02/29: Leap (of Faith) Year: FCD vs Philadelphia [R]

Looks like Tessman has signed a HG contract and may actually start the game this week because of so many injuries.

 

If that's what it takes to get him to sign then I'm okay with that.

 

Official. Good for him. Heard a lot of good things hope to see him play soon.

𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚. 😍@frantanjam5#DTID | #SomosFCD pic.twitter.com/HJ025IYjEH

— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) February 27, 2020

 

I thought he did great for a debut. Nice to see Pax back and even scoring. I think last year they get tied or find a way to cough up a late goal and lose. This year they find a way to add an insurance goal. If they can keep that up they will be near the top of the west.

 

I listened to the internet/radio broadcast in the car on my way to Virginia. Listening to the TV audio is no replacement for an actual radio broadcast. Also, Roll Tide for FCD stealing Clemson's kicker and immediately playing him. And since I was listening to the TV broadcast, I have no idea what actually happened except that FCD won the game.

 

I watched the highlights. Those white shoulder stripes look awful. Both of FCD's goals looked like moments of individual brilliance. Going to have to string some passes together to keep winning this season, but if Cobra maintains his streak that will cure a lot of ails. Stat sheet shows we looked pretty even with Philly in most categories.

Better attendance than last year, but still not a sellout. Months to sell tickets for the home opener with a new Brazilian in the lineup, a couple of USMNT stars on the pitch, and still can't get it done. I go to at least one game per year in Frisco (from Alabama), and so I know FCD has my email and my phone number. Probably also my physical address. Guess how many emails and phone calls I got from them during the off-season. That's right! None! Literally no effort to sell me a ticket whatsoever!

 

That's sad about not getting emails about the game. I went to a US game in KC once and for years after I got emails about Sporting games. How hard can that be to do and it's basically free advertising to a known soccer base. I would email and also have a different player call (pre-recorded message) asking you to go to the game.

 

I go to a DC United game at least once a year, too (I'm up there for work a lot). I get emails probably quarterly, and a real human being calls me every year during the off-season to sell me season tickets. And they always start the conversation with something like, "I notice from our records that you have been to X games in DC, and that you usually just buy one ticket. I see you're from out of town, too. You know we have the flex package where you can get a discount if you buy Y games? That way, when you come into town for work, you can select that game and not have to pay full price!" I've never bought anything from that caller, but it shows me that they are not only trying to sell tickets, they're actually researching their market and attempting to sell customers what they want.

 

Kind of surprised there's only one post about the game. Seems they were kind of rusty at first and Ferreira the whole game but grinded and scored one. Thought Pomykal was a needed boost and then he got a goal on his first game back. Santos and Tessman were solid and even with Ferreira a bit off he came close to scoring a couple times as did a few others. I'll take a win and shutout for a first game especially with a kid who signed two days before and had his physical the day before the game.

 

had to watch it on TV, and felt the team largely looked about the same as we left them. ok, but not memorable in any measure. that's not a criticism or praise, just my takeaway.

Santos looks like he's solid and I'm not too concerned. Tanner was impressive considering the circumstances, but a 71% passing rate isn't good enough for that position.

Cobra, frankly, is really poor and a horrid first touch. I quit counting the times he either bonked in receiving a ball in hold up play, or his subsequent pass ended as a turn over. Hell, even his touch that set up his volley - which WAS taken very well - was wonky. I love his passion, fight and so on, but he's just not a MLS quality #9.

Jesus still has never convinced me he's a 10 and confuses me as to what exactly is his place on this team. Pax came on and in a fraction of the time did 3x of what Jesus had done. Maybe he'll prove me wrong long term, but I've yet to see what everyone else is hyped about.

Fifa is an upgrade on Santi, I think.

Pax is superhuman. Reggie is as hype'd and the defense looked generally unfazed by a rather 'meh' Union.

Oh, and I find the RED/NAVY/RED to be an outstanding look for this club and is different from everyone else.

 

Agree that Jesus was played out of position. I like to see him at the false 9 he played for the US where he looked great. Hitman will be upset though if that means sitting Kobra . I also think Ferreira and Pax are great together but rarely get played together.

 

I was impressed by Luchi's formation changes in the second half. They seemed to work! Kobra got MOTM, but I'd have given it to anyone on defense or the whole defense. The Onion usually generates a fair amount of offense, but they did almost nothing against us.
The white stripes on the shoulder didn't look as bad to me as I'd first thought, but I wish they could have done the stripes more subtly, like LAFC's black on black.
I went to an FCD game in Portland 3 years ago. I went to a US WC qualifier in KC about 6 years ago. The Portland and KC ticket departments sent me e-mails for years afterward.
And I guess here's where I'll voice my annual complaint that there still isn't a sign on DNT for Toyota Stadium.

 

That's how I get to the stadium. I'll look for it Wednesday when we go to the She Believes games.

 

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I went to another DC United game on Saturday. A ticket rep called me Monday morning to ask me how I enjoyed myself, and to sell me season tickets. The very first business day after the game.