Cristman and Allsop are both #3 forwards in a 4-4-2. They try hard, but are limited. I like Morsink as well, but he's being asked to drive the offense, and he can't do it. Pena is done, I had hoped for more, but whether rookies or veterans are paired with him he's still ********ing slow and will get beat by pace every damn time. The rest of them, I don't even want to think about right now, because all of them have mothers, and I must hold my tongue.
The second goal was not quality. It was two central defenders on one attacker, who decided to act like 10 year old's and watch the ball and not the lone dangerous player in the middle.
Code: STANDARD 2010 D.C. UNITED POST-MATCH ANALYSIS FORM Version 1.0 In the match on __05-22-2010______ at [ ] home [x] away against ___Houston______ Our forwards: [x] couldn't finish when they get balls in dangerous places; [x] weren't capable of creating a shot on their own; [ ] exhibited a low work rate; [ ] consistently mistimed their runs; [x] had no ideas; [x] in yet another match. However, in their defense: [x] they rarely, if ever, got good service; [x] they had to come too far back to receive the ball; [x] as usual. Meanwhile, our midfield [x] was disorganized; [x] consistently made poor decisions; [x] was dispossessed under pressure easily; [x] made bad passing decisions; [x] executed passes badly; [ ] looked unmotivated; [ ] looked tired; [x] didn't get back on defense; [x] defended poorly; [x] was too slow on the counter; [x] couldn't send a good ball into the box to save their lives; [x] generally gave the forwards little to work with; [x] like they usually are/do. As for our defenders, they [x] were indefensible; [x] were disorganized; [x] were punished for lapses in concentration; [x] showed bad positioning and were beaten for speed too easily; [x] got caught forward too often, creating space to attack the goal [x] especially our outside backs; [ ] needs to learn to not clear balls towards the center; [x] just like last match; [x] and the matches before that. Our keeper [ ] is inexperienced, and it shows; [ ] is too experienced to make the kind of mental mistakes he made; [ ] needs to deal better with balls in the air; [ ] strands himself too often; [x] needs to improve distribution; [x] had communication issues with the defense; [x] was let down by the defense too many times. Our play, in general [x] is too preedictable; [x] lacks ideas; [x] is too committed to hopeful long balls towards wherever the forwards are; [x] was never really threatening; [x] as usual. To solve this, we clearly need: [x] a new coach [ ] who is better at player development [x] who is better at motivating players [ ] who is better at choosing lineups [x] who is better at game preparation [x] who is better at game management (substitutions, tactical changes) [x] some new players [x] with more talent or skill [x] with better fitness [x] who are smarter, and with a better sense of the game [ ] with more heart [x] a new trainer [x] who knows how to prepare a team for a season [x] who knows how to best rehabilitate an injured player [ ] who will stand up to the coach and say "no, this guy isn't ready yet" [x] new player personnel management [x] who are better at identifying (and not mis-identifying) talent [x] who don't let established relationships with other player sources get in the way of bringing in *good* players
I have to ask based on what. I'm an amateur, but I believe I could get on the field and defend both of those guys. They don't have speed, they can't win one-on-ones, and they can't finish. The team is an embarrassment, as dull as any DC United team I've ever seen. After the AC Milan game the attendance will continue to go down, and the team will continue to lose. Unless something changes. JMO.
actually, it was an outside defender passing his mark on to a central defender who didn't pick him up...either Graye didn't communicate of Pena is so old he's going deaf. Given Graye looked like he had no idea what was going on the rest of the game, I'm guessing he forgot to tell Pena someone was coming from behind. Talley, ughh. Castillo sure tried, bless his heart. At least Perkins got his groove back and Pontius is back without getting his leg broken by Landin (who will get suspended for that). I hate Stott, Stott hates DCU, why does he ref our games... why in the world did Onalfo think you could start Allsop, Christman, and Moreno without leving your defense exposed? 2 forwards without quality and one without legs...
Really poor showing, there simply is no reason to believe that this is a first division professional team any longer.
Also, they need to put Moreno back in the creative midfield spot. It's time to end the experiment in the midfield.
There was a couple random bursts, centering around Pontius, where there was almost a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, Pontius was the only one able to do anything resembling offense. Allsopp I really believe can be a useful forward... in a much better team. He has enough foot skill to get by and create some goals, if he has some help. Castillo is going to make me accidentally destroy my TV. Get off my team. He shows no forward motion with the ball, and when he does, its at the absolute worst time, where he is easily dispossessed. And what the hell was with the karate chop to Waibel(??)? Easily one of the most useless players out there. There's no point to wait until the end of the season to blow the team up. Just start now. Mind as well start building for next season now and testing different things out in a season long gone.
Well Cristman can't play wing - we found that out. And we're certainly more dangerous when Pontius is on the field, so that's a plus. This team has nowhere near the talent needed to be competitive. We're slower and less skilled at nearly every position on the field right now. That being said, I'm not too dismayed at this result. We never win in Houston anyway. Just wish we had more (any?) cause for hope.
I have yet to watch this game, as my blood alcohol level is still elevated from watching my team's victory in the Champions League final. It sounds like I didn't miss too much. Typical Onalfo era crap, I suspect.
Any guesses on when we'll be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs? FWIW, at least Pontius looked like he wanted to win.
They've got him at forward. They need someone with vision and skill in the midfield. He can't come close to scoring up top on this team, save for some luck against Philly or some PKs. But he can still spray the ball around, switch fields, hold the ball.
That said, to play in the midfield you have to be fit. If I were Onalfo I'd calculate how long he could go, if he can't play the whole game take him off the bench. But I'd default to starting him and taking him off if he gets winded. And I'd bust his ass starting tonite to get him in shape.
With Pontius back, go back to Cristman pairing with Allsopp up top. Keep Pontius at right wing, and move Wallace up to left wing until Tino returns. Sit Castillo (or give him a bus ticket home) and stick a warm body at left back. Najar is the offensive spark off the bench. Moreno sits until his tribute game. Emilio comes in only in dire emergencies.
Oh I get it, you mean like in Cocoon, as in a place to keep the egg things that will make our old and injured players all spritely again? Good thinking. My God. You mean we're not there yet?