Rusty analysis [R]

[NFLPatriot]

I looked back at all the games from the season, and put together this:

Record in games Rusty Pierce started: 4-4-4
Record in games he finished: 3-3-4
Record in games he did not play: 1-3-3

Those 7 DNP include all the late home collapses: KC (2-2T), Mutts (3-3T), and DC (4-2L) as well as the early collapse against Dallas (2-1L). He also was not on the field when the winning goal was scored Saturday.

IMHO, this team will only go as far as Rusty's gimpy hamstring will allow.

[ProfZodiac]

Originally posted by NFLPatriot
I looked back at all the games from the season, and put together this:

Record in games Rusty Pierce started: 4-4-4
Record in games he finished: 3-3-4
Record in games he did not play: 1-3-3

Those 7 DNP include all the late home collapses: KC (2-2T), Mutts (3-3T), and DC (4-2L) as well as the early collapse against Dallas (2-1L). He also was not on the field when the winning goal was scored Saturday.

IMHO, this team will only go as far as Rusty's gimpy hamstring will allow.

Wow, I didn't know the Rusty Factor was that crucial. Thanks for this, Patriot. Do you think that this is a good support in the "Rusty for Captain" campaign?

[Bill Duggan]

Originally posted by ProfZodiac
Wow, I didn't know the Rusty Factor was that crucial. Thanks for this, Patriot. Do you think that this is a good support in the "Rusty for Captain" campaign?

No, I like Rusty, but he is not the right fit for captain for obvious reasons.

[soccertim]

Originally posted by Bill Duggan
No, I like Rusty, but he is not the right fit for captain for obvious reasons.

Wouldn't you have said the same thing about Joey last year? But I don't see any value at all in making someone other than Joey captain.

[Ross]

Gee, I thought this thread was gonna be Soccer Doc's case for having Rusty go into analysis, a la Tony Soprano and Dr. Melfi.

Given how he throws himself around (did you see that wrestling move Saturday?) I'm surprised he's not more hurt. And those hamstring injuries don't like to heal.

MOTY a few years ago, when he was healthy, yes. Captain, I don't think so.

amy

[Soccer Doc]

Originally posted by Ross
Gee, I thought this thread was gonna be Soccer Doc's case for having Rusty go into analysis, a la Tony Soprano and Dr. Melfi.
y

WRONG. I wouldn't change a thing about Rusty. If the rest of the starting roster had as much intensity and grit as Rusty we would leading the league with 40 points. Right now I see him trying single handedly trying to make things happen and thus playing a bit over the top. He's a real firebrand and I'm hoping he can stay healthy because this team needs all the fire it can muster at this moment.

Don't worry Amy, I still will love you even if your have the brain f---s from time to time :-)

George

[Ross]

"Don't worry Amy, I still will love you even if your have the brain f---s from time to time :-)"

Thanks Doc. But it was a j--e, not a f--t!

:)

Amy

[Beez]

Last Tuesday, I did a story on Rusty's impact and found the following stats (all numbers priot to Saturday's D.C. game, obviously):

"With center back defender Rusty Pierce on the field, the New England Revolution have given up 1.48 goals per game. Without him, they have surrendered 2.13 goals a game. The differential of 0.65 goals per game is roughly the amount that separates the second-best defense in MLS (San Jose, 1.13 GAA) from the second-worst -- your Revs, at 1.76.

Furthermore, the Revs have blown three leads of two or more goals in the second half this season. Pierce didn't play in any of those games. New England is 4-3-4 when he takes the field, 1-3-3 when he doesn't."

Here's the whole thing:


http://www.eagletribune.com/news/stories/20030805/SP_002.htm

[NFLPatriot]

Great article, Beez! Sorry I missed it the first time around.

Here's hoping Rusty can go the full 90 Saturday.

And, no, I don't think Rusty should be captain. You need a captain who is on the field all the time. Joey's game has stepped up since he was made captain. I'd hate to see what would happen to his game if he lost the armband.

