Preseason Analysis (so far)

[montgjules]

After all the "preseason doesn't matter" talk, I'd honestly like people's opinions on how things stand right now. I personally think it's awesome that our little team that's been together for a couple weeks and is made patchwork of players from all over is beating other teams that have been together for much longer--even if it is preseason. I think this bodes well for later on.

So why did things go so differently at the DC United game? Was it because our team had only been together for ... what? A few days? A week? A couple weeks? Or was it because we didn't have some of the USMNT players? Or because DC United is honestly a better team? (Like I've said before... <sarcasm>Aren't they supposed to be pretty good?</sarcasm>)

In other words, has the team actually improved during the last few weeks or will it fall apart as soon as players are called up for national team duty? What would happen if we were playing DCU now? Would anything be different? I'd love to hear people's opinions on this.

[clarette]

Without actually having *seen* any of the matches, it's kind of difficult to speculate, but I'll give it a try...

There seems to be definite cause for optimism since the DC game. If I had to guess, the result of that match was probably a combination of the reasons you cited. There was bound to be an adjustment period, and I'm surprised it's turned out to be as small as it has, at least as far as results go.

The younger players have to be gaining a ton of confidence from the playing time they've received -- of course, things will be different once the season starts, but I don't think the team will totally crumble without Cleetus and Eddie.

[Aero]

I think that the team has certainly come a long way since that initial game against DC. I know how hard it is, especially on defense, for players not used to each other to be effective. I also believe that getting our USMNT players certainly helped. How can getting players of that caliber back not?

So, I believe that it is a combination of factors that has led to the improvement. I think that if we were to play DC today, the result would be a much closer game.

One other thing to remember about the DC game was that it was pretty close when our starters played their starters. It was the reserves that gave up most of the goals. And even the reserves have been playing much better lately. I think that has to be because they are finally getting to know each other and play like a team rather than a collection of individuals. They didn't really get any better players like the starters did.

[SoccerPrime]

As a Loyalist that was at the majority of these games, I would say that 2 huge differences between the matches:

#1- National team quality players
#2- New team/new faces

And 1 and 2 are not as exclusive as you might think. Pope and Mathis not only changed the cohesiveness of the squad (for the better), but the team also gained a "swacker" that they lacked in the DC match. Their confidence level was much higher for the Quakes and especially the Crew matches. In the DC match, I didn't think the players knew each others names yet. Really no comparison.

The team has been working hard together as a team. Now they are reaping the rewards.

Let me add, in response to the poll, that:
- DC WAS a better team and outplayed RSL
- We WERE missing our national team players
- I still don't think we would beat the socks off of them, but it would be closer
- I did vote... 🙂

[Czar Jake]

Yeah I think it is a combination of more than one factor. But when we play them on the league schedule is the only time it really matters!

[Neil]

Good stuff Jules, I'm of the same mind.

[Jim Umber]

From the sound of the reports we've been getting, I'd say the new boys are gaining confidence and playing better each time. I suspect that, at first they were a bit intimidated to be playing at this level. Now they are starting to realize they they CAN play at this level and that they CAN do it well. Confidence and experience make a big difference and they are gaining in both every day.

Wow! I'm really getting excited! And by the way...

...Is it April, yet?:D

[montgjules]

I hate to be contrary, but I doubt that most of these players are intimidated by the level of play.... haven't many/most of them been playing at this level already on different teams? I guess confidence could be an issue for some of the players new to the league, though. Good thought, Jim.. I hadn't considered that before.

From the poll results, it looks like the majority of people think that the team was most affected by having players gone for the WCQ. That worries me, because this is going to be a recurring problem.

Of course "preseason doesn't matter".... 😉

[SoccerPrime]

I don't think that the callups will hurt that much. If anyone was reading what I previously posted, I thought when I first saw RSL get spanked by the DC team it was because they hadn't played together much. When the Pope and Mathis got there, later in the week, not only did their presense help but the team itself was gelling more.
In the Crew match earlier this week, Pope only played for 45 and Mathis was really a non-factor for most of the time. Luke Kreamameyer, Jamie Watson, Segio Flores and Dipsy Selolwane have all improved over time. These are players that have either played in only college, 2nd division in Argentina or on the bench for a year for a MLS team. But now as a team and as individuals, they are playing better.
I attribute a lot of this to Coach Ellinger. He has done a fantastic job.
Pope didn't play in the Amateur game today and Mathis and Pope won't play with RSL until MetroStars in April. We'll see during the rest of preseason how they fair now without M & P.

[Jim Umber]

Originally Posted by montgjules

I hate to be contrary, but I doubt that most of these players are intimidated by the level of play.... haven't many/most of them been playing at this level already on different teams? I guess confidence could be an issue for some of the players new to the league, though. Good thought, Jim.. I hadn't considered that before.

Remember that those were the players that were playing that day, with some exceptions. I think that was the main reason for the result, and that is going away, fast.