Just back from the USOC match at the Germantown Soccerplex. Richmond won it 4-0, so they host DC United in next week's match. Thought I'd throw in my observations of the Richmond side. First and foremost - their defense sucked. The Aegean Hawks are literally just an adult rec league team, though as Goff said they are "one of the nation’s best adult amateur teams." The Kickers are a pro side. They have a strong academy set-up and their pro players are all still angling for a shot with MLS. This should have been a one-sided affair. Despite the score-line, it wasn't. The Hawks had a lot of chances. Missed 2 or 3 sitters, late in the game hit a crossbar or two, and killed off some good breaks with bad passes. In fact, the Hawks looked the more dangerous side, except for the fact that they couldn't finish their chances. They penetrated the Richmond defense attacking from the wings and also down the middle. Richmond defenders seemed lost and unorganized. When they tried to clear the ball, they mostly seemed to hit it straight up into the air, and they also created some nervy moments with some some dicey passes back to the goalie. This might not have been the first-choice Richmond defense, but they really struggled. On offense, the attack was run through a decent central midfielder, Gerson dos Santos, a Brazilian who played college ball here. He distributed well and was stronger on the dribble. He also netted the team's second tally with a nice header that he directed to the back post. Coming off the bench late was a Japanese winger named Hiroyama. Word was he was one of the team's most skilled players. He showed it on the fourth goal as he sliced past the Hawks' back-line, dribbled wide of the onrushing 'keeper and curled a ball around the diving goalie and just inside the near post. Not making an appearance was the team's long-time striker Matthew Delicate, who might be familiar to DCU fans from prior USOC play with Richmond and Rochester. His replacement up top was a tall, long-haired dude who looked pretty good in the air, but couldn't make his chances count. The real star for Richmond is a recent addition, Chris Agorsor, who just joined the team a week ago. Agorsor was a prodigy back in his Maryland high school days, until a series of injuries knocked him off the trajectory to stardom. In his first game with Richmond last week against Pittsburgh, he had a goal and an assist. Agorsor is short, which is problematic for a striker, but he's got speed and serious ball skills. Against the Hawks, he showed that, as he kept opening up the defense running down long balls over top of the defense. He showed he could trap these passes, as he did on the first goal, finally turning and shooting around a defender for the first goal. Really first-class goal. With the Hawks still hanging in at the 80th minute or so, Agorsor lined in the center of the box, wide of the wall on a free kick, He redirected a power shot that went wide of the wall, leaving the goalie flat-footed, for the goal that really locked the win. Nice bit of trickeration. United should be ready for the play, but mostly they need to be aware of Agorsor's speed and ball skill. Agorsor is the type of player who can really develop in the lower divisions -- a guy with real talent, who just needs a chance to play to get back on the path he was on before injuries hit him. I would not be surprised to see him back in MLS in a year or two.
Fischy's report matches what seems to be the Kickers' story this season- defense not so good, and the offense is decent but not flowing well and not able to provide the goals to bail out the defense. After several years of titles and championship-game appearances in their league (and the US Open Cup semis last year after taking out Columbus and KC on the road), the urgency and cohesion aren't there this year, and they haven't figured out why yet. The defense is normally lock-down, and the talent and same personnel from last year are there, so the potential for a tight game exists next week. But reasonably it does look like DC should be the faster and more precise team, give or take who they choose to put out on the field. I wish I could go to the game. DeRo started in Richmond before coming to MLS (a serious point of pride here) and a lot of Kickers have gone on to MLS so their quality of play is usually pretty high, not to mention DCU's being there.
There are 20 or so richmond based dcu fans who usually make it out, not to mention just the casuals. There have been some heated arguments in the past, but all in all the fans are welcoming and this usually stays very friendly.
It's a very friendly rivalry I've always found. The only trouble I have ever had is from that giant hopping Rat From Down Under. And that one loudspeaker that nearly drove me insane many many years back.
Tickets only $13 for BB members - maybe I can talk Senora Funk into making a road trip. I'll keep the rat away from you.
Going to the game with a friend. Got our two tickets through the Richmond Kickers for $15 and they send my tickets via text to my I phone and, it is my ticket, " I like that."
merged academy programs... http://www.socceramerica.com/article/55131/kickers-and-strikers-merge-academy-programs.html
I apologize Greek as I thought the news of a merger between these two academy programs might have been of interest to folks in your region. So rather than make a new thread and be held up to ridicule in starting up a "not DCU related thead" I thought that I could use the old thread instead which yes relates directly to the Richmond Kickers. But if you want to report it all to the Mods and if they can find a better place for it...then by all means do what you must.
Well, now that the thread has been brought back up... Quite a few Kickers are joining DCU for the Indonesian tour. I think it's more of an extended trial to see who might be worth pursuing as potential depth, as well as strengthening the affiliation between the two teams. DC's travel roster comes out tomorrow, and I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of out of contract MLS players also made the list.
With the Strikers joining the Kickers.. How can DCU take advantage of that. Hopefully it leads to more kids playing with the kickers and then playing with DC.
a total of 6 Kickers are going... http://www.blackandredunited.com/of...tour-arema-fc-persib-bandung-richmond-kickers
I'd like to pick your brain a little then. Tell me about Seaton. What's his game like? I watched parts of two games on video and Nate Robinson was a player that impressed me. Do you think he has MLS potential?