yeah -- it may be sad, but it's true. well said . . . and i'll scream until my throat is raw right along with you next week.
I'm sorry, but this is pathetic. This is what happens when you play for a tie. We don't deserve to go to the playoffs.
Just got back from the game. My 2 cents (in a very disjointed, stream of counciousness fashion b/c that's where my head is at right now). 1. I don't blame our guys for the OT game winner. We suck in OT (the record proves that) plus it was McBride. Columbus should just be livid at Andrulis. All match McBride was making smart runs off the ball, getting his head on balls, laying off nice balls to teammates and they were mostly clueless. He's one of the smartest, saaviest players in MLS and he plays with a bunch that don't know how to use him. He finds a way to get separation on heads and that's what he did this time. Plus we were a man down--so especially vulnerable to mismatches, screens/picks to free up bodies. Forget the Crew's record--they have NO EXCUSE for having to fight for the last playoff spot. Everyone's had injuries and callups. They have lots of talent, speed and a few special players. Andrulis is a fool and one of the few teams we have a tactical advantage against (ie: the coaching matchup). McBride is good enough to win balls like that--the Crew just aren't smart enough/organized enough to continually take advantage of his talents. 2. I think the team showed a lot of heart and guts coming back like we did. Kudos to Petke and Dema and Bobby who looked good there at the end (of regulation) and showed a lot of fight. 3. I do think the team bunkered of sorts in the last 10-15 minutes before giving up the PK to let the Crue take the lead. I think it was a stupid veteran thing to do--they knew a tie gives them a playoff berth and they were confident they'd hold. Up to that point, we'd begun to string together some nice combination play in the second half, Dema was doing okay at A-mid, Namoff was performing at D-mid. But we let them back in the match and let them do the attacking. 4. Yes, pretty terrible reffing (Ffing reffing you might say). I can't comment on the Esky fouls--just wasn't watching the second one (was looking at off-the-ball positioning downfield) and didn't get a good look at the first card. Stoichkov might have been fouled (no benefit of instant replay when you're at the game) but the dive was so over the top it make me instantly distrust the call. The PK for Columbus--the ball was past everyone and nearly over the end line when the contact was made. The foul on Dema by Diego Walsh--that was a straight red card foul. All told, I feel for the team. This team so clearly fights for wins and guts it out--totally different from the 2001-2002 sides. But having heart and effort isn't enough.
Re: No draft pick you know what ........... it really doesn't even matter. regardless of the draft picks, etc., it was reported on MLS Wrap last night that Freddy Adu is signing with MLS and will be allocated to DCU because of the proximity of all of his family to the area. so regardless of first pick or not, we're still gonna get the best talent around. that's why I'm still smiling, even after a loss.
Actually it looked to me like he either was calling an indirect freekick right outside the box or a corner at first. That's why there was so much confusion on the field. Among this referee's many shortcomings was his poor communication and terrible man management. Poor signaling and all of the very late whistles left everyone confused. The players clearly had no respect for him or his decisions. All of the whistles killed the flow of the game. This is, I believe, the same referee who called 3 PK's in last week's Dallas-NJ game, two of which came at the very end of regulation (one for each team), all of which were saved. He's been shaky in every match I have seen him do this season. I think they can't find refs who want to take the abuse that the players can't seem to control themselves from heaping on the ref on every call in every game. So we get these inexperienced amateurish performances from guys who are clearly not ready to be in the middle of a high stakes professional match because they are the only ones who will do it because they have some ambition to advance, even if they are not ready to do so.
Hmm...that's not what I remember at all but then I saw it live and, of course, there are never replays of anything remotely controversial shown on the board at RFK. I distinctly remember his hand up in the air, pointing towards the corner NOT pointing towards the spot.
On TV, Stoner was yelling almost immediately wondering- he was not sure- if the play was getting a PK. He thought so, but wasn't sure so I can imagine your confusion. (TV didn't show the ref pointing.)
My bad What was I thinking we had, what 4 in the first round this year and look what they have done for us this year.
Next year: --Cerritos---Martins---- --------Stewart------- Convey-----------Olsen --------Dema---------- Prideaux-Petke-Nellie--Reyes ---------Rimando--------- Adu off the bench, starting by midseason. If we can't finish in the top four with that line up, I quit.
Thank you. I had this same thought as Namoff came in with almost 30 minutes left to play. I don't care how they did it back in the day in merry old Englund...if you play for tie with that much time left, you will lose. Still, the horrific officiating nothwithstanding, I think Cowlumbus was the better team out there today. They dominated possession and cracked two off the posts. If we are fortunate enough to make the playoffs, our stay will be short to say the least. I just hope next year's coach is smart enough to hold onto Kovalenko while he cleans house.
