Open Cup 2017

Discussion in 'D.C. United' started by Freestyle2000, Jun 1, 2017.

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  1. DCUSA

    DCUSA Member+

    Jan 14, 2006
    Virginia
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That is a major indictment on United. Good for Christos, really, lots of respect, but they have no business in a game against MLSers, unless that team is doing it wrong.
     
  2. Hedbal

    Hedbal Member+

    Jul 31, 2000
    DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Lots of very loud Christos fans in the stadium tonight. Their team responded until they simply ran out of gas (and why not, as they don't train and it was hot). I was worried when I saw Ben run out Boswell, Le Toux, and Marcelo, who are 34,33, and 35 - on a hot night. We had good looks at goal early (looking at you, Le Toux) but skied them all. Christos played with great heart and decent skill - several of their players could easily make MLS rosters, IMO - but we just overwhelmed them in the last 20-30 minutes.

    I didn't see much wrong with Korb's left foot - or his right. He looked comfortable on the left side. Sam made an almost immediate impression, but I didn't see much to cheer about from most of our starters.

    BTW, it looked like a fight might start after Worra was flattened (two yellow cards given), and I began to think that's it's just not a good idea to get into a fight with a club team!
     
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  3. morrissey

    morrissey Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 18, 2000
    West Los Angeles, Calif
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #78 morrissey, Jun 14, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2017
    What am I wrong about? Their lack of conditioning did them in and I called the desperation subs at least a week ago.

    You don't get to dictate my expression of disgust at a team that I've followed since 1996. Nor do you get to determine who is and isn't a fan.

    Cheers.
     
  4. JG

    JG Member+

    Jun 27, 1999
  5. GumbyG

    GumbyG Member+

    DC United
    Mar 22, 2007
    Chesapeake, VA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I just disagree with that. :unsure:

    Christos' gameplan was to stay behind the ball, crowd the box, and outlet to a couple creative guys in midfield who also really played their hearts out to harry us in transition. A team that has the players to do that can win out on the day. They didn't give us opportunities for early balls. They were rarely dangerous and difficult to break down.

    I thought our B team was at least marginally better than they were in every aspect of the game. The part I'm disappointed in is the penetration phase. We got behind them on the wings and to the end line quite a bit, to little effect.

    A team with Acosta, Nyarko, Sam and Mullins on the field rips these guys apart. Well, you saw Sam, but even adding Harkes made a significant difference. We put a borderline MLS/USL quality side out there against a bunkering USL quality opponent. We rested a lot of guys, got others minutes, and we won the game. Total dominance is nice to see, but with another tightly spaced stretch of games coming up, I'm happy with the W.

    As for the whole coy "We never practice, and the only workout I get is lifting my beer from the table to my mouth" thing, I call bullsh*t. That team had talent, chemistry and a decent (if ultimately insufficient) amount of fitness, however they came by it. And you don't make a run in the US open cup with a "meh" and a dream. I hope whoever tries to buy them up and shoehorn them into the USL doesn't break them.
     
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  6. griffin1108

    griffin1108 BigSoccer Supporter

    Dec 5, 2003
    Virginia
    That, in a nutshell, describes DCU's scoring woes in MLS. Watching the stream last night, I was appalled at the inability of supposedly seasoned pros to get that penetration against a clearly inferior opponent. In that regard, I continue to find Ortiz utterly useless. He keeps his head down with the ball and just seems to make the wrong decision every time. LeToux looked old. Neagle occasionally threatened, but he just doesn't have whatever it was he had last year. With Mullins sidelined, that is out "forward striking corps" since Olsen appears to have no use for Kamara at this point. Unless DCU picks up an additional attacker or Neagle or Mullins returns to form this will be a very long season and success will involve Bill Hamid standing on his head game after game.
     
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  7. rocketeer22

    rocketeer22 Member+

    Apr 11, 2000
    Oakton,VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, I see CFC scored the first goal and led for 12', so I guess DC did get a little 'scare'.
     
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  8. shawn12011

    shawn12011 Member+

    Jun 15, 2001
    Reisterstown, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. Hedbal

    Hedbal Member+

    Jul 31, 2000
    DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Some of the commentary suggests that we were totally stymied until Christos tired. Actually, we had lots of chances in the first half but shot high and wide (lookin' at you, LeToux), and we got virtually nothing from Ortiz (again). Our guys were often too casual on the ball and got stripped by the active and highly motivated Christos. Once we tidied that up (and brought in Sam and Harkes) it was only a matter of time. Surprisingly on a hot night, our 30-somethings didn't wilt - it was the non-practicing "pub team " that did. And that made the result inevitable. A good lesson for DC, but without more threatening attackers in Mullins absence I don't know how much better we can do.
     
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  10. sitruc

    sitruc Member+

    Jul 25, 2006
    Virginia
    I was there. They didn't scare at all.
     
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  11. DecadeOfDCU26

    DecadeOfDCU26 Member+

    May 2, 2007
    DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Where exactly were Christos better?

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. "username"

    "username" Member

    Northern Virginia United
    United States
    Mar 20, 2010
    Northern Virginia
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'd say Christos fans outnumbered DC fans at least 3-1, not like that's everything, but still cause for concern if I were running DCU
     
  13. DecadeOfDCU26

    DecadeOfDCU26 Member+

    May 2, 2007
    DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Meh it was a once-in a lifetime experience for them
     
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  14. DCUSA

    DCUSA Member+

    Jan 14, 2006
    Virginia
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Christos with an organized bunker was a tough nut to crack, I don't begrudge them. I really have more issue with United's overall play, to me it was very bad. Multiple passes directly out of touch or 20 yards off the mark, repeatedly sending weak shots into shins, losing battles over 50/50 balls, general laziness and a 'too cool for this' attitude.
    I can't let the last ten minutes override the first 80. I mean, the first 15 of the second it looked like Christos was more likely to score. I found the overall performance troubling and pretty consistent with a United performance following extra time off. Time to prepare doesn't equate to a good performance for United, really just the opposite. This bothers me a lot, but to each his/her own.
     
