I keep reading in various articles and BS postings about how "Dallas is packing it in" and "playing Route 1" this year. What do you guys think? I haven't been able to see much of the season thus far (see the ...I hate my cable company thread) so maybe I just don't have a good perspective. But it has seemed to me that the Burn are playing good defence and Valakari is playing well at d-mid. But it has also seemed to me (primarily from highlights and game reports - I was only at the Rapid opener) that the team has been pretty successful with possession as well. They have been playing a nice mix of build-out possession and quick counters. Am I incorrect because I haven't seen matches in their entireity? The Burn haven't scored a boat load of goals - and they are working on 3 consecutive shut-outs - I think these numbers are giving people the wrong impression that Dallas is playing bunker ball. I don't see that. I think the team has created dangerous chances and hasn't finished well or been unlucky. (I know, to open the season with four straight undefeated and be crying unlucky sounds illogical.) Have we been out-possessed in any game thus far? I got their late to Dal v. Col, but from what I saw Dallas had the run of play. Obviously we dominated possession in Chicago. I didn't see the KC game. In Cbus we definitely created the better chances, and it seemed to me that although the Crew had the occasional run of play, that the Burn had the majority of possession there too (although with the weather, that may be a bit of a stretch to say it was a possession game). What do you think? Is this Route One football? Or is that a mis-characterization due to the goal stats?
It seems like Coach Clarke is mixing it up depending on the opponent, which is what any good coach should do. Its just that, when we have scored goals, they have been a result of quick counters, and that's what people see. It seemed like in the Chicago game, we played bunker ball in the second half, particularly after going up 2-0. But other then that, there have been definite attempts to move the ball through the midfield. I just think, at this point of the season anyway, we've been more succesful with the long pass out of the back, then with slow build up through the midfield. But I wouldn't say the team isn't trying.
I think it's the latter. The KC game was pretty even, as far as possession and chances go. Really, only the last 10-15 minutes were Dallas packing it in, obviously trying to win a 1-0 game. But the others have been pretty much dominated by Dallas.
Dallas is pretty much trying to bring the ball up on the wings, not so much through the center. Once Oscar starts playing more often, we might see more up the middle. There have been some attempts at direct attack. I think this is a good thing, and it should be done four or five times a game. First, it keeps the defense from creeping up, and second, the Burn has the players to capitalize off this type of play. EJ has the speed to run past defenders and a 50/50 ball to Toni is more like an 80/20 ball. When Jason cracks the starting XI, the attempts at direct attack will decrease. Cheers! Sir Drinxalot
Why would anyone be complaining about anything right now? This is the best the Burn has been playing since the summer of 2002. I don't see bunker ball any more than what any other MLS team is doing. I think it's all relative anyway, and relatively speaking, the Burn is palying better than most any other MLS team.