I don't speak Spanish well at all, but watching the Dynamo-RBNY game on Telefutura today, it looked like we lost 0-3. That sure looked like non-orange players shooting into the net. Was that Ashe scoring a speedy strike? Oh, that's Dane Richards. (Ives Galarcep said Barrett shouldn't feel bad being smoked by Richards; about 20 American have been smoked by Jamaicans this week.)
Actually, the game stunk in any language. Here's a nice (well, maybe "nice" isn't the word) recap here.
Strange thing is that I didn't feel that we were outplayed by the Toros Rojos today, but we certainly were out hustled on about 6 occasions, 3 of which resulted in goals. It was very uncharacteristic of the MIO to be out-worked by an opponent. Can we chalk it up to 3 games in one week? (Two of which being in the taxing humid climate of Houston.)
The Dynamo offense frequently goes through dry spells. It's like Houston weather: monsoon one day, drought the next. So I wasn't completely surprised by the lack of scoring production. Technically we got 4 shots on goal, but none were particularly memorable. We didn't test Conway much at all.
We didn't have much creativity on the attack, but it was on the other end where the Dynamo were really out worked and out hustled -- and that WAS a surprise. On the first goal ERob ball-watches and stands flat-footed, not realizing someone might run into the box to do something with a cross. Too late he sees JP Angel's blur. The only thing ERob does is try to collar JPA at the last minute, but it was too late and was a poor tactic anyway. I have trouble faulting Barrett too much on the second goal. Richards out paced him and when Barrett saw Richards pulling away at the end, he tried a last ditch slide tackle that didn't go too well on the turf. Barrett possibly could have positioned himself better before the footrace began, but it really came down to the fact that Richards is blazing fast. The final goal was another ERob flub, where he just lackadaisically let Magee fly through for a 1-on-1 with Pat Onstad.
So that is 2 goals from being outworked, and one from being out paced. The Dynamo of old would have kept this to a respectable 0-1 loss. I wonder, does ERob sit next week? Or does he get the message this week that he let his team down?
Besides ERob, another AWOL player was DeRo. The difference is that DeRo looked like he was trying, he just couldn't get into the game. He and his fellow middies did do well enough that the Dynamo held their own in the middle, but there were still too many give-aways and too few coordinated passing plays.
Maybe Dom should have pulled Kei Kamara (who also seemed off, and was definitely off target), pushed DeRo to forward, and inserted Stuie as Attacking Mid earlier. Maybe Ashe could have gone in earlier to provide speed to counter Richards speed. Or maybe Dom expected ERob to show up and try a little harder.
Actually, the whole team seemed out of sync.
If there's any solace in this 0-3 loss (the second 0-3 loss of the season), it's that we weren't outclassed on the pitch. We were definitely out-hustled, out of ideas, and out of focus though. This happens too often when the Dynamo see the proverbial brass ring before them. It seems they crumble whenever there's an opportunity to position themselves for easy times. Maybe they just enjoy the hard road.
The embarrassment of today should ensure a better result on Labor Day weekend, when the Fire comes to town.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
"The better team won"
Well, that was easy.
With most of Chivas USA back home nursing injuries, there was no surprise that the Dynamo got 3 points last night. We knew there'd be goals scored even without Ching and DeRo, but there was the worry that Chivas would get one or two past Caig as well. The surprise was that by halftime we had amassed a 4-nil scoreline (and we could have scored more). The second half saw a more conservative Dynamo come out, but even then we had some great opportunities and Kei Kamara was terribly unlucky to not get his hat trick. It was a great night for the Sierra Leone native (Sierra Leonean?). Could Caraccio have had the same night?
Nate Jaqua also had a big night. I don't know what he did in Austria, but he is twice the player he used to be in the buildup.
Stuart Holden is looking more and more like the franchise player he could be. After a solid Olympic showing, he had a great run and a confident game-winning goal to start things off. He also does so well in the midfield. The Dom has got to find a way to keep Stuie on the field with DeRo, Mullan, and Davis. But where?
And Caig got a shutout, doing well on the three or so dangerous opportunities generated by Chivas, and also not turning otherwise tame Chivas opportunities into dangerous opportunities.
In all, I think the only complaint I have is that The Dom didn't substitute earlier. With a game on Sunday in New Jersey, he could have given some of his tender starters some rest.
As of last Friday, the Dynamo had never scored four goals in one half. As of Wednesday night, the Dynamo have accomplished that feat twice.
And we're only 4 points from the once-distant Supporters' Shield. We have 32 points (as does Chicago), the Crew have 34 points, and the Revs are at the top with 36 points. Can we catch them? That would be a first for the club and would gain us entry into all of the international tournaments of 2009.
Game recap
Another article: Four goals in the first half hasn't happened in the MLS since the Galaxy did it 10 years ago in 1998. Kamara said. "I am playing with -- every game now -- the best players in the league. This is my third year now and I have been around a lot of good players, but now, being around these guys, they are making me better every time I step on the field."
