While he was walking off the field, I wondered where his friends, who played the fife and drum, were.
Please no injuries. Still waiting on a Birnbaum update which I know we won't hear much until an hour before kickoff
With eight stitches in his head (his most effective body part) I can't imagine him suiting up for a friendly. If Klinsi plays him he will have some 'splaining to do to Ben.
When RFK closes next season the raccoons should be trapped and transported to Fedex. On the other hand, the owner over there leaves crumbs too small for a raccoon.
The fact that he's "a gameday decision" makes me think he'll at least be fine for Sunday, which is what matters more anyway. Has anyone heard any updates on Opare, Sarvas, Franklin, or anyone else I'm forgetting who is injured and might be back. I know Korb and Rolfe are out.
So, we're locked into the 4/5 game, likely meaning a home-and-away against NYRB if we win the play-in round. That first leg of the semifinals would be the third game in 8 days. We've played well in those situations, but it has required a lot from our bench. A win over Orlando next Sunday means we host MTL. Anything else depends on the Impact's result. So -- do we send in the second-string to play Orlando, knowing that it might result in going on the road on Wednesday? Or do we play our top players, knowing that they'll have to go Wednesday and then again against a rested NYRB team the following Sunday?
I think they have to play their best eleven against Orlando because the knockout game at home is statistically significant. Or is it? Im only basing that on the regular season, the playoffs could be different. Maybe give Neagle a start.
The chances of going to MTL and winning and then coming back here to play well on the weekend against a good team vs. staying here against MTL and winning and then waiting for a good team to arrive. I'd much rather push a little harder vs. Orlando (if it even takes that) and having the second option.
The good: United has conceded 43 goals, good for second best in the East behind Toronto. This is a good foundation for success. United has taken the second most shots in MLS, just seven behind KC. Good stuff, can't score if you don't shoot. United has scored 51 goals this season. This is after averaging less than a goal a game after 20 games. Quite a turnaround. The bad: United leads the league in fouls committed, by a large margin, like 30. This is reflected in Marcelo and Lucho both being in the top five in yellows. United has conceded too many goals from free kick opportunities, this should be a focus going into the playoffs. They have to continue to be physical but walk the tightrope, particularly within forty yards of their goal.
I would put Sarvas back in for Vincent in a heartbeat even though Vincent has been good enough. If Jeffrey's in his spot instead, that might be a harder decision - but both Sarvas and Jeffrey are about a millisecond away from a yellow at any given time, albeit in totally different ways I might leave NDL in because I fear he'd forget things if you took him out for a game or two
Steven Goff @SoccerInsider 3m3 minutes ago Marcelo Sarvas (knee), Sean Franklin (calf), Kofi Opare (concussion) training with D.C. United, bolstering depth for MLS playoffs #dcu Depth my friends... depth. None of them should walk into the lineup, although getting any of them minutes vs. Orlando would be great if possible.
fwiw, a Black&Red United guy sent out a very similarly-info'd tweet 2 minutes before Goff did, it was a tad weird timing-wise. He did not mention Opare, but did add that that Korb was working on the side (which I loved reading)
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/featu...urce=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_m_medium=t There is a part for us there. Suggest Olsen as a coach of the year candidate, considering his finances.
I just caught the last 20 minutes or so and then 20 minutes of celebrating from Uniteds' 1996 MLS championship - the first year of the league. So good to see all those great young players, and even a young Dave Johnson. When the game ended no one left the stadium. All of American soccer was celebrating the return of the pro game. Nice to watch it at a time when we can look forward as well as back.