Am I the only one who will be happy when the Copa America stops distracting me from my (alleged) duties?
- I've already weighed in on the Copa - and the Men's National Team - twice now (original and addendum), but wanted to flag a few more items of note: Soccer America turned in a righteous grumble about that little bit of something missing that undermined the U.S. yesterday; I thought Luis Bueno had some good things to say as well; saving the best for last, it's always fun to read what commenters send in to Luis Arroyave's open-ended, post-game questions. Enjoy or suffer as the spirit moves you.
- Knowing that, despite appearances, Frankie Hejduk will slow down - and therefore become totally useless - eventually, I'm heartened by what I'm reading about Drew Moor's performance against Paraguay. He got good notice here and there, along with a decent rating (better than Jonathan Bornstein's anyway) from Jeff Carlisle.
- All y'all have heard word of a potential sale of the Chicago Fire by now - and the Daily Southtown provided a solid write-up for those who haven't - but the most interesting item in that same article? "The report also stated that interim coach Denis Hamlett would remain head coach of the team, and that former Fire marketing director Steve Pastorino would become the new team president, replacing John Guppy."
- The Facundo Erpen for Greg Vanney deal hardly enjoyed universal comprehension on either side. Perhaps Steve Goff's Tom Soehn quote sheet should clarify at least one side of that.
- As noted on The Offside Rules, MLS Direct Kick will be free to all tomorrow....GOD BLESS AMERICA!! (And do note the wonderful nickname that site gave to the package).
Finally, I'm going to lay off for the next couple of days. Happy 4th to all y'all. Talk at you Friday.
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Showing posts with label Facundo Erpen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facundo Erpen. Show all posts
The Trade: Clavijo's Murder/Suicide*
(* It occurs to me I should mention I'm not reporting an actual murder/suicide. Coach Clavijo is fine, so far as I know.)
Since it's not yet showing on MLSnet.com, I'm really hoping the post from (the highly reliable) Steve Goff about Colorado and DC United trading Greg Vanney for Facundo Erpen aren't true. I'm hoping for Fernando Clavijo's sake; that same post contains a notion on several minds:
Speculation on Clavijo's fate isn't exactly hard to find these days. Ian Plenderleith poked around the rot on USSoccerplayers.com, while the long-suffering Clint (well...it has been five games), desperate for relief, has hit the Web in search of conspiracies that explain the Clavijo era. (NOTE: I'm yanking Clint's chain, who links to something fairly interesting, for the record.)
To Coach Clavijo: you know you can just resign, right? You don't need to compel two players to move over 1,000 miles in a final flame-out because that carries the damage over to at least one other player...probably Erpen, though I'm not sure about Vanney either (DCenters has some thoughts on the Vanney side of this...toward the bottom). The vultures have spotted your body, man. Is upping the body count really the solution?
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Since it's not yet showing on MLSnet.com, I'm really hoping the post from (the highly reliable) Steve Goff about Colorado and DC United trading Greg Vanney for Facundo Erpen aren't true. I'm hoping for Fernando Clavijo's sake; that same post contains a notion on several minds:
"Also, the league buzz is that, if the Rapids lose this weekend, Fernando Clavijo could very well be out as coach. No word on potential candidates."
Speculation on Clavijo's fate isn't exactly hard to find these days. Ian Plenderleith poked around the rot on USSoccerplayers.com, while the long-suffering Clint (well...it has been five games), desperate for relief, has hit the Web in search of conspiracies that explain the Clavijo era. (NOTE: I'm yanking Clint's chain, who links to something fairly interesting, for the record.)
To Coach Clavijo: you know you can just resign, right? You don't need to compel two players to move over 1,000 miles in a final flame-out because that carries the damage over to at least one other player...probably Erpen, though I'm not sure about Vanney either (DCenters has some thoughts on the Vanney side of this...toward the bottom). The vultures have spotted your body, man. Is upping the body count really the solution?
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DC's Defense - Is It Mental?
Since last Saturday's excruciating loss to the Kansas City Wizards much has been made of DC United's defensive problems - a recent article in the Washington Times which discusses formations, trades, and the like, is the only the trigger for what's on my mind. Here's that:
I don't think DC's problems are formation or personnel, and I mean the latter both literally and explicitly. By that I mean they have players capable of defending and defending well - remember all those 1-0 wins DC's defense gutted out last May and June? - but, for whatever reason, they're not up to it any more.
