Comments on: Drilling down on: D.C. United 1, at New York 0

By: soccerjohn

soccerjohn — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:15:06 +0000

One more thing: the fantastic clustermess that is NYRB has yielded bigger scapegoats related to other gaffes, but Dax McCarty’s misses were another big reason DCU moves on. Notice I don’t pin all the blame on McCarty, though. I think he ought to shoulder some of the blame. But I also think that the team culture is culpable. When the verteran stars on the team (Henry, Marquez) create such a negative atmosphere in the locker room by demeaning their teammates, and when Henry makes a big show of disgust whenever the young talent screws up, it’s gonna make most non-stars tight. Look at replays of McCarty’s misses, especially the last one that was created by Henry, and check out the dismayed reaction of the older star.

I think that was the difference last night. DCU won as a team. NYRB lost because it’s rotten at its core.

By: soccerjohn

soccerjohn — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:48:45 +0000

This was a really entertaining game. Lots of drama, lots of action, and I love the outcome. Ref called it “no blood no foul,” but called it the same both ways.

Kenny Cooper: regression to the mean.
Marquez: I’ll comment on the post when I read it…but, yeah.
Hamid: So rough around the edges. Great reactions and I think his positioning seems okay. But can’t hold onto the ball if challenged for it and makes serious gaffes each game.

How utterly fantastic that DCU has the inside track to the Finals?!

By: tylerbetts

tylerbetts — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:29:03 +0000

Two amazing takeaways:

1) Bill Hamid is RBNY’s leading goal scorer this post season. let that sink in for a moment.

2) Rafa Marquez makes a great case for continuing the YSA chant, just with a different target.

In all seriousness, you have to love DCU’s tenacity and never-say-die approach. How many teams would have fought like that after their ‘keeper was red carded and a penalty given that late? How many teams would have found that goal that late in the game and series? It’s probably a slight overreaction and giving in to my impulse for immediacy, but this might put Ben Olsen ahead of Jason Kreis in the pecking order of who I want to see groomed to be the USMNT manager.

By: arjanroghanchi

arjanroghanchi — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 04:12:11 +0000

Additionally packaged for take away:

Though Hamid did make contact, Cooper went down far too easily. I was in a perfect spot to see this, 10 rows back. Cooper’s touch (for about the only time in the match) was perfect. The ball was in space and in reach, all he had to do was jump over the on rushing Hamid and he could have scored and easy goal. Lesson: even if a could has occurred, flailing to the ground is not the best course of action.

Kaka’s bro actually had a legitimate chance to score the winner. His first touch came seconds after he entered off an Henry free kick. Free header, great angle towards goal. Digao just couldn’t connect with it and ended up heading it straight down.

I’ll miss Backe, because it is surely his last match. I think he did a lot of great things.

Teemu played very well.

There is always next season I guess.

By: mkbryant3

mkbryant3 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 03:56:26 +0000

Oh, is DeRo back for the next game? Can’t be, right? But, seems like there have been rumblings of him being back soon. If so, incredible.

One more thing. Hamid needs to grow up. He’s young, but what, was he on his laptop right away in the locker room to tweet that “Martini” criticism? Weird.

By: mkbryant3

mkbryant3 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 03:53:28 +0000

Wow! I tuned in at half time and couldn’t be happier for DC United. What a great story. Most of all, the ref was spot on, as you said SD. For all the crap MLS refs receive (justly, most of the time), the ref tonight didn’t make a bad call in the second half. Especially that pk encroachment call.

You gotta love when MLS players have something immediate to play for. It creates incredible soccer and incredible drama.

By: Dan Haug

Dan Haug — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 03:48:59 +0000

I think fans should acknowledge that, up to this point, refs have been outstanding in this post-season. Yeah… they’ve missed some calls, but they have let teams play without letting things get out of hand, and they have gotten almost all the big calls right.

By: danielofthedale

danielofthedale — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 03:47:05 +0000

This has to be last game that the Red Bulls pay Rafa for right? I mean he has no been red cared in two of the last three playoff games the Red Bulls have played in for stupid off the ball fouls. This time he got ejected before New York even had a chance to use its man advantage. Its a gots to go situation!