Romo: can’t play out of the back, can’t organize, can’t hold the ball, can’t play a long ball. Maybe this is why Losada got fired.
I'd say not allowing any goals is a good start. Too bad we couldn't steal another goal in stoppage time, but a draw is better than a loss, especially since we've had so many losses.
Given both team’s lack of competence in the attack, I think a scoreless draw is the most appropriate outcome. Neither team looked particularly threatening. They had more shots, we had more possession and more shots on goal. Not much to say about this one. At least it wasn’t another step back, but it certainly wasn’t a step forward.
When we entered Audi Field, I was expecting a 3-0 thumping by RB. That fact it didn't happen and DCU looked mildly organized is a baby step forward. I thought Smith was pretty good for his first start at LB. He got stuck in, tracked his runners and can be nifty with the ball. A work in progress certainly, but compare his game to his sub, Guediri's, and Smith made a very strong case to keep starting. Agree about Rodriguez, he's always moving, looking for pockets of space. He will be useful. Morrison is the safe outlet, which is important with Birnbaum and Alfaro on the back line. I thought Alfaro did well and I noticed him often organizing the back line. He's fine in the middle, just don't put him out at LB. Durkin is growing into his role, he and Najar were playing some nice combinations. Taxi was largely shut down. Maybe Benteke will help him find space. Berry is just too slow and clumsy to be a starter -- depth for sure, but he's not capable of leading the line. Canouse was hideous at RB, his game has deteriorated over the past year. Probably will se him moved in the winter with Palsson coming and Durkin clearly ahead on the depth chart. Rebound Romo actually was OK. Although his diagonals to the left side assumed the DCU player was 9 feet tall. Could have been much worse, so I'll take the point.
Losada got fired for not making chicken salad out of chicken shite. No accountability for those who gave him the chicken shite in the first place. Rooney has complained about fitness levels, even though that was one of Losada's focus points and one that eventually got some players to complain about him to the worthless bosses. This game was a huge step forward. We didn't fall behind in the first 2 minutes, first 5 minutes, or first 15 minutes. A great success (in my best Borat voice). Kimarni Smith earned some run I think. He has some promise. Morrison, I thought, would be more creative than he has been. Maybe he will grow into that role, but 15 clubs in 15 years (or whatever) says otherwise.
Canouse should NOT be playing in any back Three of Four on a regular basis. He is quite good as a Def Mid where he doesn't have to make up deficiencies in others. Maybe there weren't many options for him. He wasn't in training for quite a while, so putting him there (where he shouldn't do too much damage) gives him playing time and conditioning. Also, Losada got fired for quite a number of reasons. One of the worst was not that he emphasized max conditioning but HOW he did it, and thus drove away 2-3 key players.
Yes yes yes. We all have heard the reasons. However, Romo was like the only talent Losada (primarily) brought in, I think. He’s no better than Kempin. Unless Romo is playing secret agent and sabotaging the team since his buddy got fired… Thx, Jay!
There's a reasonable possibility that we could put together a pick up team that, on our best day, could beat this 2022 United on its worst.
I used to wrongly think that I could play professional soccer. Then I played against Tab Ramos. He went right by me as if I wasn't there. Never again.