Look I know he's getting the salary max, that he's a DCU icon, that he always starts slow, etc but is it just possible that he no longer has anything left? That the team would be better served with Convey and Kovalenko in the middle when they are both available?
Time to sit.... I agree completely, Etch's play over the last three seasons has gotten worse every year and as we all know hit a big time low last season. His play has been anything but spotty and it seems like he only chooses to show up when he wants....hell I think he had more cards this past year than assits and goals Now I am a long time DC United supporter, since the first season, but I have to agree its time for the old " El Diablo" to take a seat and let Convey take a shot. From what I saw of Convey in the US/ ARG and US/Jamaica games I think he is definetly more comfortable in the middle of the park and with his ability to take players on and look to create plays I think he could be exceptional this year there for DCUnited. I am not saying bench Etch forever, I am just saying let him sit down and see how other things work out.....
Is it possible? From all reports it's more likely probable. I think it's time for some honest reckoning with Etcheverry. Even at his best he's not going to regain his form from the first couple seasons. And, moreover, he's gone at the end of this season. So if he starts slow (and I have no doubt he will) then I'd think that DC United can ill afford to keep him on the field. First, we've demonstrated limited ability to come back late in the season after disastrous starts. Sure, we almost made it to the playoffs this last year but with a good deal of help. So banking on a late season run when Etcheverry finally just begins to get his act together isn't going to pass muster. Second, as I said, he's gone next year. Like it or not someone else will wear #10 in 2004. I think we need to start grooming that person now.
It is one thing to say that Marco hasn't been playing his best. It is quite another thing to believe that either Convey and/or Dema could play better than Marco. I don't think they can. I like Dema. He can play as a respectable D-Mid. I don't think he can control the offensive flow as well as Marco. Convey I have serious misgivings about. People obviously see things about him that I don't. I think he is an average player and rwally don't expect to get much better than that. He just isn't the type of player that I think can be the man.
Convey is the man and can definately do the job in the middle. He proved it a number of times last season. Etch is getting old and tired. His mastery of the game was evident too sparingly last season, and he simply cannot keep up with the newer breed of young, fast players that are filtering into MLS. It's time for Etch wake up, smell the coffee, read the writing on the wall, whatever,... it's time for etch to bow out. TS.
Etcheverry needs help in the middle. I think he still has something to offer, but not as the centerpiece of the team. If he had Convey working near him to combine with, his game would be raised significantly, as we saw at the end of last season. If Hudson insists on letting him continue in his traditional role, things might get ugly. It's difficult to say, without seeing him this year, whether he should hang them up completely, but it has become clear over the past two seasons that he must agree to share the load in the middle.
I agree, I think that Etch's role should become what Hristo's role was at Chicago last year... a fan favorite sub. It just doesn't make since to have someone on the field who takes more away from the team by their limitations than they add from their expertise. I remember reading somewhere that Ray has noticed Convey's ability to play in the middle. And, with him experimenting with players in different positions, it might be that he's also looking for someone to play L winger. But moving Convey to the middle, does this leaves us shallow at the wings? (Not that this matters too much, because having a stronger center will do doubt help the wingers performance also)
I think all players should just step back and do whatever's in the best interest of the team winning. If that means that Marco plays. Great. If that means that Namoff plays goal. Great. I'd like to see the team on the field before I judge Marco's capabilities. I've thought off and on over the past two seasons that there were better combinations of players on the field than Marco. But maybe the guys compliment him more now. Maybe not. But I'm not casting anyone aside until the season's underway.
How about waiting a bit until not only the whole team plays together, but at the very least, how about waiting until more people have actually seen El Diablo play this season? This whole conversation seems a little premature to me.
Etch has been a hinderance the last few seasons. He is too slow. It's not just his running speed. When he gets the ball he slows down the attack. Even though Valderamma is older, he still got rid of the ball quickly and sent in dangerous attacking passes. Etch doesn't do that. He's often not available when a break starts. When he does get the ball, he usually takes his time dribbling around his man so the whole defense is set when he finally does get rid of the ball. Add that to his poor corners and free kicks of the last two years, and you have to question why he's playing. He certainly not in there for his defensive ability. On the bright side, this makes next season's salary cap situation easier. Cut one max salary player and you probably solve your cap woes.
