I'm having a hard time finding out if his injury is serious or not....only this I've seen in the match wrap on the Burn official site with DJ stating he didn't think it was serious. Any thing since then? I'd hate to see him sit out the next month, had a good game I thought.
Yeah at Dallas Cup he reiterated that claim. Hope he does because now Cassar has picked up an injury - Jeff Cassar - Probable - Groin strain
I have to admit I felt having a 3rd GK would be pretty stupid. I can't remember us ever using another GK other than Jordan in the last 3 years( I think DJ played once and another guy played once against SJ on the last game of a season).
There is a method in place for a 3rd goalkeeper to be 'borrowed' for lack of a better term. It is a bit convoluted... I am trying to get final details on it. When I do I will post them. But BUrn are not the only team with 2 GK's in MLS.
For what it's worth, Bruce Arena has always felt (and reasonably vocal about it as a former GK) it it makes sense for teams to carry 3 GKs. Not b/c of risk of injury or need to rotate. His position is that GK's take a tremendous pounding in practice. They spend a lot of time taking shots, getting contact, diving for balls and hitting the ground. His feeling then is that GKs usually take more of a beating in practice (just from hitting the turf repeatedly) then they do in almost all of their games). So he likes having 3 GKs to rotate in practice and minimize the bruises and sore muscles--so guys aren't as "leg weary" and "beat-up" for games. Have to admit, I never thought of it in that regard until he talked about that subject but I think he's right.
From the Dallas Morning News: " Starter D.J. Countess is doing his best to return ahead of schedule from a quadriceps pull. He has resumed training but has yet to regain full strength and range of motion....Cassar strained a groin muscle during an off-week scrimmage last Thursday against SMU. Now both goalkeepers are questionable for Saturday.... Former Alabama-Birmingham goalkeeper Clint Baumstark has been signed as an emergency measure." http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/soccer/stories/042403dnspoburndate.b9d67.html
Baumstark is only 20 but he's a bright prospect. Here's some info on him from the UAB website. http://uabsports.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/baumstark_clint00.html http://uabsports.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/120202aaa.html
With Countess's luck, if he tries to play hurt, he'll tear that quad proper and be out for the season. Hard decision for Jeffries
How was he signed? Was a developmental player dropped? It could be just a temporary "emergency" contract only, but why give up your amateur status for a temporary contract??
COUNTESS, PAREJA INJURY UPDATE Burn goalkeeper DJ Countess is progressing well from a partially torn right quad suffered in the team's opener on April 12. He is training full-time with the team and is probable for Saturday's match in DC...Additionally, goalkeeper Jeff Cassar suffered a head laceration after a collision with Bobby Rhine at training today and received two staples to close the wound. He will sit out a few days of training but is expected to make the trip to DC this weekend. It looks like DJ might start @ DC. This GK situation has to be a big distraction for the team. What ever happend to M. Jordan anyways?Has his season started yet?
I think despite the injury problems, the GK situation has been a bright spot. DJ played well in game one and I thought Cassar was one of the few bright spots in game two.
Cassar played well. The one mistake he made was the getting caught flat footed and out of position on the Twellman goal. He obviously was expecting the Burn approach at forward of always settling the ball before taking the shot.
WOW, the shoot first, ask questions later approach. What a novel idea. Are you listening, VACA, RHINE, et.al.......