Post Game: DC United 0, RSL 0
By: jon |
2 Comments
Like kissing your sister, as long as your sister isn’t hot, or a good kisser.
The thing you’ll hear most from any reports you’re bound to read about this match is that Josh Wicks did well, and RSL bunkered. Honestly, that’s about all I could tell you about it, too. DC started out bad, and finished bad.
Fred is continuing his habit of squandering easy chances that need burying. He did well at creating, but that’s not his role, or it shouldn’t be. He was a league scoring champion in Australia, and he’s putting himself in good positions, but he’s just been snakebitten. For like, 2 years. I would say this is the last year he should be in the Black and the Red at his salary, unless he starts putting them away at a prodigious rate.
Jaime was ineffective, and I was glad that Tommy pulled him when he did. Due to the way that RSL had set up, you need an active and physical presence up top, and when Jaime is not supercharged, he is neither physical or active. I wanted N’Silu to get more than a late cameo, as he didn’t have time to settle into the game. He will have to get better at that, because I don’t see him as starting 11 player.
Tino did okay, having decided to play provider at almost all times. Whereas last year I had to yell at him to pass up the shot, that is very much not the case this year. I’d like to see him more aggressive in the final third.
The backline was phenomenal. Jakovic is not long for this league, mark my words. Namoff and Burch, to a lesser degree, were dominant. Combine that defensive presence and goalkeeping against a team with some interest in attacking and you have a recipe for a United victory.
I would be remiss if I didn’t single out Josh Wicks for kudos. I’ll admit, when I saw him in the starting 11, I said, “Well, we won’t see Crayton ever again, then.” I’ll stick by that. I’m pretty sure, as I’ve said before, his mixture of high salary, average performance, and attitude are making him be exit bound. If we can get this kind of performance out of some combination of Wicks and Kocic, we’ll be okay. I’m sure we’d all like to see a more steady hand back there, but we’ll see what the summer window brings us.
I’ve kind of fallen off the map here, and I apologize. I was looking for a co-blogger, but I haven’t really been seeing any output. So, I’ll get back to business here and give you folks something to read at work.
Non Sequitur: A cool post about Dunny’s trip to RFK.
DC United against Real Madrid Aug 9th Confirmed
By: jon | 5 Comments
More in a minute.
The much rumored game between DC United and Real Madrid is now official, and will be played at FedEx Field on August 9th. Tickets go on sale next Tuesday. BE EXCITED.
Category: DC United Team NewsDC United vs NYRB Open Cup Play In Match Pregame Thread (UPDATED)
By: jon | Add Comments
After vanquishing FC Dallas at home a few weeks back, our Reserve squad will again look to beat NYRB at home in the second of two US Open Cup play-in matches. I can’t say for sure, but I’d imagine in the thirst for finally getting a trophy, the NYRB plays the big boys to knock us out of the competition. Not sure if it’ll work, but it could.
I see Josh Wicks getting a start, as he’s supposedly in good shape and hasn’t had a sniff lately. Crayton did not have a great game away at Chivas, and Kocic is still not the finished article. I won’t be surprised to see Kocic in nets, but my gut tells me Wicks gets the start.
Also likely to get some PT, Barklage and Peters who were left behind for the Chivas match, and possibly Janicki if his health checks out, and Boyzzz after his last strong shift at home against Dallas. I’d also like to see Ange N’Silu go the full 90.
Ben Olsen is definitely out after re injuring his hamstring at Chivas, and will most likely be out for a while (as a side note, I definitely see this as Olsen’s last season, especially if he’s not willing to take a dramatic pay cut).
The rest of my projected lineup:
Wicks
Namoff Jakovic John
Jacobson Simms
Quaranta Barklage Wallace
N’Silu Emilio
Links:
Here’s Ives’ take on the rematch, and NYRB seems to have taken the 3-2 comeback at Giants Stadium personally.
The New York Daily News takes the same “revenge” angle, this time with the quotes being provided by Carlos Mendes.
NY Post preview.
Charles Boehm for MLSNET writes about our Goalkeeping Carousel. He also writes a regular preview, concluding as I do, that this match is one for the youngsters.
Category: DC United Team NewsYou’re the Boss: Goalkeeper Conundrum
By: jon | 5 Comments
This is part 1 in a…multi part series where we’ll go over a situation that needs to be addressed by the Front Office or Tommy and lay out the pros and cons, and ask you to decide.
Today’s issue: the goalie position.
As I wrote earlier, Louis Crayton appears to be on the outs. Both from my sources and from Martin Fernandez from United Mania, Crayton appears to be rubbing people on the staff the wrong way with his attitude. He has played pretty well this season, starting 5 games, with 20 saves, 1.20 GAA, with a 2-1-2 record. Not along wrong with those numbers.
