Yeah, DC is 1-1-1. But our 3 matches have been against teams who have a combined record of 3 wins, 2 draws, ZERO losses when not playing DC. Also, those opponents are +5 on GD when not playing DC (for that matter, they're +5 when including DC too.) So DC has played 3 matches, two on the road, against arguaby the 3 best teams in the league, and played 'em even. It's early, but as a DC fan, I'm excited.
BINGO!!! Four goals in three games is a helluva lot more productive than we've been in seasons past. Toss in Olsen's goal as a midfielder, and we've got five goals in three games. I'm also happy about the fact that all five of them were scored by different players, Moreno, Esky, Cerritos, Olsen and Adu. If we can shore up the back line, we're going to have a very good season. I love the midfield pressure we've shown so far this season. We've completely dominated the opposition in five out of the six halves we've played so far.
Mike, I agree its good we've had 5 different goal scorers but damned soon I'd like to see one of our forwards start to score multiple goals. Sharing the wealth is good, but we need a 10 goal scorer or two.
I wish we were getting some games against NE, the Crew, and the Wizards right now because those teams truly suck at the moment. I am afraid of Chicago breaking loose because they ahve to eventually but a midfield of Jacqua, Armas, Pause, and Beasley is not very terrifying.
I agree w/ Tham, Dallas tore Chicago a new one, I'm not saying Dallas is still Horrible, but they're still not THAT good.
I share your optimism. The team's cohesion in building attacks is lightyears ahead of what we could come up with last season (even at our best). All our active forwards have scored and the rest of the league is pretty paltry compared to the opposition we've already gone up against. I wish Convey could finish, I wish Warren could catch, and I wish we could play a full 90. All these things look correctable though and I think they will be. Particularly with a guy like Nowak at the reigns. I think LA and NY will be the toughest opposition we face all season. San Jose has bite but they are easily unhinged. Same goes for KC. Chicago seems to have lost it's collective hustle and Razov looks like he's plateaued as a striker. cbus is better but not better than us and Dallas, despite also improving, lack real offensive composure. The revs are the same story as SJ and Colorado was just plain stupid to give up Carrieri. Spencer's legs can't make up that kind of hustle. LA, for their part, aren't anymore composed in play action than they were but theu have so many finishers they almost score without meaning to. NY is just plain stacked. From Walker to a healthy Pope, to Geuvara and Vaca, to Gaven, Wolyniec, Taylor et al. NY has a stable of ablebodied contenders that, I beleive, will get them to MLS Cup this season. I really think they're the team to beat this season. This really should be the best MLS season yet all around and especially for DC. I haven't been this excited since I got my "Harkes" jersey back in '96.
Agreed, but Nowak was pestered in the offseason about going out and getting a "proven goal scorer" and his answer consistently was that he expected to get goals from all of the forwards and from the midfielders as well. He expected to have many players with a few goals rather than one or two with a lot. Apparently, Nowak's team is following exactly according to his plan. I'm quite impressed with Nowak's team, and the fact that it is progressing exactly how he predicted that it would, is very encouraging. We'll get some multi-goal scorers, but I doubt any of our guys will challenge Ruiz for most goals this season. -Digital
I wish I was optomistic-I'll save it for later this season (I hope). I'm still a little scared we can have a bad season. 1st game-Win by 1 goal 2nd game-Tie 3rd game-Lose by 1 goal The trend is clear. It's DOWNWARD.
Let me recast that stretch of games. 1st game - win by a goal vs. the defending champion. 2nd game - draw away, to a team that beat up on a very talented Revs team. 3rd game - lose by a goal away to a team that might be the best in the league. We've opened against some VERY tough opposition. That'll continue this week. I'm extremely optimistic.
Given current trends, I'll be optimistic for the first halves of all our games this season. After that, I'll take a more pessimistic view of things.
Last year, I wouldn't have been optimistic, but this year I am for all of the reasons listed above. All of the problems we have had so far, are correctible. Last years "leadership" wouldn't have fixed the problems - they were "laissez faire" at best, to be generous. PN won't let the same mistakes happen twice, not even his own. I am a lot more confident about DC this year than last.
Agreed. And the best part is, I don't think the 1-1-1 we've managed so far is the best they could have done. I agree with Nowak about the LA game--we didn't earn a point, we threw away two. This team will learn not to slack off late in the game. They also could learn that dominating for a half on the road isn't good enough. I guess what I'm trying to say is--not only did we get some results the first three games, but I feel that CORRECTABLE mistakes kept them from coming out even better. I get the feeling that Nowak is a one-week-at-a-time kind of guy, who will continue to push his team to improve and learn from mistakes as the season goes on.
Makes me wonder if they started slow in the second half this week because they were pacing themselves a bit so there would not be another let-down like in LA the week before at the end of the game. Either way, I don't think we're fit enough to play this high-pressure stuff without more liberal substitutions, these guys will wear down after half a season if only Moreno and Esky ever get rest. Maybe they need to figure out when to give each other breathers during the game, let Dema cool off (half pace or whatever) for 7 minutes while covering his space with two guys, then Dema and someone cover for Bobby, then Bobby and Dema for Stewart, etc. That made more sense on my head than typed out. Someone, maybe Knave, pointed out before the season that if we somehow got 5 (or was it 7?) points in our first 5 games, we should be happy - they are very tough games to start a season with.
That will certainly keep things in perspective. Last year we got something like four points in seven matches. And still made the playoffs. I know that our sights are set a bit higher than that now, but we're playing an attractive brand of soccer (when we actually play it), we're scoring goals, we've tightened up our midfield, and we have a genyoowine phenom in our midst. It's all good.
I am optimistic for this season and for next season as well. DC is wilting at about the 60-70th min mark but fitness will come. Once Nowak takes a step back and begins to analyze his use of subs things won't drop off in the second half. We have to remember that he is a new coach and is going to experience growing pains. Look at Chicago today, their coach has many, many years of coaching experience and his team only won because of a defensive let down and excellent individual play. We are seeing a team that is full of potential and finally has someone with the vision, drive and professionalism to develop it, as long as he and the players are given time. This league is unique in the world in that 80% of teams make the playoffs so when DC starts to come together they will be in prime position to make a serious run at the title. The beginning of DC's first season was abysmal but they continued to work and grow as a team and then became a dynasty. I believe that this team can and will do the same.
Amen. Now, if we would only shoot on goal without shooting directly at the opposing team's GK..........
Im optimistic for the fact that we seem to have good talent up front yes even though we didnt score last game. What worries me though is that we only have 3 in our backline and their not quicksilvers when it comes down to counterattacks.