Etcheverry told to sit until he shapes up (W. Times, Haydon, 7/12)

[Knave]

A good article by John Haydon ...
D.C. United is demanding more of its highest-paid player, Marco Etcheverry. This week the club put the Bolivian midfielder on a strict fitness and nutritional program ... Often considered the club's most talented player, he is either being unfairly made a scapegoat for United's 3-5-6 record or just not pulling his weight. He was left off the roster for today's game in Chicago — because, a team official said, his heel was sore.

I thought this was an interesting choice of words:
... apparently [Etcheverry] is solidly in the team's doghouse
Not coach's doghouse?

http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20030712-120541-5771r.htm

[SABuffalo786]

Good. Hopefully this will create a ripple effect amongst our vets who may not be, er..........giving it their all.

[ursula]

Link:

http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20030712-120541-5771r.htm

Good article. I don't think the use of the word "team" instead of "coach" here means much.

Proposed starting lineup, a 334:

Namoff---Prideaux---Petke---Ivanov
Olsen-------Nelsen------Kovalenko
Eskandarian----Curtis-----Stoichkov

I'll be facinated to see how this midfield does and how it really lines up. Do we plan on using the left side of the field? Are Dema and Ben basically splitting the a-mid duties with Nellie mopping up behind them? I'd think a lot towards slotting Namoff next to Nellie, but Ray is looking at keeping the defense intact as usual.

[Knave]

Originally posted by ursula
Link
I knew I forgot something ... :D

[Th4119]

Seems like a lot of that meeting in Columbus was against Marco.

I like the shake up of the team though. I think we'll see more of a triangle attack with Hristo trailing the forwards and sending them through with crosses and thru-balls.

[ursula]

Yeah I agree Todd. (BTW why are you still up? :) ) It looks though like Hristo will be the only United player on the left side before one gets to Ivanov. We'll see.

Subbs: Q1 in for Stoichkov. Q2 possibly for Ali.

[Victory]

Originally posted by ursula
Link:


Proposed starting lineup, a 334:

Namoff---Prideaux---Petke---Ivanov
Olsen-------Nelsen------Kovalenko
Eskandarian----Curtis-----Stoichkov


I think the 4-3-3 will look as follows

Namoff---Prideaux---Petke---Ivanov
Olsen-------Nelsen------Kovalenko

-----------Stoichkov----------
-----Eskandarian----Curtis-----

Watching the scum game it became clear the Stoichkov was playing the floating free role that Maro usually plays except he was more attack oriented. He fed some great through and long balls. I expect him to hang back from the attack and attempt to do the same thing.

This is also a goldenchance for united. Chicago could be down three key player depending on Razov. Especially, as we have only won "tainted" games this year.

Depleted Fire team
A league columbus game
The Red Card Burn Game

This could be a great chance for 3 points.

[Th4119]

Originally posted by ursula
Yeah I agree Todd. (BTW why are you still up? :) ) It looks though like Hristo will be the only United player on the left side before one gets to Ivanov. We'll see.

Subbs: Q1 in for Stoichkov. Q2 possibly for Ali.

Just so I can get up on the first page of these threads. ;)

Should be interesting to see if this sort of all out attack works or not. Teams have been successful in the past doing this, and it requires a total team energy and flowing dynamic on offense and defense for it to work. Needless to say, this strategy couldn't be employed with Etcheverry in the line-up.

Maybe I'll see Marco at EP tomorrow and we can talk defensive strategies together. Goodnight guys.

[Th4119]

By the way, do you think Ray was looking at Knave's stats thread. Seems like he's trying to get all the leaders from those catagories into this game.

[Victory]

One additional thought to add:

There seems to be a lot more going on here than meets the eye. If Marco was not fit why did Hudson no sub him during the metro game. Why has he been playing 90 all season long.

This change is to sudden to just be about Hudson having enough of Marco's sub-par performances.

Another great article by Haydon. There is one typo though
The Gold Cup semifinals will be at the Orange Bowl in Miami on June 23 and the finals at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on July 27.

[ursula]

Originally posted by Thamlin19
Just so I can get up on the first page of these threads.

Nighty- nite!

By the way, do you think Ray was looking at Knave's stats thread. Seems like he's trying to get all the leaders from those catagories into this game.

