2019 Match Day #25: DC United v. Union, August 4, 2019 p/d/p

You been around here too long Jay

 

Counter attacking team that bunkers in??? That's the Union's Kryptonite

 

I didn't expect that.

 

Not a Union fan, or even really a MLS fan, but props to Ale:

Hey @AleBedoya17 stick to sports NEVER. 👏🏼👊🏼👍🏼 #DOOP #MLS pic.twitter.com/dnPZqr6kr1

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) August 5, 2019

 

Another typical, horrible sway performance....


Oh wait, this is 2019.

Nice to put a team to the sword on the road. Who's DC United's DP?

 

Also nice to know that we dont have the worst pitch in the league any longer.

 

Seriously, how is it that the same team that completely failed to show up for the match in Montreal a week ago, and at RSL a few weeks before that, turned around and dominated DC on the road this week? Clearly the U are a very good team this year, but the inability to consistently turn in a competitive performance every week is concerning come playoff time.

 

To compare the Montreal and DC games:

1. Early goal vs DC while Elliott missed the header vs. Montreal that would have provided an early lead, Przybyłko hit the post and Bush made a good save on Przybyłko. Sometimes luck matters.

2. Five different players. Don't underestimate that. Wagner was better than Real, Collin was better than Trusty, Creavalle was better than Aaronson and Wooten was better than Fafa. And Monteiro was excellent off the bench.

3. It was easier to plan for DC than Montreal because Lappalainen was an unknown and with DC what you see is what you get.

4. Adversity forces focus and concentration. Don't underestimate that.

5. Red cards make everything easier.

 

The league won’t be fining Bedoya.

JUST IN: The MLS says they will not discipline @PhilaUnion's @AleBedoya17 for his on field statement about gun violence. https://t.co/SbyoXQLOyJ

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) August 5, 2019

 

.@AleBedoya17 of @PhilaUnion is the @MLS Player of the Week.

Bedoya won the media vote, which is 75% of the total. We saw the effort to draft Bedoya into the fan poll. That did not count, but we acknowledge the sentiment.

See the official results at https://t.co/uBlinZCqvv.

— North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) (@SoccerReporters) August 5, 2019

 

Good call, suits.

If he had gotten fined, the shitstorm would have been something out of the Book of Exodus.

 

Do you guys think that would have gotten a fine if he were to say something like "make America great again", build the wall or a pro NRA comment?

 

Possibly. I had a more lengthy response but I don't see how to discuss it without getting into the politics. I do agree certainly from a business perspective not fining Bedoya for what he did was the obvious right decision for the MLS. Because these guys are basically under a collective bargaining agreement I wonder what the MLS could do? Has anyone done something similar in the past?

 

I can see a league not fining a player for making an open-ended plea to all of congress to stop gun violence, hunger, homelessness etc

If it was directed at one party or was a more specific comment about abortion, immigration, taxes etc that obviously would have been directed at one party or person a league might feel they have to make a point of not condoning partisan commentary.

I wouldn’t be shocked if this, or all, league(s) eventually send out a note about not using the microphone for any kind celebration/statement. If it starts to become a thing it won’t be long before a fan or player uses the microphone for a purpose that puts the league in a bind.

I’m not sure if some/any/all telecasts are on a 5 second delay but that conversation likely also has occurred between leagues and production departments.