Article focusing on Chivas. Preki, "The better team won, they were sharp from the first minute, and that's the end of that."
Other Quotes.
USMNT
I saw only the last half of the USMNT match in Guatemala. (Game recap.) From what I saw, the US couldn't match Guatemala's passion and zeal. The US couldn't maintain possession for long on the attack and looked flustered on defense. They were lucky to get all three points, which is a fantastic result for the US in a hostile stadium in Central America. The fact that we got a goal off a free kick isn't all that surprising, but the way Guatemala was torching our defense, it was surprising they didn't get a goal (or three) of their own. Tim Howard, MOTM.
Ives has a good recounting of the post-match sentiments. Tim Howard had a few choice words about El Pescadito (or "Peccadillo" as I deem more appropriate).
USSoccerplayers.com has a good summary of the obstacles the USMNT faced off field and how it affected the on field performance. Sometimes the challenge is more than just matching the skill of the opposition.
With most of Chivas USA back home nursing injuries, there was no surprise that the Dynamo got 3 points last night. We knew there'd be goals scored even without Ching and DeRo, but there was the worry that Chivas would get one or two past Caig as well. The surprise was that by halftime we had amassed a 4-nil scoreline (and we could have scored more). The second half saw a more conservative Dynamo come out, but even then we had some great opportunities and Kei Kamara was terribly unlucky to not get his hat trick. It was a great night for the Sierra Leone native (Sierra Leonean?). Could Caraccio have had the same night?
Nate Jaqua also had a big night. I don't know what he did in Austria, but he is twice the player he used to be in the buildup.
Stuart Holden is looking more and more like the franchise player he could be. After a solid Olympic showing, he had a great run and a confident game-winning goal to start things off. He also does so well in the midfield. The Dom has got to find a way to keep Stuie on the field with DeRo, Mullan, and Davis. But where?
And Caig got a shutout, doing well on the three or so dangerous opportunities generated by Chivas, and also not turning otherwise tame Chivas opportunities into dangerous opportunities.
In all, I think the only complaint I have is that The Dom didn't substitute earlier. With a game on Sunday in New Jersey, he could have given some of his tender starters some rest.
As of last Friday, the Dynamo had never scored four goals in one half. As of Wednesday night, the Dynamo have accomplished that feat twice.
And we're only 4 points from the once-distant Supporters' Shield. We have 32 points (as does Chicago), the Crew have 34 points, and the Revs are at the top with 36 points. Can we catch them? That would be a first for the club and would gain us entry into all of the international tournaments of 2009.
Game recap
Another article: Four goals in the first half hasn't happened in the MLS since the Galaxy did it 10 years ago in 1998. Kamara said. "I am playing with -- every game now -- the best players in the league. This is my third year now and I have been around a lot of good players, but now, being around these guys, they are making me better every time I step on the field."
Article focusing on Chivas. Preki, "The better team won, they were sharp from the first minute, and that's the end of that."
Other Quotes.
USMNT
I saw only the last half of the USMNT match in Guatemala. (Game recap.) From what I saw, the US couldn't match Guatemala's passion and zeal. The US couldn't maintain possession for long on the attack and looked flustered on defense. They were lucky to get all three points, which is a fantastic result for the US in a hostile stadium in Central America. The fact that we got a goal off a free kick isn't all that surprising, but the way Guatemala was torching our defense, it was surprising they didn't get a goal (or three) of their own. Tim Howard, MOTM.
Ives has a good recounting of the post-match sentiments. Tim Howard had a few choice words about El Pescadito (or "Peccadillo" as I deem more appropriate).
USSoccerplayers.com has a good summary of the obstacles the USMNT faced off field and how it affected the on field performance. Sometimes the challenge is more than just matching the skill of the opposition.
Monday, August 18, 2008
A Robertson Goalfest
As I was out of town this weekend on a final summer fling before the kids go back to school, I didn't get to watch the game live (neither in person nor on The Tube). B-Fall's blog kept me in the loop Saturday night, and I got to watch the match a few days late when I returned home to my DVR.
What an exciting match. Even an American would have to love the volume of scoring. Six goals in one half, and one being a rocket from Ricardo Clark. Other goals came from Mullan with some moves, Ching with his foot, and Jaqua with the game winner. I think the only Man In Orange unhappy with the match would be Onstad, who had to pick the ball out of his net 3 times. I would imagine he feels the same as The Dom, who said: "It was an exciting game for the fans, with some great attacking play, some loose defending, and a lot of goals. The results were the most important thing to come out of tonight. We won, we are on top of the conference, and we are happy about that."
Official recap. Another MLS article. A third party recap of the game. (There's a joke that goes something like: Houston has two seasons, summer and August. It's not a particularly good joke, but it makes the point.)
