D.C. United v Motagua Friendly [R]

[Keenan]

Starting lineup tonight...

Nolly
---
Erpen
Boswell
Namoff
---
Olsen
Carroll
Simms
Gomez
Gros
---
Moreno
Emilio

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/03/dcumotagua.html

[Keenan]

2-1 Good guys at the half...

UPDATE:
*Gros works give and go with Gomez, Gros scores from 10 yards in the 6th minute
*Motagua equalizes on a 25-yard free kick midway through the half
*Boswell hits the post
*Gomez plays short corner kick to Moreno, quickly gets ball back and beats goalie to near post
2-1 United at the break

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/03/dcumotagua.html#comments

[Zman Gunner]

4-1 in the second half per Senor Goff:

Here is your DCU starting lineup vs. Honduran club Motagua at Tropical Park Stadium in Miami:

Nolly --- Erpen, Boswell, Namoff --- Olsen, Carroll, Simms, Gomez, Gros --- Moreno, Emilio

I will provide brief updates at halftime and at the end of the match........

UPDATE:
*Gros works give and go with Gomez, Gros scores from 10 yards in the 6th minute
*Motagua equalizes on a 25-yard free kick midway through the half
*Boswell hits the post
*Gomez plays short corner kick to Moreno, quickly gets ball back and beats goalie to near post
2-1 United at the break
*Sub at the half: Moose for Carroll (Moose plays RMF, Olsen drops into defensive MF)
*Subs in the 60th: Wilson for Erpen, McTavish for Olsen, J. Carroll for Gomez, Walker for Moreno
*Emilio goes through Motagua defense, scores to far post from 15 yards -- 3-1 DCU
*Subs in the 69th: Casal for Namoff, Arguez for Simms, deRoux for Gros, Kpene for Emilio
*deRoux -- yes, deRoux -- scores on an assist from J. Carroll -- 4-1 DCU
*Dyachenko not in uniform, tweaked his knee this week

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/03/dcumotagua.html#comments

[spidergoose]

GET IN THERE, STEPHEN
lowercase

[paintgreen]

4-2 final score. United sweeps floor with Honduras' champion.

[JoeW]

Emilio scores again.

The win doesn't mean that much to me (although the reality is that a club that wins a lot starts to get a swagger and a refusal to panic--but that will take more than 3 games in the preseason).

The value of this match is that it continues to show that Emilio has a nose for goal. If he's a consistent finisher, he'll have a great season b/c there has never been any doubt of our ability to provide service on this team.

[CHICO13]

The value of this match is that it continues to show that Emilio has a nose for goal.

Pretty much what Tommy Soehn told us at the Barra Happy Hour.

[liverbird]

Emilio scores again.

The win doesn't mean that much to me (although the reality is that a club that wins a lot starts to get a swagger and a refusal to panic--but that will take more than 3 games in the preseason).

The value of this match is that it continues to show that Emilio has a nose for goal. If he's a consistent finisher, he'll have a great season b/c there has never been any doubt of our ability to provide service on this team.

Hey, Gros scoring off a give and go? DeRoux with a goal? These are life altering, once a decade events that must be given the proper respect!:eek:

[Keenan]

If he's a consistent finisher, he'll have a great season b/c there has never been any doubt of our ability to provide service on this team.

I'll go out on a limb and say that we have below average to poor service from the wings/flanks. Sure, Gomez provides superb service from the middle of the park, but we really need to get someone outside who can serve up balls to Emilio.

[spidergoose]

I don't think we have to, but it would be a nice luxury that would make things even better. Our central attack with Moreno, Gomez and Luciano setting each other up should be good enough to handle most defenses.

[gnk]

Maybe no one is mentioning our pourous defense b/c it's a given?

Instead of running around trying to find more offensive firepower, maybe the DC brass should be looking for another defender or two. That back line of Erpen, Boswell and Namoff is a bit scary (or, more accurately, isn't going to scare any opposing goal-scorers).

[spidergoose]

What porous defense? People keep talking about us having a weak defense but wtf are you talking about? We have the best defensive unit in MLS.

[JoeW]

Pretty much what Tommy Soehn told us at the Barra Happy Hour.

Which raises the question--as anyone ever seen Tommy Soehn and JoeW at the same time? I think not! Form your own conclusions about that piece of brilliant deductive reasoning.

