Goff :: United stays calm despite skid

[geordienation]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101101807.html?nav=smv


The club has shown signs of returning to the midseason form that sparked a 14-game unbeaten streak and a 13-1-6 record by late July, with four goals against New York three weeks ago and an abundance of opportunities during a 2-1 loss to New England last weekend. But its failure to sustain quality play over the course of a game has put into question whether United, despite its sterling record, truly is a championship contender.

[Tweaked]

Why does this all remind me of last season...dont worry we'll be fine, once the playoffs start this will turn around. don't worry be happy.

blah, blah, blah. :(

[LN - Dougg]

I don't want them to stay calm... I want them to pissed off... I want them to be ready to rip someone's head off as soon as the whistle blows this Sunday... We don't need this "mellow out" attitude right now.. We are the #1 seeded team, we need to have a "take no prisoners" attitude... The playoffs begin this Sunday in my opinion... Stop chillin', get focused, show great determination and make this game on Sunday a statement game.

[onefineesq]

Why does this all remind me of last season...dont worry we'll be fine, once the playoffs start this will turn around. don't worry be happy.

blah, blah, blah. :( I wasn't terribly concerned last year. Remember, LA went into the playoffs after getting hammered by San Jose (at home, wasn't it), and they ended up beating San Jose the next week and eventually winning MLS Cup. The problem I had last year was that almost everyone seemed to be very dismissive of Chicago, thinking it was going to be an easy victory. There was too much of an air of overconfidence. This year, it seems to be one of denial. Again, to compare to LA of last year, at least that team seemed to understand that they had to raise their game and bust their tails to win, as seen by their comments leading to the playoffs. We're still hearing too much about injuries, referees, bad bounces, no motivation, etc., for my liking. I am just not convinced that this team is mentally prepared when they do nothing but roll out a bunch of tired excuses again and again.

[BigKris]

I don't want them to stay calm... I want them to pissed off... I want them to be ready to rip someone's head off as soon as the whistle blows this Sunday... We don't need this "mellow out" attitude right now.. We are the #1 seeded team, we need to have a "take no prisoners" attitude... The playoffs begin this Sunday in my opinion... Stop chillin', get focused, show great determination and make this game on Sunday a statement game.

Hear, hear. You took the rant right out of my mouth.

That said, I do have to agree that we've been playing more dangerous-looking soccer over the past couple of weeks (NY and NE); it does feel like an improvement.

[GrillMaster]

At the mini golf tourney many of us reminded the players what we expected from them. I don't think they are complacent and I know that KP and PN have expressed to them the extreme distaste of being out-muscled. Chicago on Sunday is an excellent interim test to see what the playoff form will be like. If there are prisoners taken on Sunday, the boys will soon be playing golf and we'll be wondering what to do with ourselves.

GM

[revelation]

I am just not convinced that this team is mentally prepared when they do nothing but roll out a bunch of tired excuses again and again.

But the referees didn't give us the calls...our team is injured...blah, be-blah, be-blah...

Less whining - more winning!

We'll see this weekend if this team is good enough to wear the shirt. Last weekend against the Revolution, they proved that the team doesn't play the full ninety and is going to roll over when faced against someone that wants it more.

Frankly, I'm tired of the smoke that Nowak et alia has been blowing up my arse...

Prove that 2004 wasn't a fluke due to Gomez's introduction in late summer so teams didn't know how to react to him! Make the case that you are better than Rongen!

Set DC United to kill!!! :mad:

[BigKris]

Interesting to read the point in Goff's article about consistency in the lineup. This once again brings up the question of what you do with the wings when you have all three of Gros, Donnet, and Adu available. (Adu becomes "available" on the wings if/when Esky returns up top.) Do you go with what worked during the early part of the season and play Adu and Gros on the wings? Or does Donnet bump one of them? If so, who?

[griffin1108]

Interesting to read the point in Goff's article about consistency in the lineup. This once again brings up the question of what you do with the wings when you have all three of Gros, Donnet, and Adu available. (Adu becomes "available" on the wings if/when Esky returns up top.) Do you go with what worked during the early part of the season and play Adu and Gros on the wings? Or does Donnet bump one of them? If so, who?