Interesting quotes...
from Beckerman: "I don't even know if you should really be allowed to play in this type of heat."
from Beckerman again: "We definitely wanted to come get three points and make a statement that we're for real. We felt like we weren't getting respect from them, from some of the statements about us, what they felt about us, so we really wanted to come down and really put it to them. But they're a good team, and they play really well in Houston in all this heat." I wonder what comments the Dynamo made that "dissed" the RSL squad. That doesn't sound like the MIO.
from Findley: "They were champions a couple of years ago, but I look at them like any other team." A few years ago? How about the previous two years, and still the reigning champion.
Things get dicey now. Wednesday has Chivas USA coming to town. Due to international call ups, we'll be without Ching (ouch), DeRo (ouch), and Onstad (OUCH). Chivas will be without Guzan (the GK has left the MLS to ply his trade with Aston Villa) and Kljestan (who is with the USMNT). They'll also be without a boatload of starters due to injury (Eskadarian, Marsch, Vaughn, Zotinca and maybe Bornstein, Razov, Galindo, and Suarez). It's always a testy match with Chivas Jr, but with Caig in the goal it could be really interesting too.
Other news: Dynamo Reserves roll to first place with a 4-1 defeat of RSL Reserves.
What an exciting match. Even an American would have to love the volume of scoring. Six goals in one half, and one being a rocket from Ricardo Clark. Other goals came from Mullan with some moves, Ching with his foot, and Jaqua with the game winner. I think the only Man In Orange unhappy with the match would be Onstad, who had to pick the ball out of his net 3 times. I would imagine he feels the same as The Dom, who said: "It was an exciting game for the fans, with some great attacking play, some loose defending, and a lot of goals. The results were the most important thing to come out of tonight. We won, we are on top of the conference, and we are happy about that."
Official recap. Another MLS article. A third party recap of the game. (There's a joke that goes something like: Houston has two seasons, summer and August. It's not a particularly good joke, but it makes the point.)
Interesting quotes...
from Beckerman: "I don't even know if you should really be allowed to play in this type of heat."
from Beckerman again: "We definitely wanted to come get three points and make a statement that we're for real. We felt like we weren't getting respect from them, from some of the statements about us, what they felt about us, so we really wanted to come down and really put it to them. But they're a good team, and they play really well in Houston in all this heat." I wonder what comments the Dynamo made that "dissed" the RSL squad. That doesn't sound like the MIO.
from Findley: "They were champions a couple of years ago, but I look at them like any other team." A few years ago? How about the previous two years, and still the reigning champion.
Things get dicey now. Wednesday has Chivas USA coming to town. Due to international call ups, we'll be without Ching (ouch), DeRo (ouch), and Onstad (OUCH). Chivas will be without Guzan (the GK has left the MLS to ply his trade with Aston Villa) and Kljestan (who is with the USMNT). They'll also be without a boatload of starters due to injury (Eskadarian, Marsch, Vaughn, Zotinca and maybe Bornstein, Razov, Galindo, and Suarez). It's always a testy match with Chivas Jr, but with Caig in the goal it could be really interesting too.
Other news: Dynamo Reserves roll to first place with a 4-1 defeat of RSL Reserves.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Holden and Ianni are coming home
Good news from the Glass-Half-Full Department, we don't have to miss any more sleep watching early morning men's soccer and Holden and Ianni are set to return to Houston.
A red card 3 minutes in and a Nigerian team playing loose and aggressive combined to deny the US the draw it needed, and ended a promising Olympic campaign by the Americans. (Official recap.) The Nigerians were a fun team to watch. It would be nice to see how we'd fare 11 v11 for 90 minutes. The match was a microcosm of the troubles faced by the US in the tourney: poor decision-making at inopportune times, making worthless fouls that gain us little and cost us much, and not being able to mentally adapt to the changing dynamic on the field. It also showed that the US players are better technically than their forbears, can maintain possession and create chances against their international opponents, and are just a few tweaks away from making great strides on the international stage.
Overall the US did much better than I thought they would, and showed promise for the future of the full USMNT. They overcame listlessness to win their opening game, were seconds away from clinching their group in their second game, and held up well down a man when facing a relentless Nigerian attack. The coaching was adequate, but I think there are better choices for this age group.
As for the hometown connection, Stuart Holden was one of the bright spots of the team, showing composure defensively and creativity offensively. He looked like the guy McBride wanted to work with the most on field. His singular moments were the winning goal versus Japan, the dangerous run late versus the Netherlands that nearly got us the clinching insurance goal, and the unfortunate foul outside the box that gave the Netherlands the free kick in the dying moments that would deny us the win. At least he wasn't the one who jumped in the wall.
Ianni didn't see any field time, unfortunately. We only saw him in the post-goal celebrations.
