No. There were about ten straight minutes where I was completely astonished by some of the calls. Not that I'm complaining....
Very good game for United. I really like the team's movement off the ball and the transition to attack was much faster. Also, having Gros actually play as a wing seemed to give us width for the first time in many games. Burch has just taken that left back spot an made it his own. Emilio put away two nice goals and Gros got another through his hustle and quickness. I'm not sure I'm so ready to put Moreno and Gomez back in the side. Frankly, I think Moreno is a brilliant player that is just slowing down to age and injury. I thought we we drifted back to our slow ineffective ways when Moreno came into the game. He left and the tempo picked up again. Gomez has just been off form for most of the season. He is just not playing particularly well and much of DC's offense has disappeared with him. Bringing in some younger players without Gomez and Moreno on the field seemed to free them up to play the game rather than watch or constantly defer to Jaime or Gomez. All in all a terrific result and great experience for the younger players.
It was really hot up here in MA, and you could tell the Revs couldn't handle it. Smith's play was appalling and yet he was never taken out. Twellman was mostly invisible. More importantly it was great to see Emilio prove, yet again, that he can create goals from almost nothing and that he is completely calm under pressure. If you were there you would have noticed that the only sounds coming from the revs fans were the drums. There were even points when a DC United chant could be heard over their silence. The funniest part was when a group of ten girls were chanting 'revolution' louder than their support group. VAMOS UNITED! With Fred and Gomez back things are only looking up.
In the first half, I thought United was more energized because they were playing a few of the younger, faster players on the team. As time wore on, I came to believe they had an advantage because of the Revs' mid-week match. United looked faster and dominated the midfield (in which the Revs should have enjoyed at least numerical superiority). As a result, United were able to make 4-5 quick, short passes, draw the Revs in, then switch fields to attack. Also, United's width was better than I've seen it in several games, due in part to Olsen and Gros (with help from Burch). The only thing I don't like about Fred is that he loves the middle and goes there every chance he gets. He's very creative, but he crushes our ability to attach at width.
They weren't expecting a quick restart. Neither was New England. DC United - so good, they can even fake out the camera crew!
I love Moreno. I don't think that he is up to the full 90 min. anymore. I know that was said when he left NY/NJ, but it looks like it is finally catching up. However, he would make a GREAT supersub coming in at the 60 min. mark. I agree. Here's my favorite lineup if it ever comes to fruition. --------Fred---------Emilio------ -------------Gomez------------- -------Gros---------Olsen------- -------------B.Carroll----------- -Burch-McTavish-Boswell-Namoff -------------Perkins-------------
The first half reminded me a lot of the second half against Club America in which DCU absolutely dominated but this was more attacking play then against CA. the revs had 1 solid chance which glanced off the post in the first half but other that we took'em to the woodshed. Our backline has looked more solid than ever with Namoff, Boswell, McTavish (love that kid, plays hard and well), and Burch (great leftback with a great left foot). They aren't making many mistakes as opposed to the first half of the year when our backline was playing quite terrible. Our midfield was also solid today, we worked them with the 1-2s and the quick touches. Emilio was as astounding as ever with his great finishing. I think we have to keep gros on the left wing and Olsen on the right wing (of course). Fred needs to move back into the middle which is his natural position. I never liked Brian Carrol, he just doesn't add much, lets put simms in for Carroll in the DMF/ Holding MF role. I would like to see the formation look something like this: ----------Emilio----------- -----Fred-------Gomez---- Gros-----------------Olsen ----------Simms---------- -Burch--McTavish--Boswell--Namoff -----------Perkins I know that leaves Moreno on the bench but I just don't know if he has the fitness to go 60 anymore. I think he would be great off the bench. I think this formation puts everyone in their natural positions with Gomez more of a roamer drifting somewhat deep and bringing the ball ahead. What do you guys think?
Yes we had a great game! DC looked likea well oiled machine. Thanks to my man Burch. He def. is what we needed right now, our backline looks solid and with his offensive runs and great crosses he is what is helping us alot in the back. Same goes with mctavish, he's solid, keep vanney on that bench. Simms for once looked not bad, he has to work on distributing better, but showed alot of heart and muscle today. That first goal really helped out gros and simms mentality, as they started playing 100times better after it happened. Gros must of felt like a 100 bucks. He was clicking well with Kpene too, not doing those normal off crosses, but instead nice ground passes to kpene. Moreno the second he came in got that hard yellow card tackle, which chipped away at him. From that pojnt on he wasnt the same. I hope hes ok but def. wasnt 100 perrcent after that, and just playing really cautious and bad too. Olsen was playing awsome too, when hes hot the teams hot. Same goes when not. Perkins too was solid. With fred back in and gomez we should be good to go like a taco bell commericial.
Excellent showing. It seems our talented reserves are actually starting to make meaningful contributions. McTavish continues his solid performances, and even Burch played well against a physical Revolution team. It's great to see that our premium import, Emilio, is making his move. Remember, he's been the top scorer in whichever league he's playing in for several years now. A trend I hope and believe will continue. After a shaky start, we're playing technically good attacking soccer without losing our shape, grit, or results. I love the team spirit and recognition to capitalize on opportunities like the final goal. I hope none of the aches/injuries are serious. -Digital
Wow, I did not expect that. I don't care if Jay "Heaps of Sh*t" went to Joe's Night School -- he is a thug and a whiny little one at that. Eff him. Dyachenko and Simms were better, together, than Gomez and Carroll. Dyachenko marked Joseph out of the game and Simms offered so much energy, he just disrupted most everything in the middle. I'm glad Emilio is one of the worst Brazilian players ever, can we get another? What made this game was energy, DCU kept after the Revs and won most of the second balls. I haven't seen this type of effort in awhile. Made a huge difference and made the absence of Gomez irrelevant to the final score. I told my daughter that the Gros goal should be shown to every youth league team as Reason 1 why you never stop going towards goal after a shot. The second video would involve the Washington Freedom in today's W-League Championship game. (No (R) because I didn't give the final result.)
Oh man, I hope you don't actually work for MLS but let me refer you to the footer of EVERY press release sent out by the team: Broadcasting and P.A. Request (but let's just go ahead and make this a blanket request for everyone): When speaking of the organization, please refer to the team as either “D.C. United” or “United,” but not “the D.C. United” or “the United.” We appreciate your cooperation. K
I was very pleased to see a DC United team outwork the Revolution. I am very impressed with both McTavish and Burch (that cross that he put on Emilio's head was a thing of beauty). Hopefully DC United can continue their impressive play, especially in front of a sold-out crowd on Thursday night.
The rule is essentially that the keeper must have possession and control of the ball. Reis clearly did not as his hand and Gros' foot got there at the same time.
I was only able to watch the first half but I saw more defense out of Dyachenko than in all his previous appearances combined. Combine that kind of hustling defense with his usual clever offensive passes and we have ourselves a very capable supersub/occasional starter. He HAS to be on the field when both Jaime and Christian aren't, and he SHOULD duke it out with Fred for Christian's replacement when/if he leaves.
I hope it's nothing more than spasms. It didn't look like a coincidence that Jaime started to look bad after the Heaps' cheap shot. I was worried it may have been part of his hamstring problem.