defense, because he sure seems to be able to keep on his man. :rolleyes:

[Th4119]

I disagree a little about the header. Alecko was WIDE OPEN vs. The Metros. Not even a blade of grass was on him. Stokes' was still right there but someone was a little on his shoulder, and he was slightly turning into the header..but..they both shoulda scored. Goddammit!! My concern is Stokes always going forward. Maybe Nowak should try training him as a Forward..because if he's not going to cover crosses..maybe he can be a damned target..

Maybe, but the ball Etch hit Alecko was above him, and if Esky didn't have such good jumping ability, we'd be blaming Marco for hitting a bad ball.

Anyway, that's really not the main point of this thread at all...sorry I kind of steered it off track with that stuff.

[DutchFootballRulez]

I understand about the header...and yes I get the point. Esky continues to get Phantom cards.. somebody needs to take Stokes aside and say "hey, if you want to stay on this team, you have got to start showing some F'n effort on defense", we can give a P-40? Spot to someone else.

[footfetish]

Overall:

Stokes was slightly better tonight than on Wednesday versus LA, but this can be expected because they were in a very defensively organized 4-5-1 which provides cover all over the field except up front.

He passes square and backwards way too much, only a handful of forward passes all night, and most of these were when Colorado dropped off after the 70th minute.

Despite being taller than everyone on the field, he didn't win even half of his headers.

His defensive positioning was bad.

The chance he missed over the bar was easier than Alecko's last year against the Metrostars, and Alecko was absolutely murdered on these boards because of that play. Some might say that it wasn't easier because the goalie was in better position, but the ball was hit a little below Stokes' height, making it absolutely perfect to drive down off the goal line and in. Intstead, it was inexplicably missed over the bar.

He was absolutely victimized numerous times on both goals. Most goals in soccer come from a series of mistakes that occur consecutively. Rarely in professional soccer (or any other level) does one player make the majority of mistakes that lead to a goal where multiple mistakes occured to create the opportunity.brutally honest review for a brutal performance.

btw, the cowbell skit is on snl right now...

[unitedunited]

i got a fever, and the only cure is less david stokes.

[andylovesoccer]

At least Stokes didn't follow through on his attempted slide tackle during the first goal and give up a pk..........

There is SO much more wrong with this team than David Stokes it isn't even worth bringing up....ok, maybe it is worth bringing up.

...maybe they would have missed the pk?

[DutchFootballRulez]

No...

PKs are a whole 'nother thread in itself.

[MikeLastort2]

The Rapids second goal should've been called back for offside.

[mcontento]

Time to end this unholy experiment.

[vincero]

Although Stokes did not play well, your selective statements and judgements make it far from an "unbiased" assessment. For one, I am glad you were able to see that he kept the player onside(although he probably did). ;)

If you have a tape of the game could you do the same for some of the other players. I am sure a few others would look as bad.

[chayes]

You forgot to include that minute 63 was the first time Stokes touched the ball with his left foot.

Doesn't he have a year of college eligibilty left? Can we send him back to UNC for another year of seasoning?

[mellon002]

He seems to be too slow for his size. At least Pope was and is lean enough to move well. Stokes just doesn't have it. I know I shouldn't jump to these conclusions after just a couple of starts, but I haven't seen any glimpses of him being a great player.

[Jose L. Couso]

The Rapids second goal should've been called back for offside.
How did they miss that call!?!

[Jimbo]

Even if Stokes didn't keep the player onside for Colorado's second goal, his lack of pressure on the initial cross was the play that set up the goal. Stokes is very raw and unexperienced, and his lack of game experience shows up in a big time lack of confidence. After he got burned and made to look so foolish against Chung he didn't apply as much pressure on outside players which allowed them the time and space to make dangerous crosses.

Stokes needs to be playing games every week. Riding the pines for DC has not helped his game (at least based on his first two outings). What DC should do is put him on an A-league team, but with Nelson out DC doesn't have the defensive depth to do that. I remember when DC cut Reyes thinking to myself that this could backfire because, if we play a back four, we only have one reserve defender (and that includes playing Namoff, a career midfielder, in the back). I realized Nelson was going to be out for WC qualifiers, and thinking this means they're going to have to play Stokes. I wondered then how that would work out, and having a feeling that Stokes would finally have a chance to show Ray Hudson was wrong. Well, Ray, I apologize for those thoughts I had last year when you were playing Ivanov instead of Stokes.

[monster]

He sucked, but I feel a tiny bit better knowing that Traskson made a horrible error in drafting him instead of knowing that a talented player sat on the bench all of last season. At least we know that now. Doesn't change the outcome, but the mystery has been solved.

Peter has to pick up another defender somewhere.

[CHICO13]

He ain't no Eddie Pope, that's for damn sure.