Or two years late. Sorry to be so negative -- but it's been clear for 50 games or so that he's done as a significant player in MLS.
Players, coaches, and fans have pointed to Marco as the leader of DC United. Over the past few seasons and into this dismal preseason he has lead us to very few goals and even fewer victories. I felt all last season that it was time for a new leader and today is no different. That being said I am willing to give the man a chance. We have not seen him play in a regular season match yet. We should not judge until the trial and the trial begins April 12 in KC. If he is not up to his form of the glory years we need to move on and move on quickly.
The reality: Etch is the heart and soul of DCU. He bears a HUGE share of the glory for the championshis and an equally HUGE blame for the past three years. The "Insider's" Perspective: Bruce Arena is, in my opinion, the greatest soccer coach in the USA. He really understands the reality of the game, the forces at play, and how it all relates 1000% better than any fan sitting at home does. I remember Bruce saying that DC would continue to dominate the league no matter what for one reason: MAE. That kind of endorsement is hard to shake. Perhpas the wisest course of action has been exactly what DC has done...wait and rely on Marco to lead us to the top. The tease: Do you remember seeing el Diablo at the All-Star game? If only he could play like that again... The Outsider's Perspective: We will never be a winning team with Etch in the lineup. Casual fans know this. They see a game on TV, see that Etch is playing, watch him be totally ineffective for a few minutes, and conclude that he is worse than a waste of space, he is the best weapon the other team has. The decision: which perspective is correct? Who know, but I love the drama!
Yes I remeber the All-Star game but Marco to played like he did in the All-Star game because of the monsoon and the speed of play dropped to a pace that he could keep up with (i.e. snail's). In my heart I would love to see him come back just not holding my breath.
Hey No Folks Home Yet! Before all you guys send Marco to the old folks home, and I know you all want to, you may wish to examine last year's scoring record. Seems Mr. Marco (Diablo, Etch, Big Bolivian, or quite simply the best player D.C. United has ever fielded) did quite well despite an otherwise loosing season. It kind of reminds me of Cal Ripken Sr. and the Baltimore Orioles; they didn't sideline him and he had a fairly good last season. I think a similar arrangement could be worked for D.C. United and Marco; he stays full-time as center (no sub) as long as he is able to perform, as he has ably done so far. He takes all free and center kicks as long as he is able to perform. I somehow think that great up-and-coming athletes such as young Convey will acquire much more by watching Marco Etcheverry and learning than by trying to fill shoes in center field that Convey is unable to do......yet. IntheNet
INMO, Etch seems flatfooted and slow the past few years compared to the other players around him which may be because of his toe problem. Or it could be that the league has caught up with him as well as his age and poor conditioning. With the attack always going through him it seems very slow in developing and gives the defense time to retreat, regroup, and then repel the attack. That being said the man deserves a chance once the season starts. If he/we gets off to a poor start then sit him down at the start and use either Etch or the Mad Bulgarian as a fiery supersub if we are losing around the 60 minute mark. I like the idea of Convey and Kovalenko sharing duties in the middle with Olson and Reyes flying up the wings and Nelson/Namoff as DMid. At least it wouldn't be the stagnant, boring, predictable play we have seen the last few years. The Far Side
Re: Hey No Folks Home Yet! I think you mean Jr. (not Sr.). Convey has already been watching and learning from Etch the past few years (and it's arguable how good those lessons have been the past year or so). Whether and how much and in what role Etch plays this season should be based solely on what will help D.C. United win this year, not on whether some young guys could still learn something from watching him play. If Etch doesn't help D.C. win games or improve their chances to win games, than let his "teaching" happen in training. If he can contribute to winning ways, then put him out there in games and let his play "teach" the young guys.
Re: Re: Hey No Folks Home Yet! How do you teach heart? ie; playing hurt with a bad toe or torn miniscus....