Hall 6 Kofi 7 JT 7 Horst 8 Ashe 6 OBG 7 Davis 6 Casico 7 Rico 7 Bruin 9 Barnes 8 Driver 7 Cummings 6 Sherrod 2 minutes really Dom That the back line was solid Horst and JT very solid i do wish we had picked up Euan if either wing back gets hurt we have little cover (creavelle maybe guess he was hurt) midfield at the risk of being controversial anyone pick up on the number of greta runs branes made with the ball at davis feet and he did not get his head up once. barnes or any forward will only make so many of those runs if thye continue to not get service. brad as a natioanl team player you shoudl be looking for those opportunities. thought casico looked good and obg was solid as was rico up top great work rate and return from these two subs driver did ok cummings not at all convinced he can help us Dom game is pretty safe at 3-0 with 12 left we know what we have with cummings get Sherrod on a bit earlier or Lopez lets see what this DP can do
I think a 6 for Hall is a bit harsh for a guy who kept a clean sheet under that much pressure. He wasn't a 10 or even a 9, but he distributed REALLY well and made many clutch saves and got the job done. Also, was it OBG who put those incredible through balls to Bruin, Barnes, and Cummings? Those had some world class weight to them. if it was him, he deserves at least an 8.
I agree with most of these ratings. Sherrod is a great pick as a high post up / knock down foward. His layoff helped to start off the sequence for the final goal. More of a help in the air than Bru. I agree with the subs although I would have taken Bru out a little earlier. We have to find a way to get more time for JJ and Lopez though I agree. Hopefully JJ is willing to go to Pittsburg for a while because if Bruin is scoring and no one is hurt then playing time up top is limited and I don't see him getting any time at forward which I think he is a naturally best there. Ownby looks like the better option at right midfield if Driver isn't available now that Cascio is hurt.
I think you're spot on about Davis and Barnes. But I also think it was true of OBG and even Driver when he came on. There were quite a few times that Barnes was moving and the ball never came. That's potentially serious problem if it continues.
Not that I know of - it's just my suggestion to have Ownby on the bench to back up Driver at this point in time. Assuming Cascio is out for a while: Gilesy - Bru (Cummings / Sherrod) Brad - Boni - Driver (Ownby) Rico Corey - Jermaine - Horst - Kofi Hall
I like all of these except Casico. I'd have him at a 6. Not because he wasn't good but because I just didn't see him on the ball enough. I'd have liked to have seen us go through him more on his side but we really didn't. Hopefully he'll be up and running soon.
Probably nitpicking considering he had 2 goals and an assist, but that one-on-one miss by Bruin really bugged me. Not so much that he muffed it, but the way he muffed it. Straight in on the keeper with no one close, one touch to either side and he's probably tapping into an empty goal, but he panicked and hit it right at the keeper from outside. That was way worse than Omar's, which was at least at an angle from which his options were diminished. Not a big deal with a substantial lead and already a brace on the night, but knowing there will be plenty of games where the chances are few and far between I'd sure hope to see quicker speed of thought and better decision making. Anyway, great way to start the season. Hopefully the fellas are primed to start the season with a good run of form and build a little cushion before the summer grind.
Apart from nitpicky disagreements, the only big disagreement I'd have is on OBG's rating. He was the most influential player on the pitch and dictated the pace of play. Barnes made great runs that gave Bruin space. OBG created space for the entire midfield with his movement and passing. The Revs played with a 5 man midfield, the Dynamo should have been out manned in the middle of the field yet they looked like the ones with superior numbers and had no problems playing the ball through the midfield. Most of that was down to OBG's play.
His breakaway game (1v1 with the keeper) is the area we need to see a little improvement. If he gets that right then we will be in good shape.
Not disagreeing as much as refining your idea...there is ALWAYS Rico in any conversation of a dominant performance from the Dynamo midfield. What we had Saturday was the closest we have had in a long time to the good old days of DeRo and Rico prowling the middle with Brad and Mully on the wings. I said on Saturday morning that I didn't want OBG moved into the middle. I was clearly wrong. If Cascio stays healthy and fills that wing role for us we are in really good shape in the middle.
I can give ratings for the match, but I won't waste my time. New England was so terrible, that I cannot honestly assess Houston's performance.
my eyes may have deceived me for a milisecond, but i thought the GK had already comitted to the ground and Bruin could of chipped him, but i definitely agree that one more move was required there. the ying and yang of Bruin. i don't care as long as he hits for 15 goals (or more) and the Dynamo keep winning.
30 years of playing and watching soccer, mostly. As clear as he was of the defense, and straight in on the keeper, I don't think he should have been guessing at all. Feel free to disagree, but I think it showed a lack of awareness of the position he was in, and he chose an option with a low probability of success relative to what was available because it got the ball off of his foot the quickest. Like I said, probably nitpicking considering the night he had, I just really didn't like it. He can have one of those every game if he keeps being a terror, and I'll tip my hat to him and shut up.
Quick question, how many other rookies have seen the field on day 1 of the season? Geoff comes to mind. Maybe Bruin, Kofi and Warren? It's not easy to get on the field as a rookie (Colin Rolfe for example). Granted, Sherrod is a cheaper Weaver with possibly more upside, and we know Dom loves that mold. His appearance should be a nice boost of confidence.
My thoughts exactly - Hold up player to end the game instead of JJ who could do too much and spark a counter. -Dom knows whats up. Also Ratings?? Dynamo 9/10 just because it was against NE and I love Orange Kool-Aid.
For opposing views on match ratings including mine (amazing how different people see the game differently): Dynamo Theory: http://www.dynamotheory.com/2014/3/10/5488902/houston-dynamo-v-new-england-revolution-player-ratings House of Houston: http://houseofhouston.com/2014/03/09/houston-dynamo-win-3-things-learned-player-ratings/