I think Dashiel already mentioned it, but wasn't Gonzilla already sitting on a yellow-card accumulation warning, and therefor already going to miss the last game, even before the red card?
No he wasn't. The only one a yellow card warning for yesterday's game was AJ. Omar was forgiven for his.
Well, then I suppose it could have been worse with AJ picking up a yellow… (trying to look on the bright side….)
I think LD's great season on the left has more to do with RR playing left back. I don't think teams feared Dunivant as an LB that could get forward with pace and deliver an excellent ball. So LD was more ineffective on the left because defenses didn't treat Dunivant as a threat. With RR there, as dangerous a LB in MLS as there is... defenses have to respect that and LD gets more room to operate???
I've been saying for a while that someone else should take the corner kicks. Bruce Arena could take them for all I care. We did get out-subbed last night. That knucklehead Pappa came in and started bossing the midfield. We needed an ankle biter to come in, or even Ishi to come in and threaten on their goal. Instead, we got Gordo and started playing longball. Jeez, it's not like Sigi is too hard to figger out Bruce....
In reading articles the team agrees with everyone's assessment here - we deflated after minute 60 for whatever reason. Don't expect that to happen again next week. We outplayed Seattle for pretty big swaths of the game...and then lost focus and got completely dominated in midfield. Don't expect that to happen for two weeks in a row. Here's Matt Doyle's two cents on the game: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...eld-still-line-4-4-2s-not-dead-more-week-32-t
Well, now that the "distraction" for "ThanksLD" is over, I hope Bruce can "get back to coaching playing soccer." I guess Landon's goodbye accounts for Bruce's sub choices and timing in the last two games. Sorry, but his comment left me kind of chapped. In reality, Bruce's handling of the bench in the past two games did NOT help put the team in position to win either game. Own that, Bruce. I think Landon handled responding to the questions about Bruce's comment pretty well and with class. Now, let's go out and win the Supporter's Shield and the MLS Cup and be a team of unbridled history.
I figured the ref would let Omar's challenge go unpunished after Martins' kick that should have been a straight red. I seriously can't believe he stayed in the game after that. Garbage.
I was watching the game by myself and when I saw it live I thought "Red Card!" But then the espn commentators didn't seem to think it was worthy of that so I thought my interpretation was wrong. Not to say that commentators are always right but since I never played soccer so it is hard for me to understand what is punished and what isn't at times. It does bring up an interesting point though. I referee basketball and have done some baseball so I understand what it takes to officiate a game. One of the biggest things when you are officiating is trying to understand the intent of a player when something happens. In basketball it separates a personal and intentional foul. Obviously both have different consequences. It is not always easy to determine intent but once in a while it is completely obvious. The reason why I bring all this up is because watching what Martins did it seemed completely obvious to me what his intent was. On that play, AJ pressured Martins from behind with a slight push. Martins lost possession and was obviously upset that the ref did not call a foul. I though it was a foul on AJ to be fair (It is hard for me to watch any game without looking through the Mr. Official lens). Anyways, Martins then proceeded to turn around and kick AJ because he was upset. Remember I thought red card right away because I saw a player, in Martins, who committed a foul with the intent of revenge/injuring of a player in AJ. It was not a "soccer play" by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore Martins, or anyone for that matter, cannot say that Martins was just playing hard. This is my issue with the play and it is reason to me why the league should look at it. Plays like that are not needed in any sport. If a player was to do something like that on the basketball court in a game I am officiating the said player is being ejected without question by me.
Alright time to put this game behind us G's. We got one more fight up in Seattle and then we can focus on the Cup. Cue theme song...
some thoughts. - chad marshall had a great game. reminds me of when people were calling for him to get a shot with the NT - seattles speed hurt us. almost no overlap from rogers. most of the guys were playing with one foot going backwards - midfield showed why these are the two top teams. both sides snuffed out a lot of chances before they really developed. - we got tired. where were the subs (again). husidic cant make it even close to 90 minutes at that speed. sarvas/LD gassed in the last 10-15. rogers was gassed. if there's no extra time, we've gotta make subs at 60 & 70. - dempsey absolutely buried his chance. what's he got going on with Omar? he was frontin like he was all hard again. - ZarKeanovan was shut down and we still got two pretty good goals from baggio/marcelo. it's what sigi was playing for and we gave them something to think about. - win and take the shield. i don't think anyone would be upset with that scenario at the beginning of the season.
to be fair, the song picked, 100 years, was about perfect lyrics-wise. it's about life, the passage of time and reflecting how you have a lifetime ahead of you at 15
My throat is still sore from yelling at that punk-ass Dempsey. Starting when he rugby tackled Juni (I think) at the end of the first half, and continuing through his whining to the refs, and generally hackish play. I really, really want us to win in Seattle.
It's also a much less somber (and therefore more appropriate) song than Superman. I wasn't the only one with that idea, though:
I expect to see better play by Keanne, Donovan, Rogers and Zardes next game. Rogers issue was obviously a lack of fitness. Arena took a calculated risk keeping him in the full 90 minutes but ultimately the lad needed the minutes to be fit for the playoffs so it should pay off going forward. Keanne comes and goes. He is due for a hot streak now as is Zardes. I think Donovan will step up now that the theatrics are out of the way.
They just have to channel up their last match in Seattle. The team was first to the ball only almost every play. Donovan/Rogers were killing the left side. I would not be suprised if this happens again....