Keita is a talented player. I think a lot of people got an incomplete picture of his game watching him at the U-20 WC. He had been playing USL League One soccer prior to the tournament. It was too much of a step up to recognize plays at the speed some of these teams were playing at compared to USL League One. I haven't watched much of his play with Columbus, but I think once he adjusts to the speed of the game, he should do well. He's mobile, has good size, is a good 1v1 defender and is an average or better passer. He probably won't turn into a star player, but he should have a good career, and could make the National Team.
And even then, he had only played in a couple of League One games for Richmond because he picked up an injury in the spring. Even at the U20 WC, although Keita gave off very shaky vibes on the ball, he still put in a solid defensive performance for the most part.
Pomykal questionable today with an abdominal strain. Staying fit and available is a skill. This is the first year of full time club play plus all of the international duty. He came out gang-busters in the first couple of months of the MLS season followed by the U20WC. Since then its been stop-start, stop-start. No momentum. We have a few face on this week's @texashealth Injury Report. 😔#DTID https://t.co/6UIddRRejD— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) September 21, 2019
Brandon Vazquez had an assist yesterday: Put it on ice ❄️Pity finishes off the win! pic.twitter.com/FQLKeCqR35— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 21, 2019 Big players step up in big moments.Sensational from @darlingtonnagbe. Clinical from @emersonhyndman. pic.twitter.com/ci1AhUyt3V— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 21, 2019 Yueill's decision making on the Atlanta winner, turning away from Nagbe, is interesting I would say. San Jose had been playing a man down since the 34th minute.
Holy shit Jackson Yueill #Quakes74 #ATLvSJ pic.twitter.com/TlbTunavCa— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) September 21, 2019 Vazquez shot after some combination play. Robinson and Vazquez combine hear to create a Hyndman shot that is saved.
Portland host Minnesota at 3:55 eastern on ESPN. Ebobisse starts for Portland. Toye for Minnesota. Dotson is on the bench.
Rough finishing from our u-23 strikers, Ebobisse and Toye. Both are in poor form the last few games. We're seeing some holes in Toye's game that he has to close, in spite of the potential. His issues seem to be committing to a run and handling one-time shooting opportunities where the ball comes hard into his feet. Those are important aspects of being a cf. For the time being these things are precluding them from being full internationals. But I guess you expect u-23's to be significantly flawed.
While I do think you are absolutely right, there are two parts to the equaton (IMO). The player's side is obviously one but the other, perhaps larger part is the coach/organization side. Just as an older player often needs to have his minutes managed (and nobody bats an eye...just part of being older in an extremely physical and demanding profession), a growing young man needs more rest and recovery time than a player in his early to mid 20's. Consider the fact that any player that is sold in the winter break essentially gets to play 1.5 seasons without a significant break and I believe it becomes clear that being able to manage those minutes will be increasingly important. I have no idea if Adam's injury issues were due in part to his extended run of games beginning with the CONCACAF CL, Running through the full MLS season + playoffs and then the second half of a B1 season but I would not be at all surprised, A guy like Pomykal, playing in the summer heat of Dallas, that works as hard as he does during a game probably would benefit from the coaches managing his minutes before he gets worn out. Of course that isn't so easy to do when he is a key part of the team but I believe it is definitely something that MLS teams will have to work out if they are going to become a leader in youth development. (that should be the target).
By the way, FCD was put in a particularly difficult place regarding Pomykal because he missed many games while in the U20 WC but wasn't being rested. If they were to rest him more, it would be on top of the games he had already missed.
Pomykal looked good yesterday (came on early after Servania probably had a concussion) and showed off his hustle and soccer IQ on a goal set up by his getting a foot on a poor pass from the keeper to a CB. very few players even try to press that hard and he's really good at getting a quick foot in that disrupts. Luckily for Dallas it fell right to Cobra in the box which is the only place he can score from but he's really good in that one aspect. The guy is slower than me and trips over dental floss but he can sure shoot if he's in the box.
The thought that Pomykal is slumping is a bit of a myth. He didn't look good against Chicago, but that seems like more of a fluke than anything, and the entire team was poor. He's had some sub appearances recently, but he's looked good in them, and rest at this point in the season given that it is his first real pro season and the miles that he has logged including the U20 WC mean that is probably good management rather than an alarming trend.
that's what the team indicated on not starting him. He had a bit of a hip flexor from the Chicago game. He improved enough to be in the 18 and then an early appearance because of injury. He looked lively as usual and was told to play deeper as a twin holding mid in a 4-2-3-1.
I thought that was him that forced that but didn't see anyone give credit so I thought maybe I was mistaking him for someone else. Should have trusted my eyes even on a low res highlight.
Ya know...……………...by winning 4 of 5 games, the Rapids inexplicably are still alive for the playoffs. They need help, but they're still alive. Teams have been giving them help as nobody in the West seems to want to win consistently Its LAFC and shrapnel. It should be mentioned that Cole Bassett only recently turned 18, and has played about 1200 first team minutes already this season. A nice success story for the Rapids academy to hang their hat on. Araujo and Bassett are essentially the same age (born a week apart). They are both over 1000 first team minutes. Its unlikely anybody younger than them gets there. Busio can if SKC start him the rest of the way. Those have been our youngest semi-regular first team contributors.
Sciaretta mentions Bassett applying for a Greek passport. If that's the case, and he's known that he'd like to play in Europe, why didn't his parents and others start the process at, I dunno, uhh, 15 or so?
Was Bassett a US youth prospect around that time? If not, they probably didn’t expect the progression he’s had.
Sigh of relief on this one...……..it seems: Jim Curtin says Mark McKenzie will be fine as quickly as Sunday. No hamstring damage— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) September 24, 2019 Not such good news on this one: With FC Dallas' Brandon Servania in concussion protocol, the MLS' in-game evaluation is in the spotlight @ArnoldcommaJon | #DTID https://t.co/wgzU5o4aJr— SportsDayDFW (@SportsDayDFW) September 25, 2019
i’ve been skeptical of busio but he has looked consistently dangerous. just missing with some shots, combining well. less of the nowhere to be found then in right place for a goal out of nowhere
What a moment for the Loons! Hassani Dotson's 90th-minute winner sends @MNUFC to their first #MLSCupPlayoffs!(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/vYxqR4vWkv— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 26, 2019