It's conspiracy theory time, only this one is the truth. Basically it comes down to this: MLS already knows that DC is getting Freddy Adu next year. They also know that they have to make it look somewhat realistic and justifiable to do so. The easiest way to do this would be through the use of a 'You Suck Allocation.' Of course, the only way you can get one of these Allocations is by well, actually sucking. Sure you can get one through a trade, but that's a little too complicated for this far in advance. So now DC United has a mandate from MLS to suck. It's the only way to explain it. If you don't believe me, look how well DC United played the entire game tonight when they were down by 2 goals. When we were down 1 or tied, we sucked, as if we were throwing the game. When we were down 2, and an immediate comeback was not possible, great football was being played. So as it is, MLS has us sucking until we are so blatantly out of the playoff picture (within a fortnight) that our team can finally 'gel' (like it would've taken this long..) and we go on another mid to late season tear that just brings us close enough to the playoffs for a little respect (of course it is harder for us in the reborn East vs. West format) and then the season is over. Allocation granted, and Adu is with us next year. The question now is, will this all be worth it?
Doesn't DCU get an allocation if one of their 'marquee players' (i.e. MAE) retires or moves to another team after the season? Goff was kinda coy in a pre-season chat about that exact scenario
I don't think there's a conspiracy ... I just think the team is worse than the other 9, so they're bound to finish last. Hey, at least they're not underachieving.
So your team is sucking on purpose so they can have the rights to a 14 yr old wonder? Someone throw the poor lad a rope.
Ok, I read it 5 times and I don't get it. The players play harder down 2 goals or they only are allowed to try after they spot the other team a couple. But they don't want to, but they do so that they can have Adu sitting on the bench for next season? Try to swim to the side and hold on, help is on the way.
Heh. No it isn't. I'm with Ed on this one. We just suck. It ain't going to be a pretty year. But I defy any poster on this board to come up with a single available coach who could do better with this pile of crap than Ray is doing. It's not that I think Ray is doing a decent job. I just don't see what good firing Ray does except placate a bunch of hotheaded, maladjusted, inbred, sheepshagging internet chatboard posters. Oh wait ... I forgot that MLS' entire reason for existence is to placate a bunch of hotheaded, maladjusted, inbred, sheepshagging internet chatboard posters. My bad. Carry on!
Maybe it's because I don't post as much as the others... maybe it's because I have only been able to follow the team through WMET... maybe it's because I'm French... But I think that we suck BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DAMN STRIKER!
I see a bunch of reasons why we're getting the results we are: 1. No true striker/finisher. Eskandarian may become one in time. But even then he's short. We aren't good enough right now to also field a team that has no aerial presence in front of goal. It's like a mediocre team also insisting that for the next game they will only use their left legs to shoot and pass with. Right now, we are depending on scoring goals by committee (which assumes a flowing attack--which ain't there). 2. No confident forward. Stewart might have been that man but isn't. Stoichkov is aging and in a new role and team anyway (though he's probably the most confident and assertive of the bunch). The rest of the crew (Quaranta, Curtis, Eskandarian) is young and still growing. The result: no-one gets a lot of minutes, players feel they will get jerked on a whim. Players try something for a few minutes (say, diagonal runs) and then stop when they're not rewarded. The two positions you really need confidence at more than any others I think, are: striker and goalkeeper. A tentative GK (ie: Tom Presthus in 2000) is a disaster. A tentative forward is always a step behind, never reaches through balls, never takes risks, does nothing audiacious. 3. Unclear roles. Granted the team is new. But a preseason and 3-4 games is sufficient to right that issue (ie: see the Metro for a case in point). And injuries have been in issue (but they've been more of an issue on defense than attack where Prideaux, Rimando, Ivanov, Reyes have all gone down--yet the defense has generally been outstanding). People shift positions and roles (Stewart as target man, withdrawn forward, holding mid, A-mid, winger as just one example for this season). When roles are unclear, the teams looks hesitant (b/c there is no instinctive, automatic action) so everything is slower (and thus easier to stop). When roles are unclear, balls look errant (long balls over the top no-one is running to, the ball to the sidelines that rolls out b/c the outside man cut inside, the cross to the far post when the runner went to the near post). When roles are unclear, people defer responsibility (taking one pass too many, not shooting from outside, passing back or making square balls). As a result, we look like disorganized dog c**p on most possessions when we get to the attacking third. 4. Play too slow to develop. Marco (who at least is willing to take on responsibility) is a factor here. The team's lack of confidence and unclear roles is a big factor here. Losing Reyes is a factor as well (the absence of surging force down the sidelines means we move into the attack much slower). Olsen has played tentatively (don't know how much is his role--being asked to defend and how much is injuries or lack of confidence on his part). All of this means we never have numbers on our side.
