USOC Pre-Match Press 7/16 (Goff, Wright and Fittipaldo)

[Knave]

United's rookies to get chance in Open Cup (http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20030716-123030-5267r.htm) - Washington Times, Ken Wright

United Shifts From MLS to U.S. Open Cup (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61047-2003Jul15.html) - Washington Post, Steven Goff

Riverhounds set for 'Open' shot at D.C. United (http://www.post-gazette.com/riverhounds/20030716hounds0716p4.asp) - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ray Fittipaldo

[Sandon Mibut]

Assuming Wright is, uh, right, that's a helluva roster for United. Not necessarily a good lineup, but a helluva bold one.

The only places not known from Wright's article are the holding mids. I'm guessing Nellie as A) one of the few legit holding mids on the team, B) as the captain and C) as someone who has shown he can play a lot of games in a short period, gets one start.

And, based on Goff's story, I'm assuming Kovalenko starts.

Thus, this is what we're looking at Wedensday night.

.......................Warren
...........Stokes...Petke...Prideaux
.......................Nelsen
.....Barclay......Kovalenko.......Carroll
.....................Quintanilla
............Quaranta.........Eskandarian


Also, I love this quote from Ray: "These are the guys that come knocking on my door every other week asking, 'Why aren't I playing?' " Hudson said. "This is the situation: They can throw it at me and show me, 'This is why I want to play.' "

He's right - and, if they can't play against an A-League opponent, it should get not just the players but people like me who have been chiming for Ray to play the rooks to shut the hell up.

Of course, if they can play....

[Benedict XVI]

I don't know if this is such a great idea. I mean, I want to see the kids get PT, too. But all at the same time, pretty much? We shouldn't treat this as a B team match. Let's face it - we're not MLS Cup material at this point. But the Open Cup is attainable and is important.

Although what else do we have?

Chino - in peru. Bobby - Gold Cup. Etch - 2yo red card. Earnest - Gold Cup. Reyes - injured. That leaves us 16(?) field players who can play. So our bench will be Nick, Olsen, Ali, Hristo, Namoff and Ivanov?

Well, I hope it works.

[Benedict XVI]

And your Pittsburgh link goes to the Wash Post story.

Here's the correct link.

http://www.post-gazette.com/riverhounds/20030716hounds0716p4.asp

[Cweedchop]

Originally posted by Vicar
I don't know if this is such a great idea.

Well, to be quite honest, a lot of fans have been asking to see these players.. So basically it's be careful what you ask for...

I'm with you Vicar.. I want to see the pups, but not en masse....

I'm thinking this will be the lineup tonight...


------------ Warren -------------


Stokes ------- Petke ------ Prideaux


----------- Nelsen --- Dema --------

Barclay --------- Q2 ---------- Carroll


--------- Q1 ---- Esky ----------


I'll tell you one thing though, this is quite possibly the youngest lineup to ever be fielded by an MLS team...

[dcajedi]

If you're wondering why Haydon didn't write the Times article...

He's at the Peace Cup in Korea.

[Jose L. Couso]

I am not worried with the lineup, after all there are only two rookie field players adn they will be surrounded by experience players.

And if need be we can reach to the bench and turn it up a notch.

[Red&Black]

man i am gonna be furious if i see a bunch of college boys out there. this isn't a PDL team, it is hardened A-league team with something to prove.
i got nothing against getting some time for the youngsters, but not at the beginning of a counting match. it will really piss me off if United treats the Cup as means to break in players and not a championship it wants to win.

i'd much rather come out with guns blazing, bury pittsburgh and then put the young guys in.

[Barbara]

The kids are getting thrown to the wolves and when they get eaten alive, it'll be an excuse for Hudson to let them languish on the bench for the rest of the year.

[TEConnor]

Originally posted by BarbDett
The kids are getting thrown to the wolves and when they get eaten alive, it'll be an excuse for Hudson to let them languish on the bench for the rest of the year.

You said it. I'm not sure this is the perfect analogy, but it smacks to me of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Hudson has said and showed over and over that he feels these guys are not quite ready for prime time, and now their only opportunity to prove it is against the most highly motivated team they will meet all season.