And best of all, both players are uninjured and ready to return to help the commented on the Olympic Village, and his thoughts turned to the dining situation: Although we weren't able to sit together, it did give us a chance to mingle with some of the other athletes from other countries, which was pretty cool. I don't remember the names of the people I spoke with, but they were French track athletes and I was able to speak French with them. It went actually pretty well, and they obviously were big soccer fans. I also talked to a few Russian wrestlers, who I'm pretty sure I could take (kidding guys...good luck on a medal!).
He also mentioned that heroomed with Charles Davies, who subbed in for Stu in the 77th minute of the Nigerian match today.
In the same blog, Brad Guzan talked about the opening ceremonies and how POTUS recognized Stuie. Then we got to meet President Bush. I had never met him before but apparently Stuart is best friends with him. He walked down and took a group photo and met with all the athletes, which was pretty cool. He got to our team and Peter introduced him first to Brian and then to some of the other guys. He got to Stuart and President Bush did kind of a double-take and said "we've met before!" Oh, sorry Stu. I didn't know you and the President were so close!
Ives had some nice reflections on the pivotal draw with the Netherlands:
Grant Wahl loves the Olympics and he loves soccer, but he doesn't like Olympic soccer. That's mainly due to the ruling that clubs can hold onto their stars who would otherwise represent their countries. If the clubs can reject Olympic call-ups for their players, I think that should apply only to players who are older than U-23. I think clubs should be forced to release players who are U-23.
In US Open Cup news, the Charlestown Battery, the USL team that knocked the Dynamo out of the Cup, won their semifinal match versus Seattle in PKs. They'll face DC United in the final. DC is the presumed favorite, of course, but it would be kind of cool if the Battery capped off their Cinderella run by earning the trophy. That'd earn them some CONCACAF Champions League matches too, I believe. I'm just glad New England isn't going to repeat. They've got their SuperLiga trophy, that's enough for them this season.
A red card 3 minutes in and a Nigerian team playing loose and aggressive combined to deny the US the draw it needed, and ended a promising Olympic campaign by the Americans. (Official recap.) The Nigerians were a fun team to watch. It would be nice to see how we'd fare 11 v11 for 90 minutes. The match was a microcosm of the troubles faced by the US in the tourney: poor decision-making at inopportune times, making worthless fouls that gain us little and cost us much, and not being able to mentally adapt to the changing dynamic on the field. It also showed that the US players are better technically than their forbears, can maintain possession and create chances against their international opponents, and are just a few tweaks away from making great strides on the international stage.
Overall the US did much better than I thought they would, and showed promise for the future of the full USMNT. They overcame listlessness to win their opening game, were seconds away from clinching their group in their second game, and held up well down a man when facing a relentless Nigerian attack. The coaching was adequate, but I think there are better choices for this age group.
As for the hometown connection, Stuart Holden was one of the bright spots of the team, showing composure defensively and creativity offensively. He looked like the guy McBride wanted to work with the most on field. His singular moments were the winning goal versus Japan, the dangerous run late versus the Netherlands that nearly got us the clinching insurance goal, and the unfortunate foul outside the box that gave the Netherlands the free kick in the dying moments that would deny us the win. At least he wasn't the one who jumped in the wall.
Ianni didn't see any field time, unfortunately. We only saw him in the post-goal celebrations.
And best of all, both players are uninjured and ready to return to help the commented on the Olympic Village, and his thoughts turned to the dining situation: Although we weren't able to sit together, it did give us a chance to mingle with some of the other athletes from other countries, which was pretty cool. I don't remember the names of the people I spoke with, but they were French track athletes and I was able to speak French with them. It went actually pretty well, and they obviously were big soccer fans. I also talked to a few Russian wrestlers, who I'm pretty sure I could take (kidding guys...good luck on a medal!).
He also mentioned that heroomed with Charles Davies, who subbed in for Stu in the 77th minute of the Nigerian match today.
In the same blog, Brad Guzan talked about the opening ceremonies and how POTUS recognized Stuie. Then we got to meet President Bush. I had never met him before but apparently Stuart is best friends with him. He walked down and took a group photo and met with all the athletes, which was pretty cool. He got to our team and Peter introduced him first to Brian and then to some of the other guys. He got to Stuart and President Bush did kind of a double-take and said "we've met before!" Oh, sorry Stu. I didn't know you and the President were so close!
Ives had some nice reflections on the pivotal draw with the Netherlands:
No, the U.S. team's comeback and 2-1 lead were no fluke, the Americans outplayed the Dutch for 65 of minutes. There was no bunkering, no hitting and hoping. The U.S. team moved the ball around, created quality chances and defended well for a majority of the game. It was a quality performance made more impressive by the fact that it came a Dutch team regarded as a medal favorite, and a Dutch team that came into the match needing a result...
