DC United gets right man as coach :: Haydon, W. Times, 1/10

Discussion in 'D.C. United' started by Knave, Jan 10, 2004.

  1. Knave

    Knave Member+

    May 25, 1999
    Peter Nowak has said the magic words, the words so many of us have been waiting so long to here ...
    Hallelujah!

    http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20040109-112558-2984r.htm
     
  2. JAnderson14

    JAnderson14 New Member

    Oct 5, 2000
    Crofton, MD
    Sounds about right. Who else on our current roster is closest to being in Nowak's mold? I'd have been shocked if Convey wasn't used in the middle once Nowak was named coach. The only question it raises is who will play on the left? Stewart? Quintanilla?

    Also interesting about the potential US-Scotland match at RFK. Hope it happens.
     
  3. Jose L. Couso

    Jose L. Couso New Member

    Jul 31, 2000
    Arlington, VA
    Good article.

    I hope Nowak can lead DC United in the right direction.

    I hope there is a Scotand game at RFK.
     
  4. dsheon

    dsheon New Member

    Jun 12, 2000
    "Today's game is so fast, if you want to be successful you have to play 'total football,' " Nowak said Thursday

    Ruh Roh - sounds like something Rongen would say....
     
  5. Red&Black

    Red&Black Member+

    Aug 30, 2001
    Lot 8
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Burkina Faso
    i wonder if it might not be better to try and play bennie on the left. if reyes comes back and plays on the right, the right mid is gonna have to cover on a lot of runs. in my opinion, bennie is better when he is very attack minded, and playing in front of prideaux or namoff who are much less likely to come forward will keep him up the field.

    if you did that however, i think that would make minutes for cheyo tough. his lack of pace if he were to play on the right would make it hard for him to track back and you sure wouldn't want a fast wing player to have room on the flank against him.
     
  6. yabo

    yabo Member+

    Jun 1, 2000
    Poolesville, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cheyo does provide cover on the wing and in the middle if we have national team callups for Convey, Stewart or Bennie.
     
  7. Red&Black

    Red&Black Member+

    Aug 30, 2001
    Lot 8
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Burkina Faso
    agreed. btw--that is something that nowak mentioned thursday--there is lots of football to be played and everyone will have a chance to play. look at the kid walker out at SJ. he was getting no time and then a bunch of injuries and he is starting in the final. i hope we have guys throughout the roster that can play when needed.
     
  8. roadkit

    roadkit Greetings from the Fringe of Obscurity

    Jul 2, 2003
    Fornax Cluster
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Great article, and spot on.

    I think it would be fantastic to see Convey wearing #10 this season.

    Can't wait to see if Chelsea is on the list to play us this summer also!
     
  9. tmas

    tmas Member

    Dec 30, 2002
    Also, interesting that he says Convey linked up well with Adu at the U-20's on the left side. Maybe he wants to use Adu on the left a bit?
     
  10. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    That's how I interpreted it.

    Puts a lot of defensive pressure on the left back and D-mid to cover for Freddy, but going forward, I like it.
     
  11. GersMan

    GersMan Member

    May 11, 2000
    Indianapolis
    Isn't it a given that this is where Freddy will play for starters?

    Can't see him at #10 or at striker at this level, not yet anyway. But his skills could serve very well as a winger.
     
  12. Th4119

    Th4119 Member

    Jul 26, 2001
    Annandale, VA
    Remember the second half of the Dallas game where Convey took control in the middle and scored twice, and Earnie played well on the left side of midfield? Maybe they'll give that a go.
     
  13. Ricky_DCU

    Ricky_DCU New Member

    Feb 1, 2001
    Somerville, MA
    I don't think anything is a given with Freddy, but it certainly does make a lot of sense. However, if we don't pick up a forward who can put the ball in the net, it might not hurt to give Freddy some minutes up top- that does seem to be his natural position. Personally I'm counting on Earnie finding his form under Nowak.
     
  14. TCompton

    TCompton Member

    Oct 21, 2002
    Alexandria
    I wouldn't worry about where Earnie plays, as long as it is primarily the only position he asked to play (i'm not talking about switching up on the field to keep the pace of the game up). Earnie's biggest complaint about last season was his constant position changes, wasn't it... he was a forward, then he was a winger, then a central midfielder... lots to ask of someone who needs to settle in.

    The more I read about Nowak, the more excited I get... this is going to be a good season!
     
  15. JoeW

    JoeW New Member

    Apr 19, 2001
    Northern Virginia, USA
    B/c Michels was noted for that system of play, Rongen is Dutch and played youth ball at Ajax and one Clint Peay comment on a broadcast, we've gotten stuck with this stereotype of what "total football" is. DCU didn't play anything close to that under Rongen and didn't attempt to play that style. FWIW, Rongen didn't try it with NE or TB either.

