Practice Notes 10-25-2002

[revelation]

Feast on these:

http://unitedmania.mlsfansites.com/story.php?news_ID=200810&PHPSESSID=b701b4c7cb83745387dac80bfb207f10

A great picture of where Hudson is taking DC United, some of the problems he sees and Bobby Convey's role with the team...

Good work Diceson...

[Bison1997]

Great job as usual Diceson!

[DC Forever]

Great stuff as always, Dice. Lots to chew on.

So if not Bobby in the middle, and Etch is either gone or gets hurt, who??? Nobody who's on the roster right now, as far as I can tell. The same argument that Ray's making about Convey goes double for Olsen -- he might be adequate (or even slightly better than that) in the middle, but we'd be robbing ourselves of the most dangerous outside player in the league.

As long as we're looking at guys playing left-side defense at Ajax, can't we find a million dollars worth of cap room and get John O'Brien? He'd be a perfect fit -- short, injured most of the time, performs better for country than club . . . .he's the perfect United player.

[CHICO13]

It'll be great seeing Brian Kamler again.

[dadman]

Originally posted by CHICO13
It'll be great seeing Brian Kamler again. You beat me to it, Chico. Always one of my favorites. It will be good to see you back in black, Brian.

dadman

[Th4119]

Originally posted by CHICO13
It'll be great seeing Brian Kamler again.

You beat me too it as well man. One of my favorite players and one of the nicest players (and person in general) that I have ever met.

[DCU]

We've gone from Wrongway Wrongen to Ray "The Chattering Clown" Hudson. Anyone want to let Ray in on the little secret that racking up frequent flyer miles abroad has not been the way to success in MLS? How about Ray tries something new and different: scouting american players and actually coaching. Woah. There's a concept.

[Th4119]

Originally posted by DCU
We've gone from Wrongway Wrongen to Ray "The Chattering Clown" Hudson. Anyone want to let Ray in on the little secret that racking up frequent flyer miles abroad has not been the way to success in MLS? How about Ray tries something new and different: scouting american players and actually coaching. Woah. There's a concept.

Ray Hudson, Trask, and Kasper can't wait until the Conference tournaments around here to scout local college talent?

Did it say that Trask and Kasper aren't scouting at all?

[Atouk]

Originally posted by DCU
Anyone want to let Ray in on the little secret that racking up frequent flyer miles abroad has not been the way to success in MLS?Yeah, because Reyes wasn't a great addition for us this year and that Ruiz fellow didn't do much for LA, nor did Garcia for the Crew in last night's USOC final. It's a mix, and part of the mix is finding the best bang for the buck abroad.

[Th4119]

Moreno through a fitness program until at least Christmas...I like that a lot.

We know that if he half asses that one then he's out of there by New Years.

[DCU]

Freddie Garcia is a marginal left-sided midfielder. The Galaxy made last year's MLS Cup final without Ruiz. It's also unclear whether the 2002 Galaxy would've beaten the 2001 Quakes. In fact, you could make a case that the 2002 Galaxy were better than the 2001 Gals not because of Ruiz, but because of Tyrone Marshall's outstanding play. Yes, the guy who came from that great foreign club, the Miami Fusion. How successful were DC United this season? Guess Reyes wasn't enough, eh? I sure am proud that United had more "big name" foreigners than the Revs this year because that's obviously what it takes to get to MLS Cup.

Face facts, United have a European wash-out who was out of Newcastle almost before he could drive. The Revs have a coach who had an illustrious career with Liverpool. One's a shyster. The other delivers.

Atouk, since you apparently have the free time due to a lack of social commitments, why not volunteer to do the scouting for the Chattering Clown?

[The Lieutenant]

"Lighten up Francis."

[EdTheRed]

Originally posted by DCU
Freddie Garcia is a marginal left-sided midfielder. The Galaxy made last year's MLS Cup final without Ruiz. It's also unclear whether the 2002 Galaxy would've beaten the 2001 Quakes. In fact, you could make a case that the 2002 Galaxy were better than the 2001 Gals not because of Ruiz, but because of Tyrone Marshall's outstanding play. Yes, the guy who came from that great foreign club, the Miami Fusion. How successful were DC United this season? Guess Reyes wasn't enough, eh? I sure am proud that United had more "big name" foreigners than the Revs this year because that's obviously what it takes to get to MLS Cup.

Face facts, United have a European wash-out who was out of Newcastle almost before he could drive. The Revs have a coach who had an illustrious career with Liverpool. One's a shyster. The other delivers.

Atouk, since you apparently have the free time due to a lack of social commitments, why not volunteer to do the scouting for the Chattering Clown?

Ruiz scored 32 goals in 32 games. You could make the case that it was Marshall and not Ruiz that made the 2002 Gals better than 2001...you could make it, and then I'd laugh at you.

[Knave]

Originally posted by DCU
Face facts, United have a European wash-out who was out of Newcastle almost before he could drive. The Revs have a coach who had an illustrious career with Liverpool. One's a shyster. The other delivers.
I'm quite skeptical about the apparent claim that the major difference between the Revs and DC United are the respective coaches. First of all, it's not really clear that either coach delivers. The Revs barely made it into the playoffs. I repeat - they barely made it into the playoffs. We could have eeked in there just as easily as the Revs had we - say - won those games against KC. And it's conceivable that we could have. Then the Revs put on a good run but they too were almost tripped up by the Crew. The fact is the Crew were the better team in that series despite the fact that the Revs came out ahead in the end. So tell me - what really did Nicols deliver? Was there really that much difference in quality between the Revs and DC United?

