United-San Jose Grades [R]

Rimando - 6

Ivanov - 5.5
Nelsen - 6
Petke - 6
Prideaux - 6

Olsen - 6
Kovalenko - 5.5
Etcheverry - 6.5
Quintanilla - 5.5

Stewart - 6
Cerritos - 6.5

I thought yet again the defensive effort was fantastic.. We did fall asleep however on the SJ goal as their play was perfectly executed and caught us ball watching instead of finding players to mark.. I thought Ivanov would have had a better rating had he not played it a little too casual in clearing that ball late on in the match.. I thought Kovalenko had a relatively quiet offensive night, but he is quickly becoming a force in the defensive midfield.. Etch played great on both ends of the field.. I can count on one hand the number of times I've said that in the past 8 years.. The Stewart/Cerritos combo is getting better and better with each game.. Good stuff all around tonight..

 

Rimando - 6
Ivanov - 6
Petke - 6.5
Nelsen - 7
Prideaux - 7
Quintanilla - 6
Kovalenko - 6.5
Etcheverry - 6
Olsen - 6.5
Stewart - 7
Cerritos - 7.5 MOTM

Convey 4.5 - started off and was headed for a 4 or less, but got his head in the game and appears ready to really play now.

 

Rimando 5
Ivanov 5
Petke 6
Nelsen 6
Prideaux 6.5
Quintanilla 5.5
Kovalenko 6
Etcheverry 6.5
Olsen 6
Stewart 6
Cerritos 5.5

Convey 4.5

 

Rimando - 6
Ivanov - 6
Petke - 6
Nelsen - 6
Prideaux -6.5
Quintanilla - 6
Kovalenko - 6
Etcheverry - 6.5
Olsen - 7
Stewart - 6
Cerritos - 6

Convey - 5.5

 

Rimando 6
Ivanov 6
Petke 6
Nelsen 6
Prideaux 6
Quintanilla 6
Kovalenko 6
Etcheverry 6
Olsen 6
Stewart 6
Cerritos 6

Convey 5

 

Rimando - 6 Not much asked of him
Ivanov - 5 Let SJ have too much space
Petke - 6 Good in the air, let a few players free
Nelsen - 6 solid in the middle, some clearances poor
Prideaux - 6.5 Solid all around
Quintanilla - 5.5 Good possession. Would have been higher, but I hate rolling around when injured.
Kovalenko - 6 Took the ball upfield all night
Etcheverry - 6 Really was working well
Olsen - 5.5 Lost midfield w/o Etch, but got a goal
Stewart - 6.5 First 10 minutes were on the 8-level. Great goal
Cerritos - 6.5 Caused danger all night. My MOTM.

Convey - 5.5 Fast, quick attacks followed by poor decisions.

 

Rimando - 6
Ivanov - 5.5
Petke - 6
Nelsen - 6
Prideaux - 6
Quintanilla - 5.5
Kovalenko - 6
Etcheverry - 5.5
Olsen - 6
Stewart - 6.5 MOTM 1
Cerritos - 6.5 MOTM 2

Convey - 5.5


Hudson - 6 (for both understanding that little timkering was needed with the lineup last night and for paiting Stewart with Cerritos)

 

Rimando - 5
Ivanov - 5
Petke - 6.5 a rock, got high for offensive headers
Nelsen - 6 jumped what, 11 feet in the air for what should have been an early goal
Prideaux - 6.5
Quintanilla - 6.5
Kovalenko - 6.5
Etcheverry - 7 crisp on-target passing and good defense and attitude
Olsen - 6.5
Stewart - 7
Cerritos - 7

Convey - 5 started to remind me how fast he was, got ignored by teammates when he made his first 4 runs

MOTM - team

 

Rimando - 5.5
Ivanov - 5
Petke - 6.5
Nelsen - 6
Prideaux - 7
Quintanilla - 6
Kovalenko - 7
Etcheverry - 7.25 fpr his 50 minutes
Olsen - 7
Stewart - 7
Cerritos - 7.25

Convey - 5

 

Rimando 5
Ivanov 5
Petke 6
Nelsen 7
Prideaux 7
Quintanilla 6
Kovalenko 6
Etcheverry 7
Olsen 7
Stewart 7
Cerritos 7 MOTM

Convey 6

 

Rimando 5
Ivanov 4.5
Petke 6.5
Nelsen 6.5
Prideaux 6
Quintanilla 5.5
Kovalenko 5.5
Etcheverry 6.5
Olsen 6.5
Stewart 6
Cerritos 6.5

Convey 4.5

 

Rimando - 5.5
Ivanov - 5.5
Petke - 6.5
Nelsen - 6.5
Prideaux - 7
Quintanilla - 7
Kovalenko - 7
Etcheverry - 6
Olsen - 5
Stewart - 5.5
Cerritos - 6

Convey - 6.5

 

Rimando- 5
Ivanov- 5
Petke- 7
Nelsen- 6
Prideaux- 6.5
Quintanilla- 6
Kovalenko- 5.5
Etcheverry- 6.5
Olsen- 6
Stewart- 7
Cerritos- 6.5

Convey- 5.5

 

I'm puzzled by the many extremely high ratings for Cerritos. He had a good game, particularly the assist to Stewart, and deserves a good rating, but he also mis-fired on -- was it three? -- excellent goal scoring opportunities, heading the ball wide or over the net.

Some folks seem more forgiving of this than they were when Esky mis-headed a ball. He was scorched.

 

As for me I have been a defender of Eski in the "headball incident" (note: as it seems to have grown a life of it's own here on bs.com). For me it was more about a dual grade for Stewart and Cerritos and the partnership they semed to have formed. I made mention at the game to several people that this is the most potent striking duo United has had for oh about 5 or 6 years. Everyone can do the math and figure that one out on their own.

 

I'm puzzled by the mostly very low grades for Convey. Yes he made some unfortunate decisions in front of goal, but he held the ball well with patience in the middle, and then had fine runs going forward. A steady, promising showing, IMHO.

 

I'm pretty sure that Cerritos mis-fired on only one heading attempt tonight: Etch hit him in the head with a 30 yd diagonal ball that came across Ronald's body from left to right. He tried to redirect it to the near post and missed by about five yards.

The header that Esky choked vs the scum was a ball that had a much more favorable trajectory -- more in front of him, and he was completely unmarked. He was in the right place at the right time, but did not execute an elementary play.

I hope several of you are right about seeing Convey playing well in the closing minutes. I saw some promise, but I think he is still reintegrating himself into the tream. My recollection of the game was that Convey was our weakest midfielder in that game. His effort at getting around Goose was very good but then he reverted to his old (lack of) finishing skills. I wish he would have slotted that ball like the one he did in the Gold Cup. On that play, Rongen also speculated that he didn't even see Cheyo and Cerritos far post opportunities. Another thing that I liked about that play was that he got himself open and demanded the ball, which wall smartly delivered to him in stride. I'm hoping that his communication with his fellow players improves 100% and that he finds his finishing touch, because we're going to need him.

Hopefully the relationship that he's developed with Stewart on the USMNT will help him.

GM

 

Rimando - 6 (quiet 1st half)
Ivanov - 6
Petke - 6.5
Nelsen - 6.5
Prideaux - 7
Quintanilla - 7
Kovalenko - 6.5
Etcheverry - 7 (what a slide tacle!)
Olsen - 7
Stewart - 7
Cerritos - 7

Convey - 6

Subs - 4 (Only one for injury, but needed maybe Namoff for Q2 or Olsen in the last 5-10 minutes? Even though Benny scored They ran their arses off.)