Just a guess, but I'd wager there that the preponderance of comments concerning Ben's skill in substitution personnel, position and timing have been negative. (someone sitting at work is already counting) Doesn't mean they were posted by folks with the coaching skills of an Arsene Wenger and are correct, just that it sure seems that many disagree with his choices. I think he's been running at flank speed through the icebergs for too long and has plenty of excuses banked up for when he hits one with a loss of ship and crew. So yeah, there's going to be a day when he's held accountable, hopefully it won't be this year. But I think he's close to having the issues you describe right now.
Sounders fans sure stuffed the ballot bix for goal of the week. A Seattle goal that could at best be called "nifty" beat out Rooney's free kick, which should be in competition for goal of the year.
None of those things I guess. But it makes me want to pick a random Seattle thread and type "artificial turf." They go ape shit for days.
DCU webbies were always doin' a Putin on the MLS Goal of the Week ballots back in the day. As an old football coach used to say, "Organization is the key to success". We were shameless.
No online poll can be trusted or should be paid attention to. I've helped stuff a digital-ballot-box or two in my time for either DCU or Dale Jr
Goff reporting that Kofi Opare had foot surgery. He'll be out 3-5 months. I was hoping he'd be available for our playoff run. asitis
Opare's injury is bad news. Brilliant's been playing pretty good, but Villa's goal in the last game was an illustration of his limitations. Of course Villa is (still) a great player who has beaten many a defender, but I think Opare would have found a way to block that shot. I sure hope he makes a full recovery for next season. With our defensive midfield looking real solid I think we can live with a central defender who's a defense first type of player.
Thinking about center backs, if I remember correctly, at the last USMNT's last match there was some discussion that Cameron Carter-Vickers is not getting much playing time at Swansea. I'm not that familiar with his game and I know he's young, but could we take him on loan from Tottenham, his parent club. Would we want him? Would he want to come to MLS? Is there someone at Swansea who might be willing to help such a move along? asitis
I think the word on Carter-Vickers is good ability but brain farts. That is a career killer for a CB.
He'll turn 21 new years, he just needs to play. I watched him a couple times with the u17s, he looked dominant to me. Reminded me of Nemanja Vidic, constantly moving, leading the team, head on a swivel, winning every challenge that came his way. I'd take him in a second. It wouldn't necessarily work out, but he has the potential to be a best eleven center back.
CCV is good enough for MLS, but is MLS good enough for him? If Spurs loan him out, it will be to a quality league (even Swansea is still EPL).
Swansea are not in the EPL; they're in the Championship. If he's not playing for a mid table (currently 8th) Championship club, how much of a step down would be regular playing time at DCU? asitis
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/10/28/borek-dockal-luciano-acosta-share-2018-mls-assist-title-17 And next year will be even better
interesting that the pasted link above indicates they tied at 17 but the article it links to says the other guy won the title 18 to 17.
The article was originally posted with them as tied, but has been updated. Dockal assisted on Philly's lone goal yesterday to take the title.
Is there anywhere to find the standings at any given week during the season? I have not been able to find it. Was wondering what would standings look like if season started Aug 11
The best I can find is 538's MLS predictions page: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/mls/ If you pick August 4 (the next day they have is August 14), DC United are at 18 points. They picked up 33 points the rest of the way, though they also had games in hand. Here's how everyone else did: NYRB: 30 Atlanta: 21 NYCFC: 12 (their schedule was pretty heavily front loaded, but ew) Columbus: 15 Philly: 23 Montreal: 17 NE: 12 Toronto: 13 Chicago: 9 Orlando: 5 (OMG they were so bad) SKC: 26 Seattle: 30 LAFC: 21 Dallas: 15 Portland: 17 RSL: 15 Galaxy: 13 Vancouver: 17 Houston: 11 Minnesota: 8 Colorado: 11 San Jose: 5 (OMG they were worse than Orlando)
My guess would have been us followed by Seattle and NYRB just based on what I remember from the season. Turns out I was spot on. I would not have had SKC as 4th place. I would have said I had no idea who was in 4th. I wonder if we were ahead on PPG or just on total points. I'm assuming we played more than 2 games more than NYRB and Seattle so the answer would be that we were just a hair worse on PPG than those two teams.
Hmmm... I checked the Philly box score last night and he wasn't then credited with an assist. These decisions can be made later?
For the second half of the season, (game 18 for each team and beyond) Atlanta had 35 points, we had 37, RBNY 39 and Seattle 43. So objectively speaking our seond half was probably fourth best (our schedule was home loaded), but still extremely impressive considering that the club was dead line the water in every way before that. But of course Atlanta and Seattle don't count because they play on ARTIFICIAL TURF.