Right, I was trying to contrast mine with both of you guys' opinions. He was there to run out the clock and rest Rooney. He ran out the clock and rested Rooney. He was effective in the same way Amarikwa was, or the same way you could have expected from say a Segura if brought on late to hold a lead.
(Facebook connection - can't find it on DC United web site) https://www.facebook.com/dcunited/photos/a.162849806488/10157558838316489/?type=3&theater
I was thinking about this last night. We got off to a good start this year, but the season went to shit when he got injured. Now he's back, and we are playing well again. Agree that the back 6 played last night is pretty solid. So long as the other 4 guys can score, we are in pretty good shape.
I'll agree that I come from a different era with respect to how I evaluate a players performance in that I trust what I see versus the spreadsheet says. I see a star player laying an egg, finally getting benched and shows little fire, passion or offensive initiative to show that he wants to get back in the 11. Yes, he's there to hold a lead, but I didn't see him aggressively pressing anyone, not even once. He was out there for 20 minutes to collect a game check. That's what I saw. When I played in high school and college, a benching meant something, not play out the string and wait for next season. By your pure statistical measure you must feel he's earned more than 20 minutes of garbage time right? Those #s are impressive by themselves.
More about the fan confrontation https://www.espn.com/soccer/seattle...0/seven-sounders-fans-assaulted-after-dc-game
I remember Joseph Mora's first match with United. He introduced himself with a perfect slide tackle. I knew then he would be a good addition. I'm a bit conflicted by Jara being out of the starting lineup. Yeah, I guess Canouse may be a superior defender but Jara brought Segura-like attacking skills. But he faded late in matches, and no, he doesn't match Segura on offense. And when, if, Arriola returns to the right wing I think Canouse will always be the choice at RB.
If last night was Benny Ball, give me more of it!! Won possession, had more dangerous opportunities, defense looked solid, the team looked fluid passing in possession... I will take it.
ESPN's crawl is reporting that 7 Sounders fans were assaulted by DCU supporters after the match. Police are investigating. Not good.
Yes, isn't it better to have him with us than against us? Think how many serious injuries we avoid this way.
Unlike Carlos Ruiz, Felipe has actually made a difference for DC United. Is United fielding its truly best possible XI with him on the pitch? Maybe. I don't know. But is it working with him on the field? Absolutely.
You don't field your best possible and most talented XI. You field the best players in the positions that you need on the field.
He brings 100% every time which I give him credit for. He allows us to deploy Canouse at right back which is working well
I've been underwhelmed with Felipe personally and I still think he can suck a tailpipe but I appreciate that he represents the full realization of Bennyball.
If you watched him closely Sunday you would have seen that he wasn't just a defensive traffic cone. He roamed the field and sent the ball forward many a time.
You should understand that I despise Felipe as a human. The fact that I now recognize his humanity is purely a function of his passably decent play for DC United.
Exactly. And, while we're on the subject, Bobby Boswell, Mike Petke, Dema Kovalenko & Ben Olsen were no angels on defense either -- although neither of them ever caused serious injury to another player to the best of my knowledge. Felipe arguably fits into that category of players that you hate to play against but deal with it when he's on your side. Admittedly, he's a borderline case. But, he's probably no dirtier now than Hristo Stoichkov was back in the day.
I still maintain Dema's tackle on that play was fine, the follow-thru of Pollard's leg was the problem - if Dema had less manly leg bones, he would have been injured instead. IOW, that guy broke his leg kicking Dema. But my memory is hazy. Still, that's my story and I'm sticking with it Hristo is still the DCU player I have hated the most - of only a tiny few. Felipe hasn't completely won me over yet, but I appreciate his attitude and hard work. And he loves the fans, you have to like that. My most-hated MLS player of all time is probably still Danny Pena. For reasons I barley remember, Giovanni Savarese is right up there too and now he's in management so I can hate him more.
My most hated MLS player of all time is Tony Meola. It was personal between us. We played in a soccer tournament in Oneonta, NY back when we were kids. He was a jerk off then and is still today. I am glad I made his life miserable in the nets at RFK. The coward would go hide up at the top of the box when he was on my end of the pitch.