Gros is one of the starters due to work rate & size. Adu is the other for the following reasons: 1) he is left-footed while Donnet shows less of a left foot than Adu does his right; 2) Donnet may be smaller than Adu if possible; 3) while neither is a defensive specialist, Adu is the "better" defender. That doesn't mean Donnet doesn't play, I just look at him as a sub for Adu/Gomez sometime around minute 70 depending on circumstances. I think Donnet's true value comes next year as one to spell Gomez and/or replace Adu (if he leaves). Right now he is a very skilled and experienced sub if Gros & Esky are both available for duty.

[Knave]

When I read this:
D.C. United's players and coaches will tell you there is nothing to worry about, that the outcome of the past dozen matches is no indication of the club's true character and, when the MLS postseason arrives, they will be back on course for a fifth championship.
I thought this:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/brl/iraqiinformationminister.jpg

Alas ... :(

[Sundevil9]

Gros is one of the starters due to work rate & size. Adu is the other for the following reasons: 1) he is left-footed while Donnet shows less of a left foot than Adu does his right; 2) Donnet may be smaller than Adu if possible; 3) while neither is a defensive specialist, Adu is the "better" defender. That doesn't mean Donnet doesn't play, I just look at him as a sub for Adu/Gomez sometime around minute 70 depending on circumstances. I think Donnet's true value comes next year as one to spell Gomez and/or replace Adu (if he leaves). Right now he is a very skilled and experienced sub if Gros & Esky are both available for duty.

Another late game option would be to put Donnet in the middle of the field as a sub for Olsen. (If we're looking for a goal)

[TOTC]

Another late game option would be to put Donnet in the middle of the field as a sub for Olsen. (If we're looking for someone to put the ball in Donnet)

F'd your p.

[Hedbal]

Another late game option would be to put Donnet in the middle of the field as a sub for Olsen. (If we're looking for a goal)

I haven't seen much in his play that indicates he is a natural wide player. He still doesn't do enough defending for my taste, but at least he can't be worse than Walker out there. Still, he did pretty well in the one game where he played inside with, I think, Gomez and Olsen.

[nobletea]

There are three components to the results lately I think:
1. urgency (has been almost none)
2. inconsistent and erratic midfield (save for Gomez, due to injuries/suspensions)
3. No Esky. Whether you want to consider it a credit to his quality or not is up to you, but I believe the makeup of this team requires his finishing mentality and ability to strike a ball from almost anywhere on a whim.

Urgency can be corrected for the playoffs. The second two are where I don't see speedy corrections in time for a playoff run.

Also, regarding the Donnet/Adu/Gros situation I don't see a problem. It's called a rotation. It's what we should have been doing all season. And the season before that. Some players need to not take it so personally if they don't play every minute of every single game.

[scarshins]

Back to the original lineup. Sucks for Donnet, who's done OK the past few games, but team chemistry and confidence are needed. And Esky needs to come through.

[bigredfutbol]

Whether you want to consider it a credit to his quality or not is up to you, but I believe the makeup of this team requires his finishing mentality and ability to strike a ball from almost anywhere on a whim..

I think what Esky brings is the danger that we might strike from anywhere, without warning. The rest of the offensive players--who I love--love to create intricate build-ups, looking for the perfect shot. While impressive, that allows defenses the luxary of adjusting themselves to that approach. When you have Esky's speed and balls-out aggressiveness, it makes it harder for another team to account for.

[Sundevil9]

3. No Esky. Whether you want to consider it a credit to his quality or not is up to you, but I believe the makeup of this team requires his finishing mentality and ability to strike a ball from almost anywhere on a whim.


The issue is that even when Esky is on the field, we still may be in a "No Esky" situation.

When he's clicking along, you're absolutely right. But since he's been in his slump/hampered by injury, having him on the field has done little to help other players.

Esky and his aggresive play and anticipation, though are indeed critical to this team.

[Funkfoot]

I bet the people re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic were calm, too.

[bigredfutbol]

I bet the people re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic were calm, too.

Yeah, well, they had a band.

[MattMathai]

Yeah, well, they had a band.

And they were playing "Nearer, my God, To Thee" which I understand has a profoundly calming effect upon the soon-to-drown.