DC United 2005: 'Infuriatingly Inconsistent' But Not All 'Doom And Gloom' :: MASR

I remember other decidedly pro-Quintanilla comments from Ian earlier this year; and they all made me wonder if they'd been evoked by play Q2 had shown earlier in his time at United. Being a comparatively new arrival to D.C. and United-watching, I never saw how he'd looked earlier with the first squad; but I saw him multiple times with the reserves this year, and I was completely unimpressed. So I wondered if Ian had been inspired by earlier showings of Q2, or if I (and everyone else around me) was just missing something in Q2's reserve play, or if Ian was simply joking and I was a goob for taking him seriously, or if Ian needed intervention for a crack habit.

 

Quintinilla had some good outings for the first team in the Hudson era. He was one of the better passers on the team and had a good vision for someone his age. Problem was, he didn't have the physical presence or defensive ability to play midfield in this league. Once the team acquired more depth he probably wasn't going to crack the starting lineup. I've never seen the reserves play, maybe he just mailed it in after he realized he wasn't going to make the first team. Or maybe the reserves games make everyone look like ********..

 

You do realize that even if Ian weren't joking, you might still be a goob?

 

Realize it? I rely on it. Pity can come in very, very handy.

 

If you read Ian's response to one of the "comments" following the article, you will get a better sense of his fondness for Quintanilla. He notes the Kuffour had a particular skill set, a "flair", that Ian conceded was a luxury but something a team should keep around. During the Hudson era, Quintanilla occasionally demonstrated that "flair", the comback against NE comes to mind, that is enticing and gives another team's coach the heebie jeebies when he sees a Quintanilla on the subs bench.

 

I was on the fence about Quintanilla's letting go, but he never seemed to get any time last year when Nowak came in so it seemed that he wasn't in the plans. The fact that he went back to El Salvador to play suggests that no one else in MLS thought he was worth the pickup either. If he matures in his game then we may see him again someday.
I agree about the physical presence issue, although he seemed like a hard worker. We have hard workers, though.
I was a bit miffed about Chino Alegria's being let go, seemed like he didn't get a chance with Nowak either, but then his problems under the Hudson era didn't exactly commend him well.
The point made about Gomez' fitness in the article was interesting, and possibly true. Moreno's comeback last year came as a result of taking the offseason to really get well and get/stay fit, maybe Gomez does need some work in that area as he is getting older. Both of them faded down the stretch this year, which worries me because Tino & Adu are not ready to take over from them on a 90-minute basis.
It also seems as if they will have to choose between Stokes and Wilson; Wilson seems the better choice there.

 

DC was inconsistent this season in large part because it depended on a better than average rate, particularly on defense. Across the field, DC was a smaller than average team and in many positions (both outside fullbacks, for example) not overly athletic. When the team was playing well, everyone, especially the midfielders, worked hard on defense and clogged the middle of the field. When the workrate broke down or somehow the opposition was able to create a one on one situation with one of the back three, DC was in trouble. Olsen and Carroll probably led the league in hustle, but when they got pulled out of position or someone did not cover for them, the back three were exposed and trouble started. The defense by committee approach also effected the offense, because DC forwards were often needed to drop back into midfield to help on defense. DC rarely had the option of leaving two players up high; sometimes it couldn't leave anyone up high.