I went over today and watched the last half an hour of training. I wish I had great insights to share. With so many new faces, it was very difficult to know who was who. I looked and didn't seem to see either Powell or Stewart. Beckerman and Borchers were gone with the nats. They were playing a very spirited full field 11 on 11 scrimmage. In the half an hour I was there, I saw one goal. The red team, with Spenny, Chung, Hendo, Richie, was the aggressor the entire time. There wasn't anyone who jumped out and made me run over and ask Hanki who that was. It took me a while to recognize Carrieri as he has changed hair styles for the 100th time. Long hair this time. It just made me anxious for things to really get underway. I can say that this was a seriously played scrimmage with a number of players trying to impress and stay with the Raps. Marcelo was there observing from a cart. No other unaffiliated observers to see besides myself unless someone was in a car. Wish I had more to report.
Thanks, smudgey! It may be short but this is the first fan account of the team in action that we've had since they exited the playoffs. And hey, you at least confirmed that the team is back outside and on the fields.
This is already very revealing. What well coached side is playing 11 v 11 scrimmages. Training is about conditioning & ball touches. Liverpool, for example, prides itself at NEVER having played full sided games in training!
I agree, full sided matches at the start of the season are not the best for a squad. The only thing I can see being behind it is that Hanki wants to see everyone playing on the same field so he can monitor most players. Once he really wants to do some coaching he should go down to 8 v 8 or 4 v 4.
Re: Re: Limited Training Observation I agree that a full 11v11 scrimmage on the 5th day of training is a bit insane. But Liverpool claiming they've never played full sides in training is a bit silly, as reserve league matches are in all honesty, training.
Maybe Hanki has so many players in camp that his only chance to see and evaluate everyone in game conditions is by playing 11 v. 11? I'm reaching here, but I really want to give him the benefit of the doubt through January, at least.
Re: Re: Re: Limited Training Observation I cannot argue with you except for this important proviso - reserve league matches do not feature 1st choice players unless they are recovering from injury and require a runout to improve their fitness.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Limited Training Observation Your proviso is only valid if you believe that a club like Liverpool has a clearly defined set of 11 to 15 "1st choice players." There may be as many as 8 players that are first team regulars that will not feature in a reserve match unless they fit a reason you state. But Houllier (along with most other foreign league managers) will certainly play a "1st choice player" in a reserve game on Tuesday simply to gauge a player's ability, to see if perhaps that player should supplant one of the regular first choices that hasn't been performing up to task. The likes of Owen, Heskey, Kewll, Hyypia, Gerard may not grace the reserves unless coming back from injury, but I'd bet that Diouf, Smicer, Finnan and Pongolle have all put in a few reserve games this year. Furthermore, we are talking about preseason here. I sure hope you're not suggesting that Liverpool never holds an 11v11 match in their preseason, whether against another club or as an intrasquad scrimmage. I'll buy the argument that in-season, Liverpool has never had an 11v11 intrasquad scrimmage.
The Liverpool fans I know have as high opinion of Houllier as we do of Hankinson. That says nothing about a tradition of not practicing using full 11's, but it does indicate that it matters more what you make of things then what formula is followed.
