The lack of blogging isn't due to my lack of attention to the world of soccer. On the contrary, so much has been going on (in the MLS, World Cup Qualifying, and my efforts to be a decent coach for my son's youth team), that I haven't made time to write.
But here I am. Since my last writing, the Dynamo have been very active.
They beat Colorado in Denver (Recap) behind 2 goals from Ching (he had a saved PK that would've given him the hat trick) and a sweet shot from afar by Rico. The win ensured the Dynamo clinched a playoff spot.
Midweek, in CONCACAF play, DeRo earned 3 points for the Orange with a brilliant game winner in the 88th minute. (Recap.) It looked like San Francisco FC of Panama was going to escape from Houston with a point. It would have been unjust, but poor finishing was killing the MIO. (We had 20 shots to Fr'isco's 6.) The night saw several young guns making their mark. Corey Ashe had perhaps his best game ever as he tore up the left flank and showed strong runs and solid crosses. Caig was a surprise starter in goal, and his poor positioning off his line (in yet another match) allowed the Panamanians to equalize early in the 2nd half with an outstanding lob. Chabala did well at right back, but could stand some practice making crosses when his legs are tired late. Wondo had a goal and nearly another (a chip that hit the post, and then the followup went wide as it was borne of frustration than of steely intent to finish). Kyle Brown was a surprising sub. But the game changed when the veteran, DeRo, came in at the 78th minute. He energized the team and seemed to make things happen.
His goal was good in and of itself, but what he did to get himself into that position is what was truly amazing. In the 88th minute, a long pass by Barrett to DeRo was intercepted and the ball ended up at Blanco's feet (no, not THE Blanco). Blanco began dribbling towards the halfway line, but DeRo came up from behind, deftly stepped between Blanco and the ball, and cleanly stole away and reversed course. Given time and space on the fringe of the attacking third, DeRo was like a kid at Christmas and unleashed a bending rocket that flat-footed the goalkeeper and iced the game. DeRo had been in the game all of 10 minutes.
Later in the week, the US Men's Team booked passage into the next round of WCQ with an easy win over an overmatched (and undermanned) Cuba. (Recap.) I feel for the Cuban players. Ching scored a goal after the match had already been decided. (His goal was a header of a Kljestan cross that Ching knocked in...but he was in a gaggle with 2 other US players so it would have been knocked in had Ching not been at the vanguard of the group). The most exciting part of the match for me was the introduction of José Francisco Torres of Pachuca into the USMNT rotation. (Quotes.) Maybe it's just pie-eyed dreams, but I hope that Torres is part of the future that builds a better technically skilled and creative USMNT culture. A guy can dream.
Ives has some observations about the game. Ives also had a good treatise on the worth Ching brings to the USMNT. The article is followed by amusing drivel -- for the most part -- chundered by the blogging community. It's amusing partly because the comments are so predictable, and partly because they are naive for the most part. As one matures, one realizes that there is not just one kind of forward, but many types that have value depending on the system and the team. Ching simply makes the players around him more productive. In other words: Ching makes the team better. That's a good thing. 'Nuff said.
Tonight, the week finished with a boring scoreless draw between a mediocre DC United team and a Dynamo team bereft of ideas. (Recap.) The result earned the Columbus Crew the Supporters' Shield.
The MIO wore all-white tonight as part of a charity effort to help raise funds as part of the reconstruction after Hurricane Ike. The team also honored first responders and their role in helping with the storm recovery.
The game was filled with half-chances. Geoff Cameron was an early 2nd half sub despite being listed as "Out" due to hamstring issues. He came in for Holden who knocked heads in the DC penalty box and got a golf-ball size lump on his forehead...yikes! Ashe was the other sub. He came on with only 10 minutes remaining, so it took him a while to get into the groove, but once he got into a rhythm, he delivered some nice crosses from the left.
It's been a long month for the Dynamo, but the traveling is over for the time being. Hopefully the MIO can re-energize themselves, recapture the (healthy) passion (not the anger-management-issue-laden passion that ERob shows before drawing needless Yellows), and do what needs to be done to get the third consecutive MLS Cup.
Go Dynamo!
Showing posts with label Caig. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caig. Show all posts
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Aggravation and REVulsion at the REVolting game
I can't think of a game much more aggravating that this one. The Revs play some of the ugliest soccer there is...but it's effective soccer. Particularly with Caig in the opposite goal.
Conceding the whole field to the Dynamo, the Revs were happy with occasional forays into our end. That's all they've needed in the past, and that was all they needed tonight. We have an aggregate of 0-5 goals versus the boring team from Foxboro, and we're even 0-3 with our A-team on the field. (Game recap; Chronicle recap. Kinnear: "Those guys were given an opportunity. If you ask for an opportunity and I give it to you, now it's your responsibility to take advantage." Ouch. But well said.)
