Practice Report (DCUnite.com, Dyson, 6/10) There was a link to this in the pre-match thread but there's so much in this report that it really needs its own thread. http://www.dcunited.com/index.cfm?section=main&cont_id=185537 Among the questions answered ...
I read this earlier, its really a great read. Probably the most interesting DCU related thing I've read lately. It certainly answered a lot of my questions. Ray's attitude toward players shines through crystal clear as well, particularly toward young ones. Great job Diceson.
Best questions I have seen asked on the record. Not sure if I believe all the responses because off the record people have heard some different stuff. Finally, a great hard hitting article.
"That naiveté has cost us games, has cost us points, has put this club under pressure. I'm not blaming the young kids. It's just what we have to live with. " Exactly what points have the young kids cost us - the more this huy talks the more pisses me off. "I just still hope against hope that Marco gets us over the hump." Ray's own quote pretty much sums up it up But, he's [Marco] a special situation - a special case - but he can't be treated any differently." This time he did not even make it one sentence before getting all catch-22 on us. It is cool that the website includes such a hard hitting interview.
Now that's great stuff. Diceson, your best set of questions yet. Pointed, fair, and demanding. Boy, you sure can see Ray dancing a bit on the Etch issue. It makes him uncomfortable. Good. It makes me uncomfortable too--has for a while. When a team has one win in eight games, I hope they understand that the questions are going to get a little direct.
Bravo, Diceson. Thank you for asking Kasper and Hudson point-blank about playing Marco. Maybe this will satisfy the conspiracy theorists (although since this is BigSoccer, I'm probably being ridiculously hopeful).
Yes, an excellent piece. No soft questions here. I find it amazing how many contradictions one guy can spit out. Was there one answer in which he didn't contradict himself? I know Dyson wants to keep a good relation with these guys because he gets great access and produces great stuff but I would like to see a follow up that tries to get Hudson to explain these contradictions that keep popping up. Unfortunately doing so would probably piss Hudson off and that would be bad for Dyson's job. Kenobi wrote: Bravo, Diceson. Thank you for asking Kasper and Hudson point-blank about playing Marco. Maybe this will satisfy the conspiracy theorists (although since this is BigSoccer, I'm probably being ridiculously hopeful). Well only Kasper really answered the question and with only one word (I know that was the type of response Dyson asked for). Hudson still danced around the whole thing.
"Sure . . . and those observations that you brought up, about Marco and this situation, people see that and I have total respect for that observation. I've said ever since I came into this team. That's what everyone wants the young players; everyone wants to see them develop. You're living in "La-la land" if you think that's going to get you results. One of the toughest things is nurturing these players on the job. That naiveté has cost us games, has cost us points, has put this club under pressure. I'm not blaming the young kids. It's just what we have to live with. Our veterans have lived up to the mark - Petke, Ryan Nelsen in particular, and Marco as well. They have been a good set of rallying voices. But they're still fresh out of the egg. You can see it in training - the naiveté of certain young players. This is why we're looking at bringing in one or two veterans because they're the guys you can depend on when your back is against the wall. They're not learning, they've been through those battles, and they're fully battle hardened. I think that's what we need." I can't even begin to comment on this crap. so we get a team of vets for this year then what about next year? what young players have cost us? the fact is hudson could not develope a player because he is not a coach he is a cheerleader who only wants player that are ready to go with out any work from him!
Still amazes me Marco makes a PK the team wins the game (Marco has YET ANOTHER game-winning goal like he led the team in last year), but Marco is still the root of all that's terrible on this team. I love what Dante Washington said from the article in GoDC's Dante Washington thread: “MLS has become very youth-driven. I don’t necessarily agree with it but you can’t change what they want to do. I have to move on and not be bitter and angry.’’ You can see it in this board how terribly important it is, almost like an emergency, to some to play the young guys. We just finished a long thread on this board where Adu at what-16 is the guy to come in and save DC United. I believe in some cases the emphasis on youth over experience comes from the fact that younger people post on this board.
I think it steems as much from the fact that in a single-entity salary cap-driven league young and cheap players are how a team is able to suceed. Teams that don't use a lot of youth have cap issues all the time and have constant turnover. Bottom line is you can't see if the cheaper, younger players are able to suceed if the only playing time they get is in 5-v-5 drills in practice. The last 5 minutes of Saturday's Chicago game is a prime example. Up 2-0 with 5 minutes left is the perfect time to bring in a Brian Carroll for Ali Curtis. Forward for a defender. Push Marco up top and have Carroll chase and pressure the ball. He will get his feet wet in a live game and it is a low risk move. Since at that point you would not be pushing for a goal Ali can come off with little risk to the attack. There are also plenty of expierienced guys out there at that point to help guide Carroll. Maybe this is a question that John can ask for his next practice report.
