Oh and Leal, auto start. He has lungs for days and can hold the damn ball, that’s a beast in this team.
I really hope Troy learns that the team’s attack is better when it has the better players on the field. Leal, Fletcher, Peglow should all be playing together when they’re all fit.
So do we think Lesene is a genius for the sub or a dolt to have left our youth on the bench? Fletcher was dynamic. Hopkins did well. or is it just that they looked good against tired older legs?
The sub won the game no question so that was a stroke of genius. I’ve been pining for Fletcher, less so Hopkins but he’s been good since coming back. Yeah, I think they need to play a lot, especially Fletcher as anyone can see there’s something there he really needs minutes to hone his game.
Oh, the game. That goal by Tubbs...wow, that was the finish of a forward. Very good. But then, his defending on the first goal was unfortunately the defending of a forward. Not so good. Hopkins’ lack of pace means it’s hard for him to find space, which he needs to scan the field. His passing range is a lot longer, he’s more ambitious, but a player needs a bit of space to do that. I think that he has value right now as a 65th minute sub every game…he plays aLOT better when the defenders are a bit tired, and his lack of pace is less of a problem defensively since the players he’s marking are a bit tired as well. Why hasn’t Fletcher been, if not starting, at least the first wing sub off the bench? Good grief. Lesesne’s balls are like the Grinch’s heart…it just grew 3 sizes. Because you know that if the GK sub hadn’t worked out, that’s exactly the kind of decision fans will latch onto.
BUILD A DAMN FARR STATUE. Ahem. In a season that looks to be loaded with disappointment, nights like these are what keep you watching. Ridiculous? Sure. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't screaming at the radio while trapped on the 10, listening to the radio call.
That was the first enjoyable match to watch in a long, long time. There is something to single elimination games that heightens the stress and drama and really focuses the players' attention. Each time DCU fell behind, I thought they would at least come up with a credible response and twice they came back to draw level. When you realize that Charlotte used all the big names save Zaha and DCU was missing its top two forward options, the result is even more remarkable. Somehow you just knew that the dynamics of the game were going to make the Farr substitution into either a colossal fail or a moment of utter insanity. I still can't believe he stopped 4 of 5. When I told my wife DCU only made two PKs, she replied "that's too bad", I told here DCU won. Other than not ever wanting to see Boris Enow on the pitch again (I was sure he would get red carded before the end of the half), I thought the rest of the squad acquitted themselves well. However, Kim definitely is a work in progress, his positioning is mediocre and he is way too passive in controlling his box, it's almost like he's too polite. I like GKs who take a "stay off my lawn" approach to the six.
Thankfully the PKs were taken at the supporters end. Farr was so matter of fact making the saves you almost missed how extraordinary a thing he was doing.
Some of the stats from that game are astounding. DC had 61% of the possession and attempted 807 passes. 807! Also from watching some of the highlights again, Peltola's pass to Leal before Tubbs's goal was sublime. His ability to hit long passes is underrated, and I don't think that's a tool Enow has shown in his toolset to the same level.
Peltola's passing in general is astounding for a player his age. I don't think he's a strong enough defender in a back three but as a sweeping 6 in front of the defense, he's great. DC just doesn't have a ball-winning CM to pair him with aside from Servania, who isn't really a day to day MLS-calibre player IMO. If I never saw Boris Enow play soccer ever again, my life would be completely fine. Jared Stroud needs a change of scenery. His confidence is simply shot and he's not even useful as a sub anymore. I'm not sure what happened to him. I'm fine with Kim on the bench learning from better GKs for now. But he's just not an-MLS quality starter yet. Barraza is replacement-level at best and he looks like Lev Yashin compared to Kim.
I would disagree about Servania, he's getting into a game rhythm and is an MLS quality CM, he reminds me of Junior Moreno -- he's not the problem. Fully concur about Enow, a bag of balls for him would be a steal -- he is just poor beyond belief, bad at passing, clumsy in challenges, just awful. Kim has a great deal to learn -- he actually would be best served on loan somewhere to get consistent minutes -- your #2 should be a veteran presence who is what he is, Kim needs playing time to continue to develop and he won't get than on the bench.
I can see what United might have been going for with an Enow/Peltola pairing. Enow's got more wheels and you'd think he'd be a good 8 to pair with Peltola's 6, but something with Enow just isn't clicking right, and Servania isn't a good enough partner to pair with Peltola full time. Peltola's the best 6/8 type United has on the team, and he's clearly MLS quality, but he'd be a better fit with better players around him (as are several of the other MLS quality starters on the team, like Herrera and Schnegg).
They’re not the same profile player, but I meant in the sense of “MLS capable CM” more than anything. I also expect Servania to continue improving this season. He didn’t return from his ACL injury (October 2023) until late last year and barely played when he did. He’s still breaking the rust off and getting into rhythm. His form compared to the beginning of the season is already far (Farr?) better.
DC United v New York Red Bulls Date: 5/24/25 Time: 7:30 EDT Location: Audi Field Washington, DC TV, Radio Apple TV, 1190 iHearts Sports DC
FTRB Both teams played exciting OT/penalty games on Wednesday, so predicting a listless 0-0 tie (which would be a positive home result for this team, actually getting point(s))
Leal is questionable for the match. Doesn’t look like he can go more than a few games without picking something up.