It's been hard watching three games in a row that were imminently winnable, only to see the Quakes go down to defeat. Why does a team dominate in possession, only to fail in the attacking third? I think (just my opinion) that the Quakes are focusing their attack too close to the goal, allowing the defense too much time to drop back in numbers and clog the penalty area. I would like to see the Quakes setting up more shots from longer distance, earlier in the attack. I think Corralles, Lagos and Ekelund especially need to think about pulling the trigger sooner, rather than later. Shoot sooner, and from farther out. Why? 1) Catch the goalie in a less prepared position 2) Unpredictable deflections = opportunistic goals 3) Draw defenders out of the penalty area, where they can be beat more easily by Donovan and Grazziani's skill, or by Russell's speed 4) Drawing defenders out makes Ibsen and Barrett's overlaps and crosses more effective 5) Drawing defenders out makes through-balls to Donovan and Grazziani more likely. Last night was frustrating, watching the Quakes hold the ball when they should have been juking and shooting. Like someone said after Sunday's game: no shoot, no score. Comments?
I have a question about your free kicks. When Goose was in DC we used to laugh at him shooting because he always shot over the goal by far. I know he scored the great free kick goal for the US in this years Gold Cup but do you really think he is your best option to take them?? I would put Landon and Ekelund ahead of him right now. That one after the foul on Lagos was a joke. Touch, stop, and then blocked easily by the Crew. Just wondering what you guys who see the team all the time think.
He also scored a blinder of a free kick in a nasty, swirling wind up in Sacramento against CD Olimpia of Honduras in the FC Champions Cup earlier this year. But, getting back to the question at hand, "What should the Quakes practice before Saturday?" A: Their golf swings.
Ekelund is our best free kick guy but Agoos isn't bad. He cracked one last night that was destined for the back of the net but it drilled Oughton instead.
Yalp, if you're going to go there, I'd recommend Transcendental Meditation. They go together. Of course, I don't know what the results would be given the short notice. Given the short, notice, however, I'd say "just shoot the damned thing."
They should practice yelling at the ref. They have been doing lots of it in the last bunch of games, and yet have never convinced him to overturn a call. Maybe if they yell harder, and spit more, and get even redder in the face they can get some reversals.
Hey! I was serious! It would give them the edge they need when it comes to dealing with those lousy calls/non-calls. See, it would help them keep their heads in the game and channel their frustration more constructively and maybe get back to the task at hand which is making the Crew's goal net ripple from beautiful shots. They need to imagine that awesome sound the net makes when it happens. Don't they?
> OK, albany and yalpstel can enter the "serious" > club. The bouncers will bounce spejic at the door. I would not want to be part of any club that would have me as a member.
Shuffle their lineup. GK: Donovan Barrett Graziani Mulrooney Bower Robinson Roner Ibsen Barclay Gonzalez Dayak
"One with the universe, nothing matters. One with the universe, nothing matters." -Dave "Killer" Carlson in "Slap Shot"
Something that has bothered me since yesterday when we were in the rally tunnel line. Anyone that was there, please tell me I am wrong if you think so. The guys just did not have the intensity in their faces that they did one year ago in the second game after coming back from the first victory in Columbus (CQ did a rally tunnel then, too). Last year the so-called "game face" was very strong. I didn't feel it as much this time.
1) SHOOT THE F-ING BALL! 2) Stop lobbing long balls into the opponent's box. If anyone's even there to receive them, we're not that good in the air (too short, too timid?). I say short controlled passes through the mid and speed dribbling into the box. Draw some fouls or -- dare I dream? -- a PK. (Yeah, like that'll happen...)