I read in another space that Eddie Johnson is talking to a sports shrink. Maybe that's what a guy like Facundo Erpen needs (he types after dubbing him a "full-time liability" earlier in the week).
Whatever DC does, they'll want to do soon. And the problems are unquestionably there. But maybe a little mental conditioning will provide a quicker path to success than finding new players or trying new formations. Just a thought.
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I don't think DC's problems are formation or personnel, and I mean the latter both literally and explicitly. By that I mean they have players capable of defending and defending well - remember all those 1-0 wins DC's defense gutted out last May and June? - but, for whatever reason, they're not up to it any more.
I read in another space that Eddie Johnson is talking to a sports shrink. Maybe that's what a guy like Facundo Erpen needs (he types after dubbing him a "full-time liability" earlier in the week).
Whatever DC does, they'll want to do soon. And the problems are unquestionably there. But maybe a little mental conditioning will provide a quicker path to success than finding new players or trying new formations. Just a thought.
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DC Loses: What I, and All Y'all, Saw
Here's what I saw, with the commentary of some sharp thinkers helpfully sprinkled in the text:
- CD Chivas de Guadalajara was not a better team last night. I thought that applied to the first leg if only on a player-to-player level, but, till they tired around the 75th minute, DC looked pretty damn good. And they owned the first half.
- DC looked best working the ball up the field, though they looked more comfortable once the ball left the defense (Facundo Erpen's corner of it in particular; still good for a shocker, that guy). But DC worked the ball well, they found openings, and, for fair chunks of the first half, had Chivas pinned in their own end. The final breakthrough eluded them - notably when the ball came down the wing for Clyde Simms, who as Steve Goff points out, is ill-used at that position - at least until it didn't...
- ...speaking of which, there are a lot of adjectives I'd apply to Jaime Moreno's standing bicycle - clever, inspired if I'm in an expansive mood - but "spectacular?" "High-light reel?" It wasn't that good. But the way it came showed Luciano Emilio's quality, who, as at least one smart guy pointed out, was smothered for much of the game. The take-away is that Emilio is the kind of striker you want on your team, one who can hurt the opposition the one time he slips free.
- Not a few noticed DC's defense getting stretched from time-to-time, especially when what I read as serious fatigue set in (take notice Houston; the lungs will burn more still 3,000 more feet above sea level). The best comment I saw on this, from USSoccerplayer.com's Ian Plenderleith, puts it best:
- I bolded that part because I think DC survived most of these. The crucial, second goal was a pure gaffe, of course, but Perkins kept the score close on at least three, if not four, other occasions; when Moreno said the loss wasn't Perkins' fault he wasn't kidding. And, in spite of what Max Bretos or Christopher Sullivan said, I don't think Bobby Boswell "lost his mark" on the first Chivas goal either (and I disagree with Goff's assertion in the Washington Post's main write-up that this was an "easy goal"; Bautista had to adjust to get the shot around a sliding defender); Erpen got beat around the corner and Boswell moved to cover, which seemed sensible enough. What I'm getting at is that there were more gaffes that could have bit DC; that should be a worrying sign for them. Perkins' thing was an awful, and as I see it uncharacteristic, fluke. The other was a fairly routine break-down. But, as DCenters pointed out, DC only became really lose at the back toward the end. The point is, they'll make mistakes, but they do cover pretty well when they do.
- Turning to a perennial obsession in these competitions, I think it's fair to say DC's approach to the game and wholly competent execution opened some eyes south of the border. Based on stray comments I'm seeing, Chivas knew they had to fight for lsat night's win; more to the point, they appreciate that they got a little lucky.
- I think the favorite thing I read about this game all week appeared in the comments on The DCenters first impressions post; it was written by a Matt W:
Don't get me wrong, because I love Matt W's moxie and I also believe DC will do well this year, but the folly of that statement returns to the defensive issues I suspect DC will continue to have. The lesson for the rest of the league in last night's game is this: be patient with DC; they will make mistakes at the back, especially when you force them.
