RailHawks vs. Miami FC (7/28)

[aimorris]

I like our chances if we can avoid a 10 minute lapse at the beginning of the 2nd half and stupid cards and reckless challenges...

Okay, I doubt we can avoid stupid cards and reckless challenges but here's to avoiding the lapse and getting a few goals. :)

[giffenbone]

sucks i have to miss this one...but helping the bro move to ATL

we should take this one...i can feel it

[wjarrettc]

Well, if they play like they act, we should have a good chance tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_ol-JkqF8g

[Krammerhead]

What happened to your nice grass?

[ECUNCHATER]

What a crappy game!

[Brandon313]

well it has been unusually hot so its probably just the heat....you are right though, our pitch is looking rough..



im purposely avoiding talking about the game

[aimorris]

Well, I'm happy about one thing.

Not driving up to Raleigh for the game tonight.

[Krammerhead]

As an independent viewer of the game I must say it was a very entertaining match.

[wjarrettc]

What happened to your nice grass?

For the last two years, we've had considerable problems with our summer turf. We grow rye in the winter that comes in beautifully (as you've seen in the early part of the season). Then they burn off the rye as they bring in bermuda during the summer. Normally this works pretty well but the last two years we've had poor results.

Still, in the crappy condition it is in, it's still an order of magnitude better than the pitches at the last two away matches I've been to (California and Miami).

We've got both ACC tourneys and the men's College Cup here in the last fall. Here's hoping that they can bring in some rye during the Sept-Nov timeframe (god knows we won't be using it for the playoffs at this rate)

[wjarrettc]

Miami roughs up Carolina (Cary News) (http://trisoccerfan.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=831)

Some very interesting quotes from Schweitzer, who is obviously frustrated with his team:

“Not enough people care,” Schweitzer said. “That’s all I can go into. Whoever they are will be found out and you probably won’t see them much on the field and you probably won’t see them here any more.”

and

“When we give up a goal, game over,” Schweitzer said. “We don’t score. We can’t score. If we don’t give up a goal, at least we tie.”


I'm glad he said it before I did ;)

[rcoull]

My comments on this game in some way could echo Schweitzer's. There has been very little passion left on the field especially lately. I think the coach needs to be looked at seriously. Yes, it's an expansion team but there is no sign on improvement. Infact things are going backwards...

A few comments...

Despite the score the RailHawks played well in spurts. The biggest difference was the goal keeping. Chris has to have his job back. He hesitate to say with him this game could have been 1-1. The Miami goalkeeper was easily MOTM. Having said that it looked like the team gave up for a large period of the second hald.

Brightwell and Low have to be the midfield partenership. I know we've talked about this affects the attacking part of the team, but, without it there are still no goals and more importantly the defense is left stranded by the opposition midfield running straight through.

Maher needs to go. He does not care, does not hustle. He is played for his size to win the headers, but, I don't think he got one last night and above all he is to slow and reads the game to slow. Edozian should be back up front where he can do some damage.

Thats all I can think of for now. There is plenty more to discuss!!

-Richard

[Brandon313]

I say put Edozien and Leite up front...Leite had a bad start, but lately has looked fast, tricky, and creative.....he works hard. I say give him a chance at the start...


glad to see there might be some drastic changes

[giffenbone]

The biggest difference was the goal keeping. Chris has to have his job back.


They should just give the spot to me :)

[treefire]

If it's going to be Brightwell and Low in the middle again, please tell me ahead of time so I can avoid going to the match. I've spent too much of my time this year watching the ball get passed latterally and backwards to no result. At least last night was exciting - lots of chances.

The loss last night was certainly depressing to me, starting off so poorly, and then failing to take advantage of many chances to get back into the game. On the first goal, I didn't think the defender did enough to prevent the Miami player from getting the header. I was standing on the rail, directly behind the keeper, and all the guy had to do was set himself and nod it back. It came off his head really soft, with a fair amount of spin. I was actually surprised that he didn't direct it better, and I think a high ball to the post was what O'Hara was set for. O'Hara did indeed mistime his save, and only got his fingers to it. It was a weird ball, but still gk error, as much as I hate to say it. The second goal, the defense was nowhere to be found. The only thing I can think of is a blown offsides trap. There were three guys unmarked in the area that the ball went to. On the third goal, from my vantage, I saw another instance of the 'Hawks defense backing off, letting the other team have possession, then getting punished. The final goal, I saw a quick backheal from Miami, and then a bunch of 'Hawks hands going up for offsided while they stood and let the guy dribble it in. Really, the worst whole-team defense performance from the 'Hawks all season.

Even with the gk error first goal, they could have won 3-1 last night with a combination of less defensive errors and some ability to put the ball in the back of the net. It was sad watching the very good chances that Maher and Long had going wide late. There were so many opportunities to get goals.

It reminded me of some of the early season games - especially the one against Puerto Rico. Lots of chances, no goals (only scored from a pk). It seems the other teams in the league have gotten better over the course of the season, but the Railhawks have stayed about the same. In some ways, they look worse. Carrieri, for instance, looked like a class player at times at the beginning of the season... but now, he looks very tense, and is not playing with fluidity. To me, this is where coaching comes in - there has to be some kind of man-management, some way to get the best out of a player, that doesn't necessarily involve screaming and cursing at them.

While I'm on the subject of coaching, what's with the quotes in the Cary news? Blaming the losses on players that don't care seems like avoiding the responsibility. Following it up with a quote about the team not being able to score, well, who chose the players? Who coaches their scoring ability all week? Honestly, I wish the Cary reporter had chosen different quotes... I'd like to feel somewhat positive about the coaching.

