http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36058-2002Sep18.html A nice preview of the Big Game. At the end of the article, Ray comments on Jaime, who, in an effort to stay one step ahead of Clint Mathis, has been seeing a sports psychologist of late: Heh. Sure hope my wife doesn't make sure I have a "serious, regimented offseason."
Looking at the Post's Web site tonight, it shows the United story appearing on Page D10, the Caps exhibition game story appearing on Page D1! What's the deal? The United game means something, the Caps game means nothing. Is the sports editor paying attention???
It's something I've learned to just roll with. I mean, it's the end of a ,by almost all measures, terrible season, and we still have a shot at the playoffs. We have Steven Goff, and he's written us a good gameday article. That's good for me! Not trading Jaime huh? Does that mean cutting Jaime??? I love the guy, but unless he can show the commitment that Etch has over this season, he should be the one gone.
And surprise surprise... NO article in the WASH Times... Maybe tommorrow but I doubt it. Ken Wright is apparently covering the beach volleyball circuit these days in another misguided attempt to insult DC United. p.s. does anyone care about Alavanja?
Yes. What with him being a fellow human being and a DC United player (even if he isn't one of my favorite ones) I hate to see him hurt.
Thanks for the link EdTheRed! Thank you for the great article Mr. Goff! I am very happy with Mr. Hudson's quote concerning Jaime. Let's BRING IT to the game tonight!
Don't hold your breath. Too bad about Lazo. Team has been terrible so even though this game could get us in the playoffs, we do not deserve page 1.
Man, keep your personal life off these boards would you...I don't care what you and your wife get up to. Tim
1. The comment about "does anyone care about Alavanja?" is a cheap shot. We can have opinions about players and their value but that all ends when we're talking injuries, careers, and even serious threats to their health. I prefer Rimando over Amman but I feel sorry for Mike and hope he doesn't have to retire b/c of the nerve damage he's suffered. I hope Alavanja has a quick and complete recovery. Then we'll talk about his value or role for next year. 2. Hudson plays head games with players. 2 months ago, he calls all the "ring players" (the guys with championship rings) into his office to tell them they've got to carry the team now--show what they're made of. For a young Santino Quaranta, he spends the whole year talking about how high he is about him, how he's going to be a star. For a tough Ryan Nelsen, he directly challenges him--accuses him of playing soft, not being assertive, not having grit, not stepping up to the challenge. So Nelsen than has the best performance (for an entire season) of any of our defenders (and Hudson then acknowledges that). I think Ray is trying to find the right buttons to push for Moreno--whether to push him or sweet-talk him. 3. A revealing point (in Dyson's previous practice notes). Hudson talked about how all along he's wanted to play 5 in midfield (or 4 with Etcheverry or Convey as a withdraw forward) and 3 in the back. I don't think we played that earlier--partially b/c Reyes wasn't disciplined enough, Pope (who is key b/c of his size, range, technical ability) was gone, Nelsen missed a month in NZ. But the backline has now shown they can play with 3 back. And we're seeing what Etcheverry can do when he doesn't have to cover as much ground and Convey has a foil in the middle of the field. That's an awfully dangerous combo in the center of the pitch. 4. Anyone notice the WPost projected starting lineups? Alegria in, Villegas out. Now, Goff could be wrong but Stephen is usually right about these things. I wonder....though I like Convey's work in the middle with MAE, if there is a game where we need to attack down the flanks, this is it. I wonder if it's Alegria in for Villegas on the flank. OR, Convey moves to left outside and Alegria plays a holding mid of sorts? 5. I actually found the Post article on the backpage to be a good thing. Look at what is often on the backpage--not the afterthoughts but stuff you'd have thought was page 1 or page 2. Folks, keep in mind--if you're on the metro or in an elevator, the easiest pages to read are page 1 and the back page. Plus, if someone is reading page 1, then other people see the back page. I've got no problem being on page 10. PLUS, I bet if you check different editions of the Post for today, you'd discover that while the article length, pictures and placement of stories differs with each edition, the front and back pages are set. That's my thinking anyway....so I'm not upset about being on the backpage.
If this happens (Villegas to the bench, Convey to the left and Alegria in) then I'd say that Hudson is once again overcoaching, like when he has put Olsen at forward. Chino should be thought of as a d-mid type, period. Not a winger certainly, because of his speed. And Villegas is much better at attacking the other team than Chino is. Taking Convey out of the middle takes us back to what happened most of the season when Etch had to carry the offensive load by himself. If Convey moves to the wing then you 1) get only somewhat better attacking capabilities than you get with Villegas, and you lower your offence with Alegria helping out Etch in the middle. Bad move if it happens. Which I doubt.