However as proof of the team’s general confusion at the position, note who has been getting most of the playing time lately, including a home game against a team that is close to DC in the table.
Milos Kocic, the rookie keeper from Loyola, has shown his experience level so far this season, with some issues in coming out to claim crosses, nervy clearances, and a major error that resulted in a goal against Toronto. His stats are not bad either, 2-0-1 in all competitions, 7 saves, with a 1.50 GAA. The team seems to be giving him the benefit of the doubt, giving him every opportunity to grab the reins with both hands, but I think no one is convinced.
Josh Wicks is also on the team, but figures to be a backup for eternity. I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Clearly, a numbers game is at play here, with Crayton’s large self-negotiated salary potentially coming off of the books in July, and Kocic and Wicks’ salaries being much more Cap friendly. Will the team reach an agreement with Crayton, perhaps bringing down the salary, and giving the team some stability at the position? Or maybe the team says goodbye to Louis, hands the ship over to Milos and say, “Its your show, kid.”. Or maybe, the team looks to the outside, again, for a goalie for the stretch run of the season.
So you’re the boss. What do you do?
Moreno player of the week, DC takes 3 points, and there is much rejoicing
By: jon | Add Comments
In an Encino Man like effort, Moreno scored a brace in the win against Dallas this past weekend, and as a result of his deft finishing and sneaky runs, he was given the MLS player of the week honor. I’m sure as a result of this, he gets a lifetime supply of Fruit Rollups, or something similarly worthless.
I’m gonna be honest. Its finals week. I ain’t got no time to blog.
I will give you this though, since after school, this blog should be back to its old form.
- An inside source with the team has all but guaranteed that Louis Crayton is on his way out in the summer when his contract expires, and his attitude has won him no favor with his teammates.
I guess there’s a reason why he’s played for so many clubs.
Kocic, here’s your gilded chance!
Category: DC United Team NewsPreview: DC United at Metroscum
By: Chris Pavlakos | Add Comments
Tradition
Ah, the annual trip to the concrete jungle, the armpit of america, RFK North. With Red Bull Arena under construction and supposed to open for the 2010 season, this could be the last time United plays the metroscum/pink cows in the spectacularly horrid Giant Stadium. Christian Gomez and Ange N’silu are on the injury list and wont play. Carlos Johnson is out for NY due to getting a red card 2 minutes into the snooze-fest with KC on thursday. Albert Celades, Carlos Mendes, and MFLuke Sassano are questionable for NY. RBNY looked really really bad in their 1-0 loss to KC and hopefully with the ongoing injuries and suspensions they will keep their form. La Barra Brava will be there (we are taking a bus), but I personally can’t make the trip due to work 
so I’ll be watching on telefutura.
Starting 11
I think Soehn will come out with his normal 3-5-2 like so:
———————-Crayton—————————
————Burch—–Jakovic—–Namoff—————-
——————–Olsen—Simms———————-
——Wallace——————————Pontius——
————————Gomez————————–
—————Emilio———–Moreno——————
If this line-up looks familiar, its because it is the same line-up Soehn has been using all year and will likely never change. I can see Fred, Quaranta, and Barklage coming in for Wallace, Moreno, and Gomez in the 2nd half if we have the lead.
Tommy Talks some Smack:
I came across this quote today on the examiner website: “We thought about training in our parking lot to try to emulate what our game is going to be like,” said Soehn. “But there was a little too much gravel. It’s hard because even if we go onto our [artificial turf] field it’s not even close to how it plays there… it plays too much like grass.”
Hey Tommy, talking smack about the field at Giants Stadium before the game doesn’t count as a reason for you not to prepare the team and then use the turf as an excuse for us losing tomorrow 
Category: Barra Brava, Ben Olsen, Brandon Barklage, Bryan Namoff, Chris Pontius, Christian Gomez, Clyde Simms, DC United Players, DC United Team News, Dejan Jakovic, Fred, Game Previews, General MLS, Injuries, Jaime Moreno, Louis Crayton, Luciano Emilio, Marc Burch, Rodney Wallace, Santino Quaranta, Supporter's Groups, Thabiso Khumalo
Tags: Barra Brava, Ben Olsen, Brandon Barklage, Bryan Namoff, Chris Pontius, Christian Gomez, Clyde Simms, DC United Players, DC United Team News, Dejan Jakovic, Fred, Game Previews, General MLS, Injuries, Jaime Moreno, Louis Crayton, Luciano Emilio, Marc Burch, Rodney Wallace, Santino Quaranta, Supporter's Groups, Thabiso KhumaloAvery John signs on, Doe showed the door
By: Chris Pavlakos | 3 Comments
The rumor was flying around last week and now its official. Avery John has been added to DC United and Francis Doe has been shown the door to free up a roster spot. Goff broke the news yesterday on his blog over on wapo.com. Nobody was sure who would go to make room for John. It was basically down to Boyzz Khumalo and Francis Doe. Doe won– err lost the bid and is off the team. To me the biggest factor is his $80,000 salary (quite high for a seldom-used reserve) and that Doe is only a striker and Khumalo can play as a striker and out on the wing. I wonder what kind of salary the 33 year old Ghana international will demand?
