Yea, I thought Dom should of made a sub earlier. For a second I thought he wasn't going to, but thank goodness he did. DeRo and Clark got a nice chemistry going right now. It sucks we're about to lose DeRo for a while. Hopefully whoever plays with Clark can equal how good DeRo was playing with him.
Yeah, I was REALLY down on Clark the first few games he played...he has proved me wrong, though. Couple of good games in a row. And he came THAT close to an awesome goal after a beautiful run (I SWEAR I saw the net puff up as the ball rolled across the crossbar!). I thought DeRo was inspiring tonight....
Not in 130. We were missing the jester! The Casbah sounded really good, but I was the only person in my neighborhood who was joining in the songs. (I'm sure I embarrassed my kids.)
Waddaya' expect from friggin' Radnich?? Second game in a row they showed highlites on channel 7..way to go Martin Wyatt!
Agreed on Clark. I think the time on the bench helped him clear his mind. Now he's playing much better, and seems to improve each game. I've also been impressed with DeRo's defensive help the last month or so. Seems to have a knack for disrupting things in our defensive third (Usually it's our opponent he's disrupting...) But, he's been doing a much better job there recently. Overall I thought that much of the game was sub-par. For long stretches we seemed to lose our focus and patience as long balls were lobbed over the top way too much-just not our game and never has been. Pat is playing well, but it still pains me to see Joe in another uniform. Last point, I'd like ot see Nash get the start up front and see what he can do with the same minutes that Moreno has been getting. It would be interesting to see if he can use his height to be more of a "Baby Ching" or if his game is dump it and run. Moreno seems to have the ability to get his goals, but he's just so frustrating to watch. I'd love to see him be our first sub off the bench. (And, I'd love to see Dom make that sub at the 65-70 minute mark with more regularity.) At the game, it seemed like we needed a sub to shake things up (way to make the most of it, Nash) But as I looked down the bench, it was hard to see who might be able to come in and contribute. I think the league has passed Russell by, and I'm not sure O'Rourke will get his confidence back this year. All in all not the best of games, but given that the cRapids always seem to have our number at Spartan, it was good to see the Quakes take care of business when the 3 points were there for the taking.
One might think so, esp when you consider how often they give it to the goal scorer, even without it being a dramatic 88th minute deadlock breaking game-winner. But NO, for the second game in a row, MOTM goes to... Pat Onstad!
Channel 5 (KPIX) also showed highlights. They almost always do a really good job showing highlights and talking about the game. Channel 2 (KTVU) said "Quakes beat the Rapids tonite." That's it.
I once wrote a post that described a goal as being comparable to an orgasm. I tried to find a link to that post, but I think it's long gone. Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way!!
Great result, way to end the homestand on a positive note. Agree with the posters who thought Clark played well. He is my MOTM. He was all over the place, and really helped to control the middle of the field. (Torpedo - don't know what game you were watching, but it wasn't the same one the rest of us saw ) Mullan was very disappointing, but given that it was his first game back in quite a while, I'll give him a break. He did come through with a nice pass to set up the goal, as has been pointed out. I thought DeRosario was good, but not as good as he has been. It could be that he is trying to compensate for the fact that our forwards and wings tonight just weren't cutting it, but he dribbled too much and lost the ball several times instead of making the pass. But, his backheel to Gray was beautiful, that should have been a goal. And he scores the game winner, so good for him. I thought that Cerritos, Moreno, and Chung all played poorly. Cerritos was the best of the 3, but still not that great. Again, he has a chance 1 on 1 with the goalie, and ends up with a pretty weak attempt at a shot. He gave the ball away several times, but mostly he just didn't look dangerous out there, couldn't win any long balls, didn't seem to be in the right place when we could get a cross off. Moreno was dismal; he really looked slow, and totally unable to do anything with ball served up to him. Chung made some nice plays early in the game, but really got taken out of the game by the physical play in midfield. He was nowhere to be found for most of the game, not playing defense and not creating much in the middle or down the left side. Good game by Gray, Califf, and Robinson, although they did give Colorado two or three great scoring chances. Great game by Pat, I thought he was out of position on the one shot coming from the left side of the goal, where he ended up diving and just deflecting it to the side of the goal. But he recovered. Barrett reverted back a bit to his old form, giving the ball away too much. But, he did make some great runs downfield. Nash definitely provided a spark off the bench; I agree with others that I was very disappointed with Dom at not substituting earlier, and not putting more guys in. There was definitely a lack of energy in the team in the second half, and we could have used a sparkplug earlier. I would have replaced Chung, and Mullan (ok, then Mullan wouldn't have been in for the assist, but someone else might have made something else happen sooner). Both had subpar games, and were dragging at the end of the game. I'm actually very worried at where our offense is going to come from with DeRo and Davis gone the next few games. But the defense is clicking unbelievably, hopefully they can take it on the road with them and keep it up. Second place! Yes!
