Losing to bottom feeders -- keeping the tradition alive

A moment of candor here: My actual prediction for tonight was a 1-0 win for San Jose. I've mentioned many times this season, last season, and the season before, that this team gets weak results versus weak teams. I don't know if we ease up when facing bottom feeders, or if the bottom feeders are particularly revved for us. Or both. Actually, both of those reasons seem a bit too simplistic and both have holes in their logic...but I'm at a loss as to why we seem to have this slump versus mediocre teams.

I couldn't admit my dark thoughts to you, so I went with the 1-1 prediction. Apparently the one-goal loss was the correct way to go, although I really didn't think San Jose would get two past Onstad.

The sad thing about this game is that we deserved to lose this one. San Jose were aggressive with the ball. When we had the ball, they pressured us wherever we were, from our defensive third all the way upfield. In the midfield they successfully blocked up the passing lanes. That tiny field didn't help our passing either. (Is the field smaller than Robertson? Is that possible?)

So except for three problems, we played extremely well. Those problems as I see 'em:
1) Up front: absolutely no coordination in the off-ball movement. I think The Dom may not start Caraccio for much longer.
2) In the middle: too many turnovers and an inability to establish a good possession rhythm. Holden was stymied most of the night on the left, although he did have some good opportunities on goal. Davis had better luck, perhaps helped by San Jose sitting back a bit after their first goal.
3) In the back: hestitant, ball-watching defending like we saw in the very beginning of the season and at times during the pre-season tournaments.

The first problem kept us off the score sheet for 88 mintues. The second problem also kept us off the score sheet and led to one of the two goals. The third problem contributed to both of the goals and almost led to one or two more in the first half.

We let slip the opportunity of taking first in the West. It seems we did the same thing at the end of the season last year. I suppose it's better to get that out of the way early rather than late.

So we remain mid-table and the Quakes remain at the bottom. (Well, they're ahead of DCU at least. Bully for them.) Dynamo help San Jose earn its first home win -- is that irony? And The Dom's record versus his mentor slips to 2-2-3.

Okay, Orange: shake it off. Just focus on the final 5 minutes of the game and try to expand that by a factor of 18 to give us a full 90 of confident, aggressive soccer. And that goal by Ching was out-freakin-standing. Our first GOTW-potential candidate since Geoff Cameron's game tying goal versus FCD (and that one won the GOTW).

Speaking of FCD, we face them next. In Frisco. On Wednesday. I wonder if they'll be in a state of confusion due to the coaching instability, or if they'll be playing for their lives -- each driven to excel to ensure his survival in the turbulent time of their club. At least we should have our starting keeper -- despite national team callups -- this time we face Dallas. We need at least a point in Frisco since we gave away 2 when we hosted them. A draw at Frisco and a win at home when we face them on June 26 will return El Capitan to Houston.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's just focus on getting into a better rhythm, creating more opportunities, and finishing better. And then let's snatch the full 3 from the Frisco lads.

Go Dynamo!