Kansas @ United POST Match Press [R]

[MattR]

United's Defense Holds On

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/13/AR2006051301368.html?nav=rss_sports

[Hedbal]

"Meanwhile, Moreno was fading from the match...but Novak declined to make any changes."

I don't remember Goff coming this close to criticizing Novak's (lack of) substitution policy before.

[ohmywhatafinish]

He is off on this one. The defense was communicating and coordinating well, even though it was Perkins that saved their bacon. And Alecko was not shouldered onto the pitch: The defender hip checked him, which is not permitted in soccer.

Moreno needs to subbed out. He doesn't have a full 90 minutes in him.

[Section106]

...Moreno needs to subbed out. He doesn't have a full 90 minutes in him...


I think Filomeno should start and Moreno should come on for the second half. Just my opinion.

[Knave]

United edges KC for first place (http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20060514-124554-5639r.htm) - Haydon, Washington Times

[roadkit]

He is off on this one. The defense was communicating and coordinating well, even though it was Perkins that saved their bacon. And Alecko was not shouldered onto the pitch: The defender hip checked him, which is not permitted in soccer.

Moreno needs to subbed out. He doesn't have a full 90 minutes in him.

I think Filomeno should start and Moreno should come on for the second half. Just my opinion.

I think y'all oughta be careful about criticizing Moreno's play - I made similar observations after the first few games and was pilloried for it. ;)

[Hedbal]

I think y'all oughta be careful about criticizing Moreno's play - I made similar observations after the first few games and was pilloried for it. ;)

I've been criticizing Moreno's play all season and have gotten away with it probably because nobody listens to me

[roadkit]

I've been criticizing Moreno's play all season and have gotten away with it probably because nobody listens to me

:D

I just think Moreno's level of effort leaves a lot to be desired. I don't know what the problem is, but if he can't go 90, then he needs to have a heart-to-heart with Nowak and decide how he is going to fit in. I don't necessarily buy this "he turns it on when he has to" argument. Sometimes the opponent has a lot to do with "when you need to turn it on."

[bigredfutbol]

I think Filomeno should start and Moreno should come on for the second half. Just my opinion.

Jaime is too creative and too important to the attack for us to wait 70 minutes to get him on the pitch. Granted, his season has got off to a slow start (although he played well last night), but doesn't Jaime Moreno--of all DC United players--deserve a little benefit of the doubt?

I firmly believe that the guy needs to be subbed off at some point in the second half--he's having a hard time going the full 90 these days. But that's Nowak's fault (IMHO) for not subbing him--why punish Moreno by benching him?

[GrillMaster]

If you want to maintain possession of the ball, subbing off Jaime would be foolish. We needed to maintain possession therefore Jaime stayed on. He also blistered a 20 yd shot very late in the game (around the 86th minute I think) that BO did well to save.

You guys are free to criticize away. In case you haven't checked, DC is in first place and only one point from the supporters' shield race, with a game in hand. :rolleyes:

GM

[DCM]

You guys are free to criticize away. In case you haven't checked, DC is in first place and only one point from the supporters' shield race, with a game in hand. :rolleyes:

GM

Anyway. When we start losing, then start worrying.

Go back 3-4 years and remember Etch disappearing for long stretches....and we were losing. Now we're in first place, and it's a long season. I'd rather Jaime go a little easy in spots during the regular season when we're already up by a goal....and be fresh and healthy come the playoffs.

[GoDC]

I thought last night was one of Jaime's best games this year. He held the ball well and usually found teammates when he was double and triple teamed. My only real complaint about last night is I am not sure the midfielders really knew what formation they were playing. Mediate seemed to be playing wide and Freddy tucked in but you surely can't expect Adu or Gomez to help Carroll with the defensive duties over an extended stretch of games. But we got the win so it looks good today.

[Cweedchop]

Jaime is too creative and too important to the attack for us to wait 70 minutes to get him on the pitch. Granted, his season has got off to a slow start (although he played well last night), but doesn't Jaime Moreno--of all DC United players--deserve a little benefit of the doubt?

I firmly believe that the guy needs to be subbed off at some point in the second half--he's having a hard time going the full 90 these days. But that's Nowak's fault (IMHO) for not subbing him--why punish Moreno by benching him?

I agree with everything you say above except for the "deserve a little benefit of the doubt" comment.

We are way past this now. We did this for Etcheverry and it dragged on for years before we finally threw in the towel.

Now I'm not suggesting Jaime is on a similar path. I thought last night was one of his better games in terms of possession and getting rid of the ball quickly. He also set a few teamates up with golden opportunities to score goals. That right now is all we need from Jaime. He doesn't and won't carry the scoring load for this team.


The fact that this team is 7 games into the season with only one loss and a slew of other goalscorers aside from Jaime is nothing but good news. Having to depend on Jaime for everything would be a bad case scenario for United right now.

As stated above, his presence on the field is distracting enough to our opponents and that is why Alecko, Josh, Christian, Jamil and Freddy are getting scoring opps.

I do however think that he needs to come off earlier just so he will have something in the tank at the end of the season. I don't know if Nowak is willing to make that move just yet.

[geordienation]

I think Filomeno should start and Moreno should come on for the second half. Just my opinion.


When did Flannigan get your password?

[Section106]

To answer some of the above posts, I'm not suggesting to sub in Moreno late in the game. Rather I'm saying give Filo the 1st and Jaime the 2nd. Jaime has been his most dangerous this year against tired defenders late in the game. We could really use a fresh Jaime when teams start to get stretched.

And I like Filo. I think he needs more time to gel. It bugs me that we don't have a dedicated player that stays forward during the match other than Filo. We've scored at least three goals this year from a player laying a ball off for a trailing player to strike. I can't help but see Filo being able to hold the ball with his back to goal and then laying it off for an on-rushing Eski, Gomez, or Olsen. Then bring on Jaime to run at defenders or create. Just my opinion.

[bigredfutbol]

I agree with everything you say above except for the "deserve a little benefit of the doubt" comment.

We are way past this now. We did this for Etcheverry and it dragged on for years before we finally threw in the towel.

Yes, but with Jaime we're talking a handful of games, not two or three subpar seasons. But I get your point.

[JayRockers!]

I love what replaced Tony Kornheiser in the print edition of the Post today.

Thx,

Jay!