While his heading ability and running is good, I really think Gray's long range passing is suspect. The Quake defense has done a really good job of passing with purpose and not just doing a Doyle, but Gray just seems to spray them randomly. I don't think that Gray is playing at the same level as the rest of the team, but in a few games I think he will catch up. Barrett, on the other hand, is playing like he did in my cloudy-jade tinted memories of when he played for the Clash. What a fantastic addition to the offense. I don't think that any of the San Jose players played poorly - Colorado was just a more physical and high pressure than LA or Salt Lake were, and they always had 5 or 6 in the midfield making passing by the Quakes more difficult, especially in the first half. There are valid techiques that can be used to counter the San Jose style of play. This game just showed that even when you stick a blanket over their heads, the Quakes can still find the dinner table.
first let me say "welcome back Brian Mullen!" now I can admit that I was looking for him to be sub'ed from 60 minutes on. just not in 90 minute shape yet, or even ready to play his normal attacking game, but I can't wait for him to get back to form. put me on the now forming Clark fan list. you can make Onstad MoM for those saves, of DeRo for the goal, but for most of the night I thought Clark was the best we had on pitch. I was surprised at how deep DeRo was playing most of the night, helping on D and to bring the ball out of the back. hard to argue with so many minutes w/out giving up a goal, but the trade off is that he's too far out of the play when we get a break up a wing. there were several times we were missing someone coming up the middle who could finish a play. Califf and ERob looked in control, other than the one attempt by Califf to provide an assist to Cunningham. Nash was nice to see. We really miss Ching's size up front and Nash gave some hints that he could provide some of what we've been missing. Against Dallas I'd like to see Nash start and Cerritos drop back to A-mid. biggest shock of the night: I thought Salizar actually called a pretty good game.
I think he needs to make some adjustments in his passing style. Anyone can just boot the ball up the field and more times than not tonite, that is what it appeared he was doing. I watched him quite a bit. What I noticed is when he's got the ball he looks upfield very briefly for his target or an area of the field and then looks down while taking a couple of steps and then lets it rip without looking up again first. Always, when he kicks the ball his head is down just prior to sending it on it's way. So what seems happens is his target has moved or been replaced by an oppossing player or nothing is there at all. So, yea he throws a lot of long passes away. This is only the second game I've seen him play in person. I thought he did a GREAT job with the galactascum, but they sucked to begin with. I think he really needs to work on knowing where the ball is maybe developing a way to see it in his peripheral vision as he's looking for his target. Does that make sense? Probably, this will come with time and practice/experience. My observation. I like him.
I'm beginning to like Moreno less and less even though he is a scoring leader. He falls down way too much. It's ridiculous and annoying and just doesn't fit the Quakes game well. I'd love to see Nash get more playing time. The guy's got a spark that is definitely lacking in Alejandro.
But that's why the Quakes need him. You can fancy pass the ball around forever, but you need a little something different to actually get the goal. And the proof of that is.. well.. Moreno getting goals.
Yes, he did seem a little tentative, but in all fairness he has to work with the line-up switch and that is probaly a factor. Mullan came into the line-up tonight and was honestly speaking a bit rusty, himself and Kelly didn't quite have it down. Kelly had been playing and practising with Chung, maybe its just the difference of putting a ball onto the left foot instead of the right. I think that Mullan was the sketchy one tonight on the right side, hopefully just a game to get back in the swing of things. His touch just wasn't quote there and he seemed to keep running into spaces where the ball was just not going. It really looked like they just were not on the same page (Dero and Mullan too) until they finally clicked late in the game for the goal. And i do agree with everyone on the need for more subs sooner (Dom got away with one cos we got the win) We probably should've seen Nash a lot earlier, Moreno was just not working. I'm worried about the offense, Moreno does a fairly go job with his back to goal, but he is just tooo slow on the counters, and we tried the long balls to him at least 6-8 times tonight, every time he was outraced. Cerritos can be a bit creative but he just cannot finish (still not as good as my Granny in a rocking chair). If we are gonna be a Championship caliber team, IMO, we need to get a qualityforward. Yes I know we will have Ching, but there's no harm in having two healthy goalscorers when the playoffs come around.
My extra $.25. I agree mit Spejic - Crapits flooded the d-mid - trying to disrupt the Quakes style of play, Mullan IMHO dealt mit it best; and Dom kept switching the points of attack trying to find a solution. Clark - I "solemnly promise" to pay more attention to his play and be as objective as me ticker allows, and take 2-3 games to form an opinion. Onstad vs. Cannon - Paddy is REALLY on top of his game - right now - yet seeing Joe - I've a twitch in my neshuma; Paddy has a year, may be 2 left (hope he proves me ded wrong), Joe - at least 6-7; we really ferklempted that one up a few years ago refusing to give Joe his due. Oh well - the key to the year will be Ching's ability to recover ( me - not optimistic on dat one - again, hope he proves me wrong).
Oh - I forgot: Sending long balls for Moreno is like Maurice Green racing a man with one leg. You kinda know the outcome from the get-go.
Who fills in for DeRo now? 'Quakes have got a hole to fill now. Do we move Clark up and put in Knuckles or do we drop Ronald back on put in Nash?
On the other hand, the mascots around the stadium were getting unusual amounts of noise out of various sections, especially the south end zone. (And I was surprised they opened the upper deck there.)
I disagree......Gray, although hesitant to press forward, has been solid on the right flank.....he shut down Donovan for 75 minutes and literally the minute Donovan moved to Barrett's side, he broke in on goal. Thank Brad Davis for putting a stop to that. He still has to work on his defense.....since he is a defender. Don't get me wrong, I love Barrett......but he is making some questionable decisions. Califf tore him a new ass last night for one screwy sequence.
I have bashed this guy in the past, but I thought he played well against L.A. and last night, well, HE ACTUALLY RAN FAST AND BEAT HIS MAN! The first half I thought his intensity was way up, his speed was up (about time) and his ball handling was good, too. He is still, IMO, not a 90 minute guy. I thought this was one of his better games with the Quakes.