RSL vs. New England Revolution - 9/3/05

Remus · 09-02-2005, 07:49 PM

Speaking of tailgating, has anyone arranged the one for tomorrow? I didn't see Dizzy Holly working her magic. I have a bag of hamburgers, quite a few hotdogs and some ketchup.

Stucki · 09-02-2005, 10:54 PM

Someone should call Steve to get the car up there around 3:30 so we have time to clean up before the qualifier telecast.

prk166 · 09-04-2005, 11:25 AM

Was the game so painful that no one has any comments on the match yet?

I was disappointed in Williams in the end for the red. I know things are frustrating but that just doesn't help.

I may have forgotten to take off my Tarley-colored glasses but I liked his play. THere's better stuff to come if him and Kries can hook up more.

Smith's goal was frustrating. LIke Adu's goal last week, he was given space and allowed to run. Ya, Dunny got in there at the end but by the time Kano is crossing the mid-line, someone from RSL's midfield should be getting a body on him. They didn't. Chalk up another goal to RSL's midfield.

Speaking of, since closing things down in midfield has been a problem, why don't we see coach E tossin' in a couple DMs or trying out 3 CMs to try to get some more bodies in that are to close things down more.

SokkerNut · 09-04-2005, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prk166

Was the game so painful that no one has any comments on the match yet?

I was disappointed in Williams in the end for the red. I know things are frustrating but that just doesn't help.

I may have forgotten to take off my Tarley-colored glasses but I liked his play. THere's better stuff to come if him and Kries can hook up more.

Smith's goal was frustrating. LIke Adu's goal last week, he was given space and allowed to run. Ya, Dunny got in there at the end but by the time Kano is crossing the mid-line, someone from RSL's midfield should be getting a body on him. They didn't. Chalk up another goal to RSL's midfield.

Speaking of, since closing things down in midfield has been a problem, why don't we see coach E tossin' in a couple DMs or trying out 3 CMs to try to get some more bodies in that are to close things down more.

I wasn't there in persone, but from what i saw on the t.v. broadcast I'd agree with you on the mid-field. They were a bit better, but there was no excuse for not picking up the coverage on the Smith goal. I was more frustrated and aggrevated at Greg Lalas' comments about the RSL fans. I know he was doing the broadcast for NE, but he knows nothing about you guys and the support you give the team. I honestly can't see you all turning on the team like he seems to suggest. Okay I feel better now.

devNull · 09-04-2005, 12:06 PM

I guess it was pretty painful. I was also pretty disapointed in Andy for losing his cool. I was also disappointed in fans for throwing streamers and other items at the ref again. Come on guys. Cut it out! I can almost guarantee that the first time the ref gets hit with a streamer that the streamers go...and it was pretty close last night....anyway, back on topic.

On the NE goal it was disappointing to see Smith get through like that, but I thought he was pretty well defended and kept outside. I felt that DJ was caught out of position. I mean Smith didn't exactly have what I would call a dangerous angle. That comment may partially stem from the fact that I still wanted to see Nolly in goal, but I think DJ had as much blame as the midfield this time.

On the positive note though we played quite well. We are just having a terrible time finishing lately. We are creating a fair number of chances, but have to bury more of them. I thought the first half the guys showed great effort. The second half was not quite as good and it seemed like we kind of gave up after they scored. It may have been the bunker defense by NE that made it feel that way, but we just seemed to lose our hustle.

Finally, what was DJ doing holding the ball so long last night? Was there some strategy in that? It just really got to be very annoying I felt.

devNull · 09-04-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SokkerNut

I wasn't there in persone, but from what i saw on the t.v. broadcast I'd agree with you on the mid-field. They were a bit better, but there was no excuse for not picking up the coverage on the Smith goal. I was more frustrated and aggrevated at Greg Lalas' comments about the RSL fans. I know he was doing the broadcast for NE, but he knows nothing about you guys and the support you give the team. I honestly can't see you all turning on the team like he seems to suggest. Okay I feel better now.

What did Greg say? I didn't catch the broadcast but am curious now. Was he bashing on the fans? I mean we had the highest attendance of any game last night and the team really isn't playing well. What can he say about that? Sure we have had more energy in past games, but it seems to have been harder to generate the energy when the team isn't producing...

clarette · 09-04-2005, 12:10 PM

Our midfield's effort in the second half was horrible, in my opinion. From poor execution (which is basically what led to the NE goal) to literally STANDING around while teammates had the ball, to basically just giving up in the last 15 minutes, I just really don't even have words for it.

We were finding so much space behind the Revs defense in the first half when we were hitting diagonal balls into, you guessed it, space, and then we were just content to walk around and play squirrel ball in the center circle in the second half.