thanks a lot Diceson. We are lucky to have your reports. One thing that I've have taken away from this report is that the players believe in the team. That is essential. As long as they are on the same page. I'm cautious to be to optimistic still, but I am reassured by their dedication to the "team." That is a good sign. Also good to hear that David and Devin are standing out. I'd like to see them evenutally make the line-up. My guess is that if we can get an early lead, we'll see some new faces sub in. I don't pay too much attention to what Ray says anymore. It doesn't make much sense to me, and i guess that's why he says things the way he does. Trask... he's easy to understand. I guess that's why it is so necessary for Ray that Trask be the technical coach. Otherwise, the players wouldn't have a clue what to do. Although, I do wonder whether actually do. Thanks Diceson
You have evidence for that or are you just assuming that's true? The team that succeeded the most last year was the LA Galaxy. LA Galaxy starting lineup and their ages from MLS Cup 2002: Hartman (30) Lalas (33) Califf (24) Marshall (29) Hendrickson (31) Victorine(25) Cienfuegos (35) Elliott (30) Jones (32) Moreno (23) Ruiz (23-supposedly) One of the oldest teams in the league, if not the oldest (someone can check). 6 of the 11 starters 30 or older. Not ONE guy under the age of 23. And the LA Galaxy don't have cap issues.
Didn't they bring back just about everybody from last year? How could they bring in Hong in the offseason if they had serious cap issues. This is Cienfuegos' last year, so that'll free up some cap room.
Saturday's Starting lineup for the Metrosucks 1st place overall in MLS right now: Arena, Kenny 22 Clark, Ricardo 20 Galvan, Jose 22 Guevara, Amado 27 Jolley, Steve 27 Magee, Mike 19 Mathis, Clint 26 Regan, Tim 21 Williams, Richie 32 Ziadie, Craig 25 Howard, Tim 24 1 player over the age of 30 and for KC tied with the Metrosucks for 1st overall: Tony Meola 34 Jimmy Conrad 25 Carey Talley 26 Nick Garcia 23 Davy Arnaud 22 Kerry Zavagnin 28 Preki 39 Francisco Gomez 24 Eric Quill 25 Igor Simutenkov 30 Josh Wolff 25 3 players over the age of 30. It is fact not just IMHO. Zaidie and Howard are greybeards on the Metros for Pete's sake.
Exactly my point. Now, I know that Cien is playing for really cheap this year ($50k) and they really only have 1 striker, but... There are still questions on how they can fit all those players under the cap.
I think Cobi and Hong are their 2 max salary guys. Some teams have 3 max salary guys (like DC used to have) which is a huge burden but with only 2 there and extra $275,000 to spread around to the rest of the team. This is one way in which you can have a veteran team and still be under the cap. It seems that LA may have been a little more realistic in their raises for players and also convinced their players that they were better off playing for a little less money while playing for a team that would compete for MLS Cup, the US Open Cup and the Champions Cup which would bring in bonuses that would easily make up for the salary differential. Also once you get past the first 13 players on the team the rest of the guys are youngsters not making much money at all, but do get some playing time.
Ok, lets make a BIG assumption and 11 of those players average to make only $100k. ($1.1 mil) Add in two max salaries ($550k) And you're at $1.650M out of a $1.73M salary cap. $80k to spend on 5 players? I'm gonna have to pull the Wookie defense on this one. "It does not make sense"
Well if the other 5 guys are P-40 or Developmental players than they don't count against the cap. So now you have 80K to spend on a 3 or 4 more players to get you to 22 players and it's doable. This would also put them at the cap. If you look at the LA roster they have 3 P-40 and 2 Dev players. Like I said it's doable but they may have problems next season unless they get rid of several players and/or the salary cap increases a couple hundered grand.
11+2= 13 Rosters are 18 + 6 "Developmental". 18-13= 5 full roster spots for $80k. 3 P-40s + 2 Dev do not count against the 18 man limit.
Yes but who says you need to have 24 players on your roster, and the Galaxy do not. 13 players plus the 5 Dev spots are 18 players regardless of their status. 3-4 more players are enough to round out a roster and be under the cap. What this does mean is a team like LA is 1. Up against the cap and 2. Is or will be forced to play young players in case of injury/call-ups. All I'm saying is that it is possible for LA to have the players they have and still be under or right at the salary cap, which was the original bone of contention. Do they have any depth and what is the quality of the rest of the players outside the top 13 is another story.
I count 18 Senior Roster players + 6 Developmental/P-40 according to the rosters at MLSnet.com http://www.mlsnet.com/teams/la/roster.html You mean people like former MLS MVP Alex Pineda Chacon or Gavin Glinton or Alexi Lalas? Try another arguement.