Apparently, Sandon didn't get the chance to do his typical rundown, so here's an update on who played. New England 1 - Columbus 2 Buddle: Left in first half with "upper thigh" injury. I think he's expected to be out for a little while. Martino: Played 90 minutes ... was jarred but not injured by a nasty foul from Franchino. DC 0 - Chicago 0 Quaranta: Subbed out in minute 66 Eskandarian: Came on for Quaranta but left in minute 82 after knocking heads with Convey Convey: Played 100 mins, apparently at left back Stokes & Carroll: on subs bench Pause: Played full 100, yellow card Beasley: Played full 100 Jaqua: Came on in minute 70 Gray: Came on for overtime Mapp: Came on for second overtime New York 1, LA 1 Clark: 100 mins. Did he play right mid the whole game? Magee: started, subbed out in minute 47 Arena, LeBlanc, Regan: On subs bench SJ 1, KC 1 Donovan: 100 mins, assist Alvarez: Came on in minute 85, made a couple of terrific plays Burciaga:100 mins Saunders, Walker: On subs bench Keeper notes... -- I think DJ Countess is expected to miss a couple of games with a muscle tear. -- With Pat Onstad struggling in San Jose, will Josh Saunders get a chance to play? -- Perhaps it makes more sense for U-23 keepers to take the A-League route. While Warren and Saunders are sitting the bench, Spiteri is likely to be starting in Portland.
Thanks for doing this, I've been really busy and didn't have time. I was actually gonna do it today but now I don't have to. I agree about the A-League route for GKs. Garlick, Busch, Popik, Cannon, Vallow, Hahnemann, even Tim Howard, started their careers in the USL before landing in MLS. BTW, U23 player David Testo is starting for Richmond in the A-League.
The only game that I could get on TV at school was the Crew/Rev game so thats the only one I can comment on. Well we missed the first 27 minutes of the game but we all got to watch one nasty chick beat a butch chick in womens tennis. IT WAS AWESOME WITH A CAPITAL A BABY! and by that I mean it blew real hard. I didn't get to see Buddle play for too long because of the tennis match. The way he was acting was a lot like the way Countess was acting after he got hurt. I haven't heard anything yet about the injury but Im willing to bet he won't be playing this weekend. Martino looked real solid once again in the play making role. He worked some real nice combinations with other players and held the ball nicely. He also got off a couple of great shots one being a first time volley that just went wide but surprised Brown and the Rev defense. He did miss his second 1 v 1 with the keeper this season when Brown made a sprawling save after Martino was sent in alone. The Rev defenders were showing Martino the respect that he has been getting all season with a couple of real hard knocks. Franchino's tackle was real dirty, but he appeared to shake it off and played fine thereafter
Martino was very impressive. In a contrast from the LA game, where he created offense by beating bunkered LA defenders off the dribble, Saturday he was going all over the field to escape the attentions of Hernandez and Cullen, receiving the ball, and quickly sending through balls behind the Rev defense. He was killing them on the counter, and it only got worse when Jeff Cunningham came on for him to pass to. Metros, for the first half at least, played more of a 4 man box midfield with Mathis and Guevara in front of Williams and Clark. Chris Leitch and Digi did a lot of overlapping from the left and right back positions, respectively. 2nd half they pulled Magee and added Zadie, push Mathis up to to make a traditional 3-5-2 with Clark between Guevara and Williams. Clark played well. Countess says he's going to start this weekend. We'll see. Alvarez looked awesome beating people 1 on 1 or even 1 on 2 out on the flank, but proceeded to follow those plays up by deciding to dribble through about 4 guys in the KC box instead of dishing it off. Lost every time. Was that Burciaga getting beat over and over again by Mullan in the second half? I couldn't tell. Is Brad Davis eligible for the Olympic team?
From what I remember of the Metro's match Clint spent the first half on the right side, Clark was more in the middle or the left side. He made great runs with the ball all game, separating from defenders with one or two steps after he receives the ball. He seems to be able to find the open space with the ball without taking defenders on by going right at them, He simply shifts his body and as the defender turns Clark sprints into the open. I'm starting to wonder why Hudson made it seem that Esky was the only real choice for the number one pick.
Fire DC Game On the 23s in the Fire DC Game: --Quaranta was neutralized by CJ Brown. A non factor in this game. I don't think he even got a shot off. This does not bode well. --Poor Escandarian. The tumble was the result of 3-way collision, instigated by Convey. --Convey really played more of outside midfield position. I thought he did some good things out there. He made one excellent near post carry, and sent the ball nicely across the six which Marco couldn't quite finish. Meanwhile, I don't think he and Quaranta have much of an understanding. --Logan Pause had an excellent game. I haven't seen Ricardo Clark play yet, but I wonder if the 23s will lose anything with Pause playing D-mid. The Fire threw out a single forward set with 5 mids, so Armas and Pause played a tandem d-mid setup. They were pretty effective stifling DC attacks. --Beasley was his usual self -- giving Petke and Nelsen fits with his speed and otherwise getting fouled...a lot. A whole lot. I think he suffered 8 fouls this game. NotAbbott told us on the Fire thread that the single season MLS Fouls Suffered record is held by Robert Donodoni -- 94 I think it was in 32 games. Well, DMB may break the 100 mark and it may NEVER be broken. Assuming none of HIS bones are broken over the course of this seaon. The peformances of Jacqua, Gray, and Mapp were non-eventful.
It seems like we have a lot of good players in our U-23 pool. What is the cut-off year? Will Mooch coach them? It seems that he would be a good choice. He was a good coach in MLS, he seems personable and calm and he knows the American players well. Colorado also made it to an MLS Cup final under him. At Colorado, it didn't seem like he brought out the best in his most skillful players. I'm thinking of Waldir and that Swedish midfielder who played for Arsenal. But maybe Waldir was overrated. And the Swedish midfielder was way past his prime. Here is a starting line-up: GK: Tim Howard Backs: Onyewu, Bocanegra, Cory Gibbs, Convey D-mid: Robbie Russell Mids: Martino, Donovan, DeMarcus Beasley FDs: Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson I've never seen Gibbs or Russell play. But I've heard good things about them, and they are playing at pretty high levels. What about John Thorrington? Is he eligible? I've been impressed with him. He is fast and takes players on.
Howarrd (79), Bocanegra (79), Gibbs (80), Russell (79) and Thorrington (79) are all too old for the U23/2004 Olympics. To be eligible for the U23 team, you have to be born on or after Jan. 1, 1981.