Exactly. Taking Convey and Diablo out of the shared center midfield roles that they're both flourishing in would be incredibly boneheaded
Moreno's and Diablo's contracts end after this year? Diablo will refuse to take less money? If confirmed (again this is the Times), then oh my.......they both may be gone
The Times article also mentions that Nelsen has a third year option by the league on his contract and that he wouldn't play in MLS next year at his current salary.
I think the salary implications are this. A few folks have been arguing that Amman's salary is sufficient to handle any pay increases. I don't know if $100K will handle the pay increases for Quaranta (who even if he were to be paid the minimum--and he won't be--doesn't count at all on the cap now and will count next year), Rimando and Nelsen (assuming he's invited back). I think all 3 are bargains and provide good value even if they got their salaries doubled (which would take us over $100K). That means that any other player acquisitions have to be replacements (ie: cut a Namoff and replace him with someone making the minimum, cut a McKinley and replace him with someone making $40K)--a strategy that will have almost no positive impact on the team b/c we aren't going to add a player making the minimum from the A-League or Carribean who will score 20 goals for us or be our midfield general. We're looking at probably replacing Etcheverry, Moreno and maybe even Pope. Ironically, while we've been lambasting Wright for getting it wrong, I do think he got it right in this case. I don't think the decisions have been made for sure (though Hudson may have strong opinions). But Hudson's point about "maximum salary players need to provide 5-star performances 90% of the time" is spot-on. And I don't know if Pope, Etcheverry and Moreno can do that any more. They're all great players and I'd love to keep them. But I want to have a winning record even more.
Well there ya go. For all the ragging you guys like to do on Mr. Wright, this article seems to nail all of the relevant points. It's actually pretty depressing. Somehow other teams manage to make the cap work. But as is noted, the key is getting those max salary guys to play and play well. Hudson does play a lot of head games, but if he's really being truthful about doing what needs to be done in the long run it will be in the best interest of the club. It would be a shame though if we've already seen the last of Moreno and tonight could Marco's last game. I feel the need for closure I guess.
Disagree completely. At one point this offseason, Colorado had 7 players on their roster. Spawn of Satan--at one point--had no outside mids. Columbus gave away T-Bone Bonseu for cap reasons. They are likely to give away someone from this group after the season ends: McBride, Cunningham, West, Washington--just release them outright or trade for "future considerations". SJ, in the dispersal draft, went for "Devin Barclay" (who, regardless of what you think of his potential, is P-40 and cap exempt--which is why they went for him rather than someone they could have actually played). The problem isn't with DCU's cap management. We have 2 problems. 1. Player salaries have exploded the past 7 years while the cap hasn't grown in several years. That means that most teams can afford 2-3 "stars" (max. salary players--less than what Joe Max Moore makes as a reserve for Everton or Jovan Kirovski with a newly promoted Birmingham), a couple of middle range players (ala Convey making $70K or Prideaux), then a bunch of guys making league minimum and P-40 or developmental slots to provide some bodies. 2. Our stars have played well but haven't been dominant and more importantly, haven't been on the field. So much of the season, we've fielded a roster with a $800K cap, while other teams have been playing with a $1.7million or $1.45 million cap. Chicago has been in much the same boat as us (with Armas, Stoichkov, and Nowak all hurt). They do a great job drafting, have excellent young talent, are well coached, a great organization, play smart soccer, and they may not make the playoffs this year.
In all this "cap" talk I wonder whether MLS is going to change.... A) the cap, perhaps to 1.8 or 1.9. B) the rediculous roster of 18 (+4). C) the reserve structure and create "true" reserve teams that reserves could get games with and get called up to the first team. I expect at least 1 of these will change in the off season.
Not to get too OT, but is there really such a thing as a "sports psychologist" in the same way that there are other doctors who specialize in sports medicine? Or are these just your regular, everyday shrinks who are referred to as "sports psychologists" when athletes go see them?
Yes, there are. see http://www.apa.org/about/division/div47.html for the national organization of sport psychologists. These folks work to help athlete's focus and improve performance. They work more on "increasing performance" (using imagery, meditation, focusing, etc.) than "getting rid of problems" which are the main reason other folks see a psychologist.
Several NHL teams use them. They profile the players during training camp, check in with them once or twice during the season, and then in post-seaon.