How far will DC go in the playoffs?

[Funkfoot]

The thrill of victory or the agony of defeat? I can't see us getting past the first round, myself. What do you think?

[Stan Collins]

We've still had something of a lock on NY, even during the bad stretch. Then against NE or Chi second round I can't like our chances.

[bigredfutbol]

Well, obviously homefield advantage means ********-all to this team right now. I say we lose in the EC final. Godammit. :mad:

[uniteo]

We've still had something of a lock on NY, even during the bad stretch. Then against NE or Chi second round I can't like our chances.

I like 'em a lot better against NE

[Bootsy Collins]

It pains me to say it, but right now even Jersey is playing better soccer than we are.

[Keenan]

Unless the team can flip a switch, I say we lose in Eastern Conf. Final no matter if we play NE or CHI. We simply are not playing bad enough to be ousted by the Red Bulls, but there is no way in the world we win against NE, but really would not beat Chicago. They have our number! :mad:

[Winoman]

It pains me to say it, but right now even Jersey is playing better soccer than we are.

I agree, but I still think we can advance to the 2nd round. We're out after two, though. To dream of a fifth MLS Cup is a pipe-dream. And I wish someone would pass the pipe!

[vivzig]

Either New England or Chicago can kick our asses with impunity. So it matters not whether we lose or win agains RBNY.

[Doctor Woo]

Can anyone come up with the answer to the $64000 Question: Why? Is it coincidence, but has it been since Donnet has been with the team? Did we have a more potent attack with Gros and Adu? I mean, Boca got rid of him for some reason. He has had one incredible goal, but hasn't distinguished himself too much either on offense or defense.

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame him at all. He seems to have skills, but is it like Filomeno all over? Looks great but the sum is less than the parts.

(Nomex fire suit on. Flame away! I can take your best shot.)

[Publius]

I see us flaming out against NY, primarily based on DC's lack of form lately. NY does seem to be one team that hasn't prospered against DC since United's swoon began, so we should beat them. If we do advance past NY in a convincing manner it might be enough to right the ship in time to win the conference final and MLS Cup, but I'm not holding my breath.

[LN - Dougg]

Passes the pipe...

MLS Cup baby!!!!

[Bootsy Collins]

Is it coincidence, but has it been since Donnet has been with the team?
No. It's been since before that -- really, since Filomeno left. No, I'm not saying that's why we've slumped; but that's exactly when it became obvious.


Don't get me wrong, I don't blame him at all. He seems to have skills, but is it like Filomeno all over? Looks great but the sum is less than the parts.

(Nomex fire suit on. Flame away! I can take your best shot.)
I definitely won't flame you, but I very much disagree. I was never much impressed by Filomeno; I'm quite frequently impressed by Donnet. Even tonight, which was one of his worst games since he got here, I thought he had more composure on the ball, and better ball control in the face of aggressive defense, than anyone on the team except Gomez.

He's not getting behind the opposing defense much on the wing. I don't know whether he's lacking too much speed, or whether there are pass-timing issues with his teammates, or whether it's just the quality of the balls he's being sent. But further, when he does have the chance to get a decent cross off, he's usually stymied by the fact that nobody has made near- and far-post runs; there's nobody to cross to. So he can either send a useless ball into the defense, or he can try to backpass or dribble his way out of jail. None of the above are likely to turn out great.

[hexagone]

I'm surprised so many of you think we have no chance of beating NE.

I know we lost to them last week, but I was not impressed by them and, especially when we bear in mind that getting to play against would mean we managed to oust NY-NJ, I'm convinced we could beat 'em. I'm not saying we definitely would, but we definitely could.

[Nick_78]

I still haven't given up hope. They haven't been playing great, in fact they've been playing pretty poorly. But even in the current slump it isn't as though they're being totally dominated. Which, by the way, is what is making it so damn frustrating to watch. The games they're losing are games they could have easily drawn and the games they're drawing are games they could have easily won.

My prediction, they will either succeed gloriously or fail spectacularly.

[JeremyEritrea]

We are gonna win MLS Cup!!!

[Jimbo]

I think DC will make it to the Cup. I'm a Detroit Tiger fan. They looked like crap over the last month of the season and lost the division crown on the last day of the season to the Royals. But in the playoffs they've been on fire. I'm looking for DC to do the same thing, to turn up the intensity and make us forget the last month of the season.

