That foul on Rooney was a foul. The Orlando homers don't know a thing about why fouls exist. They aren't about contact. They're about gaining an unfair advantage. Dwyer's dirty challenge gained an unfair advantage. Rooney dodging having his knee broken caused the ball to roll out of bounds and change possession. Even Alexi Lalas, a noted defender apologist due him being a career center back, acknowledged that there should have been a foul and that Dwyer was taking a risk of anything between a foul and a red card for such a dirty challenge. It should have also been a yellow. Just because the victim of a clumsy and dirty foul dodged the dirty challenge doesn't mean that it wasn't a dirty challenge to begin with. If Dwyer had made full contact with Rooney, it would have been a red card and Rooney would be going to the hospital, possibly for a career-ending injury. Dwyer should get a multiple game suspension for going in on his back with his the bottom of his shoes perpendicular to the ground and his studs at knee level. Probably won't happen but it was an incredibly dirty challenge. Orlando reminded me of the Revs last year. They have some talent but are trying to make up the holes with physicality. They'll be fighting for that last playoff spot. DCU may host them in round 1 of the playoffs. They got very physical in the second half because they were able to match the Red Bulls' physicality last week and got three points out of it. They figured they'd try it again. MLS still has a problem with referees not tamping down on physical play. The Orlando center backs should have been on yellows for hugging Rooney. That's a tactical foul designed to prevent a skilled opponent from playing the ball. Many of the referees have decent foul recognition skills. They lack being able to understand the broader game-long context of those fouls. The problem is that there isn't really a way to train a referee on that aspect of the game before they hit MLS. The amateur ranks and even the USL Championship almost never have fouls for a larger tactical purpose. You'll get tactical fouls, but they're related to a specific play, not a whole-game 90 minute strategy.
As I said about Tom Wilson earlier, what this DCU teams needs is a Geoff Aunger/Ivan McKinley ankle breaker on the bench just to keep the other team a bit honest. As for the team looking tired, I'm not sure it was that so much as having the week off put everyone a bit out of rhythm. Remember, these guys are still getting match fit, and having a bye in the fourth week of an 8 month long season doesn't help game fitness.
In fairness, Arriola did play 143 minutes with the USMNT during the international break, so Olsen was managing his minutes. The early Mora sub didn't do Olsen any favors in what he was able to do with any premade substitution plan, either. Also, who is Martinez?
I hear what you're saying; but it's not like they spend that bye week with their feet up on the living room table eating directly from tubs of Ben & Jerry's. They're still practicing every day, aren't they? And even when not, they have their own personal fitness routines, right? Or am I wrong about all that?
You're right, but practice and fitness routines aren't the same as actually playing in competition against someone trying to beat you. Close, but not the same. You could see it in the play Sunday. The passes were just a bit off, the players thinking a bit rather than reacting. Signs of a team coming off a bye. Of course with 13 games in 8 weeks coming up, inactivity won't be a problem. My big concern in that stretch particularly are McCann and Brillant. There really is no one MLS ready behind either of them. Jalen Robinson is in his 6th year and remains, at best, a bench player. There literally is no one behind McCann or Jara right now. I'm sure Ward will be called up, but I'm not sure he's ready for prime time. Actually, I would consider Durkin ahead of Robinson for CB time -- he's played there before and he clearly has a better soccer sense than Robinson (who really shit the bed Sunday with his backwards headers that gifted Orlando two corners).
Arriola can play RB. I predict we see him there at some point overt this stretch. McCann looked adequate. Possibly more of his opponent isn't particularly fast.
Just how does that help, since Mora played left back, unless you assume that you could move Jara to left back and he would do better than McCann.
That was me in response to backups for Jara. It doesn't solve the backup for mccann question at all. I mean, maybe Jara could fill in at lb, who knows. That want the intent of my post though.
I watched the play again, and in slow motion, it looks like Rodriguez takes a step towards the ball, and winds up in the same path as the onrushing Ruan. That *may* be why that collision was never called, or sent down for further review by the VAR.
1. Marking in the back was terrible and we finally got punished 2. Thought Mora’s slide tackle looked dangerous and card worthy before he got injured. 3. Dwyer took a swipe at Rooney. Should have been a yellow, not just a free kick 4. Not sure who I hate more, Orlando’s players or fans.
I was really impressed with Titi’s defense and would not have a problem with him at left back and Stieber/Segura in front of him for spots. Especially when the opposition has a speedy right winger. Use McCann if there isn’t good/speedy wide play.
Now you're just spittin in the wind. He's a box to box player. Makes defensive plays atop our own box - yes. Slotting him at RB - no idea. If Jara can play RB and Arriola at LB, Stieber or Segura at LM, we'd have little to no drop off in the style of play, players know each other, least possible disruption. Hopefully COA returns to form soon. Sorry to hear that Fisher's injury has complications.
I haven't been able to figure Titi out yet. I can tell he's a good player. But I'm not sure what he does really well. I haven't seen him as an exceptional passer or dribbler. He doesn't seem to be a guy who's going to be a consistent goal scorer. He's not really a set-up man like Acosta. He's tenacious. I like that. He seems to have speed. And he seems to have a knack for being in the right spot at the right time (call it soccer IQ or whatever). I don't dislike him at all, but we haven't had a game yet where I've been blown away (other than one shot, of course). And the team rumblings that he could be the replacement should Acosta leave seem like fantasyland at the moment. Again, not saying I dislike him. Just not sure I understand exactly what he brings to the table yet other than being a pretty good all-around player.
I’ve watched Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds play a true winger with the jersey #10 at left back this season with great success. The most important part of that position is hustle and speed. McCann has no speed. Putting Rodriguez there may seem odd but Arriola has proven it works. I believe you want your best 11 on the field.
He is very young. I think of him like a stem cell. Or an albino broccoli stalk. Can somebody please talk to him about the hair?