If you're doing an MLS center, you're hardly "inexperienced". These guys are all National-level refs, which means they have already worked their way up the ladder. The next step is FIFA. I wasn't at the game - I was reffing some senior men's amateur stuff in Baltimore and couldn't make it back in time - but I did see the second half on ESPN2. From what I saw, the center (name escapes me right now) was not having a good night. The PK call on Warren, while technically correct, was not one you'd expect to see called at this level. He just never seemed to be in complete control. I will say, however, that both yellows on Esky were warranted. First the stupid intentional handling, then the unbelievably idiotic chop at a Columbus defender long after the ball was cleared, not two minutes after he got the first card. That is a brain fart of epic proportions.
I remember... - I remember when I used to record United games to watch them again. - I remember when we didn't have to rely on defenders and flopping in the box to score goals. - I remember when this team could string together more than four passes without giving the ball up or trying to bomb it down field. I love United, but this team will lose to KC. Our only hope is that Chicago will beat Columbus. Even then, we're just a speed bump on the way to the MLS Cup match. Over and out.
Warren is not ready for prime time, but on McBride's winner he was at the right post guarding against an open APC and APC correctly chipped back post to McBride - he couldn't get back. On West's PK he simply took the wrong line and never took away Westie's right foot - he had no chance on the stop and simply speared him ....
I just got home from the DC-Crew game and I'm sure its been said a million times already but I'm going say it again. How can an MLS ref suck so bad. That ref that officiated tonights games isn't good enough for High school I'm trying to figure out how is he a MLS ref. On a couple of occasions he gave yellow cards for perfect tackles and when someone tackled from behing he did nothing. Can anyone tell me the requirements to become a MLS ref? Does the leauge track Match officials. Security had to escort him off the field we all wanted to kill him. He made horrible calls both ways. That was the worst officated game I have ever seen.
I am really looking forward to next season. After all this team has been through, and with Adu coming and the currently injured players coming back, this will be a team to contend with. I really believe that. Too bad it's taken them too long to pull it all together, and they've lost one too many pieces right now. They will limp into the playoffs, probably get eliminated in the first round, and spend the next few months licking their wounds, healing, and planning some serious revenge.
MLS refs are evaluated after every match. Interestingly enough, there is a group of local refs who were at the game tonight and will participate in a post-match discussion with the crew. Wish I could be there for this one.
So now here we sit, with 6 days to go until the next game, and quite literally, our season hangs in the balance...Four questions... 1..IF we lose, is this the biggest collapse in MLS history (beating last years Scum)? 2..Is Hudson fired no matter what? 3..Seeing the last two games, does anyone think we will win? 4..Any attendence guesses for the game? I know one thing, I will be there (and I may even ask my doctor for some heart medicine!) jon
Well, maybe we SHOULD turn this into a lineup thread for next year, because the way DC is playing, that's all we need to worry about. However, who we need to look at for next year is David Stokes. 6'3" and pretty strong looking. In the open cup games he has played well, and has gotten good reports from the u-23 squad. why has this guy never gotten any playing time. He MUST be better than a couple of the stiffs that we have at the back! Secondly, it is clear that Freddy would be starting by midseason. if he's not, (with the lack of creativity and speed that we sometimes show), whoever is coaching should then be shot. oh, and lastly, has everyone given up on Quaranta? the guy has skills. his healthy return would seriously help this team. I think that there will be more than just a simple cosmetic change for the upcoming season. Watching Prideaux, Petke and Nellie get constantly run past by the frontline of the Crew was not cutting it. We're just not athletic enough in the back.
That's only because we had no midfield to hold them back. We can't rely on Dema and Boby to defend while Q2 and Cerritos stand by and do nothing. It's difficult for a defense to hold its line when the other part of the team isn't doing its job.
I disagree about the backline. They are quick enough when the midfield isn't porous as a sponge. What worries me was positioning--against the Crew it was bad enough. Anybody else notice how hesitant Cunningham and Co. were in front of the box? It was almost like they were waiting for our defenders to get into place! I'm not willing to place judgement on the back line until they have a healthy midfield in front of them. Although, Yes, they are not particularly athletic. Point taken.
OK, we suck right now, I accept that. It's the team's fault for not putting this one away, and playing for a draw instead of a win. But seriously, this OT bullshit HAS GOT TO STOP. This is getting fucking ridiculous. If it wasn't for this Mickey Mouse rule, we'd be in the fucking playoffs right now. It's the biggest fucking kick in the balls to watch your team grind out a draw in the 90 minutes that the game is SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYED, and then get fucking worked over with 2 minutes to play in O*ertime, and get no points at all. If the dickheads in MLS HQ want OT so bad, AT LEAST give the losing team a point for getting a draw in the time that the game is supposed to be played. Between the abysmal reffing and this OT nonesense, this league is really starting to test my patience. In summary: Fuck you OT Fuck you Refs Fuck you MLS and last but not least: Fuck you Brian McBride, you fragile, disease ridden, beady eyed, dream crushing, douchebag.
Probably not. And Hudson traded all of our first round picks for the brilliant players currently on our roster. So no second pick in the draft either.