[John L]

To correct a Thread started in mid August

ITS TIME TO PANIC !!


Good signs - Esky is almost back - Willing to strike more quickly and make sumtin out of apparently nuttin - Adu is getting assists - I'm not worried about his lack of goals since he continues to improve on his team play - Gros has his focus back - He's always had the intensity and wheels, he just needs to stay within his game - Simms can be still a wonderful addition and stabilizing influence on Defense, but unfortunately he came in when we were down

Speaking of which - I still think emphasizing a more Defensive line-up to start would be helpful - Four Fullbacks with Gross, Erpen, Boswell, and Namoff/Prideaux in back - And either Four Halfbacks with Carroll behind Gomez and Olsen and Adu (or Donnet) on the wings & Esky and Moreno up top - Or Three Halfbacks with Gomez and Olsen and Donnet on the side & Adu and Esky and Moreno up top - I would prefer a 4-4-2 with the outside Fullbacks making frequent runs, which would bring us to a 3-5-2 that can morph from right to left but still give us lots of concentration in the back

Bad signs - Everything still seems to depend on Gomez - I know he's our MVP but so do all our opponents - We need serious playmaking and scoring from other players as well - Monster forward still hasn't resurrected himself - Neither Esky nor Moreno have been assertive the past two months - I was really hoping SSJJ would get a shot on Sunday - And very important - The last free kick or corner kick score seems like it was against Celtic - We used to be incredible!! - Wha happened? - If we can score a free kick goal or two in the next two games (and the 3rd game if we get there), then we will have taken a giant step back on the road

I think we'll win against NYRB, so I'm pretty hopeful of advancing and even getting to the final again - But then I thought that way last year too

[Motterman]

If they perform well against New York in their first game, that should be all the momentum they need to make it to the Final. After that, anything can happen in a Cup Final.

[Sachin]

I believe the Scum will advance on forfeit. This team hasn't shown up in months.

Sachin

[nick]

Over the course of the season several things have become apparent.

1. Esky is absolutely critical to the offense
DC United is a different team with Esky on form. The current DC team without Esky lacks that lethal finisher, the player that runs right at the heart of the other teams defense and cracks the ball home. We have become entirely dependant on Esky filling that role. No one else has stepped forward to provide that kind of bite.

2. Moreno is fading
Moreno's age is finally catching up to him and the reality is his brilliant career is on the downside. He just does not have the legs to carry this team up front like he used to do.

3. Erpen takes too many chances
Erpen has loads of talent but it seems obvious why he never made it to the highest levels in the Argie League: Erpen lacks the disipline and concentration for the full 90 minutes to shut down his opponents. Too often Erpen is giving his oppenents too much room.

4. Erpen and Boswell's limits covered by the defensive midfielders
Both Erpen and Boswell have been exposed by big strong fast forwards running straight at them. For a good part of the season the defensive midfielders (Carrol/Olsen/Sims) were playing at an incredible level and just shut down anything infront of the back three.

Later in the season as DC's scoring faded they tried to get more into the attack which in turn made them vulnerable to counters. That was clearly evident yesterday as Chicago just ripped our D to shreds. I was remarking how we were lucky not to be down 4 to 5-0 at 30 minutes.

5. DC is a skillful but small team. Other teams, and Chicago in particular, have noticed that DC can literally be beaten off the ball. Chicago is just so much bigger as a team that DC is knocked off their game in midfield through physical play and fouling.

I think Donnet will be a terrific player for DC, but not this year. He has not yet made adjustments to the fast and physical play in MLS and while he is excellent on the ball, he is being run over on the wing, much like Adu on the other side.

6. United wins with Perkins
As much as I like Rimando, his weaknesses amplify DC's problems in the back. United needs someone who takes charge of the box and provides a measure of disipline to his back line. In addition, Rimando is weak on crosses while that is one of Perkins strengths. DC's defense is not that tall and seems to loose attackers. Perkins huge strength in the air compensates for these weakeness. Without Perkins United looks very shaky everytime crosses are served into the box.

Add these weakness together and I just don't see DC beating Chicago or NE, although I do think we have a slightly better shot at NE. In addition, given the way Red Bull has come on since Arena took over I would not look past New York.

I'll be in Dallas anyway for the final, but I'm not optomist I'll have my United with me.