As for our defense being bad (gnk), this is the same group that pretty much led the MLS defensively the first half of the season in 2006 and gave up the second fewest goals in MLS in 2005. That doesn't mean I'm content in believing that all is right. Only that we have the tools and talent there to be a good defensive team. I don't think acquiring another player is key to us being better defensively. Individual form, tactics, team support, focus--those things matter. But Namoff, Erpen, Boswell, Perkins--they're more than good enough to get it done.

And Keenan, I get your point about crosses from the wings. Yep, we've never really been consistently strong at that. But that ignores my point that DCU is consistently a team that dominates possession (you can count on 1 hand the number of games in each of the past 3 seasons, in fact, for practically every season except 2002 and 2003 where we were even-strength yet outpossessed). And we're consistently one of the most artful and entertaining teams offensively in MLS. These team generates chances. But we don't shoot from distance, we have a tendency to take one pass too many. And most of all....we're not efficient at finishing. Emilio may be changing that equation--in a dramatic way. I"m not saying he's the solution to all of our problems. Just that on a team that does some things better than anyone in MLS, we've NEVER had a good target man/distributor and efficient finisher. And now we've got one.

[spidergoose]

I'm not saying he's the solution to all of our problems.

I am. :D

[Diceson]

Hey, Gros scoring off a give and go? DeRoux with a goal? These are life altering, once a decade events that must be given the proper respect!:eek:


I know kid about Gros and DeRoux because you love, but I think there's going to be a serious change coming on.

To steal an idea that CWebb pounds constantly (THAT's a once in a lifetime, and life altering!), I think Gros' couple of weeks in the National Team camp gave him the confidence to get to the next level. In interviewing him in the past I've always gotten the impression that he wasn't quite sure that he really is that good. Even with all the starts and fairly secured position, I've always gotten the feeling that he believe it's going away next week.

However, down in Bradenton, he's got that quiet confidence. I really believe this might be a break out year for him - maybe somewhere in the 15 to 20 scoring point range.

As for DeRoux, if he can get his head into the game, he is obviously physically gifted enough to become a good MLS level player. I also don't think he is given enough credit for the ball skills he does possess. Finally, you've got to love his attitude about "never diving . . . that's not my game."

[apqjr]

Some random thoughts from the game:
The Good:
The Crowd - It seemed we won a lot more fans by the end of the night.
Simms - he is a beast right now. Was all over the place.
Moreno - held the ball extremely well while being double and triple-teamed on many occasions.
Boswell - a little shaky at the start but got better as the night went on.
Gros - more confident on the ball. Seems to have great chemistry with Namoff and Moreno on the left wing. Got by or behind his defender numerous times. His off the ball movement has also increased tremendously.
The Reserves - I'm calling it out right now...This year we will lock up arguably the most prestigious championship in North American sports...The MLS Reserve Title. It would be fair to say the first team was hot and cold all night, but the reserves showed a cohesiveness and aggressiveness that I was not expecting, especially after the FIU scrimmage. They were far from perfect but they completely put the game out of reach. Casal and Kpene looked they had been playing with the other guys forever.

I'm at work so I will right more if I can later....

[Onionsack]

Do you guys have something against those poor Hondurans? Why dont you leave them alone you bullies. Pick on someone your own size...like Richmond.

[CHICO13]

However, down in Bradenton, he's got that quiet confidence. I really believe this might be a break out year for him - maybe somewhere in the 15 to 20 scoring point range.

I'll certainly sleep better tonight. :) Thanks John....

[seahawkdad]

Diceson, what's the latest on Casal and Kpene? I see they both played. Are they going to get contracts? Kpene is listed on the DC site as un-contracted, and Casal isn't mentioned.

[Zman Gunner]

Diceson, what's the latest on Casal and Kpene? I see they both played. Are they going to get contracts? Kpene is listed on the DC site as un-contracted, and Casal isn't mentioned.

The DC site only lists its draft picks as unsigned players (which is why Casal is not listed) - I know that Goff mentioned that Crowe and Knepe were getting developmental deals, North is injured and will likely return to try to get a contract when he is recovered, Schramm is also listed - he did not seem to last long in camp - I thought that Goff said that he was a training camp cut - I have to wonder if he wanted to finish some college courses and then return to DCU later in the season (IIRC, Nickell did the same thing when DCU drafted him). We still have 2 developmental roster spots open once Knepe and Crowe sign - I have to think that they may be held for North and perhaps Schramm as they were 2nd and 3rd round Superdraft picks - you would think that they would get at least one season to prove themselves. Another option is the Elon University player Willis who was in camp for a while before heading back to Ohio to recover from foot injuries.