What the Americans were guilty of on Sunday was not being used to a situation like that, beating a high-level opponent and knowing how to finish them off. The Dutch were a beaten team and ripe to be finished off, but the U.S. team didn't have the experience to do it. You only develop that killer instinct by putting yourself in those situations regularly, something we just might see if this young and strong generation of American talent continues to develop.
Grant Wahl loves the Olympics and he loves soccer, but he doesn't like Olympic soccer. That's mainly due to the ruling that clubs can hold onto their stars who would otherwise represent their countries. If the clubs can reject Olympic call-ups for their players, I think that should apply only to players who are older than U-23. I think clubs should be forced to release players who are U-23.
In US Open Cup news, the Charlestown Battery, the USL team that knocked the Dynamo out of the Cup, won their semifinal match versus Seattle in PKs. They'll face DC United in the final. DC is the presumed favorite, of course, but it would be kind of cool if the Battery capped off their Cinderella run by earning the trophy. That'd earn them some CONCACAF Champions League matches too, I believe. I'm just glad New England isn't going to repeat. They've got their SuperLiga trophy, that's enough for them this season.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Holden helps US beat Japan
This morning, I woke up early enough to catch the 2nd half of the US Men's Olympic team's match versus Japan. It was great to see the Houston Dynamo represented well, with our very own Stuart Holden scoring the winning (and only) goal for the US Team.
So our own Hometown Holden is the scoring leader for the US team. Okay, so that's a weak stat at this point. I won't mind if another teammate (McBride? Adu? Altidore?) passes him up this tournament, as long as Holden continues to contribute and the US continues to win.
As for the game itself, it seemed that the US tried to sit back on the lead. The US has a pretty good (if very shallow) defense, but that tactic won't work in the next match, versus the Netherlands. A draw versus the Oranje would help our chances quite a bit overall, particularly after their draw with Nigeria. I'm looking forward to watching my recording of the whole Japan match tonight; I heard we did well in the first half, although we conceded several golden opportunities to the Japanese.
Here's a preview of the Japan match. It doesn't bother to mention anything about Holden, choosing to stick to the easy subjects: Adu, Altidore, and McBride.
Here's the US Soccer recap of the match. Holden was the "Sierra Mist Man of the Match." And here's the AP recap of the match. (It's from the Chron, so the link will only be good for a few weeks.)
Here's an old article about both Dynamo players, Ianni and Holden, after they first joined the Olympic team.
Oh, and for minor laughs, here's Jamie Trecker's preview of the US Men's Olympic team. His schtick is to have a cynical perspective on the US soccer culture in general, and US soccer players specifically. (He seems to have a personal vendetta against Ching; being almost childish -- and definitely rudimentary -- in his criticism of the Hawaiian prior to World Cup 2006.) His counter-culture approach would be better served if he was better at analysis and if he didn't rely on media handouts as the basis for his opinions (even if his opinions are only to counter those handouts). For instance, he obviously hasn't watched any Dynamo games, because he says in the above-linked article "Holden looks to be a journeyman at Houston" and could be on the 2014 US World Cup team "if at all." No one who is considered a solid understudy for DeRo at attacking midfield could be considered merely a journeyman. And no one who has seen Holden's touch, powerful shot, and dribbling skills would consider him a journeyman. Research is perhaps the most difficult job for writers, and so Trecker often skimps on this aspect. If you see facts in his writing, don't take them as accurate. His opinions can be amusing, as I've said, or even interesting at times; but they are often based on a weak foundation of factual errors, on poor analysis, or simply on a hope that a negative perspective will sound insightful.
So our own Hometown Holden is the scoring leader for the US team. Okay, so that's a weak stat at this point. I won't mind if another teammate (McBride? Adu? Altidore?) passes him up this tournament, as long as Holden continues to contribute and the US continues to win.
As for the game itself, it seemed that the US tried to sit back on the lead. The US has a pretty good (if very shallow) defense, but that tactic won't work in the next match, versus the Netherlands. A draw versus the Oranje would help our chances quite a bit overall, particularly after their draw with Nigeria. I'm looking forward to watching my recording of the whole Japan match tonight; I heard we did well in the first half, although we conceded several golden opportunities to the Japanese.
Here's a preview of the Japan match. It doesn't bother to mention anything about Holden, choosing to stick to the easy subjects: Adu, Altidore, and McBride.
Here's the US Soccer recap of the match. Holden was the "Sierra Mist Man of the Match." And here's the AP recap of the match. (It's from the Chron, so the link will only be good for a few weeks.)
Here's an old article about both Dynamo players, Ianni and Holden, after they first joined the Olympic team.
