Have I got a quote for you. It's a doozy that I just happened to stumble upon. I can't believe I haven't seen it before, because it is a completely new perspective that perfectly sums up Dynamo games. The first sentence in the second paragraph of the MLS game recap has this unique description of last night's draw with Chivas: "The defending champions controlled the tempo yet again, had most of the game's scoring chances, but could not get the one goal they needed."
What's that? You've heard that one before? Many times? Even last season? Well, whadaya know.
So, is anyone else tired of not winning? Of being unlucky? Of not scoring? We've been held scoreless in 4 of 6 games. That 66.7% for you number crunchers out there. And we're the first team that couldn't score on Chivas-Lite.
I suppose I could break out my soccer-genius cap and, in the hopes of demonstrating my analytical prowess, say that we need to do better -- much better -- in the attacking third. In the box. Near the net. But something tells me that the sentiment isn't a unique one. I think most would agree that things won't turn around with this team if we don't start scoring with more regularity. I think I typed something similar last year, but when the problem occurs at the beginning of the season (and with such concentration: held scoreless in 7 out of 10 matches if you include CONCACAF competition...oh, and that's 70.0% of the matches), then it becomes worrisome, because there is no other trend to counterbalance the existing (and only) data.
If you don't watch the team play and you know only the results (in other words: a journalist outside of Houston), then you assume the team is the crappiest one in the league, except for maybe that one-win, one-tie expansion-ish team in San Jose. If you were to watch Dynamo matches and break down the play, on the other hand, you'd be hard pressed to think of the Dynamo as being anything other than one of the highest caliber teams in the MLS. But the fact is that until we get better results, we are no better than last place in the second best conference of a two-conference league. And some would say that this is the definition of crappy.
But the good thing is that, just like in 2006, we have so many blasted draws that we're still in the race in the Western Conference. Currently we're tied for last place (in the league as well as the Conference), but one win kicks us into 3rd place and only a point away from 2nd place. Two wins puts us in first place. A few wins, particularly versus Western Conference foes, catapults us to a dominant lead, though we'd still be a bottom feeder if we were in the Eastern Conference. So we're still very much alive in the West. This may be a small consolation, perhaps, when you're following a team that can't score or win, but it's still a sign that the Men In Orange haven't dug their own grave yet. And that is going to have to keep us going until next week, when we (hopefully) get our first victory when Colorado comes to town.
Media roundup:
Quotes from the game.
The Dynamo Reserves did about the same as the first team: a (1-1) draw.
The Chronicle's recap. Mullan says that all the team needs is "A goal. Getting ahead. Something." Also, here's The Chronicle's post-game notes, B-Fall's player grades, and thoughts on the game from a non-soccer dude.
Here are Glenn Davis' impressions. No, he doesn't do impressions; these are his thoughts on the game. Such as "As much as the Dynamo had the territorial advantage due to Chivas tactics, simple things let them down. Numerous attacks broke down due to poor control and a poor first touch. Franco Caraccio had two great shooting opportunities go to the wayside because his touch narrowed his shooting angle."
You know, what is perhaps most disappointing about this game is that I am not at all surprised at the result.
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6 comments:
My brother in soccer, season is not over, we as the fans of the current champion (back to back in only 2 years by the way) owe the team to give them time to prove everyone wrong, and even if they have a horrible year, only one team can be the champion, you take the good with the bad in sports, this team is a hard working team, no stars, no names, only men, lets give them time, this is one of the few teams that have earn that time.
Raise your hand if you think ching is to old!!
Ching ain't old. he just sux.
I agree with jardin, it is too early to give up...a couple of wins and we'll be right back in it. The table is close and the season is long.
About the pre-game: why do the Dynamo insist on pyrotechnics? There have been near misses with those things before and that unnamed man could've sustained a serious injury. IMHO, they should nix the fireworks and just play football.
On the field, Ching does not look sharp. He went down quite easily at times and when he was fouled the ref seemed to ignore it. What awful officiating.
Last season you wrote about De-Ro and the Wu Wei...the Dynamo boys might all need to attend yoga and meditation courses, find their inner selves, relax a little.
Late in the second half, everything just went flat, the players, the fans, the game...they need energy, they need to believe. Who/what will be the spark?
That's right Jardin & Mackeysgirl, despite the painful start to the season, we're only 5 points from first place in the Conference. Maybe that's because the team is of such quality that its worst slumps aren't much behind other teams' best runs. Maybe? Or maybe that just holds true in the Western Conference. Either way, we're still in it.
Jardin, you are so right that the Dynamo are one of the few teams that have earned patience from their fans.
I don't think Ching is too old or even that he is the problem. He is in a bit of a slump, but that's not the issue. Part of his problem is that he is double teamed in the box when we're going for the crosses. But that should just open up Caraccio or D-Ro or one of the wingers. Their slump is a much a problem as Ching's.
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