Are we really setting the bar that low for Flores? In Taxi’s absence, he has to do something to justify his hefty paycheck. Not seeing the level of … well, anything, that meets that metric.
I'm glad you are all seeing positives, NYCFC had about 2/3rds of the possession and look dangerous on every corner. We had a couple of good counter attacks and don't look clueless when we press. Not seeing all that much positive for a home game (admittedly with a lineup with no real attacking threats aside from Kamara)
Yeah I get it but I was commenting on the play, not the result of the half. Second half looks like it's going to be 0-0 so does that mean we played better than in the first? I don't think so. The second half was an ugly slog. We must have been gassed from all that pressing.
No, they were gassed from all that chasing. NYC had almost 60% on the possession clock in the first half. Largely in the offensive half.
I think your starting midfield/strikers need to be Kamara Flores - Robertha - Taxi - Gressel Djeffal Smith - Birnbaum - Pines - (Najar)
He really should have done better on the first goal. I hate to damn him with faint praise, but I think the realistic assessment is “As good as.” Which is a pretty low bar at the moment.
I’m in the process of re-watching the first half. Glutton for punishment, I guess. The first 25 minutes are relatively even, with New York getting the edge by finishing their chance. A couple of posts and Kamara failing to stretch for the tap in. And that’s it. From there, NYC started to impose their will on the game. The second half doesn’t bear watching, let alone re-watching. We failed to register a shot on goal. Sean Johnson’s only save on the night came off his defender’s head.
A 4-5-1 is a clogged midfield. With dynamic movement he will never be left stranded. Now if you fail to move lines as a team you get what you get. You could double pivot but we aren’t that good. 3-2-4-2 with Canouse - Djeffal on the pivot. Drop Flores.
Also, you’re asking Flores to play defense on the flank — something he’s shown no inclination to do. And asking Smith to play as one of your three center backs. Which I’d be willing to entertain if he had Najar’s foot speed or class on the ball. He doesn’t really. EDIT: ** Never mind — I misread your lineup **
Now that I properly understand what you’re proposing, the only real problem I have with this idea is you’re pulling Taxi and Robertha too far from goal. They’ll be spending too much time chasing in midfield.
I liked what I saw from Guediri (sp?) from Loudoun County. It looks like he can be a useful sub when needed. We desperately need speed in the attack. The only speed we have now is Taxi.
Estrada, too, when he's available. I think Flores, and Estrada are two of the worst signings, on a value paid per player-results basis.
Well, that sucked. #analysis One (of many) big worry: They got a lot of good looks on headers, more than I'm used to us giving up, it seemed. Under Losada, the emphasis on the high pressure meant that it made sense that we'd lose possession by a bit. Though we did have a couple of good press moments tonight, if we're NOT going to be running that high press more, then we need to get ahold of the ball. But it feels like we're really not set up for that. Thank god we tanked the Open Cup for that!
I was at the game. The score line reflected the play. NYC is much better but the team and coaching is infuriating. The lineup was completely wrongheaded. You’re at home. Play your best team early, score two and hold on for the tie. Rotate out early to preserve options for the weekend but don’t get shut out. Bringing in Taxi and Gressel down two is insane. Perhaps you all saw something I didn’t but Flores is soft. He isn’t effective and he is hurting the team. Every team has injuries and schedule issues but DCU doesn’t have a system for the big players to fit into. Without a system, they are just pieces. Some - Gressel, Taxi, Najar - are skilled. But the team looks more like the island of misfit toys than Real Madrid. Losada may have needed to go (or not) but it doesn’t change the fact that the team has been assembled and coached to get less than it could from its strange collection of parts
I'm not sure I buy that. There just aren't necessarily better options sitting on the bench. At this point, though, it's pretty obvious that we have a DP who not only wouldn't start at most MLS clubs, but he wouldn't even make the team at half of them. I went to the game. Thoroughly depressing. And as cool as it was to see El Diablo there the memories of his playing days just highlighted what a sad state of affairs DCU has been in for quite a while now.
I really would like to see a DC United that can pass the ball, accurately & with good weight, to their own teammates, also I would like for the teammate to be able to receive the ball without it going 5-10 yards in another direction. I would like to see midfielders who can keep possession of the ball without falling down and coughing it up anyway. I would like to see teammates presenting for the ball, so we don't have to make wild down-field clearances. Should we have to make wild down-field clearances, I would like to see the clearance actually make it down field, not to our PK spot. I would like to see everyone on the team know who they're marking on set pieces, and not lose their mark! I would like to see an offense that doesn't go 5 yards into the opponents half before being cycled back to the defense, and even GK - ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE DOWN TWO GOALS WITH 10 MINUTES LEFT IN THE GAME!!!!!