Halfway Through The Season[R for all the idiots out there][N&A]

Actually, I think the best thing to happen so far is that Nowak has begun to tinker with and alter his system.

I'm sure many of you have heard me say that I hate the 3-5-2 as a game-in, game-out formation, because it's easy to gameplan against. I think it has merit when used occasionally, but I think it stinks as an everyday formation.

However, In the past several weeks, we've seen Nowak tinker with the formation and move pieces around to keep opponents guessing. Against Columbus, he played Moreno, Cerritos and Esky all very high and it paid off with three goals. This past week, he pushed Stewart up higher than he has been, and there were long stretches of the game where Carroll shadowed Guevara wherever he went. I hadn't seen us man-mark an opponent before like that, and I like knowing that Nowak is willing to make changes to suit our opponents.

Playing three high has given us players making runs in the box to get on the end of crosses. Early in the season, we were playing Carroll in the back of midfield and the rest of the midfield was slanted left. Often it would look like...

--------Esky
---------------------Moreno
Convey----------Olsen
----------Dema---------Stewart

And when Gros would go into Convey's spot and make those crosses to the far post, there was little wonder why nobody was on the end of them. Who, in this formation, was going to make a run to the right post? nobody.

Last week, we saw something more like this:

--------Esky
---------------Moreno-----Stewart
Convey
--------Dema-------Olsen

with Carroll sometimes playing behind or between Dema and Ben, and sometimes hawking Guevara. With this setup, the runs in the box were there.

If I take anything away from the first half, it's that Nowak is able to see a flaw in the system and correct it tactically with the same players. In a couple weeks, chances are he'll need to make another adjustment to keep up. Hopefully he can eventually become like Arena and stay ahead of his opponents, rather than needing to react.

 

Overall, excellent post Sachin. I generally agree with your analysis. However, because this is an N&A thread, it wouldn't be proper to not nit pick your post to death:

Van Nistelroy could never do what Eddie did against us. Gaven is a completely different player. Ruud just doesn't have the kind of ground game that Gaven showed against us. In fact, that play was more akin to a Zidane set of skills than a pure finisher like Ruud. Feel nitpicked? Good, it's the price you pay for starting an N&A thread.

Tim

 

Sanguine--I see it less about "flaws" in the system and more about tactical adjustments. For instance, next time we play the Metros, here is what I bet BB does: on restarts or changes of possession he'll run Guevara to a sidelines (and have Vaca hope into the middle). If Dema has made a run forward (likely) and Carroll follows Guevara and we've got an exposed "tender underbelly" (to paraphrase Winnie). So Nowak will need to adjust again. What we saw this match was just the latest version of the Nowak-Bradley chess match. I wouldn't read into the formation so much. What Nowak's system is about is (at the most basic level): high work rates and lots of pressure. So the more men you've got in midfield, the easier it is to do those 2 things.

Sachin--I agree with 90% of what you say and compliment you on a fine N&A post--lots of reasoned comments there. I would actually give the team better than a "C". Here's why. Except for maybe 2 matches, the team hasn't laid a stinkeroo out there like many others in MLS have. For instance, look at the number of outright howlers played by a team--games where they stunk and deserved to lose (regardless of the actual result). I'd put NE, Columbus, Colorado, Metro, Dallas, maybe Chicago with more stinkeroos or howlers this season than us. Only SJ, maybe LA (who has had some results against the run of play) and KC as performing more consistently.

In short, you have to be pleased with the effort and intelligence and unselfishness of the team play. AND, this is all achieved with:
--a substantial amount of injuries;
--poor depth (the number of forwards down at the start of the season meant we had little depth on the backline and even at midfield when Stewart and Convey were called up);
--little roster turnover from 2003 b/c of cap reasons. Sure, we lost a lot of players from 2003. But what significant additions has the team made in the start of 2004? Let's be honest and say that expecting a #4 draft choice to be a factor from day #1 in the season is something no-one (maybe not even Nowak) could have reasonably expected. Nowak has gotten production and results out of basically the same players as last year--minus a couple of subtractions (Stoichkov, Etcheverry, Ivanov, Rimando on the bench, etc.).

In short, I feel very good about this team. Since pre-season, I've been saying that it was all about finishing for this bunch. Fine ONE finisher and this team would look significantly better b/c many of the smaller flaws would disappear or become irrelevant. For instance, the defensive lapses you note--only in the Metros and LA (at RFK) losses would they make a real difference. I'm not trying to engage in revisionist history here. But if we knock home 3 goals in the first half against LA, does anyone think that Ruiz is still on the field at minute 85? Or that they're trying so hard in the last 2 minutes to knock home a goal?

I'm trying to curb my enthusiasm here so that the last victory doesn't result in too much unjustified exhuberance. But I think I'm being pretty level here. DCU has worked as hard or harder than any team in MLS all season. We've had the run of play more often than any other team in MLS other than KC. But we've been unable to turn those factors into results b/c of a lack of finishing and poor depth.

Now we're moving past the depth issues. Guys have started to get healthy. Sure, we could still get hit with a rash of injuries--as could any team in MLS. I tend to feel that we've had a share of injuries this season and it's more likely to be other teams that suddenly lose their starting GK or all of their defensive corps or whatever.