Oh, and for minor laughs, here's Jamie Trecker's preview of the US Men's Olympic team. His schtick is to have a cynical perspective on the US soccer culture in general, and US soccer players specifically. (He seems to have a personal vendetta against Ching; being almost childish -- and definitely rudimentary -- in his criticism of the Hawaiian prior to World Cup 2006.) His counter-culture approach would be better served if he was better at analysis and if he didn't rely on media handouts as the basis for his opinions (even if his opinions are only to counter those handouts). For instance, he obviously hasn't watched any Dynamo games, because he says in the above-linked article "Holden looks to be a journeyman at Houston" and could be on the 2014 US World Cup team "if at all." No one who is considered a solid understudy for DeRo at attacking midfield could be considered merely a journeyman. And no one who has seen Holden's touch, powerful shot, and dribbling skills would consider him a journeyman. Research is perhaps the most difficult job for writers, and so Trecker often skimps on this aspect. If you see facts in his writing, don't take them as accurate. His opinions can be amusing, as I've said, or even interesting at times; but they are often based on a weak foundation of factual errors, on poor analysis, or simply on a hope that a negative perspective will sound insightful.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Sometimes I really hate this game
How painful is it to not be able to win in regulation + extra time when you have 25 shots, 14 on goal, to the opponent's 15 shots, 7 on goal! And those 14 on goal don't even count the two off the left post! Arrgh! (Game preview. Game review.)
I've written before that this is not the Dynamo of yesteryear. This one loses to the Revs in a Championship game. This one has ginormous defensive gaffes -- and more than one! -- that allow goals. The usually stalwart Captain Barrett lets a ball drop into the box and doesn't stay with it, thus giving Ralston the ball, the space, the angle, and the first equalizer; while Bobby Boswell, who was B-Swell all match, reverted to BoBo on one play in overtime to give Shalrie Joseph the second equalizer. And that second goal was on a set play; Dynamo-Houston of yesteryear was golden on set plays.
On the other hand, this Dynamo team did other things that were uncharacteristic, like getting 14 shots on goal, taking the first lead in a final, and getting to a non-MLS Cup final in the first place. And how about Ching being the provider, sending in the cross for another player to head for a goal?
This has been the season of ties. Because we settled for yet another draw tonight, we had to go to a virtual coin flip to determine who gets to pick up the trophy. PKs are always a gamble. Excellent kick by The Waibel to set the tone. I had a bad feeling about DeRo (he seemed off all night, despite the countless opportunities he had on goal) and that proved correct. I then was hoping Ching would (1) not do the stutter step and (2) change his routine by shooting to the left. Well, he didn't do the stutter, but he went to the right, just like the last time he faced Reis. Onstad gave his side the saves they needed to win, only his buddies couldn't get the ball into the net every time. Just like in the game.
Can't complain about the PK result though. Those are really just crapshoots. I really can't complain about the offensive production either. We should have had more goals, sure; but if you said before the game that we'd get 2 past Reis, I'd take that straight up. My complaint is really with the lapses that gave the Revs their two goals. It should never have gone to PKs.
Take away the awful gifts by the defenses and we win 1-0 in overtime. As it is, we do continue the traditions of yesteryear by not winning a non-MLS Cup trophy. After ending our chances with the Pan-Pacific Cup, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Open Cup, and the SuperLiga Cup, and drawing our way out of contention for the Supporters' Shield (my favorite of the awards), only the MLS Cup remains. Frankly, that's the most important one as that's the only one that gives us the unprecented "three-peat". It's also the one that gives one an automatic berth into all of the tournaments that add spice to the season.
But maybe, just maybe, this is the season where we learn what it's like to be a true supporter of a soccer club. Instead of rating the team based on the awards won and the accolades bestowed by the soccer literati; maybe this is the season where we appreciate the team for what it is: a solid, hard-working, talented team that plays an attractive style of soccer, with players that give their all for us each match. And maybe next year we get to see how the team fares when it has only MLS league games to squeeze into the schedule.
Maybe. But I'm not sure I'm mature enough for that sort of character growth, so let's just get the three-peat, 'kay? We can deal with not getting the MLS Cup in some future season when we've gotten something else, say a CONCACAF Champions League Cup or at least an Open Cup. We need the MLS Cup this season. Grab the unprecedented three-peat, then we'll negotiate on what trophies must be earned next season...
Go DYNAMO!
I've written before that this is not the Dynamo of yesteryear. This one loses to the Revs in a Championship game. This one has ginormous defensive gaffes -- and more than one! -- that allow goals. The usually stalwart Captain Barrett lets a ball drop into the box and doesn't stay with it, thus giving Ralston the ball, the space, the angle, and the first equalizer; while Bobby Boswell, who was B-Swell all match, reverted to BoBo on one play in overtime to give Shalrie Joseph the second equalizer. And that second goal was on a set play; Dynamo-Houston of yesteryear was golden on set plays.
On the other hand, this Dynamo team did other things that were uncharacteristic, like getting 14 shots on goal, taking the first lead in a final, and getting to a non-MLS Cup final in the first place. And how about Ching being the provider, sending in the cross for another player to head for a goal?
