Marco on Thursday

[biggi]

So is Marco suspended for Thursday's game?

BTW, it has become obvious in recent games that El Diablo is not the problem on the team. He may be a bit slower than he was but if he had a better supporting cast he would be just as effective as he was in the glory days. For example, his assists are down, but that is mostly because no one on the team has been able to score. In fact, Marco's passing into the box, both from the run of play and set pieces, has looked excellent of late. If the forwards could score Marco's assist numbers would be in the mid to high teens. We need stronger and faster forwards. Santino may be part of the answer but we need more and neither Q2 nor Zambrano seem to bring much to the table.

[EdTheRed]

Agreed - Diablo has been playing well lately. He'll never again be the player he was back in '96-'99, but he's certainly been one of our most consistent, and important, performers this season. With better finishing up front, his assist total would have been significantly better than it was this year.

Put me down as advocating another year of El Diablo, please.

[shawn12011]

I'm still not ready to give up on Q2. At 19 he has shown flashes but Zambrano is just here to play out the string.

[GUTuna]

Amen!

And most importantly, his effort has been through the roof. He's really been working his butt off, even on defense.

When Ray is looking for guys that aren't putting forth effort for their teammates, he won't be looking at Marco.

[dcc134]

Originally posted by shawn12011
I'm still not ready to give up on Q2. At 19 he has shown flashes but Zambrano is just here to play out the string.


Q2 is a young decent play, who I would imagine is pretty cheap. He is also hungry. Certainly would like to seem him around for another season.

Marco has also been playing balls out recently. I think he is happy to have Olsen back, who he took under his wing when Ben first came to the team. Also a keeper for another year. Marco is DCU.

[GlennAA11]

If we can find a way to keep Marco and Bobby together in the center of the midfield that would be good. I think it should be all up to Marco after what he's done for the club. He will really be missed on Thursday. It would be a shame if Saturday was his last game for us and we don't get to say goodbye properly.

[prospero]

Originally posted by biggi
So is Marco suspended for Thursday's game?




Apparently Marco isn't suspended. Only Brandon will miss Thursday.

http://www.dcunited.com/index.cfm?section=main&cont_id=129629

(last paragraph)

[TEConnor]

Originally posted by dcc134



Q2 is a young decent play, who I would imagine is pretty cheap. He is also hungry. Certainly would like to seem him around for another season.

Marco has also been playing balls out recently. I think he is happy to have Olsen back, who he took under his wing when Ben first came to the team. Also a keeper for another year. Marco is DCU.

I agree on both fronts.

After ripping Marco a new one after our losses to NY/NJ/CT/DE/PA/RI and NE, I now want to go on the record saying that he has really surprised me the past two matches. He's redeemed himself quite a bit. I would be happy to see him continue in this manner for several more games this season (hey, it's possible) and into next season.

Tim

[Aaron Stollar]

I agree too, after yesterday I am ready to give another year to Diablo, Mapp... and maybe Chino...

But to Jaime... Adios

[Lanky134]

Every manager, except OZ, seems to know that the way to beat United is to shadow Marco and get on his left foot. That's why Marco has looked better. Give Marco space and time, and he'll produce passes like the old days. But when he's forced to turn his back to the goal because he can't put the ball on his left, he winds up complaining to the ref.

His free kick attempts at goal have been pretty bad (Thursday was damn lucky and we all know it), and he refuses to shoot. None of that has changed over the past 2.5 years.

Dave

[Martin Fischer]

Originally posted by aaronstol
I agree too, after yesterday I am ready to give another year to Diablo, Mapp... and maybe Chino...

But to Jaime... Adios

You were really considering giving up on an 18-year old like Mapp?

[BudWiser]

Originally posted by Lanky134
Give Marco space and time, and he'll produce passes like the old days.

Before everything went through Diablo. Therefore DC was easy to defend-just put guys on Diablo and you slow down and clog the movement. The move of Convey to the middle has changed that dynamic. You can't focus on Diablo or Convey will take over.

I really like what I've seen of the Diablo-Convey middle. I wish Diablo could play Thursday and the year wouldn't end so we could see more of it

We probably won't make the playoffs now that we're looking good. D***

[TEConnor]

Originally posted by Lanky134
Every manager, except OZ, seems to know that the way to beat United is to shadow Marco and get on his left foot. That's why Marco has looked better. Give Marco space and time, and he'll produce passes like the old days. But when he's forced to turn his back to the goal because he can't put the ball on his left, he winds up complaining to the ref.

His free kick attempts at goal have been pretty bad (Thursday was damn lucky and we all know it), and he refuses to shoot. None of that has changed over the past 2.5 years.

Dave

Dave,

I believe that your analysis oversimplifies the strategy. People have tried from 1996 on to shadow Marco and mark him off his left. The only problem was that we had too many guns up front and on the wings to make this a viable strategy for the whole match...in turn, one of the wings (Harkes, Olsen, Iroha, even Kamler) or forwards (Moreno, mostly) would step up and make a series of big plays. This would free up space for Marco and allow him that opportunity that he needs. This has happened almost never since mid 2000.

What has failed him miserable the past few years is his ability to create ample space for himself when the rest of the team faulters. He is clearly two steps slower than most of the league. But he has shown a great deal of fitness this week...I was impressed with his movement, quickness, and running in both recent wins.

What has impressed me the last two matches is his intensity, concentration, and even his composure. He has been getting hacked up something fierce (especially up in the polluted north), yet kept plugging. His goal may have been lucky, but there were many excellent plays outside of the goal that he has made.

Cheers,
Tim

[Lanky134]

We'll see on Thursday when Deering has hacked him to pieces.

Dave

[Catch]

Can anyone direct me to where stats on caution points are held?

[Lowecifer]

Click Here (http://www.mlsnet.com/statistics/tmstats.html#dc)

The last column with the heading CP is caution points. I still can't figure out how Marco can be playing, since he hasn't serve a suspension since he passed the 21 pt mark.

[Cweedchop]

Originally posted by Lowecifer
Click Here (http://www.mlsnet.com/statistics/tmstats.html#dc)

The last column with the heading CP is caution points. I still can't figure out how Marco can be playing, since he hasn't serve a suspension since he passed the 21 pt mark.

Listening to the Soccer Show, Ed Morgans explained that the second suspension occurs 11 points after passing the 21 point barrier..

Marco was on 21 points and then received a 4 point caution to get to 25 points.. 11 + 25 = 36 points, therefore he is not suspended...

[Lowecifer]

Ahhhhh, I see. That was a brilliant maneuver by Marco pumping up his 21 point breaker that way!

;)

That is very good news for Thursday. He and young Robert Convey can continue developing their chemistry in the middle of the park.

[Catch]

Originally posted by Lowecifer
Click Here (http://www.mlsnet.com/statistics/tmstats.html#dc)

The last column with the heading CP is caution points...

Thanks. Anyone know how this caution point system got started? I mean, there isn't one say in the EPL, right? Were forwards getting hacked down so often in the early years (like Moreno) that a system had to be created?

[Jose L. Couso]

Marco is playing on Thursday!

I feel must better!

"Let the HOUNDS loose!"