[soccertim]

Originally posted by Beez
Last Tuesday, I did a story on Rusty's impact and found the following stats (all numbers priot to Saturday's D.C. game, obviously):


Nice article. BTW, if you're on the boards and we've missed one of your articles, don't be shy, feel free to post a link to it.

[rkupp]

One of the best things Pierce did on Saturday was step up to intercept passes when DC was having long stretches of possession and the Revs were getting pushed deeper and deeper into their one end. He made a number of great anticipation steals.

OTOH, as usual, his distribution sucked. He frequently found himself no option but to pass back to Reis (when there were clear forward & lateral options), which is tantamount to surrendering possession as Reis booms it back upfield to the DC defense. Rusty should spend hours and hours watching tape of Cancela maintain possession when three guys close in on him - he's a master of calm and simplicity!

The Rev midfield is talented enough to enjoy long stretches of possession, but the weakness is when the ball ends up with one of the defenders (other than Llamosa).

[soccertim]

Originally posted by rkupp
OTOH, as usual, his distribution sucked. He frequently found himself no option but to pass back to Reis (when there were clear forward & lateral options), which is tantamount to surrendering possession as Reis booms it back upfield to the DC defense. Rusty should spend hours and hours watching tape of Cancela maintain possession when three guys close in on him - he's a master of calm and simplicity!

The Rev midfield is talented enough to enjoy long stretches of possession, but the weakness is when the ball ends up with one of the defenders (other than Llamosa).

Carlos did well with the ball against DC, but overall he's done the worst with the ball of any of the starting backs this year. Before Rusty was injured, we were hearing complaints about his kicking 50/50 balls upfield. Now, the problem is that he passes the ball back to the keeper, because the keeper can't distribute it. Similarly, after all the complaints when he tried to dribble out of trouble in the Colorado game, we now find out that he should be trying to maintain posession with multiple players closing in on him?

If he distributes better in the next game, we'll hear about how he doesn't score enough goals, or runs the midfield improperly, or maybe that his coaching isn't up to snuff. Maybe if Nicol just benches him for the rest of the year, and Kante and Llamosa continue to strike fear into the hearts of fleet-footed forwards everywhere, you can enjoy watching the Revs again this year. The first pick in next year's draft and another you-suck allocation will make for great offseason discussions...

[rkupp]

Originally posted by soccertim
Carlos did well with the ball against DC, but overall he's done the worst with the ball of any of the starting backs this year. Before Rusty was injured, we were hearing complaints about his kicking 50/50 balls upfield. Now, the problem is that he passes the ball back to the keeper, because the keeper can't distribute it. Similarly, after all the complaints when he tried to dribble out of trouble in the Colorado game, we now find out that he should be trying to maintain posession with multiple players closing in on him?
I'd take my chances that the vast majority of observers would disagree that Llamosa is the worst back with the ball.

As for Pierce, yes, it's unacceptable for him to hit 50/50 balls upfield, pass back to the keeper, dribble out of trouble, and take on multiple players WHEN there is a better option. I find it very frustrating to watch him with the ball when it is very easy to see good targets that he fails to notice - and thus is left to make plays to lead to losing possession (which I think is a BIG problem with this team).

You seem to think I dislike Pierce, when I actually am a great admirer. But, I will criticize him, just as I would Kante, JMM, Twellman, etc. when he makes stupid or bad plays.

Did you see nothing wrong with him wrestling Curtis to the ground in a half-nelson? It's incredible that he didn't pick up another card for that. Just as it's incredibly stupid of Heaps to have done what Stott alleges he did, if true.

[soccertim]

Originally posted by rkupp
I'd take my chances that the vast majority of observers would disagree that Llamosa is the worst back with the ball.

That's impressive. I'd rate it as not quite as impressive as all the people who were agreeing that Kante and Llamosa was our best option at central defense last month, but slightly more impressive than all the people who were saying that Jay Heaps was a much better player than Rusty all during the offseason.

