Mctavish at RM

[cyberthoth]

I'm not a fan. He made the most of an ugly goal tonight but he doesn't cross well...doesn't attack well....and is too slow to play that position.

Our basic attack really suffered because of this. We generated nothing down the right side and that put too much pressure elsewhere.

I think Mctavish brings a lot of versatility and I like him in other positions...but seriously why can't we get a freaking coach who understands defenders don't do well when you put them in attacking positions in the midfield.

[Diceson]

I'm not a fan. He made the most of an ugly goal tonight but he doesn't cross well...doesn't attack well....and is too slow to play that position.

Our basic attack really suffered because of this. We generated nothing down the right side and that put too much pressure elsewhere.

I think Mctavish brings a lot of versatility and I like him in other positions...but seriously why can't we get a freaking coach who understands defenders don't do well when you put them in attacking positions in the midfield.

Remember what McT said in the Bradenton Q&A when asked what position TS wants him to play, "(Tommy) wants me to be the utility player, midfield and defense". That is undoubtedly one of the most difficult things to do on any team, any sport.

In that role his job is to not make any mistakes that cost the team. If that's the case, then I'd say he played well last night.

And congrats to McT for scoring his first professional goal.

[Sundevil9]

Key things about Devon's game against Harbor View:
-He didn't do anything stupid.
-He played within his game, and didn't try to be Ben Olsen or Josh Gros.


First 90 minute game as an outside mid in the 4-4-2. (He did some duty as a LM under Nowak in his rookie season). I thought he did fine, the fact that he made the run that resulted in the goal also means he wasn't overly conservative.

Is he the long term solution at that position? Absolutely not. But he's a viable option, and gives United some cover there.

[EyesOnBall]

Remember what McT said in the Bradenton Q&A when asked what position TS wants him to play, "(Tommy) wants me to be the utility player, midfield and defense". That is undoubtedly one of the most difficult things to do on any team, any sport.

In that role his job is to not make any mistakes that cost the team. If that's the case, then I'd say he played well last night.

And congrats to McT for scoring his first professional goal.

I thought that McTavish played "okay" but he should have been taken out mid way through the 2nd half. He seemed to be getting caught out of position to much and just wasn't quick enough to get back.

[Sundevil9]

I thought that McTavish played "okay" but he should have been taken out mid way through the 2nd half. He seemed to be getting caught out of position to much and just wasn't quick enough to get back.

Yeah, McTavish (and like 6 other guys) hit a fitness wall, but who do you bring in for that? Tino? He's more offense than defense, and United was looking to take a 1-0 game. Maybe Kirk or Mediate.

[Frog Boy]

I think you are being kinda hard on him. That goal was a result of nice concentration on his part. That was a mess in there and he had the focus and concentration to finish.

Plus, it's the first freakin' game, can't you wait a couple months before you start throwing people under the bus?

[sch2383]

He wasn't the answer there, but for a match or two he'll probably do OK. Like others said, he didn't do anything to hurt us and provided plenty of hustle, but isn't really what you'd want from a wide player.

[Lowecifer]

I think you are being kinda hard on him. That goal was a result of nice concentration on his part. That was a mess in there and he had the focus and concentration to finish.

Plus, it's the first freakin' game, can't you wait a couple months before you start throwing people under the bus?

Yeah, I agree. Calling the goal ugly does injustice to the composure that he displayed after finding himself unexpectedly open for a shot on goal. He collected his balance and placed his shot low to the keeper's left where it was always going to be hard for the big man to save.

The lead up to the goal? Ugly as sin. The goal was well taken though.

[JeremyEritrea]

I thought Harbour View's goal was uglier than ours. Do ugly goals count less than pretty ones?

If so, the actual aggregate score is:

DC United 0.612 : 0.435 Harbour View


I think I'm also going to have to reconsider which poster wins the "Who Can Start the First Really Stupid Thread of the 2008 Season?"


Nah, the Moreno thread is dumber, but not by much.

[MattMathai]

The lead up to the goal? Ugly as sin. The goal was well taken though.

Why was the lead up to the goal ugly?

A through ball from Gallardo to Niell towards the flag. A drop pass. A pass to a rotating Gallardo at the edge of the box. A quick shot that hit McTavish as he made a diagonal run. McT retrieves the ball and places it in a low corner, showing a lot of poise.

Or did you mean everything up to the goal sequence was ugly?

[cyberthoth]

I think you are being kinda hard on him. That goal was a result of nice concentration on his part. That was a mess in there and he had the focus and concentration to finish.

Plus, it's the first freakin' game, can't you wait a couple months before you start throwing people under the bus?

I'm not throwing him under the bus....reread my post not just the first sentence.

I like Mctavish a lot..at CB or RB. I think he has huge potential at CB and could someday be one of the better players in the league if he get's time there. I think he's a decent starter at RB now and may be our best backup DM. I called his goal ugly because it was...that's no reflection on his skills or the worth of it...obviously it was a big goal.

My problem here is lousy coaching. Sure Mctavish did a good job of not making many mistakes....but against a Jamaica league team you'd think we can do a little better than that. It's not like they had a world class LW running down the pitch at us.

Also remember...the best way to counter the other team's attack is to give them a reason to defend and put THEM on their heels. We did not do this. Starting Mctavish at RM is one reason why. A poor game by Emilio is another.

[Frog Boy]

Why was the lead up to the goal ugly?

