Diceson's Practice Notes 9-03

Yeah [R] whatever if you really hadn't heard yet....

It probably didn't help when Donvoan blew down the middle of our defense for his second and go ahead goal.

 

Great stuff Diceson!

Thanks!

 

Re: Yeah [R] whatever if you really hadn't heard yet....

I find it odd that folks blame Pope for Donovan's goals without thinking that LD was wide open and dribbling at Eddie. Really I don't think there's a defender in the world who can regularly stop Donovan by himself when LD's open in the middle of the park with a head of steam.

Still Wee One did what he could in the game though DT I think you're right that he'll probably be gone before next season even though we won't get anything for him.

For this year though, I would put iMac at d-mid against the Revs as they are not at all dangerous down the middle- TT gets his service from the side- and against the metros I'd put Williams there and tell him to lay back waiting for the counterattack that will surely come.

 

Tron I think Ray has been pretty much signalling that all year. He has made no secret of liking a bigger, two-way guy (Bishop) in that spot. I think he has basically tried to get that kind of play by putting Ivan up with Williams in combo (he also tried pulling Marco back, but that didn't work out) to get a little more of that. I am pretty sure that is real high on his shopping list.

I think we have to get a bit more physical in the midfield myself. While Convey and Olsen are dynamic and fast and they play hard, they are not big. Etch and Williams also don't bring much physical presence, not that Richie doesn't play "bigger" than his size, but he can't really control spaces the way some other mids around the league can.

I also think the lack of attitude Ray refers to is right on. We don't have that guy who oozes confidence, who takes charge in the nitty gritty, when the game is on the line. We are indecisive around the box, we lack the fabled "killer instinct", when we get on teams we let up, we don't put our foot on the throat. We need what might be called in the American venacular a "gamer".

 

The Moreno comments seem to me to say the jury is very much still out on him playing with United next year.

 

Skip I wasn't blaming Pope at all for either goal. Noone should be expected to stop Donovan 1 v. 1 most of the time much less every time. I don't remember the play that well, so I won't comment too much of it, but to say this generally, the forwards won't score if they can't be fed the ball.

 

Naw, I wasn't thinking of you. I think the last place I saw the reference was on Cybersoccernews and the game report there. (Where was Steve Long?) Makes me understand Bruce Arena when he comments on reporters....

 

Skip,

I was sitting next to Chris in the box while he wrote the article. When Dave bailed for job related reasons, I had to carry the whole United load, usually done by a pair of correspondents. Chris is doing a lot of it now, although I still edit the MLS East (except Chicago) for Cybersoccernews. I'll be back to say something next week. Right now I'm buried in player registrations for WISL.

Steve Long
Steve@cybersoccernews.com

 

People will disagree but the LD balls were scored from long midfield runs with corresponding passes into the seams. Closingd down those seems is the job of the defense not the D-Mid. There is no way the D-Mid can shut those alleys dows his job is distrubt the building up of play and the flow of the other team. The defense needs to step up and close those holes down there is to much field, no matter how fast you are, for a non-man marking D-Mid to close cover that space.

 

Re: Re: Diceson's Practice Notes 9-03

Ryan Nelsen is turning into a player like this. Naturally, I know you mean an attacker.

As for Donovan's goals...I think they were equally the fault of our defense as a group and our midfield as a group. Usually the two are more in tune with each other, and we don't allow those chances.

I agree that Hudson's quotes are very open as far as the futures of Moreno and Williams here. Moreno has to keep the level of play he had against SJ, and he needs to get a goal. Richie may be in an even more desperate situation. Has anyone thought that perhaps Hudson wants to package the two of them for a top-notch defensive midfielder, and then try to scrounge around for a striker?

 

Re: Re: Re: Diceson's Practice Notes 9-03

Actually, I was just pondering the idea of RN at mid. I think the majority of his non-DCU experience is at mid. and he IS the team leading scorer. He'd certainly dominate midfield in the air and it would allow him to push forward even more (and shoot!).

A thought for Ray...

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Diceson's Practice Notes 9-03

Nelsen actually has played very little at midfield (according to quote from him in another article http://www.onthesidelines.blogspot.com/. He likes to play defense and he is good at it. DC United should continue to utilize him at his best position, which is central defense.

Quote:

“I hadn’t really played much as a defensive midfielder before,” said Nelsen, “and I had some problems with it. I’m used to playing in the center of defense, which is where I play for New Zealand. When Thomas decided to move me back, my confidence came back because I knew I was in the position that best suited me.”

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Diceson's Practice Notes 9-03

Thank you Revelation - I am convinced people have very short memories. We tried RN at d-mid last year and he was horrible. He is simply too slow to play this position and play it well. Leave him in the middle of the defense where he can use his height and size to dominate the box and his speed is not a problem (at least not very often)

 

While I'm not suggesting putting Nelsen at D-Mid, I do think he has gotten faster this year and that has helped him a lot.

 

I really don't see that Nellie's speed makes him a less desirable option than Williams, as I'm sure he can outrun Richie. I think it's more a question of his comfort level with the position that makes him more suited to central defense.