The biggest difference for this game, for me, was David Stokes. He has been great at times in back, and the 'Hawks have looked a little shaky whenever he's out. It's unfortunate that there doesn't seem to be much of a defensive bench, and now it appears they've traded away their first-choice backup defender (who wasn't even really a defender) for another ineffectual forward (no goals and one assist in 600 minutes? What's the point?). If you're going to trade off someone from a position where you're very light... why pick up another forward when you already have forwards (Carrieri and Norkus) playing out of position? I wish someone could explain this to me, which is why I'm asking.

It's an expansion team, it's a first year head coach, it's injured players... but honestly, we've seen that this is a team that, on an individual skill basis, could be in every game, with every team in the league. We spoke for a while after the game about whether it was right to be critical of the team or coaches in public... but the comment was made that, if nobody says anything, it seems like people don't care. I think I grew to care about this team from all the hard work and promise they showed at the beginning. They still have a chance to have a respectable season - USOC, Southern Derby, outside chance of making the playoffs - but something has to be done now. I wish them luck.

[treefire]

Sorry, double post.

[aimorris]

I agree with alot of what's being said here, especially getting rid of Maher. Edozien/Steele/Worthen played a terrific first half and yet we only got one goal out of what was almost 7 or 8 clear cut chances. We're missing that final link up top.

The defense and especially O'Hara should be embarrassed by their performance. Even after the early goal, I didn't think we gave up and I think it was actually a shot in the arm because we ended up creating a lot of brilliant chances -- Worthen's volley, Edozien's header, Edozien's dribble into the box to create the penalty, etc. But the 2nd goal was definitely a killer, right before the half and there's no other way to describe it than atrocious defending. Same goes for the 3rd goal, we let him tee it up.. and the 4th goal was almost comical defending..

It's very disappointing as a fan because I've seen this team play so much better. That's why I'm kind of divided on what Schweitzer had to say in the papers. On one hand, you definitely have to question some of the players' heart and effort because we have no problem showing up in USOC and exhibition games. On the other hand, the players' effort is usually a reflection on the coaching and training, so he needs to be part of the blame as well.

[Moki]

This is essentialy the same team that inspired most of the fans in the beginning for a promising season. That it has not yet transpired should not discourage fans now. The 'Hawks are still basically a good team. Since the injury of Stokes, the defense has struggled. And not necessarily because of his loss but because of the chemistry that has changed. One would argue that any player should be able to step in and maintain the cohesive play. But that is not reality. These are people. Individuals. Lack of the team' concentration, which is common in sports, has become more prevalent in current play. That is a coaching responsibility. And I fully believe that Schweitzer is up to the task. Lack of offensive play is a curious thing. Some teams, even without great strikers seem to do it well. And some teams with stars don't. It might be a matter of attitude. If a coach can succeed at bringing it about, he/she would be coaching at the highest levels. We all expect Coach to find a way. Here's hoping. I think this quote is appropriate;

“If you do not respect your opponent, you get beat 4-1,” the Carolina coach said. “Fear no one, respect everyone. There was no respect tonight."

[Brandon313]

i dare to say that trading Carrieri might be a good idea...he is still a big name and could fetch a pretty good forward i think....i would like to trade Carrieri for Gbeck who plays for Montreal....he was outstanding against us, and aparently he was one of the guys Economides wanted to sign most of all...


but again, lets wait and see waht Schweitzer is planning on doing..

[HawkTalk]

Miami roughs up Carolina (Cary News) (http://trisoccerfan.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=831)

Quotes from Schweitzer:
“Not enough people care,” Schweitzer said. “That’s all I can go into. Whoever they are will be found out and you probably won’t see them much on the field and you probably won’t see them here any more.”

;)

Good-bye "the team as a family." Hello modern day Salem witch hunt.

I'm really hoping Candon misquoted Schweitzer or took something he said out of context because, in my opinion, when times are tough the organization and players need to pull together and help each other, not look for scapegoats.

If the quote is accurate, Schweitzer needs to assess his own performance by asking himself whether and how he could do a better job utilizing the talent at his disposal and motivating them to play in his system before hunting for players who "don't care enough." He might also give some thought as to why they don't care enough and what sorts of changes can be made to improve morale. All of the quotes in Candon's article taken together suggest Schweitzer has lost confidence in his players, which does not bode well for the rest of the season.

Some miscellaneous comments:
Before the season started, I said that I didn't think Kutsu was a solution at defender. I think he has proven me wrong over the past 2 matches. Although he looked shaky at time against Cruz Azul, he made it through the match. Against Miami, he was relatively solid defensively, and contributed to the attack with some nicely played balls and some well-timed runs forward.

I thought last night's match was entertaining, despite the 4-1 loss. I'm disappointed to see so many fans voice negative opinions about Anthony Maher. He's actually quite good at the role he seems to have been asked to play, and I appreciate his hard work and willingness to take a lot of physical punishment to play that role. Carrieri struggled last night because the player he was often matched against, #17, was very good -- extremely fast, good size, good work rate, and excellent skills. Finally, I appreciate Treefire's thoughtful commentary. I don't know how to "rep" posters, but if I did, I'd give him some.

[wjarrettc]

Good-bye "the team as a family." Hello modern day Salem witch hunt.

I'm really hoping Candon misquoted Schweitzer or took something he said out of context because, in my opinion, when times are tough the organization and players need to pull together and help each other, not look for scapegoats.


Maybe he's just taking a page out of Bruce Arena's Guide to Coaching at the World Cup Level :)

I don't know how to "rep" posters, but if I did, I'd give him some.

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