Originally posted by rkupp
As for Pierce, yes, it's unacceptable for him to hit 50/50 balls upfield, pass back to the keeper, dribble out of trouble, and take on multiple players WHEN there is a better option. I find it very frustrating to watch him with the ball when it is very easy to see good targets that he fails to notice - and thus is left to make plays to lead to losing possession (which I think is a BIG problem with this team).

Go back and check out the number of 50/50 balls Llamosa floats into the box every game. I'd say that Pierce connects on at least as many of his passes as Llamosa, even though Carlos seems to be taking better care of the ball. And I'd love to hear why it bothers you so much when Pierce sends the ball back to the goalie when he has better options but you've never complained about the frequency that Llamosa , with other options, kicks the ball over the end line for a corner. Especially the plays where he swoops in front of Adin to head the ball out after Brown's clearly called for the ball.

Originally posted by rkupp
You seem to think I dislike Pierce, when I actually am a great admirer. But, I will criticize him, just as I would Kante, JMM, Twellman, etc. when he makes stupid or bad plays.

Is that the same way you criticise Llamosa game in and game out? It seems like no matter how well or how poorly he plays your criticisms revolve around Pierce's play.

Originally posted by rkupp
Did you see nothing wrong with him wrestling Curtis to the ground in a half-nelson? It's incredible that he didn't pick up another card for that. Just as it's incredibly stupid of Heaps to have done what Stott alleges he did, if true.

Did anyone tape the game? I'd love for someone else to look at that play. I hate to even say this, with my (slightly) obvious bias, but I've watched that play over and over, and here's what I see.

Curtis tries to pass the ball, but Rusty blocks the ball. It goes behind Ali, and Rusty tries to go around him to get the ball. Curtis pushes against Rusty's chest with his back, shielding him off of the ball. They get "tangled up" and hit the ground in the same relative position. Two things that I noticed: Rusty didn't have a tight grip on Ali's neck. His arm shifts positions when he falls, and his hand actually bounces up when he hits the ground. The other thing was that, when you see the replay (on WB56) Ali's back is against Rusty and his right shoulder's pointing towards the camera. When they turn a little, you can see his left arm hooked around Rusty's waist.

Ali's grip around Rusty's waist, and his pushing back (he outweghs Pierce by about 25 lbs) is what caused them to hit the ground, and he flipped back like he did not because Rusty had him in a death grip, but because the arm he hooked Pierce with was trapped under Rusty's body when they landed and they rolled over it.

Again, I'd be interested in the opinions of anyone else who taped the game. The play's about 33 minutes in.

[NFLPatriot]

Great picture of Rusty I found on mlsnet.com:

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/images/ne0413pierce.jpg

[ProfZodiac]

Originally posted by rkupp
I'd take my chances that the vast majority of observers would disagree that Llamosa is the worst back with the ball.


I guess that puts me, once again, in the minority. That award, in my book, goes to Heaps. Carlos, on set pieces, is always exactly where he needs to be. On crosses, he's always between the crosser and the receiver. He's got great field vision. So he's not as fast as he used to be. So what? He doesn't need to be fast except on breakaways. The only thing he needs to be is in the right place. And he's always there.

Heaps however, thinks he's a forward. He's not. Sure, every so often, the guy gets lucky and manages to sneak one past an unsuspecting goalkeeper, but more often than not "a chance goes begging." He needs to learn to stay back. You guys say Cullen is Mr. Irrelevant? Heaps is a very close second. Leader in points, but leader in my mind of people who don't matter or belong. Get Kante's confidence back, put Shalrie in back, and get with it. A very effective Revolution back line (pardon the wings, not sure of footedness):

--------Kante
Llamosa-------Pierce
--------Shalrie

And for when Pierce or Llamosa is out, which seems to be more often than not, nowadays, Franchino fits in there as well. Heaps either needs to learn midfield, or learn how to serve up some "high quality H2O."