Isn't this whereabouts that magical 1996 team turned it around? Seriously though, We've seen the same game three times in a row at home. Except NY/NJ scored just after the half instead of at the end of the game. His name is Juan Pablo Angel. He's a known commodity. Hell, I wonder how many times Pena has marked him internationally? This team didn't have a defender within 5 yards of him at the start of the second half. He was able to spray the ball around and create winners. We've got the running arguments between Castillo and Najar to watch after they give up the ball yet again. I'm too disgusted at all of this. Definitely the last time I watch a United match sober. Thx, Jay!
Perkins confidence is shattered. Why? Because he is playing behind a bad team. Which was always my contention about Perkins to begin with ... he wasn't a difference maker back there. He will look good behind a good team but didn't show me anything to believe that he wouldn't look bad behind a bad one. He just was never a guy that I saw making tons of GREAT stops. And that's something you have to do behind a bad team, or just a bad backline. There was never a doubt in my mind that Josh Wicks has a propensity to make bigger stops than Perkins. I point blank said in another thread that the only reason that Perkins MAY have a slight edge is because of his demeanor in goal. Now I see that it was probably the teams play in front of him that made Wicks so loopy. Just wait, Perkins will get there soon too. Bottom line is no keeper is really going to make much of a difference on this team. But that's the exact reason why I wouldn't have traded for Perkins to start with. Our biggest need was ALWAYS field players, not at the keeper spot. Thanks for correcting me, J. I thought it was more. But yeah, the trade was still a clusterf***.
Wow, another hard working loss for DC United. They just can't seem to catch a break. It is not as if this team didn't create chances, they did. It is not as if they controlled long portions of the game, they did. Who can you blame? When things are not going your way you simply have to work HARER. You have to pay attention to the game plan. You have to talk with your teamates and make it work. It seems as though DC came out to win today but just didn't have the right chemistry. Shame. I was equally saddened by how FEW DC United fans turned out what is our best rivalry, in my opinion, in MLS.
I'm not going to lie, I didnt think mcuh of the onlafo hiriing once we brought him in. I thought it was a bunch of BS that we were going to play attacking soccer, he was going to play more agressive, etc. I thought he was just going to be another robot to do subs like TS. But no. He is refreshing, although we are losing, all his subs make sense, he isnt putting a forward as a defender, not really messing around beyond playing guys where they are knwon commodities. But at the same time, the guys we have... just arent that great. But they arent bad either. I really think all we need is a good forward and good service to take us out of this slump. Now onto Jaime, yes his time is almost up, and at this point i'd be happy at switching him and Najar up at forward, and giving both a chance up front. I perfer Najar over Tino' at this point and possibly over pontius. I'd like to see allsopp and Cristman together too though, as Cristman really is good at holding and turning the ball to pass, and finishing. And about perkins, I was in the same boat as you. Now I wasnt mad fred was gone, but i felt we lost alot for a keeper that was solid for us last time he was here..... but we were a better team then. Anyways, I mean I am sure Onalfo had say, but frmo the situation when he came, it seems Kasper was holding him by the 'dick' and payne too possibly. Kasper was very against any DP talk, until recently money bags Chang came out and said he wanted to go after 1 after the rule changes. I put my blame at this point on Kasper. Onalfo a Tad' bit, but not much because he can only do so much wtih the guys he has. But this is how I see it, we may never know what happens behind the scenes. Your guess is as good as mine.
Christman simply ran out of gas in the second half. Likewise, it was apparent that some of the others did also. You can blame the injury bug, or you can blame the coach for not preparing his bench up to now. Jaime is a great player, but it's pretty obvious that the pre-season was a fluke. He still has a role: if the team is ahead, he comes in off the bench and kills the game - he does it so well against the opponents, and for DC United's offense! Jordan Graye ran wild. He'll end up getting burn an awful lot during the season, and many will tag with something equal to the "Stokes" label, but you might as well leave him in there and hope he gets better. Let's face it, Namoff still isn't coming back. I wonder about Perkins. He's still the best GK on this team, but throw the kid out there for a game. Who the hell knows, maybe the soccer gods will smile. And yes, sometimes that's what you do!? I guess what's killing me the most is just how bad this team really is! I mean, this team wasn't THAT bad at the end of last year. This has to go down as the single worst off-season for any club at all levels. It's seems almost impossible to make a team this much worse.