We just plain suck. There isn't anything else to say about our team. Oh and Earnie Stewart is the biggest disappointment since Lothar.
Dude, Karma. 4 years of 3 championships and 1 runners up medal 4 years of missing the playoffs. Next year we won't suck. If we do, then 2005 will be our year.
why we suck We suck because marco isnt getting it done. We suck because stoich is a brutal hack. We suck because we are demoralized beyond repair. We suck because Reyes is out for the year. We suck because we dont shoot the fripping ball.
Plain and simple: We suck cause we have 11 individuals out there and not 1 team. 11 guys running around with seemingly no clue about what everyone else is doing. Nobody (other than Convey and Nelsen) stepping his game up to the next level (some call it "making the leap") but no one is doing it. Olsen is playing horribly. So is Stewart. Our forwards aren't producing. Rimando is letting in goals he never let before. We've got one guy (Bobbito) running his ass off allover the field while everyone else j*acks off. I watched a replay of the game from last night and after Deering's tackle on Bobby, he never was the same, but he still busted his ass to get 2 goals. You can see him struggling to move before his 2nd goal. He was hurt and exhausted, but still dug deep enough to make 2 outstanding runs that nearly yielded 2 goals in the last 10 minutes. Leadership by example from a 19 year old. It'd be nice if the 34 year olds would follow.
That's unfair. Lothar Mattheus showed up expecting a vacation. When hurt, he disappeared to the Riviera. He went clubbing with his girlfriend. Lothar was arrogant and a lousy example to his teammates. Earnie Stewart is none of those things. Whether he pans out as a player will remain to be seen. But do not mention him in the same breath with Lothar Mattheus. The signing of Mattheus was an MLS disaster b/c the player was a jerk. That is not Stewart (who is a legitimate hero for the USMNT). That may not ease the frustration that many of us feel but to put this in perspective, imagine if Hristo was making MLS max, we were forced to start him every match, and he didn't hustle or demonstrate ANY concern for the league? Hristo has enough detractors among our fans anyway, at least he isn't as bad as Lothar was in his time. Be disappointed in Earnie's contributions so far. But let's keep this in perspective.
Ray assembled this pile of crap. If the team sucks, it is his fault. I don't understand how the team playing horrible and having no hope of getting better is doing a descent job. I would guess half of the division 1 coaches would have put together a better team then this.
Are Ernie's hands super-glued to his head? In time this can be a good team. Bobby's getting ready to wear the Captains armband the way he's playing. If he could pass on his determination to the other 9 on the field (Nelsen brings his own!) we'd do all right! One question for anyone to answer, exactly when did this sucking start? Did some player/coach leave and put a hex on the team? Can we buy whomever it was a Pabst Blue Ribbon and we call it even?!?! Please!
Ok, back to the original post. There is a lot of agreement from the bleachers here that there is no Conspiracy Theory . Your team just plain sucks, thanks for the input.
I think there are a lot of factors: Rimando missing some easy saves that he made the last 2 years. Olsen and Stewart not playing nearly as well as I've seen them play in the past. I hoped for more from Eskandarian, Stoichkov, and Kovalenko. It might have been asking a lot from those guys though... Reyes, Etcheverry, and Quaranta's injuries have hurt. We've gotten a few tough calls and a little bit of bad luck. In a season the calls and luck often even out. The injuires sometimes even out between teams and sometimes don't. As for the poor play from Rimando, Stewart, and Olsen they've got to work on that themselves. I think Losing Eddie Pope hurt in more ways than we know.