According to Saturday's Globe, Rusty Pierce will have to sit out the game with Crew due to accumulated yellow cards. http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2003/09/20/they_have_a_score_to_settle/ (Go to bottom of article) Rusty was carded for taking down Spencer in the waning moment of the first period in retaliation for a forearm he'd recieved a minute earlier. At the time it appeared to me to be a cheap, immature play by Pierce-- stupid too, because he did it right in front of a referee who had already shown a willingness to hand out cards. Now it appears his play was also unprofessional insofar as he took himself off the field for what may be the biggest game of the season. Rusty's vaunted man-marking isn't worth a damn if he can't keep himself on the field.
It's stuff like this, along with the constant shooting themselves in the foot that gives me reason to believe the Revs won't be going anywhere once the regular season comes to a close [Rusty's a good man-marker. However, he's needs to go to anger management classes or seek professional help]. No disrespect intended, but what exactly have the Revs done besides consistently fritter away opportunities that gives anyone here any feeling of optimism? Thursday's match represented the sum and substance of their entire season - Pierce's booking, totally flubbed PK opportunity, and on and on. I was convinced at one point, but I'm not on that side of the fence any longer. They keep talking about last season's end of year run. Brother, you keep living in the past, you're going to be burdened by it, too. Stop talking about it, and just 'effin do it. Respectfully, A Completely Bitter Danizinho
In most leagues, suspensions do reset the counter, but as we've known for a long time, MLS is not like other leagues. We've already lost Llamosa (or Franchino or both) twice in 3 games, the first time for consecutive games with cards. Then a card in the game after the suspension pushed the point total over the top. Of our regular defenders only Heaps has not yet been suspended this year, so this isn't just a Pierce problem, much as some people want to paint it that way. I don't know how it is for other teams or if it was this bad before Nicol took over.
My recollection from previous seasons is that it was always this bad toward the end of the season. Important games are played with key players (usually defenders) missing due to accumulation of cautoin points. I'm sure there are some stats on this somewhere. I also agree its not just a Pierce problem. Despite his reputation, he seems to no more of a problem in this are than the other Revs defenders. Interesting side note: "In 2003, a Good Behavior Incentive will allow players to reduce their caution point total in situations whereby they are between ONE (1) and FOUR (4) caution points away from being issued a suspension. Playing three consecutive games without earning a caution, red card or sanctioning by the MLS Disciplinary Committee while in this state of “warning” shall reduce that player’s caution point total by FOUR (4) points. Each Player will be afforded one opportunity per season to have FOUR (4) caution points removed from his personal record. "
is there more? or was this all you wanted to say? i dont see a point here. if you added "______ has earned behavior points so he can play" then i would see the point to you adding this. no offense.
I didn't know about this change in the rule that became effective this year. I thought others might find it interesting too.
Excessive cards has been a problem for all of them, although for Pierce and, to a slightly lesser extent, Franchino, they are TOO often the result of losing one's head and basically forcing the refs to give a card. The last game was a perfect example: Pierce was clobbered and, even though several minutes had passed, he was still bitching to the ref and then made an obvious retaliation foul right before halftime. Llamosa, Kante and Heaps all pick up plenty of cards, but they are almost always "strategic" fouls. A problem - yes, but a different problem.
The thing is, if Rusty learns to settle down, he'll be able to cut down on his yellow cards. It's unlikely that Heaps or Kante will suddenly improve their play enough that they don't need to resort to "strategic" fouls, or that Llamosa will regain his speed.
and it is just as unlikely that rusties i.q. will shoot up the 20pts necesarry for him to become an imbecil. it was painful to watch pierce get out smarted - nicol needs to sit him down and make him watch the game tape 100 times over so maybe he'll realize how bad he got played. pierce was a damn one man train wreck in slo motion. and this right after you'd think he'd learned his lesson in gamesmanship from the SJ game.
Joey was, temper wise, worse than Rusty and he seems to have calmed down. Maybe a couple of good lectures from Stevie would do the trick.
please, indulge me with your wisdom... Well first off - "imbecil" is actually spelled "imbecile." I'll spot you an I.Q. point on that one ;-) The Magpie