Time for Etchy to go!

agree/disagree

in a way i agree with you, but in another way i dont......i DO agree that he should be let go because his numbers have really declined since he won the mvp, but i do think he should stay because last season he showed us flashes that he still had what it takes, like that beautiful free kick vs the fire...... this season is going to be it for marco, i believe that if his teammates do well, you can believ that he will do good as well, also another good point to keep him is the fact that dc has not had a good team the past few seasons

 

I've decided to reserve judgment until next week but I suspect that the better question is going to be whether or nor there's anyone who doesn't think Etcheverry is past his expiriation date.

But, next week - go ahead and prove my suspicion wrong. I hope you do.

 

Leaving the fact that you look like a fine DC public school graduate behind; no, we don't know how to fill the gap that would be left if Marco left.

If there was a better line-up, and, please, don't fool yourself into thinking Convey could do the job, we would all be in support. Unfortunately, there isn't.

While I agree he is in decline, there are few who may be better.

 

I don't think you should judge his play on last year or this preseason either. First, we didn't have the kind of talent last season that we have this year. Let's see what he can do with some real players around him. Second, it's the preseason. Come Saturday we throw everything from the preseason out the window and get the regular season started. I'm not saying that we shouldn't let him go, I'm just saying that we need to see him in a few games that count and then decide.

 

i think i'll start the "csc must go" thread right away then...

 

[Paraphrasing George C. Scott in Dr. Strangelove]
We can't have a gapping gapacious gap!
[/Paraphrasing George C. Scott in Dr. Strangelove]

 

I'm waiting for one of the players to log on anonymously and start a certain BS poster "Must Go" thread such as this:

Bill-DC Must Go!

He's never there at the stadium early enough. He doesn't stand up and scream all the time. He doesn't throw enough confetti after a goal.

 

Were any of you at the richmond game? Marco was bar-none the worst player (after Chino came out) from either team on the pitch. He was a giant gaping hole in the midfield where convey, olsen, petke and nelsen would pass the ball to, only to have it disappear. Testo (a rookie for richmond) stole it from him repeatedly He took 45 minutes to switch it from his right to his left foot so he could pass it, by which time the breakdowns in richmond had been covered. He was the reason Stewie was nearly screaming in frustration at the match and why Ryan slapped the crap out of the richmond player. Right now, plain and simple, he is a cancer on morale. Say what you will about stoich's tackle, at least his teammates believe he can make the passes to them.
As for not having a replacement for Marco, stoich can more than adequately part-time it and Earnie should be a midfielder anyway since
1. his best shot is a long range bomb
2. he's played midflied his whole career
3. he scored 11 goals last year with NAC as a midfielder
4. the best striker in the world will never score if he doesn't touch the ball.

If Marco plays more than 45 minutes for more than 5 games this season, I will have to assume that the cold froze ray's brain. At what point do you bench marco? He has long since give up playing defense, which was fine when he played offense, but now he only uses his left leg, making him 1/4 a player. Bench him! Don't even suit him up!

 

I too want to hold off on completely throwing in the towel on Etch. I want to see what happens in, at the very least, the first match. I have also been extremely discouraged at his play in the pre-season, he continues to slow the play down almost dragging it to a halt, and making it very easy for even lowly A-league teams to pick the ball off him. Set pieces have also gone wasted due to the same tired mess. But it is pre season, it does not count for crap. That may just be clinging on to the last ounce of hope I have left but we'll see. As of right now he seems like a waste of money and space in the line up. But we will know for sure starting saturday. It is true Marco should probably take a seat but that's not going to happen, yet. I just hope he does not prove us all right, that we have been wasting our time and are now into the season having to find someone to step up and do his job.

 

Maybe its time for somebody to pull a Tanya Harding on the poor bastard and put him out of his misery.

If we took Marco out, we could put either Convey or Stewart in his place and then start Esky and 'Tino up top.

 

The leader in points on the team last year was Marco Antonio Etcheverry:

http://www.mlsnet.com/statistics/tmstats.html#dc

He also led the team in game-winning goals (3). And game-winning assists (3).

 

Thats not saying much...Ali Curtis had 3 fewer points in 1200 fewer minutes on the pitch..

 

i personally believe we ought to save violence for people not on our roster--opposing players, fans and referees.

also i agree Bill-DC must go !

 

Now you see what I think of Ali Curtis.................

-I LOVE Ali Curtis. I think he's perhaps the most underrated player on our team. He's wild but he's fast and very threatening. I only hope he's as hungry this year as last. Clearly his stats are exemplary........

-Ali Curtis plays forward so he's supposed to score more goals.

-Diablo plays midfield 8 assists which are 3 greater than the next midfielder who is....ahh.....PETER VILLEGAS at 5!!

-What about SIX game winning goals and assists?? That DIRECTLY accounts for SIX of our NINE wins-an incredible TWO THIRDS!!

-What about the all-star game at RFK. MVP

 

That was because it rained so hard that any and all speed disappered from the game.

 

I for one was very disappointed in Marco's play saturday.
His passing was way off. He again is holding the ball WAY too long. That stuff along the sideline late in the first half was awful. It's like he forgets where he is and what color his team is wearing.

No doubt, the man has awesome history.
Perhaps in the past he was a much more effective leader and sparking force.

I also don't see the leadership in playing injured last season, vis-a-vis the knee. Get it fixed heal fast and come back tough and hungry, not play half-ass and dogging it, due to pain.