    What I believe Nowak was talking about was a team that takes the play to the opposition, forces play, imposes itself (and it's style) on the other team and people don't play "positions" (as in "I'm an A-mid, I don't track back and defend" or "I'm a central defender, I only go forward on corners") but instead you get into the flow of the game, go back to support, go forward when the opportunity presents itself and you don't let "position" limit what you do on the field. It is an inherently aggressive approach to soccer (aggressive attitude, not aggressive physically).

    If you're the D-mid and have space in front of you, you go forward, you don't wait for the designated A-mid to get into position to take a pass. Nowak is talking about being aggressive, being quick, countering like demons, giving everyone authority to make players if the opportunity presents itself and saying that this team--his team--ain't going to look or play anything at all like the team last year that believed that a square pass was a thing of beauty and it was an unnatural act to engage in one-touch passing.
     
  16. Marco10

    Marco10 Member+

    Sep 9, 2002
    In my opinion, Joe's total football interpretation for Nowak is actually pretty much what Hudson wanted to do as well. All through pre-season, we kept seeing players playing dynamicly (sp?) and constantly switching, moving up and back as a team, etc. That's also when he began talking about his ideas about being "responsible", "brave" etc. He really seemed to be pretty giddy about the idea of having so many footballers that would be somewhat interchangeable.

    Unfortunately, those pre-season games were largely unimpressive in terms of results. No finisher emerged, Reyes got hurt, Earnie and Convey left for a while, Nelsen didn't really work out as D-mid, etc. From there, it just seemed the team went downhill in terms of taking chances on the field and Ray has to take blame for that obviously, but I don't think that's ever what he wanted. He used to thrown absolute fits on the sidelines when he saw players pass up obvious chances to play quickly, or take a chance, etc.

    Anyway, point is, I think the total football angle is what Ray wanted all along and he could never get the team to actually do what he was envisioning. Clearly, he has paid for that failure, but I don't ever think he wanted a team that thought a square pass was the only way to play.

    Nowak seems to be likely to have most of the same players (based on comments so far), and will be trying to accomplish a similar goal. Hopefully, he is more succeful than Ray was. I can well believe he will be a better teacher, communicator and enforcer of his vision, so that bodes well. Now, here's to hoping doesn't have DC's recent string of bad luck to deal with as well.
     
  17. Red&Black

    Red&Black Member+

    Aug 30, 2001
    Lot 8
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Burkina Faso
    my guess is that nowak's "total football" will look more like van gaal's ajax than michels' ajax and certainly something different than ray's vision of free flowing play. v.g.'s scheme and philosopy are very big on discipline and precision and cope better with contemporary defending tactics and styles.

    hudson seemed to favor a less-rigid kind of system that relied on players working together in a sort of ad hoc manner. a style more like mid 90s ajax has very specific roles and reponsibilities in any situation and the tactics are centered around creating space on the attack and closing the field down on defense.

    there are certainly enough versatile players on the united roster as it stands that a role-switching system should work. we also have strong defenders and the potential to defend higher up the field as such a scheme requires.

    the biggest problem i see is that position-switching would be somewhat difficult at the moment because we just don't have a player on the defensive left side who can come to forward positions and play dangerous balls. reyes can certainly do it from the right and nelsen is good at coming up the middle, we don't have that kinda guy on the left. neither brandon nor namoff seem real comfortable coming into the attack.
     
  18. JoeW

    JoeW New Member

    Apr 19, 2001
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Marco10, I think one difference (between how I think Hudson and Nowak view their attacking approach or philosophy) or maybe it's two differences:
    --Nowak would probably put more emphasis on quicker play. I agree Hudson wanted it. But I don't ever remember Miami (even at the top of their game) as being a quick counter team. I think Ray was always a little more comfortable getting organized and then putting the ball forward. And Chicago in Nowak's first season started out as being a team that put 11 men behind the ball and looked to counter.
    --Hudson is also probably more comfortable having a Preki or Etcheverry who is the hub of the wheel and isn't expected to defend. And my guess is that isn't how Nowak would see it.

    Otherwise I'd agree that Hudson wanted a dynamic team that attacked and was fluid.
     
  19. Knave

    Knave Member+

    May 25, 1999
    That assertion makes no sense when the fact of the matter is Hudson played a classic #10 throughout the season, without apology and without any apparent intention to change that practice. When your attack always runs though the same guy you're not playing total football.
     
  20. McOwen

    McOwen Member

    Jun 13, 2000
    Retirement Community
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    You can officially count me in the pessimist faction on this one and it bothers me because I generally always see the glass half full around here.

    To be clear I like Nowak but a few things really trouble me:

    1.) Nowak has no experience!

    2.) It's pretty lame that we have to go to the Chicago Fire to recapture our glory. If I was going to hire a veteran player with no experience and an eye to bringing class back to DC United I would have looked seriously at a guy like John Harkes. I am sick and tired of everyone kissing the Fire's back side around here. Fans and front office included. How many Cups have they won?

