Preseason Doom and Gloom

[JoeW]

I know that there has been a fair amount of doom and gloom during the preseason. Injuries, the Stoichkov tackle, very poor results in exhibitions against KC and Columbus.

OTOH....I have to look at some other clubs in MLS at the moment....

1. SJ has lost DeRosario for the year. They've penciled in a guy (Onstad) who if I recall, was a reserve for Rochester most recently, as their goalkeeper. And while Yallop is a pretty organized guy who runs a tight ship, they've made a lot of changes with their team.

2. The SoS have to be feeling good right now--they finally have an A-mid (when he gets his papers) and he's quite a good one! They may have some good young TI talent as well. But if DCU is still coming together, you'd have to think this team is going to need some time to come together.

3. Granted, Grimandi wasn't supposed to be very impressive in preseason. But it looks like he's leaving Colorado. And I have yet to hear impressive reports about ZiZi Roberts and his play.

I really have to like DCU's depth right now (b/c everyone is going to have callups and injuries). I like that everyone (new players, veterans, coaches, outsiders) praise the chemistry--that has to bode well for the team coming together. And DCU is a good example for how difficult it is for ANY team to come together in just a few weeks. DCU had most of their pieces together in February.

LA (if they get scoring from Ruiz and/or APC) is going to be pretty tough. But as a I look through the rest of the league, I don't see parity. And I see many teams with far less depth than DCU or less time to bring the team together or some big holes (like: who is the A-mid?). I actually think DCU is in pretty good shape right now.

[RMDad]

I really have to like DCU's depth right now (b/c everyone is going to have callups and injuries). I like that everyone (new players, veterans, coaches, outsiders) praise the chemistry--that has to bode well for the team coming together. And DCU is a good example for how difficult it is for ANY team to come together in just a few weeks. DCU had most of their pieces together in February.
Joe W.

Looking at last season and this one, the difference in time is huge.
Ray had months less time to get in place, get oriented, etc.
This season will be much more of a test for Ray.

Depth is United's greatest asset at this point, IMHO.
Mark

[Red&Black]

i don't feel so much doom and gloom based on preseason results which are a lot of crap anyway. if you want to look at results i'd say going into charleston, getting a win against a decent side at home (remember our almost comedic ineptness on the road at times last year) with our two best offensive players away to call ups, is somewhat reassuring. we seem to have enough pieces to play pretty well and there seems to be as much talent on the roster as anytime, even the "glory days".

not to beat a deadhorse, but to me the key is going to be how we operate without a true dmid on the team. i still question nelsen's pace and the bulgarian doesn't seem to be answer as well.

the other thing that seems to be a question mark is etch. it is certainly possible, given a much better midfield than the past couple of seasons, he could rebound and have a stronger impact on games. if not, the staff is going to have decide how to get the most production out of him and that is not likely to be as a 90 minute man. this will also require a huge mental change on marco's part to re-orient how he sees his role and contribution. i feel that bring him on at the 60-5 minute mark would work well against tiring defenders.

of course we are going to have to find a guy besides mr. stewart up front. he had 11 last year in the eredivision and really had a great year. he is a proven scorer in series and with the select side. it is really going to be a question of who emerges in the next spot. based on my one view of the team, curtis seems to be working his tail off to be that guy. tino looked lazy and esky still a bit off the flow of the game.

i also think that olsen returning to something closer to his old form will be needed. as much energy and physical play and workrate that he brings, that little sparkle (and extra gear of speed) seems to have vanished from his game.

we also have to find a better way to use reyes. first and formost, his final ball on runs and overlaps needs massive improvement--as to the supporting runs of opposite side players.

i agree there are lots of question marks, but we ought to have a pretty damn good little squad. we are still a bit small and not super fast depending on line up, but we have guys who can beat people and win games. we ought to certainly be the toughest team--mentally and physically we have been in years.