This has been the season of ties. Because we settled for yet another draw tonight, we had to go to a virtual coin flip to determine who gets to pick up the trophy. PKs are always a gamble. Excellent kick by The Waibel to set the tone. I had a bad feeling about DeRo (he seemed off all night, despite the countless opportunities he had on goal) and that proved correct. I then was hoping Ching would (1) not do the stutter step and (2) change his routine by shooting to the left. Well, he didn't do the stutter, but he went to the right, just like the last time he faced Reis. Onstad gave his side the saves they needed to win, only his buddies couldn't get the ball into the net every time. Just like in the game.
Can't complain about the PK result though. Those are really just crapshoots. I really can't complain about the offensive production either. We should have had more goals, sure; but if you said before the game that we'd get 2 past Reis, I'd take that straight up. My complaint is really with the lapses that gave the Revs their two goals. It should never have gone to PKs.
Take away the awful gifts by the defenses and we win 1-0 in overtime. As it is, we do continue the traditions of yesteryear by not winning a non-MLS Cup trophy. After ending our chances with the Pan-Pacific Cup, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Open Cup, and the SuperLiga Cup, and drawing our way out of contention for the Supporters' Shield (my favorite of the awards), only the MLS Cup remains. Frankly, that's the most important one as that's the only one that gives us the unprecented "three-peat". It's also the one that gives one an automatic berth into all of the tournaments that add spice to the season.
But maybe, just maybe, this is the season where we learn what it's like to be a true supporter of a soccer club. Instead of rating the team based on the awards won and the accolades bestowed by the soccer literati; maybe this is the season where we appreciate the team for what it is: a solid, hard-working, talented team that plays an attractive style of soccer, with players that give their all for us each match. And maybe next year we get to see how the team fares when it has only MLS league games to squeeze into the schedule.
Maybe. But I'm not sure I'm mature enough for that sort of character growth, so let's just get the three-peat, 'kay? We can deal with not getting the MLS Cup in some future season when we've gotten something else, say a CONCACAF Champions League Cup or at least an Open Cup. We need the MLS Cup this season. Grab the unprecedented three-peat, then we'll negotiate on what trophies must be earned next season...
Go DYNAMO!
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Keeping the points a-coming
Two sweet goals in the first half, and another stellar performance by Onstad (among others), gave the Dynamo their first win over the Crew at Robertson. (Game recap. More on the win.)
First, know that it was hot. Mostly that was thanks to the humidity. I don't think the heat and humidity helped us as much last night though; it seemed that being a goal behind got the Crew motivated. They had some very good stretches of play once we scored, and they would have scored had Onstad not been his uber-goalkeeping self. The "Hardhats" looked particularly good in the second half, but the humidity (and the Crew's early subs mandated by injuries) probably did help late in that they didn't look dangerous after the 80th minute or so.
The first goal by Davis in the 13th minute came from a nice feed from Mullan. The ball bounced a bit on Davis' first touch (blame the uneven turf on that one), giving Davis the perfect opportunity to turn and blast a blistering half-volley into the upper left net. "It was good to be able to come out tonight and contribute with a goal. That was a great pass from Brian (Mullan) and the team got three points. That is the most important thing right now. I have had some chances recently with posts and crossbars, but it went my tonight."
In the 43rd, Ching hit a low rocket after Clark sent a through ball to Nate Jaqua in the box. Jaqua was closed down quickly and couldn't turn, but left a nice step-over layoff to Ching who sent his shot low and to the left, through the defender's legs, and into the net as the GK, WillFerrell Hesmer, dove the wrong way.
As with the Pachuca match, there was some controversy on the field: what's with the new Dynamo Girl uniforms? They looked almost modest! My wife approves.
Cool article alert! Richard Justice must've been at the game, or maybe he attended the Pachuca game, because he has a great article on the Men In Orange. It's a great soccer article from a non-soccer sports journalist. Links to newspaper articles sometimes break over time, so here are a few quotes for posterity:
Now let's hope we can take care of business this Tuesday versus New England and bring home our first international trophy. The Revs can't beat us THREE games in one season, can they? CAN THEY?
(Meanwhile, a New England fan is thinking "The Dynamo can't beat us THREE championships in a row, can they? CAN THEY?" Lords of Destiny hear me out: Each season sees a slightly different group wearing the jersey of a club, so a Dynamo win wouldn't have the same players beating the same players three times in a row, even if there are quite a few returning core players. However, a Revolution win would (basically) have the same players beating the same players thrice in a row. We can't have that, okay?)
Go Dynamo!
First, know that it was hot. Mostly that was thanks to the humidity. I don't think the heat and humidity helped us as much last night though; it seemed that being a goal behind got the Crew motivated. They had some very good stretches of play once we scored, and they would have scored had Onstad not been his uber-goalkeeping self. The "Hardhats" looked particularly good in the second half, but the humidity (and the Crew's early subs mandated by injuries) probably did help late in that they didn't look dangerous after the 80th minute or so.
