If you’re going to suck you might as well try. Ben didn’t try. His tactics were dreadful to watch and relied on moments of individual brilliance. So does Losada for the moment, but at least he’s trying. Losada at least can point to his team and say, “I can’t play the way you hired me to play with that hot garbage. Get me better players!” Any old scrub can play Olsen’s “system.” I would argue that Olsen’s “tactics” lead to Kasper haphazard collection of vagabond players anyway.
Ben's teams were often like those lower tier teams making a run in the FA Cup competition. Inspiring watching cast-offs, has-beens and never-weres go toe to toe with the "big boys." Problem was that you know it always will end short of the prize. As I said earlier, half of this squad will be gone by the start of next season, after two transfer windows, we will have a much better take on Losada's system and his ability to make it work in MLS. Before then, just retreat to your "happy place" and emerge to watch DCU and then return there to feel better.
So based on his predecessor’s track record he’s got 5-7 years of losing ahead of him before he is held accountable? He was not brought in to “win” with what we have. Based on the interviews and stories around his hiring he has an idea and a tactical plan he will work on implementing here. I believe that he was even quoted saying the first part of the season could be rough. This is all Ashton’s fault, right?
Most young players don’t become superstars. That doesn’t mean they can’t become decent journeyman players. They have a chance under a different coach/system. The didn’t have that chance under DK/BO.
I don't know what everyone is complaining about. DC United scored a goal Saturday night so that's like a tie.
We are kind of a mess in the offensive end once the ball is turned over. It really should be 2-3 passes and a shot.
I don't know if you're really going to see that until either a) Kamara and/or Robertha are fully fit and ready to go, and b) there's less of a gap between the forward trio and the midfield.
Obviously DCU is poor and has many injuries atm. What was alarming for me was the glaring LACK of basic football IQ shown by the majority of our players. Regardless of whether or not a player fits into a system ideally or not, professional players should be expected to perform the basics. Its still early in the season, so I don't know if its poor coaching techniques or just really dumb players. 1. Several occasions we had 2-3 players within 3 feet of eachother, nearly bumping into eachother in both the offensive phase and defensive phase. That just flat out cannot happen. Really poor spacing and terrible team shape. 2. Another example- I know Seitz is our backup GK. However, his positioning and footwork is atrocious. He should never been beaten near post from 20yd out on the 2nd goal. Really poor. He's on his heels and looks uncomfortable constantly. That is poor coaching for the GK. 3. Lastly, when facing opponents with more pace...the last thing you do is try to beat them in a footrace side by side. You take a different angle and beat them to a spot. Let them stay wide, move inside, stay compact and allow more defenders to come back to help. This is stuff I learned on travel teams before high school FFS. ...could list more, its just mind boggling. I refuse to believe its all coaching. Really just think we have a crop of low IQ players. All that said- I'm looking forward to see how we look when everyone is healthy and this system is implemented with all starting players. We will look better.
I was told he is a Belgian Genius so I hold him to a higher standard. Olsen went from player, to assistant to head coach with no previous head coaching experience so yes I hold Losada to a higher standard. It is always Ashton's fault.
Not only that, but as of this game, Hines-Ike is no longer the only player to score for or against us
Ben was forced to start coming around last year by injury and congestion. Honestly though, I don't yet see solid evidence of Losada playing the kids for development's sake, either. I think Kellyn Acosta is Nyeman's floor. The other guys might end up as journeymen, especially if we don't give them time.
Fitness must not have been a priority under DK/BO - all of the injuries we've dealt with over the last decade seems to support that. I'm hoping once everyone gets fit they can peak at the right time.
The big issue there is you not going to win much with just journeymen players. A few perhaps but your squad needs better than average players with a sprinkling of game-changers. Our DCU team is nowhere near that mix.
I could be wrong but I was under the impression that lots of young players are a key element in Losada's system and plan; get them young and cheap, make them super fit, press and attack constantly, and sell the standouts. Rinse and repeat.
With Beerschot this season, he played one u-23 guy for very limited minutes, from what I could figure out from looking at transfermarkt. So I am skeptical until I see him playing the kids when he really doesn't have to. He really had to start Nyeman last game. Which is the other side of the coin from Pr0ner's observation: Everybody's hurt.
I don't think "everybody's hurt" but I think some are hurt and others haven't yet reached Losada's required level of fitness or required percentage of body fat. There must be a lot of dieting going on!