[DigitalTron]

Actually, Onstad is the Canadian National Team goalkeeper, and he's pretty good. He was not only the starter at Rochester, he was goalkeeper of the year in the A-League last season. Remember, Busch at Columbus was from the A-League, and he turned out to be stellar. I'm not saying Onstad is Cannon--because he's not--but he's no hack either.

I agree about the Metros though, Guevara should be one of the best SI acquisitions of the year. Also, getting Digi in the "weighted" lottery ;) should help them quite a bit. He is a willing and able defender with a lot of speed, allowing Bradley to aggressively play his 352 and contest the midfield. With Pope and Jolley on the back line and Howard in goal, they should clean up any crumbs left by the midfield. With Ricardo Clark and Richie Williams, the Metros have strength and depth at Dmid. Ricardo might even play right wing. It'll take a little while for them, but watch out for the Metros in the 2nd half of the season.

As for Colorado, I'm disappointed to hear of Grimandi leaving. He's a good player and from everything I've heard he's a good person. Those are the types of players MLS should be looking to acquire. But frankly, I don't like the system of running all your attacks through the flanks. So I think the allocation that they'll get for Grimandi leaving might go to a more versatile midfielder. They need a lot of help on their back line though, and that's where I see them giving games away.

-Digital

[GoldSaber]

I'd like to interject something into this rational, well thought discussion of the pre-season outlook for United to declare two things;

1. Having just come back from almost literally having fallen off the planet, I'm happier than I don't know what to discover Earnie Stewart is in the Red & Black. Heck yeah!!!!!!!

2. I am, IN FACT, NOT a newbie, but some one who has forsaken his former username,and all it's vile connotations (It was my actual name...how stupid was I two years ago!)

Back on topic, after pereusing the board it's obvious a missed a massive restructuring since the end of last season (about the time I got busy elsewhere, lots of sand... you get the picture).

I'm glad to see the legit concern on the board for the teams success, rather than just the old school trolling for angry people on the board method of "debate" on the merits of this years team. Having said that, let me go get about seven months of catching up on the team done.

[Red&Black]

i went to richmond, i take back anything positive i said. we suck, we suck bad. this could get ugly

[TCompton]

Originally posted by Red&Black
i went to richmond, i take back anything positive i said. we suck, we suck bad. this could get ugly

ditto :(

[Jimbo]

Looks like Reyes is probably out for the season. There's some gloom for you.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37290-2003Apr5.html

[dsheon]

The one thing Ray Hudson was to instill in this team - and few would argue with it - is heart.

But last night in Richmond, only Bobby Convey played with heart. What a lackluster waste of a match. Neither team should feel particularly good about it frankly.

With Reyes out, I think it's likely we'll see Convey on the back line - as much as I know we need him at Center Mid.

Speaking of that, I brought a first timer to the match who commented, "that number 10 for DC doesn't seem to do much except stand around and watch everyone else."

Ouch.

[Cweedchop]

Originally posted by Red&Black
i went to richmond, i take back anything positive i said. we suck, we suck bad. this could get ugly

That's the spirit..

Base the whole season on a preseason game when United could probably care less about playing this game...

Admittedly, things don't look so good right now, but who here said they would? It takes a long time to integrate all the different personalities into a team dynamic...

All we need to do now is show some patience.. We're going to lose some games early in the season.. Just don't give up on these guys just yet..

[Jose L. Couso]

Although the team gave a lackluster performance last night, the glass is half full.

The team has depth and has some very talented players.

[greatscott]

Jose, i think we are just trying to lower our expectations. See when you lower them, you get one of two things..

1. If they win, your pleasantly surprised.
2. If they lose, you knew it and arent upset about it.

[RMDad]

Originally posted by Cweedchop
That's the spirit..

Base the whole season on a preseason game when United could probably care less about playing this game...

Admittedly, things don't look so good right now, but who here said they would? It takes a long time to integrate all the different personalities into a team dynamic...

All we need to do now is show some patience.. We're going to lose some games early in the season.. Just don't give up on these guys just yet..