Somebody explain the Moreno for Najar sub to me? I can see Onalfo bringing Jaime in, but pulling Najar? He should've yanked Talley. He was a frickin' train wreck the whole game. On NY's 3rd goal that got called back he was absolutely abused. Moreno with Najar and Tino and Castillo might have had a chance at doing something, anything. That sub killed our midfield and we never recovered. Perkins doing his impression of a statue didn't help much either. The only thing missing was pigeons sitting on his head. I'm frickin' disgusted.
If I remember correctly, this is the first time we've lost to them at home since 2003 -- the infamous "Cheatin' Bob" match.
Are you saying that Onalfo had his head up his butt? No way! I didn't watch the game, so was there a better angle on tv that showed what happened to Perkins on that goal? What made him freeze like that?
DC United website post game Q&A: On bringing in Jaime Moreno Jaime [Moreno]’s a guy that can come in and change a game. Andy [Najar] got knocked pretty early and I thought he was struggling a little bit physically with his ankle, even as early in the first half when it happened. We wanted to bring in Jaime [Moreno] to inject some energy and change the game which is something he’s very good at. Of course, you don't really know what the actual question was, but hey, that's just another problem with this organization, everything seems half-assed. That being said, CO quotes makes it look like he's watching a different player than what I'm seeing in the regular season.
Holy crap did Wallace get burned on the first goal. Holy crap did Pena(?) get beat on the second goal. This team stinks. I think it may have the right mix of inexperience, age, and injuries to be one of the worst MLS teams ever. Who's the competition for this award?
No doubt this team has been a bit unlucky in its home matches. However, the fact that they are surrendering a second goal within ten minutes of initially being scored upon makes me think there's a lot of quit in this team when things go wrong.
You'd run out of gas too if you ran your ass off for 45 minutes with few people on your team to help you out.
I didnt get the feeling he was playing hurt.... but i think he changed supporting striker for supporting striker. I wasnt happy with Quaranta. I rather he put Najar to the right and take out Q' for Jaime. He wasnt good today. But I agree, maybe Najar could have done something. Talley does look like an old mule out there, but i guess curt has faith in him too. He didnt do that bad.... but he wasnt all that great either. I would have kept pena in there instead of talley... but he again just came back from an injury and bla bla bla. I get it.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE with Chico. Najar and Castillo were hooking up. It was beautiful soccer. That substitution just killed the creativity of the team. Tino didn't do a d*mn thing. Free kicks were horrendous and lost the ball. Chirstman is an average forward at BEST. Can't create anything by himself. Get ready for a loooong season. I think the coach has got to get a clue and fast or hit the exits. Next game I'm at is the AC Milan game.
This didn't have anything to do with "catching a break". It had a lot to do with crap defending, and a lack of a midfield.
So is Najar a center midfielder, wing midfielder or forward? He needs to be one and I don't think it's forward. He was pushed, kicked, shoved and all around manhandled out there. He doesn't really have the speed or quickness for a forward. I thought Graye looked very good out there. He has some very good speed, was excellent in the air and was pretty composed on the ball. In the absence of Namoff I think based on just one performance that it's Graye's job for now. Castillo played very well. Tino was pretty awful. The kid plays no defense, a luxury we cannot afford. His free kicks were terrible and his crossing was abysmal. I liked the fact we actually took shots from outside the box, and some pretty good ones. Of course that pretty much ended when Moreno and Emilio came into the game. I like Moreno a lot, but the league and age has passed him by. He detracts more than he adds to the attack Liked Cristman's hustle and brute force. I think he needs to keep playing when Alsopp and Pontius return. Emilio was the Emilio of old, if we are paying more than $1 we are paying too much. The team right now is pretty low on confidence.
I think Quaranta is one of the most overrated players in MLS. To me, he's just a mediocre player that never exploded, despite the promises. Regarding Onalfo, I don't know if it's fault or not, but usually (with a very few exceptions here and there) when the situation is this bad, since you can't sack the whole team, you sack the coach...
I hate to say it... .but i agree with this. Q' is ok with his dribbling, and crossing. He has his moments.... but there are TONS of times he doesnt. His strong points are his speed as far as his hustle goes when running past somebody from a give and go/1-2 pass and his ability to shoot on goal when doing a run, but thats about it. He is not calm enough to be a creator aka 10', and not good enough as a forward to be a supporting striker/clever enough to be a moreno or angel in this league. He is good for what he does on the wing, but today he showed why he is overrated. I love the guy, and his story/history with our club, but I just don't see the big deal with him.