I walked out after the 3rd goal last Sat. I've never left a game early. I didn't leave b/c it was over...I left in frustration when the U gave up. They pressed and showed some urgency after their 1st goal, but sometime around the 70th or so, they either gave up or ran out of gas. It happened again tonight. There was no sustained urgency after the 75th. The goal was there, but they kept allowing the Rapids to catch the breath. Play has been sloppy in the home losses. Too many mistakes - bad passes, leaving the far post on either side wide open at least 3 times, Michael Bradley walking through the middle of the park unchallenged, the captain tripping over effing the ball, no one closing down the cross... The frustration comes from the drastic difference between the baseline and the high water mark. We don't need a goal scorer. What we really need is someone who can put the team on their back to salvage points.
This is ultimately the problem...and it has been for quite some time. We have no dedicated striker. Instead we have a mass of people who can score. The problem is that they do it in sporadic runs. So we'll get 2-3 games of someone like Santos scoring, but then he slumps. We put in the next guy who does the same thing, so we think he's the one, but eventually he slumps, too. If you're constantly only rotating guys who go on streaks, then you're not really addressing the problem. And what happens is you start playing guys who are in a slump, while the guy with the hot hand is on the bench. You can't build a team expecting your Coach to be some sort of psychic...you need to sign a striker who is consistent.
For all of the negativity (and it is understood), how many of you would be upset at rooting for a team nearing the half way point of the season 1st in the East in PPG, 2nd in MLS in goals scored, 2nd in MLS in goal differential? The team has a winning record both home and away. They have featured 11 different goal scorers. They have at times played dominating and attractive soccer. Well, that's our Philadelphia Union! Sure the last couple of games have been less than spectacular. We should have probably picked up a minimum of 5 points, but in spite of the results we are still in 2nd place with a game in hand. The team may fade, but currently we are in good shape.
I think it's ok for fans to be critical after a home draw to a team most of the league thought they would beat.
We've been 1st in a weak eastern conference before. Heck, we've not even made the playoffs after having similar runs before. So, in perspective its a wash, in my point of view. The Union still haven't done anything to prove they aren't the inconsistent, mediocre on average team they've always been.