Mark

 

All-star games don't mean ************. You are kidding yourself if you think they prove anything about a players ability to perform in a competition where points are at stake. They mean nothing and I personally think they are ridiculous. No one plays as hard and as tough in that spectacle where they will end the game early for some bimbo pop star. It is no secret that Etch is held to a higher standard at times. That's why he's paid the way he is. He has been looked to to set the standard and pace of our game to a certain extent. When a player(captain no less) has a large role with added responsibilities more is expected. He is not performing at the level he once was. Most everyone has been able to see that. Stats and numbers aren't the only thing that makes up a football player. Ali Curtis while proving to be an excelent player off the bench scoring some very key goals has not been a proven starter. I think he is valuable and should be kept but lets not get carried away with the super sub. Etch should get a chance as well but not a free pass to play or pretend to play the game, as it may be, solely based on his past acheivments. Which were not so hot last year. Bobby Convey earned only one fewer point than Marco and is generally regarded as the best man to relieve Marco when his time comes. Can he do the job? Most including myself tend to think so, even he does struggle a bit at first. Marco is looked to as captain, playmaker and as a leader at United. He has been great to us supporters over the years and I have the deepest respect for him but it comes down to what is best for United not Marco and his stats.

 

And so do preseason games. How about MLS Cups? Marco has 3 wins in that department. Who else on the team besides Stoitchkov and Olsen has an MLS Cup?? Prideaux? We can do the research..

I agree w/what you said earlier let's wait until the regular season games. Then if Diablo sucks the criticism will make more sense

I'll agree w/you Etch is looked to provide the standard TOO MUCH. But that is NOT his fault-that's the way the coaches are asking him to play. I've been asking SINCE THE LAST FEW GAMES OF LAST YEAR that Diablo and Convey play IN TANDEM in the middle just like at the end of last year-when that worked VERY WELL! Diablo is best when he has space and is NOT double-teamed, harassed, the center of attention-and has time to set up, pass, make decisions-he's DEADLY doing that that's what makes him THE DEVIL

I'm just withholding judgement until the FIRST REGULAR SEASON GAME like you said you are

 

Thank goodness the regular season is about to start. We are reduced to recycling old posts and old threads.

I, too, will wait until the regular season to see if Marco has any gas left in the tank. I realize that the tank in this case is part of the soccer equivalent of a Model T Ford, but let's give the guy a chance in a real game.

When the time comes for Marco to hang up the spikes, I don't think that DC ought to try to replace him in any simple sense. All sorts of successful teams function without a classic "number 10" as played by Marco. Los Angeles on Saturday had no one trying to imitate Cienfugeos. For the Crew, Martino was a lot closer to a classic central midfielder, but the real strength of the Crew was that Garcia or Buddle were equally capable of creating an attack. The Crew did not wait for Martino; they pushed the ball forward from all points of the compass.

When Marco's time comes, the answer should not necesarily be dropping someone in the same central slot, Bobby for example, and expecting them to be like Marco. A more balanced approach, with several players able to create, would be more likely to succeed, if only because DC does not have anyone else like Marco. Even if one player carries a heavier creative burden, he does not necessarily have to play in the middle. After all Beckham plays outside for Man U and he is the closest thing Man U has to a designated creative player.

 

Hey guys,

Besides the fact that we've just had this argument before about Etch... [.Knave please act as Mod and say something] let's at least wait till the first "game" of the season is over before we HANG THE CAPTAIN! Consider the following:

1. Marco was in fact the lead scorer last season (and many told me that was not much to brag about due to their record last season but the fact remains). He also won MVP of last year's (most recent) ALL STAR GAME...you guys forget that?

2. Marco's the Team Captain...give the man a chance! If he is unable to perform I will bet he will stand aside.

3. I don't believe anyone (not Stewart or Convey) can adequately fill Marco's shoes. Withy veteran Milton Reyes now out (TRAGIC) WE NEED ALL D.C. UNITED VETERANS ON THE FIELD....now is not the time to be hanging veteran players on meat hooks!

If Etch can't play anymore I'll be sad but I'll accept that judgment...but, as far as Marco is concerned, play on Diablo...... Bring back the D.C. United of old!

IntheNet

 

Once again, the All Star game MVP means nothing, espically last years when it was played on a soaked turf that eliminated the element of speed.

 

We've been down this road before, but it bears repeating. Etch was great until three seasons ago, now he's a black hole in midfield.

He slows the game looking for the golden bullet pass, he slows the game down by taking EVERY STINKING THROW-IN AND CORNER KICK, he slows the game down when he bitches at the ref because someone looked at him funny, he slows the game down by running back into our box to collect the ball and SLOWLY dribble upfield. Pre-season, exhibition, regular season - it doesn't matter.

Who else could do it, you say? Convey could, if given a few games to find his bearings. Earnie Stewart certainly could do it right now.

Sorry guys, we have no transition game or counter-attack because of Etch.

 

We are waiting to see Marco in regular season play because pre-season does not mean as much like you said, but those games are used as a measuring stick for line-ups, who starts who doesn't etc. Players can successfully play themselves into or right out of a teams starting line-up based on good or poor pre-season play. This is not the case with an All-star game where neither team is real or involved in continuous play. As far as MLS cups are concerned we know about Marco's past achievments. But not only Etch has 3 MLS cups, DC UNITED has 3 MLS cups. It took a lot more than him to secure those wins. And I admit it's taken more than his failed form to create our past 3 seaons of misery. But 3 MLS cups doesn't help us win a fourth, it is a fact that he is a huge factor and other teams aren't going to just give him space and time to play his game. He's slow and too much depends on him having the perfect conditions to play well. I'm United till I die but I, like everyone else am ready to show the rest of the league who we are again and that we are not to be ************ed with, and if any player, not just Marco, isn't doing their job then let's find someone or someway to get it done. I look foward to being pleasantly suprised by Marco on Saturday. Cheers.