Sure, he's missed some goals this year. Ching has always missed a larger number of easy shots, at least larger compared to other forward who are considered to carry their teams. What's always gotten him through was the quantity of quality crosses. These days he just isn't seeing the number of crosses required to get into the rhythm needed to get the job done. Ashe and Cruz just aren't getting it done for him. He's ice cold, and with what little service he's been getting, he isn't going to warm up anytime soon.
I guess where that concerns me is with the rest of his game. Is Ching only good at headers in the box? Is that all he's good for? If so...I think the problem is much deeper than service. His passing has been poor lately as well. We need more from Ching than headers.
Oh no no no. Not just his head, he's been as good with his feet as he is with his head but that doesn't change the fact that when he scores it's a first or second touch. That come from the wings, not himself (or for that matter a central mid). Holding and passing is actually a separate part of his game. Sometimes he's setting up another player, sometimes it's the give part of a give and go to the goal. One of the problems he's had there is defenses practically caving in on him because they don't feel the need to cover wings and an AM and a wing back or two. He's the focal point of the team and he's been the one that's paid the highest price for the lack of impact from other players. Or maybe the other way around. Who can really tell.
I'll give you that one. The man gets collapsed on pretty much as soon as he receives the ball. Like in the Rocket's glory days...Hakeem receives the ball in the post and gets triple teamed. He better make some magic and if he can't Mario Elie or Robert Horry better bury the three. His teammates need to score and he will won't be pressured as much. Yeah?
oh yeah right, thanks. ching is the problem this year and not corey " i have only learned to use one foot, always turn the ball over, only have one predictable move, if i wasn't speedy i would never be in this league" ashe and danny " the crowd favorite because i have gumption but no calmness on the ball and fall for every deke a player throws at me" cruz. is ching perfect? no. has ching lost a step? yes. is he vastly superior to the sub par players (cruz is treding upwards imop, and will be sub par for only a short time) that we have on our wings? yes. if i were to collect video and post here the amount of turnovers from ashe and uncontrolled over runs by cruz, we would have to add many more pages. i understand the frustration with the team and its results, but chings performance is about 100th down on the list of problems this team has. can't believe there are those that are ready to bypass other players short comings and then pounce on ching, but i suppose he has the largest target on his back. i guess it was dan marino's fault all those years the dolphins never won, or barry sanders mistakes that kept the lions out of the win collumn as well?
I hope the team prints up the Chicago pregame thread and posts it in the locker room. It should make them furious. There's no reason we should lose to those guys, we have talent. Regardless of results and what people on these threads keep posting.
Edit... by "Chicago pre game thread" I meant the one on their boards. I'm not thinking too clearly today. Going back to work doesn't agree with me.
Someone want to tell me what our "Goals Against per Match" average is? I'm too lazy to look it up but something tells me it's off the charts. Poor.
So we gave up three goals in one half and nearly gave this one away, but honestly, I don't even care. Brian Ching wasn't going to let us lose tonight. Cameron was a beast. I'll wait for our team to get better and more cohesive, but right now I'm going to enjoy games like this. We thoroughly dominated and deserved to win in the end. (although, it is telling that when our D gets better our attack becomes shambolic, but when our attack is on, where is our defense?)
Whew...maybe I should criticize Ching more. LOL....hey..it was nice to see Ching do exactly what he used to be known for...carrying the team...being a leader. Credit to the whole team for holding possession. The passing was improved. Yeah...the D is a concern...but I'll take the positive. The attack was there for once. Nice stuff!!!
I guess you shot your mouth too fast 7seven7....never lose faith my friend..!! anyway, I thought the defense was much better tonight..still BB screw up one own goal.. Go Dynamo !!
Well, I think that the fans well and truly got their moneys worth tonight - even if there were a few palpitations! How to turn a comfortable win into a near suicidal loss - but credit the guys - they were determined to come out on top. Sad defending for all three of Fire's goals - our main problem all year. Ching was immense but for me, my man of the match would have to be Geoff Cameron - he was immense and this kid is so talented, wherever he plays. Dynamo's performance this evening gave me a lot of optimism and for once we created so much. Did Kevin stott make a mistake with Conde? The announcer said that he'd been given a yellow card late in the second half (and just before he equalised) and I'm sure that he had received another one earlier in the game. Let's hope that this win spurs us on to better results in the run in to the end of the season.
Wow. Another match that sort of mirrors the season. I take a mixed bag away from this. Before you start with the "there goes Downside Cosmo again", I don't go off the deep-end when we lose like the last two weeks. 1) Great way to get the full three points out of the game. But to be up 2-0 & 3-1 in the second half and let a team playing their second intense league game in 4 days come back to tie it on the road is not good. I have no idea what the problem is but for some reason this squad just cannot lock down a game. Just can't do it right now. 2) Ching showed that on some nights when he brings it and gets the chances, he can finish them as well as anyone else in MLS. A skill the USMNT may have been able to use in South Africa. First one was a gift, next two were great. 3) We still have a big hill to climb to get back in the playoff race. Results like SJ beating LA don't help. Looking at the teams in front of us and the games in hand . . . I almost think we need to win the next two weeks at Colorado and vs. San Jose to really say we are back in the race.
Off topic: God knows I suffered with our forward's lack of finishing down in South Africa. No doubt Ching would have been a great addition. Good to see his work pay off today. He seemed tense lately...
Three words: About frickin' time. Couldn't watch the match since I work retail... on tax free weekend so of course it was madness. Just saw the highlights. Loved the strategy play on the 2nd goal/set piece; Fire got pwned. Loved Ching's bicycle goal even more. Goal of the week candidate. Ching is back! Is it me, or did Onstad looked shaky in the 1st Fire goal?