All in all, I was sad to see DC drop this game. I still believe they have a better shot at winning it all than Houston (though I can't wait to write the "We're all Houston fans today" post if they do win), but it just wasn't meant to be. Perkins' major gaffe and the earlier, back-breaking goal aside (as if those can be merrily excused), DC played a very good game and they look like they'll be a handful this year. And they have every right to return home with heads held high.
- CD Chivas de Guadalajara was not a better team last night. I thought that applied to the first leg if only on a player-to-player level, but, till they tired around the 75th minute, DC looked pretty damn good. And they owned the first half.
- DC looked best working the ball up the field, though they looked more comfortable once the ball left the defense (Facundo Erpen's corner of it in particular; still good for a shocker, that guy). But DC worked the ball well, they found openings, and, for fair chunks of the first half, had Chivas pinned in their own end. The final breakthrough eluded them - notably when the ball came down the wing for Clyde Simms, who as Steve Goff points out, is ill-used at that position - at least until it didn't...
- ...speaking of which, there are a lot of adjectives I'd apply to Jaime Moreno's standing bicycle - clever, inspired if I'm in an expansive mood - but "spectacular?" "High-light reel?" It wasn't that good. But the way it came showed Luciano Emilio's quality, who, as at least one smart guy pointed out, was smothered for much of the game. The take-away is that Emilio is the kind of striker you want on your team, one who can hurt the opposition the one time he slips free.
- Not a few noticed DC's defense getting stretched from time-to-time, especially when what I read as serious fatigue set in (take notice Houston; the lungs will burn more still 3,000 more feet above sea level). The best comment I saw on this, from USSoccerplayer.com's Ian Plenderleith, puts it best:
It wasn't another 5-0 hiding like the one this club suffered at Pumas two years ago in the same competition, and at least the MLS team took the game to the home side and caused them a few jitters by taking a 1-0 lead. Jaime Moreno's brilliantly improvised overhead kick wasn't enough, thanks to the kind of elementary defensive errors that can, at times, be a United specialty."
- I bolded that part because I think DC survived most of these. The crucial, second goal was a pure gaffe, of course, but Perkins kept the score close on at least three, if not four, other occasions; when Moreno said the loss wasn't Perkins' fault he wasn't kidding. And, in spite of what Max Bretos or Christopher Sullivan said, I don't think Bobby Boswell "lost his mark" on the first Chivas goal either (and I disagree with Goff's assertion in the Washington Post's main write-up that this was an "easy goal"; Bautista had to adjust to get the shot around a sliding defender); Erpen got beat around the corner and Boswell moved to cover, which seemed sensible enough. What I'm getting at is that there were more gaffes that could have bit DC; that should be a worrying sign for them. Perkins' thing was an awful, and as I see it uncharacteristic, fluke. The other was a fairly routine break-down. But, as DCenters pointed out, DC only became really lose at the back toward the end. The point is, they'll make mistakes, but they do cover pretty well when they do.
- Turning to a perennial obsession in these competitions, I think it's fair to say DC's approach to the game and wholly competent execution opened some eyes south of the border. Based on stray comments I'm seeing, Chivas knew they had to fight for lsat night's win; more to the point, they appreciate that they got a little lucky.
- I think the favorite thing I read about this game all week appeared in the comments on The DCenters first impressions post; it was written by a Matt W:
"I'm looking forward to SuperLiga competition. And I'm a little let down that we have nothing but domestic league competition for the next three months. This must be how Celtic and Rangers fans feel."
Don't get me wrong, because I love Matt W's moxie and I also believe DC will do well this year, but the folly of that statement returns to the defensive issues I suspect DC will continue to have. The lesson for the rest of the league in last night's game is this: be patient with DC; they will make mistakes at the back, especially when you force them.
All in all, I was sad to see DC drop this game. I still believe they have a better shot at winning it all than Houston (though I can't wait to write the "We're all Houston fans today" post if they do win), but it just wasn't meant to be. Perkins' major gaffe and the earlier, back-breaking goal aside (as if those can be merrily excused), DC played a very good game and they look like they'll be a handful this year. And they have every right to return home with heads held high.
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