I also think the book is still out on Eskandarian. Maybe he's just hot. And I'm not ready to nominate him for striker of the year in MLS. But he was criticized last year for being so out of form (not connecting with teammates, no confidence, unwise decisions). He's getting his confidence back (which is so critical to a good finisher) and he's linking with teammates well. I don't think he's going to be Twellman or Ruiz (when they're healthy and in-form). But I think he's going to end the year with 14 goals (if he stays healthy).

 

As the saying goes, 'form is fickle, class is forever'

I hope that Esky's recent run of form is a product of his rapidly burgeonng confidence, and not just the result of the aligning of stars. If he has grown into his position, having suffered his share of disappointments, he could be good for a long time.

 

Agreed, Esky's performance as of late has been excellent. And as long as it leads to some lasting confidence and a greater set of skills = (more goals) I think he could be the boost the team needs.

I agree with Sachin, I give the team about a C+ (I've always graded a little higher on the curve) thus far. The last few matches I would say we're more of a B+, only because of that crap game against Dallas and Colorado before that. But we are looking really good, we have a lot of guys who are stepping up: Gros, Esky, I think EZ is a great aquisition to provide some strength and depth to are backfield. "The Perkins Question", only time is going to tell, and until he has a total blowout, I think he stays in the #1 slot at GK. Although I do think Rimando is going to do everything he can to try and earn that #1 slot back.

I think DC could finish at the top of the pack. As long as we get and stay healthy, and our vets start producing more, Esky and Gros stay hot, and Nowak strikes the right balance, I see no reason why we can't make a serious run for the MLS Cup.

 

I think Esky has benefitted from having Moreno this year, which he dodn't last year. Other teams have to pay attention to Jaime and he is so good on the ball and makes good decisions that Esky can get free to do what he does best - finish. He doesn't have to create scoring oppurtunites just finish them. Nothing wrong with that as several great forwards make a fine living doing just that.

-The Far Side

 

I'd agree with FarSide, and I'd personally like to give Jaime some props for his performance so far this year. I've always loved his brilliance and his cheekily skillful play, especially given that (as far as one woh is just a fan can tell), he's never needed to develop the "striker's ego" that some players in his position do. I'm sure he thinks highly of himself, but with good reason, and he doesn't seem to need to act like a wanker just because he's good at what he does.

On the other hand, I've been pretty critical of Jaime when he seemed to be letting things slide, for the years when he gave the impression of thinking that just showing up was enough and didn't work hard or bother to stay in shape. So I think it's a big testament to his resolve that he's gone to great lengths to get back in condition, develop a consciousness of what he owes to himself and his family and team (I don't think he "owes" anything to the fans) in terms of being the best he can be. I think Steve Goff's piece on him earlier in the season showed a lot of this, and I think his play has shown it too. He's conscious of his limitations, but he knows what he *can* do and is working hard to get it done. That deserves a lot of credit just by itself. And in doing all that he's also made a tremendous difference to the team this season, a difference we can all be grateful for.

 

Well said. I, like many others were very skeptical when Jaime was brought in at the beginning of the season. Many of us were thinking "oh not this again. I thought we were done bringing in old players who were past it." But to my suprise, Jaime has played very well, and he's really been a huge difference in this team. In terms of technical ability, he's probably the best we've got, along with Freddy, and he's really bringing it to the field.

Also, I'm impressed by the way he's stayed in shape and avoided injury. The 2002 season was an absolute nightmare one for him here. It came to the point of him not even really wanting to be here. 2003 with the Metros was similar, characterized by lots of injuries. After those two seasons, I was convinced he's done. But I'm very happy I'm wrong. This is the best season he's had in a while.

 

In all this analysis, the one player overlooked is Brian Namoff. IMHO he is one of the steadiest players on the pitch. If you look at his career with United he has been asked to play offensive midfield, defensive midfield and right back in a 3-5-2. Again, I think he has acquitted himself well in all the positions. His play on the right side permits Nelsen to "stay home" and take care of business in the middle. Coupled with the acquisition of EZ, United now has 4 players, Namoff, Nelsen, Petke & EZ who can comfortably play in a 3-5-2. While Moreno has been, at times sublime and Esky is "en fuego", I still think Namoff and, obviously, Nelsen, are the key and two of the most important players United has.

 

I agree fully with this sentiment.

 

My $.02 is:

1. We must avoid exhausting Carroll (like cheatin' bob exhausted Rico Clark last year)
2. Quaranta has matured, IMO. If he can stay healthy on his return, I expect him to challenge for starting XI at forward (spelling Jaime) and at midfield (centrally, but could be a winger if he keeps a high work rate)
3. Until we become more dangerous on corners we should not expect a record much better than .500
4. Nelsen's return, different players crossing the ball from the flag, EZ's pick-up, Petke wanting to escape the bench through production, and sheer ever-accumulating probability indicate to me that a goal from corner kick is not far away.
5. One must enjoy to the fullest DC's present location in the table, because I don't think it will last.
6. I suggest lithium to those ebullient about DC's MLS Cup chances.

An external factor is cowlumbus' luck this year. They've won or achieved an unearned result about three times this year on last minute PKs. Anyone who watched their second goal last week v Fire cannot help but agree that they are the luckiest team in MLS right now. If that luck holds and if Cunningham avoids an extended downturn in his streakiness, they will challenge for supremacy in East.

I'm mildly embarassed to be posting in an N&A thread -- but it was started by Sachin.

GM