A through ball from Gallardo to Niell towards the flag. A drop pass. A pass to a rotating Gallardo at the edge of the box. A quick shot that hit McTavish as he made a diagonal run. McT retrieves the ball and places it in a low corner, showing a lot of poise.

Or did you mean everything up to the goal sequence was ugly?

I thought the Hobbit (Niell) showed good hustle to keep the ball alive and set up the goal.

Why is it that when I watch him play I think of the show Little People, Big World?

[MattMathai]

My problem here is lousy coaching. Sure Mctavish did a good job of not making many mistakes....but against a Jamaica league team you'd think we can do a little better than that. It's not like they had a world class LW running down the pitch at us.

I'm dying to hear which of our top-level right midfielders you think was ready to go in place of Devon.

McTavish was a plug-in for that game. Nothing more. He did his job well enough.

[cyberthoth]

I thought Harbour View's goal was uglier than ours. Do ugly goals count less than pretty ones?

If so, the actual aggregate score is:

DC United 0.612 : 0.435 Harbour View


I think I'm also going to have to reconsider which poster wins the "Who Can Start the First Really Stupid Thread of the 2008 Season?"


Nah, the Moreno thread is dumber, but not by much.

Ugly goals don't count less but ugly avatars certainly do.

Seriously Jeremy...drop the ugly tatoo black wife-beater pic...it's ruining my breakfast. The dog avatar was much better.

[onefineesq]

I'm dying to hear which of our top-level right midfielders you think was ready to go in place of Devon.

McTavish was a plug-in for that game. Nothing more. He did his job well enough. I'm with cyber on this one. I'd rather have had Tino or Kirk play the position, truth be told. McTavish scored, so everyone is going to trot that out as proof that it was a brilliant decision to start him, but essentially the team got absolutely no offensive play on the side that he manned. If what we are asking for is for a guy not to do anything stupid, I guess he was brilliant. If you actually want some all-around wing play, we need to play the guys that are actually in here as wingers, not as dmid and defender backups. Just one mans opinion though. I like McTavish. He is a good player. I'm just not into taking players and playing them out of their better positions just to get them on the field.

[Sundevil9]

I'm with cyber on this one. I'd rather have had Tino or Kirk play the position, truth be told. McTavish scored, so everyone is going to trot that out as proof that it was a brilliant decision to start him, but essentially the team got absolutely no offensive play on the side that he manned. If what we are asking for is for a guy not to do anything stupid, I guess he was brilliant. If you actually want some all-around wing play, we need to play the guys that are actually in here as wingers, not as dmid and defender backups. Just one mans opinion though. I like McTavish. He is a good player. I'm just not into taking players and playing them out of their better positions just to get them on the field.

This is going to come as a surprise, but Tino got hurt at San Antonio.

Kirk joined the team in California, so he's behind the curve in gelling with the team. Though he may have made a good second half substitute.

Mediate is your third option, also a likely substitute.

But I agree with starting Devon, since there were 4 new players already on the field (in very critical positions) it seems like a wise decision to have some familiarity on the field with Devon.

[MattMathai]

I'm with cyber on this one. I'd rather have had Tino or Kirk play the position, truth be told.

Don't know why, unless you know something about their relative fitness that nobody else does. Adding yet another unfamiliar player into the mix would have made things more unstable, IMO.

McTavish scored, so everyone is going to trot that out as proof that it was a brilliant decision to start him

Congratulations. Top-notch straw man. Nobody said this.

If what we are asking for is for a guy not to do anything stupid, I guess he was brilliant. If you actually want some all-around wing play, we need to play the guys that are actually in here as wingers, not as dmid and defender backups.

Olsen was out. He would be our right wing. And sometimes not doing anything stupid is exactly what is required. An away game w/ a new team on a bad surface is precisely the time for such a player.

[JeremyEritrea]

Ugly goals don't count less but ugly avatars certainly do.

Seriously Jeremy...drop the ugly tatoo black wife-beater pic...it's ruining my breakfast. The dog avatar was much better.

Quaranta is a wife beater? Are there any DC United players you don't hate?

[onefineesq]

This is going to come as a surprise, but Tino got hurt at San Antonio.

Kirk joined the team in California, so he's behind the curve in gelling with the team. Though he may have made a good second half substitute.

Mediate is your third option, also a likely substitute.

But I agree with starting Devon, since there were 4 new players already on the field (in very critical positions) it seems like a wise decision to have some familiarity on the field with Devon. Nobody is really gelled on this team. McTavish isn't a winger. So although he knows the players on the team (most of them anyway, as 3 of the starters and the goalkeeper are completely new), it would seem to me that he isn't any further gelled with them while playing as a right winger which is what is at issue here. Again, one mans opinion, but I always have a problem with taking a guy out of his better position and sticking him in a spot where there are more natural options UNLESS the options are just awful.

[cyberthoth]

Quaranta is a wife beater? Are there any DC United players you don't hate?

Is that pic Quaranta...I didn't realize.

Anyway...the term "wife-beater" refers to that style of tank-top shirt frequently worn by red-necks who often are "wife-beaters" hence the name. It's a pretty common term all across the country I can't believe you've never heard of it.

So I was obviously not calling Quaranta a wife beater.

For the record I don't hate or dislike ANY of our players. I just hate bad coaching that leads to starting players in positions they can't succeed or leaving more capable players on the bench. I feel we have had a problem with this for too long...last night was no exception.

Hence...I like Mctavish...but don't like him at right mid in any scenerio other than protecting a lead.