Just like the old Beatles lyrics suggest, I think that FCD needs to shake it up for the next meeting with Houston. Nothing as drastic as a CC head on a plate, but some shakin' is clearly in order. How many of you would put money on us getting past Houston in our present state? We have been their b!tches this year. And yes, we have not had a healthy lineup with any continuity in a long, long, time. But, we cannot simply sit back and go like we are going, or the MLS cup will elude us again. What can CC do? 1. Could change the tactics he uses against Houston. 2. Could make a change in the system of play. 3. Could drastically change the starting lineup. While I do not pretend to have the answer, I do sense that physically they are more than we are. We look downright intimidated by their defense. DeRossario seems to torch us on a routine basis. And, we seem to give up plenty on set pieces. I suggest that we man mark De Ro w/ our meanest thug. I would like to see a more populated midfield (5) that disrupts their possession game. I would like to see them allowed to play against a medium pressure, where they are met with a packed defense just as they enter the area south of the center circle. I would like to see 2 forwards turn the tables on the SOB's and physically punish them at every opportunity. Ruiz has the ability to put an elbow through the orbital bone of nasty defensive types. I would piss them off in the 18 and liberally embellish the fouls. I would push the envelope as a team and force the official to call a tight game even if it cost us a role player or two with a red. I would go to zonal coverage on corner kicks. I would like to see us run a 3 man backline that purely defends comprised of our 3 most athletic marking backs. Above all, we must send a message. Jogo Bonito will not do. If we want our MLS Cup, we must play goon ball. I hate that kind of play, but the league is what it is and the MLS ref's are what they are. If we cannot be man enough to do it, then Houston will take MLS Cup.
I thought Shake It Up was a Cars song. Right now - Houston has our number and DC United is better than we are. We are not in any Drive to the Cup - we are in a Drive to Survive. The Summer Swoon is in full effect and we best hang on to any home field advantage we can get and avoid Houston in Round 1.
Well, shake it up baby now Shake it up baby Twist and shout Twist and shout Come on, come on, come on, come on baby, now Come on baby Come on and work it on out Work it on out Well, work it on out, honey Work it on out You know you look so good look so good You know you got me goin' now Got me goin' Just like I knew you would Like I knew you would
the beatles would have been an orchestra if all the 5th beatle claimants actually were part of the beatles
Goon ball? Who on our team can play Goon Ball??? ...Maybe Super Dario, that is about it. This team needs a "player's only" meeting to air any nonsense and get on the same page. "Hey, it's our as$es out there....we got to make it work for ourselves...."
Getting back on topic... The thing about Houston is that they are both goons and Jogo Bonito. The defenders are all goons that will commit the professional foul on and off the ball constantly. Last Wednesday within 30 seconds of the kickoff Robinson was punching Ruiz in the back from an angle where the ref couldn't see it because it was off the ball stuff. On the ball, they never allow a player to turn away from them, and as soon as a player posts them up they are quick to hack at the ankles of said player. The one thing the Houston defenders do that is not goon like, but they do very well is to rotate to the ball quickly with two or even three guys at a time. They excel on pressuring their opponents on the narrow fields like Robertson and Carl Lewis. So while the defenders are as dirty as it gets, their midfielders and forwards move the ball, possess, make intelligent runs into space, and are as dynamic as any team in MLS. Very Jogo bonito of them.
Thanks, but don't remove it. I probably deserve the bad rep I'm sure to get. I'm VERY VERY sick in the head.
"twist and shout" by Cincinnati, Ohio's Isley Brothers and why did everyone start claiming to be spartacus or rick ocasek or a doll or something? _______________ How about a BIG BANG outward-expanding unified method of corner kick defending ... ? ...put like 6 or 7 guys between the 6-yd line and the penalty spot ... DON'T follow anyone around like Bobby Rhine followed Waibel ... and then explode out to the ball when the corner is kicked ... ? [anticipating Northside's reponse in defense of man-to-man marking [that the corner gets there too fast ]--- if the 6 or 7 defenders are bunched, but not too bunched, it would take a perferct 19 yard header or volley to score ... let's say put a line of three defenders approx. at the 6-yd line, three more defenders 12 yards out, a guy on each post, an outlet-pass-receiving guy upfield, plus somebody to be useless, plus first choice Jersey #1 Dario Sala adds up to eleven guys ... ok heck it's dumb --- but what we are currently doing isn't working ... and at least defenders' momentum would be away from goal __________________ Is it possible I saw the 1st goal from Carl Lewis stadium on my dish TV? ... [in some kind of a highlight show]...?