Match in Retrospect

[Sweeper]

Good solid win by DC, no complaints here. Both red cards were well deserved, and DC deserved the win, hands down. Even when the rain was coming down in buckets, DC still swung the ball around and made Metro defend for most of the match. Solid lineup on the field for DC over all, a nice blend of grit and flair, though Alegria does run like a muppet (the full body hunch).

How has Olsen's recovery been? Does he look fit? I am sure you are sick of being asked this question, but he is a missing piece to the Nats, and with no true wide right option, I for one am hopeful he will recover and be back patrolling our side come 2003.....

Also good to see that Villegas is still dumb and awful yet brilliant at times. Some things never change.
Peace. Riiiiight.

[GrillMaster]

Thanks, Sweep! Has your Jersey inversion ended yet? [pun intended]

GM

[GoDC]

If only we could finish we would be OK!!!

Olsen is slowly coming back. Saturday he was not very good but he was dead after playing 90 minutes Thursday. He was cramping up but still continued to fight and give total effort. Thursday when he was trying to beat Chrono was the first time I have seen him really try to take people on 1 v 1. I think it will be next year before we can evaluate whether he will make it all the way back and get into the picture for the USMNT.

[JoeW]

I agree with GoDC. Olsen has shown high work rate since coming back (he acts like a guy who isn't leery of any injury or doesn't have any body parts he's afraid of hurting--a true maniac on a mission!). I don't think he has his great first step back yet--only time will tell if that is a casualty of all the injuries or if he's going to regain it. His technical ability also isn't what it was (as you'd expect from someone who hasn't played meaningful soccer in almost 2 years).

Clearly he's a major contributor at the club level. Next year might tell as far as the USMNT.

[Lanky134]

The effort is still there, and that's why I was disagreeing with GrillMaster re: Villegas v. Olsen's performance. If two guys aren't playing well but one is putting in the effort, I'll back him to the hilt.

I don't like that Ray has kept him in for the full 90 since the first SJ game. True, we don't have many options right now, but his drop-off becomes very noticeable, especially when he plays two games in three days (he ain't Namoff, fer chrissakes!).

Dave

[Red&Black]

in addition to the conditioning/fitness issues raised above, to me, the thing he is missing now is the killer last touch. whether it is a cross or pass, he hasn't quite got the magic back.

frankly, this is mostly the result of conditioning most likely. it is often the case that a player's final touch eludes them until their legs/lungs catch up.

[monster]

To me, the most important thing about Ben's comeback is that the opposition has to at least pay attention to our right-sided midfielder, who they could afford to lose track of in the past.

[Red&Black]

Originally posted by Sweeper
Good solid win by DC, no complaints here. Both red cards were well deserved, and DC deserved the win, hands down.

i thought the first was a good card at the stadium but when i got home i saw a replay and i didn't think it was that bad. i think the guy had a quick trigger in reaction to thursday night's slugfest. in fact, the match was suprisingly clean i thought.

i thought we played with a bit more urgency than metros, which suprised me a bit. we also got something out of some guys (curtis, namoff) that we haven't for a long while.

[Cweedchop]

Originally posted by monster
To me, the most important thing about Ben's comeback is that the opposition has to at least pay attention to our right-sided midfielder, who they could afford to lose track of in the past.

Bingo Brian, bingo....


Teams looking over and seeing a Villegas or an Alavanja simply chuckle at the anticipated upcoming 90 minutes..

With Olsen over there (winded or not), opponents know their in for a long 90 minutes....