from this year, Kitchen, King, and it seems Willis. Jakovic has improved this year as well...his peak play may not be higher but he has been much more consistent. And I would say that White has gotten better as the season has progressed. Tonight was a crappy game, but that is part of the learning process...after Farfan's goal though, he seemed to let it get in his head.
Le Toux was in an offside position when the ball is touched or played by his teammate. White's touch is not intentional nor does he have control so what exactly resets the offside and make Le Toux on? Le Toux is offside on this play...technically because he is soo close I think we should let something like that go to the offensive player if we want good attacking soccer. He was offside none the less.
Maybe Olsen was a little outfoxed tonight. Nowak was picking on Burch and White repeatedly. It's like Nowak took a page from the days when Chicago was dashing DC's playoff runs, dink it around the back for a bit, then bypass the midfield, dump the ball just behind the defense and watch the calamity. But why did Olsen leave a sub on the bench? Nowak has a nice option with Adu, you've got to answer sometime. For once I'd like to see Simms pulled for another attacker (I know it's Ngwenya, I don't care) just to see if there is any noticeable difference. You're losing, what difference does it make? Two goals is more than enough for a good team to get the win. I was thinking Seattle was the aberration, Chivas at home a slip. But... I'm an optimist. I believe they'll make the playoffs, but I don't know why. Gotta have Jakovic, however. I have to agree with an earlier poster stating BB was jogging out there, I don't understand it. What are you waiting for?
White and McDonald may not be world class, but the onus for all three goals has to be on the midfield. No pressure on the ball on the first two. Anyone can make a great pass if he has all day. Once the center backs had to turn and run they were at a great disadvantage. On the third goal King and Simms were picking their noses somewhere upfield rather than playing defense. A disappointing result but when you consider the talent (or lack of same) on the field it is wonder DCU has gained as many points as they have. And the difference between the two benches was astronomical. Mapp and Adu made real impacts on the game
Chiming in here late with an observation.... and taking in all the correct assessments about the central defense, you've gotta wonder. Anyone remember our coach's time spent as a defensive midfielder? Anyone remember how quickly he and either Simms or Carroll would fill the space between them and the player with a ball at their feet? That with Nowak as coach. What the hell has happened to that mentality? If it's not a change from our coach, then WHO is coaching the defense? Cause it's not an aberration to see our back 4 backpedaling to increase space from an oncoming attacker. Harkes said it in the broadcast- this action invites an attack. The correct move is to go forward, and challenge the ball. 1 on 1, ok, a safe move to reposition and carve a better angle. But 2 vs. 1, or more.... man up and trust the other guy to have your back. Hopefully Jackovic returns to us and reminds all our defenders how to do this. I'm dumbfounded how McDonald has seemingly forgotten this already, equally at how poor an example he's leading for White. Right now, I don't envy Perry Kitchen, who probably is freshest from learning the principles of defending, at taking charge. Who knows, maybe he finds a way to flick the switch and get it sorted out. And one more thing- we need to make sure Simms or whoever is at dmid doesn't loose sight of the back line when they're looking for distribution going forward. After DeRosario came off, our attack looked toothless, our midfield stopped running. Once I saw our wings standing waiting for a ball to be played their way, I knew we were done. To see this lack of commitment to the successful style of play we saw vs. RSL, we're pretending to be a playoff worthy team. Fix it, recommit, and the sky's the limit. But do it fast already, the season's about to pass us by. You need further evidence of what a lack of urgency can do to a team's playoff hopes? Look at the stinking historically bad Red Sox! Let's hope DeRosario can return to us hale and whole with godspeed.
From my experience both playing and coaching, players either have a feel for the game or they don't. Yes experience is a great teacher, but at this level you have to already have a sense of the game and the experience builds on top of that. To date White has just not shown those qualities that make me believe he has that foundation. Actually he's shown quite the opposite.
Hmm, for my taste, there has not been nearly enough castigation of Burch on these board. I think that because, in the end, White was responsible for most of the goals, we're looking past the fact that Philadelphia should have scored several times when there was simply no one on the left defending. Burch and DaLuz need to figure out this defensive responsibility shit or DC is going to keep losing games.
The other think Philly did was pressured to force the backpass to White and them make DC start the offense through White. Which is why I think Benny should have pulled White for an attacker in the last 10 minutes. He was shaky defensively and a focus of the Philly strategy. At the beginning of the year I thought making the playoffs would be a goal for a good season in DC...looks like we'll be close to that at least (fingers crossed on DeRo). But in or out, DC has re-engineered the team, finally made a complete break with the glory years and is set to be much better next year. Another point...the whole team looked estremely slow in the last 20 minutes. I wonder if in his first full season Benny is getting the practice load right at the end of the season. The temptation now is to ramp up the intensity, but physically the players probably need to scale back...
Sadly that is the most accurate statement to describe the current regime. BEFUDDLED is an understatement!
Señor Payne, last time I checked every team in the league was building a stadium (or has a stadium). I know you have used the excuse of the bad economy over and over, but the Washington area has the worst traffic because it has one of the best economies in this country. So, what is your excuse?
This. Sad that with not one but two defensive midfielders out there, DC United could not do a better job defensively.
Exactly. Stop bitching and complaining - again! Let the soccer people, which you aren't one of despite your protestations to the contrary, handle the soccer issues and you focus on getting a stadium.
Comedy! Me thinks Ray Hudson would appreciate that. On the same subject, I did see Anthony Bourdain eating anus... (sure wish I was there with him! ) Crewzers go for Big Mac traps, so maybe we get the 3 pts...
Wow, I am forever changed having visited an SSS. PPL Park looks as if it could easily fit on Buzzard Point. Perfect sightlines, water fountains a plenty, clean bathrooms. We worth the trip up.
My recurring thought during this match? We used to have Eddie Pope and Carlos Llamosa. At the same time.
I'm pretty sure we finished the game with 2 in the back McDonald and White with some cover from Simms. Kitchen and Burch pushed up essentially as wide mids. Najar and Quaranta pushed up as wing forwards. And anyways what offensive juggernaut was there on our bench that would of been more valuable than what we had out there? Ngwenya? Excuse me while I go blow my brains out before ever asking for him to play on this team. My biggest irritation as far as subs was that Da Luz came off instead of Burch. Burch contributed nothing to the team, while Da Luz actually had a shot on goal, an assist on a corner and generally did Burch's job on defense as much as possible. It's unfair to put a 20 yr old CB in a position like that. DC is basically saying : here we'll pair you with a mediocre center back, a rookie keeper, a rookie right back, no left back and a mediocre defensive midfielder. Now go out there in the middle of a heated playoff race and try to shut down the Le Touxes and Monteros of the league. Good luck! Let's face it CB is a position that peaks later than most others on the field. A CB that young should be paired with someone much more experience, or be kept on the bench while they learn. If anyone is to blame it's the genius that assembled this team and decided to start the season with such an inexperienced back line at every position, and then cut Julius James at the last second. Instead of investing in a veteran forward (Wolff) we should of looked at a veteran CB. I'll castigate Burch. He should never ever ever ever again play at this club as a left back again. This game is evidence that he has no defensive ability or instinct whatsoever. Burch is basically a USL level left midfielder.