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  15. John L

    John L Member+

    Sep 20, 2003
    Alexandria, VA
    1) Christos is NOT an pub team. It's a team of former Maryland Bay players who've been talented in youth leagues and played a lot of competitive and tough-fought strategic games together in the Bay's league.

    2) DC United players were NOT seasoned pros. Many were perennial bench warmers. And all we're playing in their first competitive game togethedr.

    3) Ortiz is Ortiz.

    4) (repeat number 3)
     
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  16. Murrdcu

    Murrdcu Member

    DC United
    United States
    Apr 25, 2017
    I'm ready for a new crop of forwards.

    Ortiz is just not jelling. Not out wide or up top. If we have him on loan let's send him back and try somebody else.

    Kamara befuddled out there last night too. If he is a project that can pay off in a year or two then keep him. Last night I barely remembered he was on the field.

    LeToux's shots have been off target lately. He is falling into that crop of wingers/forwards that earn a start depending on who practiced the best this week as opposed to who has taken the wing.

    Mullins has been injured all season and results have matched. We know his quality from last year, which is why I would keep him on the roster.
     
  17. fatbastard

    fatbastard Member+

    Aug 1, 2003
    Lincoln (ish), Va
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My main gripe with United, the team, last night was the supreme lack of proper passing ability, but I was much more impressed with the team than the front office and soccerplex management.

    Horribly mis-handled entry and exit last night. I can't remember being in a slower line to get into a stadium since the US played Guatemala at RFK way back in the day and everyone was forced thru one or two gates. The wand-handling people were slow as molasses in December, adding to the frustration of that being a ********ing useless and insulting piece of equipment anyway. I was in a line before the game started and got in around the 37th minute. Should have just stayed at the tailgate drinking for the first half.

    Did anyone get out before the game was over and actually get to move your car toward an exit?

    Next time there's a sell-out crowd maybe hire 3 or 4 extra folks and open some extra gates - and maybe the traffic cops can go learn how to move traffic at a NASCAR track or something - though even at those sometimes a drunk redneck can get traffic moving better than a group of cops - I've seen that at Pocono :D
    Or ask the Spirit how they manage to do it.
     
  18. Hedbal

    Hedbal Member+

    Jul 31, 2000
    DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Mmmm, You barely remembered Kamara being on the pitch because he was neither on the pitch nor on the bench. Perhaps you confused him with Kofi Opare, who came in late for Boswell.
     
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  19. shawn12011

    shawn12011 Member+

    Jun 15, 2001
    Reisterstown, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Are you surprised? This FO has gone down the rabbit hole the last 3 years. They are out of touch. Clueless. Misguided and just plain bad. When was the last time anyone had any faith in the FO? Can you say Kevin Payne? Yes he was a royal pain in the azz but he understood. He actually got things done. This group makes a Chinese fire drill look organized. I'm glad I missed this. The stream of the game worked fine. I got to see all the action without the headaches you suffered.


    Here are the biggest culprits:

    Roy Tewell
    Vice President, Ticket Sales and Service


    Nathan Fry
    Director, Merchandising

    Scott Lewis
    Vice President, Marketing


    Kevin Donovan
    Director of Operations


    Ryan Del Vecchio
    Event Operations Manager
     
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  20. sitruc

    sitruc Member+

    Jul 25, 2006
    Virginia
    and how many of those people will be at audi Field next year? That was thousands of soccer fans who organized in a short amount of time, were very visible and were supporting a team that few had heard of before a few weeks ago. That team might be lucky to have a handful of friends at their games, but they were the draw last night and United did little to win those people over/back. It would be a concern to me if I ran United.
     
  21. song219

    song219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 5, 2004
    La Norte
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Vanuatu
    I had this exact same conversation with someone at the game last night with the caveat that they are getting a stadium built something all other FO's and ownership had failed at.

    We don't really have a team owner. We have a developer that operates a soccer team.




    PS: Having a FO that you hate is better than not having a FO at all.
     
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  22. shawn12011

    shawn12011 Member+

    Jun 15, 2001
    Reisterstown, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    And is it any wonder I won't be wasting my hard earned money next year at the bright and new Audi Field?? I have been waiting 20 years for it and I don't want to go to it.
     
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  23. NicktheGreek

    NicktheGreek Member+

    Feb 15, 2001
    Just think of the cable soccer package you can get for the same price. Throw in some tasty pizza delivery and some good beer and you still have money to spare for popcorn
     
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  24. DCUSA

    DCUSA Member+

    Jan 14, 2006
    Virginia
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Regarding number two, how can you say that? Neagle, LeToux, Sarvas, Boswell, Korb, Worra, not seasoned pros? Ortiz is new to MLS, but not to the professional game. Buescher made 14 appearances last year.
    Durkin looked lost, and was a good choice to come off, but he wasn't the one spraying errant passes and sending in wayward crosses. You don't need chemistry to put a cross in the box or play a five foot pass.
     
  25. John L

    John L Member+

    Sep 20, 2003
    Alexandria, VA
    #100 John L, Jun 14, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2017
    Hahahahahh-hagahaha-hahahah

    Hoo-Wee!!

    Just like at RFK, the DCUnited Front Office doesn't run the MONTGOMERY Soccerplex. Maybe some part of Maryland or Montgomery County . Maybe some consortium of an incorporated soccer organization under the county or state. But definitely NOT the Front Office of The DC United
     

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