Two weeks in a ********ing row. ********ing stupid. Heaps getting massively outcoached game in and game out.
I'm not blaming the loss on Benny, just was hoping Heaps would've left him on the bench considering things were looking fine possession wise with Nguyen at CM. They didn't win last week either (but took extra time to break the shut out) because this team's still not very good skill wise in the final third.
I don't know if he's getting out coached. It's too early to tell whether it's a lack of cohesion (new players) or coaching.
Thanks, I for one was curious. I was not happy to see Simms go off last week, only to see him come up on the injury report, so I figured Nguyen might have been taken off for a similar reason as well. The fact that he was on an IV makes me feel even better, as that would imply that he's just sick, rather than injured.
I thought we looked like crap until Benny came in. From that point on, our overall passing improved and he did make some very nice passes. This team still has a very long way to go. I dont know what to make of Sene. One of those players that does one or two good things a game and the rest of the time makes you think maybe he should come off. The cross for our goal was great...his head shots were fluff though. IDK what to make of him With our present players, Diego will never see the field with the 'A' team
I thought this was one of the most encouraging losses I can remember. The new look revs are far from amazing, but they are so many miles ahead of last year that I'm excited watching their games again, something I definitely couldn't say towards the end of the Nicol era. They still inevitably happen at times, but the days of a mainly route 1 long ball style appear to be over. I already like Heaps just because of this.
I like Sene. I think he gets a lot of crap because the team depend on him so much for transition play and holding the ball into attack, that inevitably some of the bad balls will be due to him. It is not an accident that teammates always try to find him, and he usually makes the intelligent pass. Much more thanI expected from him. His finishing needs work, but he gets more dangerous each week IMO. The staff have to work on his strength, but I think he is a good long-term asset for the Revs.
If there are fifty-fifty balls, there are also fifty-fifty games, and this was one of them. The Revs were at least competitive and generating good chances. It came down to finishing, and DC had two quality finishes. And it pains me to say it, but Moreno was giving us some good stuff. Looks like he might be a force for us this year.
First, I want to say that I agree with your overall post in that this team appears to have more talent and skill than that piece of utter Shite Steve Nicol was rolling out this time last year. I believed they could tie it up until the end. There is room for hope and even optimism. But... First, why is it makeshift, particularly in the offense? Moreno and Sene look to be the preferred forwards and all of the midfield that started look to feature strongly this season. Second, let's talk about what to do after scoring early. I thought they went into a Nicol-esque shell for a long period after they scored. Why? They had the talent to keep possession and to press. We saw it in the second half. I don't get it. I attribute the first goal to the shell they went into. I'm tempted to say this is a coaching problem. Third, why not leave Nguyen on the field with Feilhaber? I'm actually a fan of Ryan Guy but would have probably pulled him. There will be plenty of rational reasons offered but I'd rather have seen Guy or Moreno pulled for Benny, not Nguyen. Unless Nguyen was hurt? Finally, how many games until we start to believe our record is reflective of how good we are? We're close to 1/4 of the way into the season. We seem better. Heck, we are better. But, maybe, not THAT MUCH better.
Thanks for this info, it's appreciated and makes things a little more understandable. Sene absolutely HAS to finish on that header late in the game. He's done very little with shots except for headers (his two goals) but man, I thought he should have tied the game last night. There's still positives to be taken from this overall. I thought Benny definitely added to this squad when he came on, their overall passing seemed to improve. I was worried about SJ not being there, but I thought Simms played pretty well when he had to step up. I didn't think Reis had a chance on either of the goals, but the save he made on the deflection was beautiful. As a famous coach once said, you are what your record says you are. We're 2-4 on the season, but have played 2 home games to 4 road games. But this one hurts because this wasn't really a good DC team, and we lost at home to them.
Tough, tough loss to take. I thought the Revo had the majority of the play. Hopefully, Lozano is healthy enough to get an extended run-out. Barring that, Barnes should get the nod. McCarthy has done fairly well, but he's a stop-gap measure. Sene and Moreno have the potential to do some damage this season. At the very least the team is more entertaining to watch.
Most of the our good chances in the first haft including the goal involved Nguyen. I agree there must be something for taking him out !
I feel mostly good about the Revs at this point. Management looks like they've been consistent in bringing in players who fit this possession style Heaps talks about. Basically I think they've done a good job picking bargain players and those bargain players will get a bit better over time as a unit. I do feel they need to get 3 or so above average players to be any serious kind of contender for being in the top of the East. The biggest disappointment I had from the game was the number of times our players gave the ball away through optimistic or just defensive mindset clearing of the ball. I thought Feilhaber did some instant improving on that when he came into the game. Seemed too many times the players were content with just getting the ball down the field instead of taking another touch and maybe passing backwards or sideways. I'm not a fan of Guy's, but I can see where he might play a role of where he is still a skilled player, but also maybe wins a few more 50/50 balls than some of our other players. I wonder if Sene will end up playing wide for the Revs. That was a beautiful cross and I don't think luck was involved. I think it was Moreno who hit a first half ball that traveled 40 yards or so and hit his teammate right on the shoulder while running at full speed. Very impressive. Tierney had a couple of good free kicks early in the game, but he ended up doing poorly with them as the game continues. So frustrating to me the number of times he couldn't get the ball over the first defender.
I liked what I saw from Moreno quite a bit. Senne, not so much so. He seems slow of thought and reluctant to run. I'd rather see Rowe or Cardanas paired with him. I think we have a problem in that we have 4 players (Feilhaber, Rowe, Joseph, and Nguyen) who are best used at a forward inside mid position and once again our outside attacking options (including our fullbacks or the above mentioned players when moved outside) are weak. It occurs to me that Simms may be the only irreplaceable midfielder we have (although maybe McCarthy could play there). Tierney reminds me of the second coming of Jay Heaps. Lots of fire and effort, but full of ideas that exceed his skills. I do like his free kick shots, however.
This. Foxborough is a typical small New England town, with a large town green and white churches. It's no different than Sharon, Norfolk, and Walpole.