The Deal
Avery John to DC United
Conditional Draft Pick to NE Revolution
Francis Doe to the unemployment office
new kid on the blog
By: Chris Pavlakos | Add Comments
As Jon alluded to a few days ago there is a new blogger coming on board on the DC United blog. That blogger is me. I’m here. Hi.
The Intro:
My name is Chris and I am an avid DC United fan and member of la barra brava. I spend way too much time online reading, and writing about soccer online. I also contribute to the Olympiacos blog here on the offside and am known as greekchampion04 on bigsoccer.com and greeksoccer.com
Chang is a fanatic:
I was going to have a report on the USOC play-in match but Jon summed it up nicely and theres no need to be repetitive. Just one thing I would like to add is that Will Chang decided to join us in section 135 and was standing on chairs and beating drums
Category: DC United Team NewsUSOC Play-In Game: DC United 2, FC Dallas 0
By: jon | Add Comments
In a sparsely attended game (which may be the worst to take your Dad to as his first professional soccer experience), DCU beat out FCD 2-0, with goals by Fred and Brandon Barklage, who dazzled. Chances were easy to come by, as DC had Dallas goal under siege from the get go.
Fred missed a sitter early in the first half, and Quaranta was not playing his best, despite what Goff’s ratings may tell you. If his goal was to enable others, then we was adequate. If his role as forward was to score goals and be dangerous, he didn’t do as well. He missed 1 easy chance, and 2 or 3 that he should have buried. As a longtime Tino supporter, I suspect he’ll do better as he gets more fit.
Brandon Barklage played the game of his life. He was tenacious in the middle, found himself in the correct spots, displayed Rod Dyachenko like foot skills, and of course, took his chances at goal and found the back of the net. I think we may have found the potential replacement for Gomez, either as he fades at the end of games, or next year.
Milos Kocic got his first start, and it began somewhat rocky. In his first two clearance attempts, the ball went away from him and he was almost caught out. On his third chance, he muffed the ball, and had to be saved by headsup defending. He made 2 or 3 saves, and was saved by the rulebook, after Kenny Cooper’s penalty came off the post and he illegally buried the rebound.
The defense of Greg Janicki and Bryan Namoff was top class. The attempts at defense by Marc Burch however, were not. Unable to string short passes together, and needing repeated bailouts by Janicki, Burch may be playing his way out of the starting LB spot once Avery John gets fit.
MATCH RATINGS: Kocic 6, Burch 4, Janicki 7, Namoff 7, Jacobson 6, Fred 6, Quaranta 5, Pontius, 5, Barklage 8, Khumalo (4 in the first, 7 in the second), McTavish 6 SUBS: Moreno 4, Peters 4, Wallace 5, Jakovic 6
Below Highlights;
Category: Andrew Jacobson, Brandon Barklage, Bryan Namoff, Chris Pontius, Christian Gomez, Dejan Jakovic, Devon Mctavish, Fred, Game Recap, Greg Janicki, Jaime Moreno, Marc Burch, Milos Kocic, Post-Game, Rodney Wallace, Santino Quaranta, Snap Judgements, Thabiso Khumalo, Tournaments Tags: 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Andrew Jacobson, Brandon Barklage, Bryan Namoff, Chris Pontius, Christian Gomez, Dejan Jakovic, Devon Mctavish, Fred, Game Recap, Greg Janicki, Jaime Moreno, Marc Burch, Milos Kocic, Post-Game, Rodney Wallace, Santino Quaranta, Snap Judgements, Thabiso Khumalo, TournamentsPsst…
By: jon | Add Comments
Two new things…this blog will have the cowriter it so richly deserves later this week. And the other thing, a little birdy named, we’ll call him Smeelosh, told me that Milos Kocic will make his debut tomorrow at the US Open Cup play in game against FC Dallas. Be among the 500 fans to witness this!
Category: DC United Team News
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