I cheered every single goal, but still feel a bit empty seeing the standings and how our 1.1 PPG (finally over 1.0) is still 2nd worst in the league. It's maddening indeed.
2- no. They are who they are, a moderately talented team with zero depth or margin for error and without any FO infrastructure of note compared to successful MLS sides. 1- I'm not sure if teams play us soft at PPL or the travel grind has them make long view decisions past the Union match. The first DCU match Olsen played very conservatively. Seattle left the top attacking pair in MLS home. Timbers were missing 7 regulars and 3 starters. Regardless, you have to play the team that shows up. The difference for the U is when one starter is out, many questions come up. Will White or Vitoria line up in Toronto in place of Edu? Will Giovinco be able to play without giggles?
Good point. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't find navy clashing with their primary, especially since we are no longer in the colorless TV age.
Call me a hipster but the drama of the DC Open Cup game was better. Maidana now joint 2nd for assists in the league.
Yet somehow we still seem to be in the thick of things for the playoffs. Can we make it to September and still be relevant? I think that's asking a lot with our lack of depth.
But if we add Barnetta and Nando gets healthy (I'm not sure which is less likely) and then maybe add that dittborn and I say we have pretty good depth.
I hear this. Yet getting Vitoria, Lahoud and Nando back actually makes it appear that the Union have depth, or at the least they should have depth. Is this a team of world beaters? No, but it's not as terrible as we would like to think it is either. It just sucks it takes them half a season to get their collective shit together and actually start to play well. The one thing this team is really lacking is one or two grinder type players. Like a Rolfe or Arnaud, players whpo always seem to take their chances. DCU has a bunch of these and it shows in their ability to get points even when they don't play well. If the Union were able to turn the opener into a Win, and then hold on at SKC...........season looks a lot different. We'll learn a lot about this team over the next two weeks with away matches at TFC and DCU. Both of these are winnable games or at least games where a draw can be had. If the Union can find a way to get 4 points out of the next two matches that would be HUGE. Throw in Cup win at RBA.............might be asking for too much on that one though.
It is really unfortunate how we started the season. We basically took our fate out of our own hands immediately, and it will come down to how TFC, MTL, and NYCFC play things out. I think we can be pretty sure NYCFC won't be a threat, but TFC sits 1 point ahead, and MTL 1 point behind us, and both have FOUR games in hand. If they win 2 or 3 of those while we are idle and things get grim in a hurry. I guess all we can ask at this point is for performances like this and HOPE for things to play out for us with other results. ETA: The reasons I'm only focusing on TFC & MTL is because I just don't see RBNY, C-Bus, or OCSC doing so poorly down the stretch to pull us in. Although, given their current form NER would be the one we should be putting in our sights (we even have a game in-hand on them).
Sitting in The River End, I thought Wenger's goal was deflected in. Nope. That was all curve. Thread the needle, Andrew. You couldn't have put a piece of paper between the ball and the Viking's head...and...net.
FYP But seriously...That Beard!!! That's a thing of beauty! Even the games in hand that TFC, NYCFC, MTL & CHI have on the Union.......the east is still a muddy playoff picture with basically every team still alive. The revs are slumping, but they went win less in what 11 games last season?? They still finished second. They get JJ back, and they can turn it around quickly. For me it'll be DCU, TFC, RBNY, CBS, NYCFC, MTL in the east. Orlando is dreadful without Kaka, and even if they get Chicharito he won't be able to play until Sept with his injury. Plus Orlando struggles to win games at home surprisingly. The Union & Fire have dug themselves too deep of a hole, and the Fire just struggle to score. New England is in shambles without Jones, and this is his second surgery for that injury in the past 6 months.......I don't see him being 100% back this season. Sports Hernia's take a good amount of time to fully heal and recover from. I know it's a gamble picking MTL to get that last playoff spot given their awful road form, but they just have too much quality (injuries to Piatti and/or Ciman and all bets are off though). NYCFC have too much talent not to make the playoffs at this point. The additions of Iraola, Lampard Pirlo, and Angelino will help shore up some of their deficiencies. Oh, and did I mention Borchers Beard!?!?!?! That thing is magnificent!
The banner actually was introduced a few seasons ago, and was trotted back out for last night. The chainsaw was going to be done a couple of seasons ago, but a scoreless game meant that the extra-long loaf of Bimbo didn't get sliced. Fortunately, the floodgates opened last night and it all came together.
The primary reason why I'm not a fan of it is that an all-white kit has been all-too-common for MLS teams. It's overly-used in this league and fails to give the Union any identity.
Doesn't it seem like jerseys always seem to grow on you? I hated that bomb bop shirt the national team wore in the world cup at first, but now its beloved to me.
I wholly agree. I would love to see something a little more individual and radiant from Union in that regard. Not likely at all.
Eh, he doesn't fix any of their problems. They should have gotten another striker, a defensive mid, or more defensive help. For now, Pirlo is more a luxury than a significant improvement.
I maintain that the U will set the league record for "worst team to ever make the playoffs" this year, and Nick Sak will use it to not make any major changes.
Iraola waves hello, plus Watson-Siriboe is healthy now which allows Hernandez to go to the bench and Wingert to go back to LB. Not to mention a midfield with Pirlo, Mix and Lampard controlling possession will make the Defenses job that much easier. Lampard making trailing runs into the 18 from midfield? He's going to score goals.
Moments of individual brilliance from Pirlo, Lampard, and Villa will score goals but I still don't know if NYC is a team.