I agree, Chris.
The "care less" attitude showed.
BTW, patients is people you push around in wheelchairs.
Mark

[TCompton]

Patience? how about 3 years of patience... I think DC will pull it together only because I believe in this team, but from what I saw last night and have read about over the last few months is that while everyone get's along very well off the field, their on field chemistry if flat. We need a real catalyst to spark this team because as I see it right now, Hristo, Earnie, Dema, and Marco aren't doing it. It's going to take some time, but as of this moment WE SUCK!

I'm glad the league has added two more games to our schedule because we're going to need as many games as we can get by the end of the season. I just hope that we can at least stay competitive at home for the first half of the season. I'm afraid we are going to be embarrassed by KC next week.

ugh

:(

[DigitalTron]

I have yet to see/hear anything truly encouraging from our preseason against any team other than 3rd rate collegians. While I don't put much stock in pre-season games, especially ones against MLS competition, the absence of even a glimmer of strong play offensively or defensively has me worried. I'm beginning to wonder if Ray caught lightning in a bottle in Miami. I don't think he did ... but we have too many good players to be a poor team.

Assuming our defense rebounds when Prideaux and Ivanov come back and Nelsen regains his form, I am worried about scoring goals.

I haven't seen any evidence that we have a second forward to pair with Stewart. Strike pairs need to play off of one another, and clearly Stewart is the "creative" forward and needs a striker/target forward running ahead of him to be at his best. Despite being only 5'7, Esky can probably fill that role. Santino certainly has the build for it, but I think he's more of a winger in the Figo mold than a true striker. I keep thinking about how Dante Washington would fit in on this team. Dante is a bigger, stronger, finished product version of Ali Curtis and Devin Barclay rolled into one. Among our 4 young forwards (Santino, Esky, Curtis and Devin), we need to find a decent pairing for Stewart. I simply haven't seen it yet.

At the Open Practice Stewart was the sole front runner up top in a 361 formation. It didn't work. The indications I've seen thus far seem to indicate that our forwards are afraid to run up top with Stewart. If that's the case, start Curtis. He may not pass or make good runs, but he knows how to stay up top and should create some space for Stewart. Hopefully the other guys get the hint before next weekend.

-Digital

[Hedbal]

I don't think we are using Stewart properly when he is left up top, either alone or paired with another forward. He is much more dangerous playing behind the front line and facing the goal, where he can find an opening and run on to a pass or put in a rebound. If Ray drops Convey to the left outside back position, as he hinted he would do even before Reyes was injured, I would move Stewart to midfield, possibly on the left wing. Didn't Bruce play him there frequently with the USMNT?

[JoeW]

I agree with D-tron and the his comments on striker pairings. Ideally, I also see Quaranta as a right outside mid who's dangerous with the ball. I do think Dante would be a fine fit with Earnie.

For what it's worth, I think veteran teams (or maybe it's more accurate to call them teams with a lot of veterans) tend to skate a bit in pre-season. I'm hoping that is part of the explanation for the results against other clubs so far.

I was guilty of some hyperbole with regards to Onstad. He's certainly a solid keeper (though early results with SJ weren't promising). He was A-league player of the year though in "98. I also thought he is primarily now a reserve for Canada (behind Lars Hirschfield and the youngster--Stamapoulous?). At anyrate, while he's not shabby, SJ lost Cannon (a big loss), missed a chance to get Walker (anyone notice he's was recently playing for Colo Colo against Boca I think in Copa Liberatores) and instead settle for Onstad.

[Th4119]

A-League keepers can make it in MLS, just ask Tom Presthus.

[Serie Zed]

Originally posted by JoeW
I actually think DCU is in pretty good shape right now.

Boy do I wish I shared your enthusiasm. I'm ready to be wrong and really hope I am, but I think we're going to struggle again.

The problem with comparing us with any team other than NJ is that we really sucked LAST year and they didn't.

[Funkfoot]

Originally posted by greatscott
We are just trying to lower our expectations. See when you lower them, you get one of two things..

1. If they win, you're pleasantly surprised.
2. If they suck, you know to bring hard liquor to the tailgate.