Tonight we learned nothing. Here are some things that we already knew but which led to our defeat:
1. Possession does not lead to goals.
2. We have trouble scoring without DeRo or Ching.
3. We have trouble scoring because we have trouble getting a shot on goal.
4. We have difficulty breaking down bunkered in teams.
5. Caig is a shaky keeper that cannot keep us in games.
6. Stutter-step PKs are not smart. It didn't work for the best player in the world (that's Christiano Ronaldo) in the Champions League Final, how could it work for Stuart Holden. (And Holden took an absolute blistering shot vesus Reis in the MLS Cup Final of 2006; why change it up now?!)
7. Coach Steve Nicol hates soccer but loves his job. His antipathy and his security are both supported by his team's style of play.
8. John Harkes will throw an "as well" into the middle or at the end of any sentence, even if it doesn't make sense. That may not have been a factor leading towards our defeat, now that I think about it, but it did irritate me.
Even though we controlled possession, it wasn't due to solid passing play or creative dribbling. We didn't do ANY of that. It was just because the Revs were playing defensively. They don't care about the beautiful game -- never have. They care only for what matters: 3 points. Well they got it. And the Dynamo certainly didn't deserve 3 from tonight.
Us: 15 shots, 5 on goal (33%)
Them: 7 shots, 6 on goal (86%) and of course 2 IN goal.
Was there a bright spot? Sure. Her name is Marlen.
Marlen is a University of Houston student majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management with a Minor in Dance -- the exact same academic combination as Warren Buffet's, I think. Her ideal evening would center on a five-course meal at an upscale restaurant. Don't expect her to paint the town red afterwards, though. No, sir! She'd much rather relax in front of a good movie. Perhaps something that provides great introspection on the human condition. Or something starring Clooney.
Okay, seriously. The bright spot(s) for me tonight was Mullan. And Ashe. Mullan was everywhere, and he was hungry. He had two rockets that forced Reis to make his patented Reis Uber-Save. He also nutmegged Reis with a ball that went just wide of the goal. I was surprised that Kinnear took Mullan out in the second half. Perhaps Mulls was spent. He was offside a lot in the second half.
Ashe was also threatening tonight, and had a few looks at goal himself. Sure he sometimes traps himself in the corner, but he was putting New England on its heels all night and was exciting to watch throughout.
Holden didn't have a bad game overall. He just didn't seem as smooth and decisive as he has in the past. He was doing the heavy lifting throughout the match, but he had some notable gaffes. He was frozen about midway through the first half when Ashe sent a ball through the box that Cameron merely nicked; and Holden looked positioned to do something with the ball but was taken aback by Cameron's (mis)strike. Yeah, Holden also had that poor penalty kick (go back to the decisive shot, Stuie), but I think that may have been the Lords of Soccer bringing justice for the poor call. I don't think a PK should have been awarded.
And then there's Caig. I say the Dynamo get a clean sheet if Onstad is back there. Onstad probably intercepts the pass before it gets to Ralston on the first goal. That goal wasn't really the fault of the keeper though; the left mid should have been back to cover Waibel's man when Waibel had to cover Ianni's. I can say with some assurance that Onstad stops the second goal. First of all, he wouldn't concede the corner kick in the first place off such a simple shot on goal. Second, I don't recall him ever chesting the ball into his own net. Granted, once again our defense bequethed time and space to an opponent -- our our own box, no less -- allowing an easy shot, but the shot went to the keeper. A professional keeper should get those.
A weekend off from the inconsistent Dynamo. Let's hope the USMNT takes care of business versus Barbados, ideally with some solid play from Ching. Let's also wish DeRo, Onstad, and the Canadian National Team the best of luck as they head to Kingstown.
Conceding the whole field to the Dynamo, the Revs were happy with occasional forays into our end. That's all they've needed in the past, and that was all they needed tonight. We have an aggregate of 0-5 goals versus the boring team from Foxboro, and we're even 0-3 with our A-team on the field. (Game recap; Chronicle recap. Kinnear: "Those guys were given an opportunity. If you ask for an opportunity and I give it to you, now it's your responsibility to take advantage." Ouch. But well said.)
Tonight we learned nothing. Here are some things that we already knew but which led to our defeat:
1. Possession does not lead to goals.
2. We have trouble scoring without DeRo or Ching.
3. We have trouble scoring because we have trouble getting a shot on goal.
4. We have difficulty breaking down bunkered in teams.
5. Caig is a shaky keeper that cannot keep us in games.
6. Stutter-step PKs are not smart. It didn't work for the best player in the world (that's Christiano Ronaldo) in the Champions League Final, how could it work for Stuart Holden. (And Holden took an absolute blistering shot vesus Reis in the MLS Cup Final of 2006; why change it up now?!)
7. Coach Steve Nicol hates soccer but loves his job. His antipathy and his security are both supported by his team's style of play.
8. John Harkes will throw an "as well" into the middle or at the end of any sentence, even if it doesn't make sense. That may not have been a factor leading towards our defeat, now that I think about it, but it did irritate me.