11 v. 11 Actually, scrimmaging 11 v 11 is worthwhile if one is installing a new 'system' of sorts as it'd be a real scream to see the team try out a whole new system in the first few games of the season...Jeez, they'd look like the 2003 Rapids. The professional athlete of today is expected to report to camp in shape, and keep a 365 day training schedule, so I expect they can play some big fields without getting too tired. They also practice 'streching', a new technique to avoid injuries. So I hope they do some 11 v 11 before they go to Florida or Europe and play every 3 or 4 days. As a gridiron coach once said, "having players run thru tires improves their ability to run through tires". In other words, figure out what your players need to improve at, and practice THAT. As Houston Oiler coach Bum Phillips said when asked why his team doesn't practice with contact in-season, he said "Houston isn't on our schedule". He wanted his players fresh for the physical challenge. They know the game at that level. I suspect that's Arsenal logic, too, given the long season and the extra games they play. Then there's those national Team games, too. Given their development system, the players have all had lots of 11 v 11 experience in the "Arsenal System." Good for Arsenal isn't exactly good for the MLS/Rapids. The American athlete has often started out in other sports, coming to soccer later than their European counterparts. They get position changes, learn bad habits early with clueless coaching, and often play for too many styles (i.e. this year Brazilian, next French, then Mexican.....). (can I rerun that 'looks like the 2003 Rapids joke again?) More time playing full-field, 11 v 11 should be expected. And given the lack of mid-week games, could be beneficial to teams like the Rapids. The second team of any team sport will emulate the next opponent's tendencies (OK, without the same skill) as a way to prep the starters. Maybe this would, you know, reduce the early goals we let in last year. I would love to see a Rapids team proudly state that they don't practice 11 v 11......I'm not sure it'll be this year. RLH
Those COC*GOBBLERS!... Hey greenie! didn't the Rapids say they weren't going to be out this weekend? WTF?
I really don't see a problem in having an 11 v 11 training scrimmage. It will show things that 4v4 and 8v8 don't. Glad to hear that at least they are playing.
You just want to see these guys getting as many touches as possible early on. 11 v 11 prevents that. I hope it is just to get to see the young, new guys on the field without over stressing them or something. I don't see the point. Is anyone making it out there this week? I'm thinking about Wednesday, except I heard it might snow.
Due to snow the Rapids were slated to train down at the Bubble today. I'm hoping to hit training on Tuesday, if I can get confirmation that they'll be outdoors at Westy.
word just in from the Rapids: the team made it (or is making it) outside today and will be outside all week, weather permitting.
Well, the players were at Westy today (or at least Zizi's car was there), but nobody made it down to the fields. We were there from 10 to 11 and then went for a cup of coffee and checked back at 11:30 (at which point Zizi's car was gone). I saw a few other people milling about the area who looked like they were also waiting for a practice to happen. It's a nice way to meet other fans. That's how I met smudgeyjoe. Maybe we'll try again Tues or Wed a.m.
Nothing earth-shattering here, so I'll try to keep it short. I was a fly on the wall at training today-just some observations: 3 rotations of 6v6 (plus a keeper). Only saw one goal on a nice 2v1 with Spenny and CC. John feeds CC who goes far post on an Henry-esqe placement. Other than that, lots of running and some colorful language. Teams (as much as I could tell): -Zizi, Chung, new guy, Cann, Pablo, new guy. -Spenny, Hendo, Taylor, CC, Crawford, new guy. -Kingsley, de la Torre, Pulido?, Sullivan?, Richards?, new guy. Pretty much everyone there except Gregorio. Seth sat by w/ice on knee. Powell was done when I was there. Gotta love the preseason (yawn).
Have To Laugh!!!! I have to laugh at Mojo's comment about colorful language. You can never be sure of anything else that might happen there, but you can always be sure that as long as CC and Spenny are playing, there will be plenty of colorful language. That very first practice I went to, Spenny was in mid season linguistic form scalding everyone he felt was not doing the job. I think CC would keep the language flowing even if his mother was Hanki's assistant coach. Last year, when the Raps played that benefit match against the Serbs at Westy, I thought it would be a little more low key, especially considering what kind of a mismatch it was. Nonetheless, the air was blue around CC no matter how close he was to the sideline and kids, grandmas, and whoever else was around. He is beyond intense, which is good for playing, but not for sensitive ears. Thanks for the further info, Mojo. I had the same feeling of minor frustration because there were too many people I just didn't know. Do you know who might be the guy I saw practice that was wearing dreadlocks? Also, is the little guy in the middle with the bowl haircut De La Torre?? Thanks Again!!!!