The first goal by Davis in the 13th minute came from a nice feed from Mullan. The ball bounced a bit on Davis' first touch (blame the uneven turf on that one), giving Davis the perfect opportunity to turn and blast a blistering half-volley into the upper left net. "It was good to be able to come out tonight and contribute with a goal. That was a great pass from Brian (Mullan) and the team got three points. That is the most important thing right now. I have had some chances recently with posts and crossbars, but it went my tonight."
In the 43rd, Ching hit a low rocket after Clark sent a through ball to Nate Jaqua in the box. Jaqua was closed down quickly and couldn't turn, but left a nice step-over layoff to Ching who sent his shot low and to the left, through the defender's legs, and into the net as the GK, Will
As with the Pachuca match, there was some controversy on the field: what's with the new Dynamo Girl uniforms? They looked almost modest! My wife approves.
Cool article alert! Richard Justice must've been at the game, or maybe he attended the Pachuca game, because he has a great article on the Men In Orange. It's a great soccer article from a non-soccer sports journalist. Links to newspaper articles sometimes break over time, so here are a few quotes for posterity:
- The Dom, talking about the overwhelming support in the final home game last season: "To this day, I've never witnessed a club atmosphere in America better than that one," the Dynamo coach said. "You looked up and there was orange everywhere. There were no gimmicks, no giveaways. It was just fans that wanted to see the Houston Dynamo advance to the final. I still get chills talking about it."
- There's more emotion in one Dynamo game than the Texans, Astros and Rockets have in an entire season. Cynicism takes a day off when the Dynamo play. And it's all about the soccer. It's not about the creature comforts at Robertson Stadium or the chance to see an international star. It's about the team.
- Now into their third season, the Dynamo have done almost everything right. They moved into the right market. They won back-to-back championships. Robertson Stadium offers a closeness to the players, an intimacy rare in professional sports. It helps that players spend hours in the community visiting hospitals, holding clinics, being the best ambassadors a sport can have. It helps to have players who care, who always play with hustle and energy, who appreciate the fan base. It's all those things and more. It's our amazing little success story.
- They have great leadership beginning with team president Oliver Luck, an accomplished coach in Kinnear and an interesting locker room mix. Barrett, the captain, is quiet. So is Mullan. Onstad, the old guy, has seen it all. Robinson and Craig Waibel are talkative and emotional. It's the kind of mix of players for which every franchise strives. And the crowd support, the emotion and noise and all the rest, is irreplaceable.
Now let's hope we can take care of business this Tuesday versus New England and bring home our first international trophy. The Revs can't beat us THREE games in one season, can they? CAN THEY?
(Meanwhile, a New England fan is thinking "The Dynamo can't beat us THREE championships in a row, can they? CAN THEY?" Lords of Destiny hear me out: Each season sees a slightly different group wearing the jersey of a club, so a Dynamo win wouldn't have the same players beating the same players three times in a row, even if there are quite a few returning core players. However, a Revolution win would (basically) have the same players beating the same players thrice in a row. We can't have that, okay?)
Go Dynamo!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Crew's in town
Back to the MLS for one game before we face off for the SuperLiga championship versus New England, which WE BETTER WIN.
Here is the official preview for tonight's game. No ERob or Mulrooney (injury) or DeRo (too much yeller). The Crew will be without "Hey, Duck!"
For the Dynamo formation, I'm thinking something like:
With Cameron able to move to midfield if we switch to a 3-5-2 and Kamara able to come in for Jaqua around the 70th minute.
The Crew-Mo series has each team with one win and three draws. It's pretty uninspiring, really. The matches are boring on average and Alejandro Moreno gets a goal each time. He can have his goal tonight, as long as WE GET MORE.
I'm going with ALLCAPS today to express an intense fervor that can only be controlled by heavy use of the CAPS LOCK key.
And now for something completely different: the Dynamo open ties with local Chinese officials.
Here is the official preview for tonight's game. No ERob or Mulrooney (injury) or DeRo (too much yeller). The Crew will be without "Hey, Duck!"
For the Dynamo formation, I'm thinking something like:
Ching--Jaqua
Ashe-Davis-Mullan
Clark
Barrett-Boswell-Cameron-Waibel
Onstad
With Cameron able to move to midfield if we switch to a 3-5-2 and Kamara able to come in for Jaqua around the 70th minute.
The Crew-Mo series has each team with one win and three draws. It's pretty uninspiring, really. The matches are boring on average and Alejandro Moreno gets a goal each time. He can have his goal tonight, as long as WE GET MORE.
I'm going with ALLCAPS today to express an intense fervor that can only be controlled by heavy use of the CAPS LOCK key.
And now for something completely different: the Dynamo open ties with local Chinese officials.
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