    3.) It's a sad statement re: MLS that this is the best we can do for a coach. Sure we could take a chance on a guy, but who did we ever really consider with a real reputation or coaching background? A few MLS retreads and the (Trainer?) guy from Man City??? So much for MLS's one time crown jewel...

    --Oh well. Hope Haydon's right and I am wrong. But if Bobby Convey leading our attack with a 14 year old wonder kid is what we have to look forward to next season we may need an extra keg. I raise my glass to REBUILDING.
     
  21. Knave

    Knave Member+

    May 25, 1999
    Your post, abridged edition. ;)
     
  22. Knave

    Knave Member+

    May 25, 1999
    Alright. Fine. Let's beat this horse once more.
    But can this please be the last time?
    That's a load of revisionist history.

    From Hudson's mouth: "This team is not going to turn around because of the addition of Earnie or Galin or Hristo. This team is built around Marco Etcheverry, and as it is constituted now, it will succeed or fail depending on how he plays. He simply has to return to the level he enjoyed several seasons ago. He must make big plays every game. The ball must move through him. He has to be the man."

    Source: http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2003/mar12.htm

    More: "Unquestionably it is Marco’s team, it has been built around him and this team will go as far as Marco can take it. He is still the heaviest influence on this team because we have built this team around him to accommodate and accentuate his vision and passing ability. This is his final year; testimonial year and we hope everything goes great for him."

    Source: http://www.soccerloop.com/2003/03/Ray-Hudson/

    That's what he said he intended for the season. That's basically how he played the season. That ain't total football. That's my point.
    He was benched once. For a couple games. Then for a variety of reason Hudson put him back on the field and there he stayed.
    Two things: 1) I never saw anything that indicated to me that he wanted or envisioned any of those players having as big a role as Etch. 2) By keeping Etch on the field playing his traditional position you inherently keep other players in subordinate roles.
    This whole "total football" argument would be a whole lot more interesting and closer to reality if we could just drop that frigging term. Nowak shouldn't say that because we all fly off the handle about it now because of its association with Rongen who - by the way - never had DC United playing total football either.

    My sense is that practically speaking "total football" in this instance means simply that everyone defends and everyone attacks. That wasn't the case under Hudson. If it's the case under Nowak I suspect we'll be better off for it.
     
  23. Marco10

    Marco10 Member+

    Sep 9, 2002
    OK Knave, I didn't want to get too carried away with this either and since this whole thing was clearly getting off on a tangent, I deleted my previous posts when I saw that I clearly had the wrong idea about what you were trying to imply anyway.

    But since you replied already, I'll just sum up to say that in the framework of a team switching roles and attacking and defending as a team, which was all of the total footballish concepts I was trying to use, I think that is what Ray wanted all along, it just never panned out that way.

    The fact that the team was built around Marco isn't really mutually exclusive of that view. I think that at any given time, Ray expected that Earnie, Dema, Convey, or Olsen could switch roles with Marco or whoever to run an attack. And that while Marco would be the key player, it wouldn't be like some strict rule that he had to get the ball all the time. Further, that while Marco wouldn't necessarily defend as much, the team would still attack and defend together. When that plan fell apart for a variety of reasons, Marco's role became much more of a the classic number 10 type situation in that everyone began to look to him on the field a lot more.

    As for your Hudson quotes on this matter, I believe they were designed to light a fire under Marco and not be so literally interpretted. Sure, the team would depend on Marco, but then again so did the Dutch depend on Cryuff, right? :)


    Now, to be more on to the topic of this thread, I think Nowak is trying to do something similar (even down to Bobby being the key player instead of Marco), and that how well he is able to pull this off with a very similar roster should be able to tell us a lot about his coaching skills.
     
  24. JoeW

    JoeW New Member

    Apr 19, 2001
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Knave is correct. That term (total football) is such a loaded term on these boards. We'd probably avoid a lot of miscommunication if we just didn't use that term.
     
  25. DigitalTron

    DigitalTron New Member

    Apr 4, 2001
    Arlington, VA
    Another great article from Haydon. Thanks!

    I think that Rongen played great attacking soccer, but he didn't really play Total Football because he never encouraged players to defend or flow back into defensive positions. I think Nowak will insist on every player playing defense, and if he does, he may get a better balence.

    I see Total Football more like water. When one chunk of the water is removed (i.e. a player moves forward) then the rest of the water collectively re-distributes itself to fill the gap. That works offensively when a midfielder moves into a gap in the defense. It also works defensively as when one player moves to the ball-carrier to defend, the others re-structure to cover the area he vacated. If this is Nowak's view of Total Football, I think it can be very effective. Certainly it is the way he played as a player.

    -Digital
     

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