Historically, these Open Cup matches have become brutal, physical affairs with little reliance on technique. Therefore, what we are going to see is a group of young talented players (that, as a general rule, are kind of on the soft side -- Carroll, Quintanilla, Barclay, Q2 especially -- going up against less skilled but generally more physical counterparts who wouldn't think twice about resorting to physical crap under a coach who only had the cheap shots and nothing else.

Therefore, I sense that this game will be ugly in the U G L Y, your momma says your ugly sense. I think you can write off the possibility of seeing these young kids in a good light. The most important aspect for DC, then, will be how the vets like Nelsen, Prideaux, and Kovalenko respond and attempt to lead the team through adversity.

If Pittsburg are able to get an early goal, count on this as being one of the ugliest and brutal games we see all season. Should be interesting.

Cheers,
Tim

[MikeLastort2]

I can't believe that we're not going to go into this game with our best available lineup.

Why the f&%$*@k aren't these guys getting minutes in MLS games, as substitutions near the end of the match? Why the hell will Stokes first action be a start in an Open Cup match?

It seems to me that Hudson isn't taking the Riverhounds, nor this match, seriously.

I wonder if there will be any coffee pots in the locker room.

[TheFarSide]

I find it funny that people who have been complaining that the rookies don't get a chance to play are now crying that they are starting. I think this is the best time to put them to the test against a team that is playing for something, though it is a team of supposedly lesser talent.

Explain to me why you can judge a players talent by giving him garbage time at the end of the game against tired players instead of starting them against fresh ones. Its time to let them sink or swim.

Hudson has decided (and I agree) that it is better to let them play meaningful minutes and have them show him and us what they are made of. Some players are gamers who don't show well in practice and this will be their chance.

And they are playing against an A League opponent who has a 7-7-4 record - not exactly the cream of the A League crop. Most of the rookie players who are breaking their cherries tonight have played some games in the A League so they know what to expect.

I also think that if Nelsen and Dema are playing co-dmid, then they should have a steadying influence on the youngsters and should be able to cover up their mistakes. Besides, those two give it their all every game and can lead the youngsters by example.

I personally think Hudson is making the correct call in starting the rookies and give them a chance to play and show that they belong.

I can't go tonight but look forward to hearing tomorrow’s reports and post stating how each player played.

-The Far Side

[MikeLastort2]

I assume you're addressing this to me, but since you didn't quote me I'm not 100% certain.

Here's how I look at it. We should play every game that counts with our best available players.

Originally posted by TheFarSide
I find it funny that people who have been complaining that the rookies don't get a chance to play are now crying that they are starting. I think this is the best time to put them to the test against a team that is playing for something, though it is a team of supposedly lesser talent.

Hudson has played ONE rookie this season. Alecko Eskandarian. I'm trying to remember if Eskandarian has started in any games this year, and I'm coming up blank. Has he? I don't think so.

Explain to me why you can judge a players talent by giving him garbage time at the end of the game against tired players instead of starting them against fresh ones. Its time to let them sink or swim.

Explain to me why the coach has decided to start a whole bunch of young guys all at once, in a single elimination game. If we lose tonight, the USOC is over for us. I don't have a problem with starting Esky, or Warren, or Barclay, or Stokes. I have a problem with starting ALL of them at the same time.

Hudson has decided (and I agree) that it is better to let them play meaningful minutes and have them show him and us what they are made of. Some players are gamers who don't show well in practice and this will be their chance.

This is NOT a practice match. This is a match that counts. And Hudson has said that Stokes is "not ready" and pretty much admitted that drafting him might've been a mistake. What has changed?

And they are playing against an A League opponent who has a 7-7-4 record - not exactly the cream of the A League crop. Most of the rookie players who are breaking their cherries tonight have played some games in the A League so they know what to expect.

Anyone know what the Richmond Kickers record was during the "coffee pot" incident?

I also think that if Nelsen and Dema are playing co-dmid, then they should have a steadying influence on the youngsters and should be able to cover up their mistakes. Besides, those two give it their all every game and can lead the youngsters by example.

If the Riverhounds go at us full tilt, Nelsen and Kovalenko might have a hard time "leading by example" to a bunch of guys who have never played a competitive match together.

I personally think Hudson is making the correct call in starting the rookies and give them a chance to play and show that they belong.

I personally think he's gambling far too much.

I can't go tonight but look forward to hearing tomorrow’s reports and post stating how each player played.

