I thought Acosta showed well in limited minutes in this one. Got himself involved and connected on a good mix of passes. The one time he needed to make a difficult defensive play, he came through a well-timed tackle on Darren Mattocks.
Congratulations to the Chicago Fire reserves, our 2014 champions! They were also the only reserve team that managed to complete the league's grueling nine-game schedule. Several players of interest in the league's final two games Chicago 1, Montreal 0 Fire Pro 93 Joya 90 mins + assist Pro 97 Fernandez 90 mins Acad 96 Gutman 90 mins Impact "Acad" 95 Nico Gaitan 66 mins (I assume it's him) Colorado 1, Seattle 1 Sounders Pro 93 Kovar 90 mins + assist Pro 93 Okoli 90 mins Acad 95 McCormick 17 mins Rapids Pro 94 Serna 45 mins Pro 94 Hairston 45 mins Acad 97 Pearson 45 mins
In yesterday's game, Gall was waiting at half field to sub in when the Crew scored, and he had to go put the pinny back on.
Matt Dunn ('94) and John Neeskens ('93) started for their respective clubs last night, as Chivas USA hosted Colorado. Neeskens with a goal in the 30' min.
Good news out of Dallas. Zim gets the start for FCD.............Acosta and Craft on the bench. A healthy and performing Zimmerman would be a welcome addition to the U23 pool. FC Dallas @FCDallas · 30m 30 minutes ago #FCDallas XI, powered by @TXUEnergy: Seitz, Hernandez, Hedges, Zimmerman, Loyd, Escobar, Michel, Ulloa, Castillo, Texeira, Akindele. FC Dallas @FCDallas · 29m 29 minutes ago #FCDallas bench: Fernandez, Acosta, Benitez, Moffat, Hollingshead, Watson, Craft. No thread-eligible starters for the Galaxy, but several on the bench: LA Galaxy @LAGalaxy · 28m 28 minutes ago #LAGalaxy subs vs @FCDallas: Rowe, Villarreal, Meyer, Garcia, Gargan, Walker, Jamieson IV
Really strong game for Zimmerman, I thought. When that guy actually plays, he looks more than capable of playing at an MLS level. Villarreal came on late for the Galaxy and his only contribution was almost getting his ankle broken by Moises Hernandez.
Why hasn't Acosta been starting? He was doing so well last season and this season until the injury. Since the injury, they've not really played him that much.
Where are you going to play him? Gotta start Zach Loyd at RB, who's having a fantastic season. So you'd either need to play him at LB or CM, where two other homegrowns have been playing pretty well: Moises Hernandez [red card last night aside] and Victor "the Crab" Ulloa. Kellyn will get his opportunities under Pareja. I wouldn't worry about him. If folks want to find reasons to worry, they should fret about Danny Garcia and Jonathan Top. Arizona's season ended in early September, so what has Top been doing? Last night Pareja had Coy Craft on the bench ahead of him (if he's healthy). And as we've discussed ad naseum, it seems Ryan Hollingshead has beaten Garcia out for a role in the 18. I believe Top's contract is up after this season. Keep in mind the club just signed two other youngsters that are listed as forwards (Craft and Zendejas). If Perez, Castillo, Texiera, Akindele (and possibly Escobar) are still on the roster next season...............what possible reason would there be to also keep Jonathan Top? I can't think of one. Keep in mind I said the same about Victor Ulloa at the end of last season..........................
Speaking of Zendejas, I love this picture....... Alejandro Zendejas @AlexZendejas8 · Oct 9 Loved talking to the little ones tonight. Always love giving back to the city that gave me everything. #elpaso #fcd
I need to take another trip to El Paso. I think Acosta should be getting PT instead of Moffat. He is nothing special and that spot should be used to develop Acosta.
It should be noted that none of them (Ulloa, Moffat, Acosta, etc.) would be starting at CM if Hendry Thomas hadn't gotten hurt. Fear not, I can't imagine Moffat being back next season.
I'm not worried at all about Garcia and Top because I don't think they are even worth worrying about. No offense to either, but I haven't gotten the impression that either is that great. I understand what you are saying about the other players for FC Dallas playing well, but I think he deserves a chance to earn back his spot. He was doing well until the injury, and then once he came back he wasn't the starter anymore.
In some classic late-season bad-team obscurity action, the first two goals in CHV-COL came from thread-eligible players. Nary a peep here, and I didn't even get around to watching the highlights until just a moment ago...
Wha? Thought that was Dunn. Guess I didn't just watch the highlights closely enough. My point exactly.
Strange because I heard otherwise from BigSoccer legend @Dave Marino-Nachison in this very thread: http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/youngsters-in-mls-1993-or-later.1972639/page-163#post-29883178