ARRRRRRRRRGH. I can't take watching that (bleep) anymore, I just really can't.

Dadof3 · 09-04-2005, 12:12 PM

Despite the unfortunate result, I really liked what we got done last night and most of it stemmed from Ellinger figuring out how to best utilize his new talent.

Scarlett and Gregorio playing wide in a 3-5-2 (which can quickly morph into a 5-3-2) worked well both offensively and defensively. We were no longer getting torched on the outsides...except the goal and that was on Kammy, whomever on the D was responsible for providing cover, and DJ for not closing the angle.

The problem was not defensive (we only gave up 7 shots)...it was getting forward with better numbers. In this line-up, Kreis does not need to drop back into the mid to get the ball because we can target Tarley and have him knock it off...in fact Kreis's dropping back actually caused spacing problems for Williams and Mathis. Look for Jamie to play with Tarley at Dallas and for Jamie and Tarley to both play high...with their speed and talent, it should allow Mathis and William more time and space. Additionally, with 6 defensive players behind them, Mathis and Williams can spend some more time attacking with reckless abandon. Quick, have we even once this year had 4 in the box on one of our counters? Answer: no, Williams or Mathis hang back due to worrying about defense (or due to lazyness on Mathis' part). If we can start to get enough bodies forward, we will start to see results.

Now, we even have the advantage of deciding what to do with Cabrera. In the 3-5-2 he can either play in the back replacing Dunny (who has been aweful with the ball lately) or play the d-mid, which plays a lot like a center back in a 3-5-2. Great problem to have...either way, I am looking forward to seeing his skills.

Overall, again it was unfortunate. DJ could have done better with the shot...Williams could have kept his mouth shut...we could have had a little luck offensively...BUT...we outshot the best team in the league and created more dangerous chances...think back, with the exception of the FCD game we won 3-0, have we dominated anyone other than Chivas? We have all taken shots at Ellinger re his draft choices, but we have to give him props for recognizing where the team was weak, targeting players, and to the office for going out and signing the players. We will not make the playoffs this year (Colorado is on a roll), but we will be fun to watch the rest of the way.

Last...keep an eye out for how Ellinger handles Mathis from now on. This team NOW has enough talent that Ellinger will no longer feel his hands are tied and has to play him. If he decides that he doesn't want to play a talented, but out of shape, player who provides nothing offensively except great free kicks...he can, without damaging the team.

PS to last...too bad we couldn't get a result as the crowd really wanted to get into the game. The north end was fired up.

Dadof3 · 09-04-2005, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarette

Our midfield's effort in the second half was horrible, in my opinion. From poor execution (which is basically what led to the NE goal) to literally STANDING around while teammates had the ball, to basically just giving up in the last 15 minutes, I just really don't even have words for it.

We were finding so much space behind the Revs defense in the first half when we were hitting diagonal balls into, you guessed it, space, and then we were just content to walk around and play squirrel ball in the center circle in the second half.

ARRRRRRRRRGH. I can't take watching that (bleep) anymore, I just really can't.

Relax, breathe...it is getting better. Blame the midfield troubles on Mathis, Williams, and Kreis. Kreis caused spacing problems by playing too deep and Mathis and Williams, our quarterbacks, had no idea how to attack once the Revs decided to drop behind the ball. (Because that is what you are truly worried about...we attacked fairly well in the 2nd half until they scored.) You are right that the team had no idea what to do with all of those players in front of them...but here is a hint...find the player who has a 1v1 advantage outside, feed em, and get #s in the box. Unfortunately neither Mathis nor Williams could figure this out. Personally, my preference would have been to slide Williams up front on the right and work the ball to him to beat his man. Remember...lots of new players and a new system...this is where the inexperience playing together comes in...that was the problem...and the fact that Mathis looks disinterested again.

clarette · 09-04-2005, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dadof3

Relax, breathe...it is getting better. Blame the midfield troubles on Mathis, Williams, and Kreis. Kreis caused spacing problems by playing too deep and Mathis and Williams, our quarterbacks, had no idea how to attack once the Revs decided to drop behind the ball. (Because that is what you are truly worried about...we attacked fairly well in the 2nd half until they scored.) You are right that the team had no idea what to do with all of those players in front of them...but here is a hint...find the player who has a 1v1 advantage outside, feed em, and get #s in the box. Unfortunately neither Mathis nor Williams could figure this out. Personally, my preference would have been to slide Williams up front on the right and work the ball to him to beat his man. Remember...lots of new players and a new system...this is where the inexperience playing together comes in...that was the problem...and the fact that Mathis looks disinterested again.

If that were the whole problem, I could get over it, but walking around with your hand in the air when you pass the ball to the other team? Literally standing instead of like trying to find some open space? I'm getting a headache just thinking about it...