It's because of our high press. Our guys are chasing when a team plays well out of the pressure. The end of the game was sad, but I found it an exciting game to watch. I'm not saying I'm ok with the result, but there was a lot of open space and a lot of attacking on both ends of the field. Guzan made some nice saves. We do need to do better on set pieces though.
Compared to how this team has played so far this season, I enjoyed watching this game a lot more. That said, this team couldn't score with a fistful of Benjamins in a Panama City hump-hump house.
Had to let this result sink in for a bit... First for me back at the stadium (couldn't make the opener), but quite a bunch of head scratching moments. Soon as they announced Durkin in the lineup, I was like what time machine sorcery is this??! He's back?? Da f? He looked good if a little green, and had I think one good chance on net from what I remember. There's some good and bad, kind of a balance in all players with a few exceptions, and it was still a goofy last goal. I was there, seen countless replays, and I still can't figure out if it went off Canouse or if he just got out of the way, and left Hamid flat footed as it got past him. My first reaction, and still instinct is it went off Canouse. Seemed like also both teams were easily dumbfounded once they got near the 18 yard box. BOTH of them. Still I will echo as someone said, a watchable match. Hey we got Arepas now!! tasty (gotta say something I was real happy about), but still seeing some glaring holes up front and outstanding issues (Flores). Looking to see how the new guy might do... but we been down this road..
so two idiots said that. No one who knows soccer said it though And he was the best player on the field in that game... which doesn't make him an upgrade over Paredes. He was not great last night though, although I didn't think he was atrocious.
First trip of the year to Audi Field. We looked the better team for the first 15 minutes. But after that, I never saw full team pressure/high press. Our play in the final third is USL level - at best. Just atrocious. One thing about Smith - he's a more physical back than Paredes. Paredes is far more creative and dangerous, and this is a team that is yearning for creativity. FWIW I believe 3 games Saturday were determined by own goals, and ours was the least embarrassing.
He is an upgrade over Mora. Parades had a few good runs and was a fast outlet in the final third. Smith is a better defender than Parades but he isn't the cog in the attack that parades was. Parades could've been really top notch this season but he is gone and was going to be gone no matter what. So lamenting that he isn't here is fine but it wasn't DCUs call. Keeping him would've done him no good. Based on that you don't have Parades (weren't going to keep him) and you don't have Mora. So - you have Smith. He is an MLS veteran coming from a good program at a great club. He's an upgrade over Mora. But I don't know soccer. Who knew.
I'm confused that Smith is getting shit on and Djeffal is getting praised. Some people seem to be watching different games.
Djeffal is a rookie and that tend to make people look closely for signs that he will become something special. This was not his best match but I think he is a better option than Nyeman. Having Durkin back complicated where he would naturally play. Smith is solid and while not a superstar is pretty much hit his ceiling.
The reason Smith looks like bad or lost sometimes, for real, for really real, is because he dribbles up to no one and that's not always his fault. No one is making runs. No one is competent to receive a pass in the middle. At Seattle he looked better because he didn't have Loopy Louis and Estupio Rodriguez as his outlets.