Sorry you can't go tonight. The Soccerplex is a pretty nice facility.

[TheFarSide]

Wasn't just responding to you MikeLastort2, it seems like allot of posters are upset that the rookies are getting the nod to start.

I would agree that the Open Cup would be great to win but I also think DC United's first priority is the MLS cup (dreaming - sure - but it is what they are suppose to be playing towards). We are still in last place and have been improving as of late. When you are climbing out of the bottom you don't have the luxury to try a rookie in a game. A rookie let Olsen get behind him in the Chicago game, a rookie let Clark stay onside in the Scum's victory over the Rev. (before you say anything I know Clark is also a rookie but he has started and played every game - if not every minute of the Scum's matches this year - so he is a more than a rookie now).

The Riverhounds are by record and league - the weakest team we will face this year in a meaningful game. We have played allot of games in the heat recently and have played allot of overtime games this year. Some players are away at the Gold cup, and suspended from Open play. This is the best time to play the rookies, let some of the others rest.

Allot of people are interesting in seeing Stokes play and see if he was a wasted draft choice. I know I am. I would love to see Carroll play and hope he does well. As for Barclay and Esky, they have logged some minutes in MLS and deserve to play in this match.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Stokes or Carroll get substituted for at the half if we are down. If not them let them play.

-The Far Side

[Atouk]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
Hudson has played ONE rookie this season. Alecko Eskandarian. I'm trying to remember if Eskandarian has started in any games this year, and I'm coming up blank. Has he? I don't think so.
Eskandarian has started three games (at NJ, vs. KC, at DAL -- three in a row from 5/10 to 5/31 -- but not since).

From the DCU site: 13 games, 3 starts, 429 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist, 8 shots, 4 on goal.
http://www.dcunited.com/index.cfm?section=games&cont_id=94133

[owendylan]

Originally posted by Sandon Mibut
He's right - and, if they can't play against an A-League opponent, it should get not just the players but people like me who have been chiming for Ray to play the rooks to shut the hell up.


Wouldn't it also be pretty damning evidence that Ray is a terrible evaluator of talent and that DCU screwed up yet another draft?

While we would stop harping on Ray to play these rookies, wouldn't we then just start harping on why these players were drafted or signed in the first place?

[garbaggio]

I'm all for blooding the rookies and resting some of the veterans.

It would be great if the US Open Cup trophy was as coveted as England's FA Cup, but it's not. Just look at the paltry attendance and scant publicity Open Cup games have gotten compared to MLS.

Ray is totally right in prioritizing MLS regular season games over the Open Cup. Especially since we are currently only 1 point out of the last playoff position. We're in no worse shape than New England was at this time last year.

I hope we win tonight and I hope the young players all look skilled and composed enough to get more looks upcoming games. But Saturday's game is much, much more important to me.

[writered21]

Originally posted by owendylan
Wouldn't it also be pretty damning evidence that Ray is a terrible evaluator of talent and that DCU screwed up yet another draft?

While we would stop harping on Ray to play these rookies, wouldn't we then just start harping on why these players were drafted or signed in the first place?

But that's the point, isn't it? If Hudson didn't play his rookies, he'd be blasted for not giving them a run out. If he does play them, and they play well, he'll get blasted for not playing them before. If he plays them, and they don't play well, he'll get blasted for drafting them. It really makes no difference how they do tonight, half the board is going to be torked off.

Given his situation, Hudson may as well play the kids and give them a look all at once, while allowing guys like Nelsen to lead the way and guide them.

Ed

[bofahey]

I think it's ironic that Diablo is out of this match because of red cards and Dema is out Sunday.

I kind of wish it was the exact reverse.

[owendylan]

Originally posted by writered21
But that's the point, isn't it? If Hudson didn't play his rookies, he'd be blasted for not giving them a run out. If he does play them, and they play well, he'll get blasted for not playing them before. If he plays them, and they don't play well, he'll get blasted for drafting them. It really makes no difference how they do tonight, half the board is going to be torked off.

Given his situation, Hudson may as well play the kids and give them a look all at once, while allowing guys like Nelsen to lead the way and guide them.

Ed

I completely agree, I was only adding on to what Sandon had written because I thought that he hadn't continued his thoughts to include the things I added. Ray is damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't. Personally I'd rather do, so I think he should play these guys.