Well have you ever seen The Knave and OTC in the same room? Actually this lineup isn't suprising since Ray doesnt use the full 18+-man roster. What this lineup is is a listing of all the players Ray relies on who are a) available and b) aren't in his doghouse. Q1 and Etch and maybe Q2 are in the doghouse, Etch moreso, so they don't start (though I expect to see Q1 and Q2 as subs.) Convey, Stewart, and Alegria are all unavailable and they are the other three who would expect action. So really Ray uses a 17 player roster with Barclay possibly making it 18 if Q2 and Etch aren't being dropped- making the roster size 16!

[ursula]

Originally posted by Victory
One additional thought to add:

There seems to be a lot more going on here than meets the eye. If Marco was not fit why did Hudson no sub him during the metro game. Why has he been playing 90 all season long.

This change is to sudden to just be about Hudson having enough of Marco's sub-par performances.

Another great article by Haydon.

Yes and no possibly. Is Ray panicking? Does he feel he either has to rely on Marco totally or get rid of thim totally? I've wondered why Ray doesn't treat Marco like Hristo- realize that he's not a 90 minute player, but as Ray says, Marco can make a great play at any time of the game, it's just that those times are now too few and far between. If this is how Ray feels then we will see very little of Marco for the rest of the year and wild rumors like maybe Marco wants Payne to trade him will begin to surface. (But who would take him? We'd have to eat his salary.)

[shawn12011]

Originally posted by ursula
Yes and no possibly. Is Ray panicking? Does he feel he either has to rely on Marco totally or get rid of thim totally? I've wondered why Ray doesn't treat Marco like Hristo- realize that he's not a 90 minute player, but as Ray says, Marco can make a great play at any time of the game, it's just that those times are now too few and far between. If this is how Ray feels then we will see very little of Marco for the rest of the year and wild rumors like maybe Marco wants Payne to trade him will begin to surface. (But who would take him? We'd have to eat his salary.)


I think the answer to your question lies in Marco's response to what has happened to this point. Marco is off crying to Kevin Payne right now, right? Does anyone think he would take to being a sub and entering the match around the 60 minute mark any better? I don't. That is why it is basically an all or nothing deal with Marco.

[CHICO13]

Originally posted by Victory
If Marco was not fit why did Hudson no sub him during the metro game. Why has he been playing 90 all season long.


Because that's Hudsons MO. Talking out of his butt.

[Jose L. Couso]

So Ray has decided to bring the circus into town at this critical stage of the season.

There is no doubt in my mind that DC United has to win against a depleted Chicago team.

Ray Hudson's job is on the line.

[MikeLastort2]

Originally posted by Jose L. Couso
So Ray has decided to bring the circus into town at this critical stage of the season.

There is no doubt in my mind that DC United has to win against a depleted Chicago team.

Ray Hudson's job is on the line.

Amen. If United doesn't win tonight, we're going to see a lot more Fire Hudson Zombies crawiling out from under our rocks.

[efren95]

Originally posted by Jose L. Couso
So Ray has decided to bring the circus into town at this critical stage of the season.

There is no doubt in my mind that DC United has to win against a depleted Chicago team.

Ray Hudson's job is on the line.

I think Hudson is going to fall before Marco does...

[Sachin]

Originally posted by shawn12011
I think the answer to your question lies in Marco's response to what has happened to this point. Marco is off crying to Kevin Payne right now, right? Does anyone think he would take to being a sub and entering the match around the 60 minute mark any better? I don't. That is why it is basically an all or nothing deal with Marco.

Well, it depends... I think Marco can make an interesting 60 min. substitution if he's motivated. He just has to go all out for 30 minutes instead of pacing himself for 90.

BTW, is it just me or is Etch the oldest looking 32 year old you've ever seen. I'm 31 and I hope I don't look that old when I'm 32. Although the way this season is going.....

Sachin

[CHICO13]

All this turmoil is kind of funny. I met Red&Black for a few Happy Hour beers last night, and he brought up a good point. If Eskandarian finishes that cross from Marco last week, none of this would even be discused. Marco would be a hero, Esky would be a hero and Hudson would be a genius. Talk about a game of inches.....

:rolleyes:

[shawn12011]

Originally posted by Sachin
Well, it depends... I think Marco can make an interesting 60 min. substitution if he's motivated. He just has to go all out for 30 minutes instead of pacing himself for 90.

BTW, is it just me or is Etch the oldest looking 32 year old you've ever seen. I'm 31 and I hope I don't look that old when I'm 32. Although the way this season is going.....

Sachin


I think he can do that as well. The question is can Marco's ego let him do that. That is where I think the problem is. I don't think his ego will allow that.