I don't think there was. So your assesment that Nicols delivers and that Hudson is a shyster sounds dubious to me.

And, of yeah, lay off Atouk.

[McOwen]

I would take Reyes and Ruiz over just about any player in MLS and I BLEED red white and blue... Blindly anti-foreign as opposed to blindly pro-foreign is hardly a solution. We are looking for a star caliber goal scorer. --Not many of those in the USA.

--I also hope that Ray's comments on Bobby C. put some perspective on this "Marco is out and Bobby can assume the mantle in the middle" crap. Bobby is talented but not a superstar. I will buy the entire Nest/Barra a beer if he ever becomes one.

Rag on Ray's skills all you want but if Newcastle is saying "[snip]he’s not an interior player. They loved his pace. That’s where his strength is [outside]." I believe them. Especially after seeing how he played in the middle with my own eyes.

--also just out of curiousity. Why is it in our team's interests to "audition" players at Newcastle? I understand that the players benefit from it, but how exactly does the team? What did we ever get out of Ben's trip to Forrest? If we sell them we lose our brightest prospects for...? It sure isnt money the way "MSL" i set up.
--Seriously this is not an attack on anything. I want to know if anyone has an idea as to how DC UNITED benefits.

[Jose L. Couso]

Great report Diceson!

Thanks for the link revelation!

[DigitalTron]

Yet another great report Diceson. Thank you for the wonderful reporting! :D

OK, people love to rag on Sormun, but let's admit it, he said we stunk, and we finished last in the league. Now people are ragging on DCU because he is saying the coach isn't good enough, and that the coach needs to utilize Americans or players already within MLS to become good. United is in dead last. Even when Rongen was around we weren't in dead last. Let's not crucify DCU, because if the proof is in the results, he's got several valid points.

His point about Marshall should be well taken. The LA Galaxy won the league because of their defense, not their offense. I'm not taking anything away from Ruiz, because IMHO, he fully deserved the MVP award. But, the LA Galaxy put up the best defense in the league with a 3 man back line consisting of the mediocre Tyronne Marshall, the slow and hacking Danny Califf, and the ultra-slow but wily veteran Alexi Lalas. Granted, they employed at least 2 Dmids at all times (and often 3), but it was the defense that got them there. Tyronne Marshall was a very good pickup for them. I didn't expect Marshall to do so well, but Sigi coaches some mean organizational defense.

As for 2001 Galaxy vs. 2002 Galaxy, Hernandez had a decent year last season, but Cobi was around the whole time. This season Cobi was with the Nats a lot, so Ruiz had less help and stepped it up considerably more. Which is better? Well the Galaxy won MLS Cup this season, so I'm a firm believer that this team was better.

DCU never said that Hudson shouldn't add SI's, he was just saying that Hudson shouldn't ignore players already in MLS. At least that's how I understood it.

-Tron

[DigitalTron]

Hudson said:
That’s difficult because the curtain is drawn on the season. The chances have been given. Opportunities have been extended. We cannot go back in time and meddle in that and put lipstick on a pig.
To me this clearly drew the line for Moreno and Etch. Hudson wants to clear the dead weight, and he views Moreno as dead salary cap weight. Hudson acknowledged that the decision may not entirely be his. Obviously Petrosian working with him is a wake-up call for fitness. No fitness, no more contract.

Ray almost said something about the salary cap next season. I wonder if it's moving up, and if so, by how much? 1.8M?

-Tron

[DigitalTron]

Regarding Convey, listen to what Ray said. His comments were based upon what various English clubs said to him. Why did they think he was better as a winger? Because Convey played almost the entire last three years at left wing, and when he practiced at Tottenham and played at White Hart Lane he did so as a left winger. Also, left footed players who have impressive dribbling, passing and crossing skills are a precious commodity.

I think the English clubs can see him playing winger very soon, but think that it would take longer before he was ready to handle running the club in the middle. Why? Because the English game is much more aerial than MLS. The standard offense in the EPL is one of two things: 1) Long ball over the top of the defense to spring a counter attack, or 2) play the ball into the corner so the winger can drive a cross back into the middle where you can head on goal. In that system the central midfielders are much more defensive and ball-holding midfielders and the wingers are more creative at generating offense.

The English were just saying that Convey has a great ability to get off a cross, but isn't as advanced at defense or ball-holding. I agree. But, if they employed a system where more offense was generated through the middle, or they utilize team speed and quick combinations to play through midfield, then they would value Convey's skills more centrally.

IMHO, Convey is tailor made for the center. His style doesn't jive witht he English style predominant today, but is more like the quick combinations of many South American teams. Ever notice how the South Americans playing in Europe tend to be forwards rather than attacking midfielders? It's a style thing IMHO.

-Tron

[DigitalTron]

OK, who knows Ajax well enough to give us the skinny on who the 22 or 23 year old left back is, and what are his strengths and weaknesses?

It sounds like Ray already has some players ready to sign. I hope that's the case. Id Maxi Lopez a legitimate possibility or who else might the Argentinian be? I've been racking my brain, but I have no idea who the Polish player is. I don't think it's Dawid Topolski.

Oh yeah, the comments on Convey make me think that Ray has ruled out David Ginola. Otherwise he wouldn't be so adamant about taking a very successful central playmaking Convey and putting him back to winger.

-Tron