Even though we controlled possession, it wasn't due to solid passing play or creative dribbling. We didn't do ANY of that. It was just because the Revs were playing defensively. They don't care about the beautiful game -- never have. They care only for what matters: 3 points. Well they got it. And the Dynamo certainly didn't deserve 3 from tonight.
Us: 15 shots, 5 on goal (33%)
Them: 7 shots, 6 on goal (86%) and of course 2 IN goal.
Was there a bright spot? Sure. Her name is Marlen.
Marlen is a University of Houston student majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management with a Minor in Dance -- the exact same academic combination as Warren Buffet's, I think. Her ideal evening would center on a five-course meal at an upscale restaurant. Don't expect her to paint the town red afterwards, though. No, sir! She'd much rather relax in front of a good movie. Perhaps something that provides great introspection on the human condition. Or something starring Clooney.
Okay, seriously. The bright spot(s) for me tonight was Mullan. And Ashe. Mullan was everywhere, and he was hungry. He had two rockets that forced Reis to make his patented Reis Uber-Save. He also nutmegged Reis with a ball that went just wide of the goal. I was surprised that Kinnear took Mullan out in the second half. Perhaps Mulls was spent. He was offside a lot in the second half.
Ashe was also threatening tonight, and had a few looks at goal himself. Sure he sometimes traps himself in the corner, but he was putting New England on its heels all night and was exciting to watch throughout.
Holden didn't have a bad game overall. He just didn't seem as smooth and decisive as he has in the past. He was doing the heavy lifting throughout the match, but he had some notable gaffes. He was frozen about midway through the first half when Ashe sent a ball through the box that Cameron merely nicked; and Holden looked positioned to do something with the ball but was taken aback by Cameron's (mis)strike. Yeah, Holden also had that poor penalty kick (go back to the decisive shot, Stuie), but I think that may have been the Lords of Soccer bringing justice for the poor call. I don't think a PK should have been awarded.
And then there's Caig. I say the Dynamo get a clean sheet if Onstad is back there. Onstad probably intercepts the pass before it gets to Ralston on the first goal. That goal wasn't really the fault of the keeper though; the left mid should have been back to cover Waibel's man when Waibel had to cover Ianni's. I can say with some assurance that Onstad stops the second goal. First of all, he wouldn't concede the corner kick in the first place off such a simple shot on goal. Second, I don't recall him ever chesting the ball into his own net. Granted, once again our defense bequethed time and space to an opponent -- our our own box, no less -- allowing an easy shot, but the shot went to the keeper. A professional keeper should get those.
A weekend off from the inconsistent Dynamo. Let's hope the USMNT takes care of business versus Barbados, ideally with some solid play from Ching. Let's also wish DeRo, Onstad, and the Canadian National Team the best of luck as they head to Kingstown.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Going Back to Ohio
Dynamo-Houston trek to Columbus, OH, tonight. The Crew aren't their usual pushover selves, especially when Guillermo Barros Schelotto is on his game. In the 4-game history of the two teams, the Dynamo have won only once (in Columbus, not The Rob) with the remainder being draws. It's hard to predict who wins tonight, although one might think that Houston is due its first win of the season, but I don't think the odds work that way: adding up until a particular game is a gimme. You could easily argue that the Crew are due their first win of the Houston/Columbus series. Maybe a draw is the most likely conclusion.
All's I know is that Alejandro Moreno will probably score a goal; he has netted one every time he's faced Houston since his departure from Houston. And I will say unequivocally that Moreno will earn his team at least 2 dangerous free kicks. That's how he rolls. Still, I feel that Houston should win if they play like they have been. Here's hoping for a game like the first half versus LA, only with more scoring for the orange.
Here is the MLS game preview.
Caraccio has been a long-time admirer of Schelotto. Tonight is a great chance for the young gun to impress the old maestro.
A brief note about the defensive line. This will be the first time this season our back line will have the same personnel lining up in consecutive games.
Did you know that Sigi Schmid coached The Dom on the USNMT years ago? Sigi said Dom was on the "World Cup Team" but Dom wasn't on the final roster for the 1990 team. Maybe Sigi was the assistant coach and Dom was with the team through the build up, then was cut before the final roster was made?
Also, do the Dynamo want to be the team that gives Sigi his 100th win? (Read the fourth bullet under Item #5 here. Also, Item #1 talks about the weird knuckling action of the MLS ball; could unfamiliarity with the MLS ball be the reason for Caig's slow start? That would be nice if it were true; and it might explain why his last few games have been better. But: (1) that wouldn't explain one of his apparent weaknesses, which is his hesitancy as to when to come off his line and (2) it wouldn't explain the performance in Saprissa, where they don't use the MLS ball and he still struggled.)
A final (?) word on Donovan and His Angry Face
Shaka Hislop has an interesting take on the Dynamo's reaction to Donovan's vocal showmanship last week: the complacency is a sign that all is not well in Dynamoland. He feels Ianni should have confronted Donovan and the Dynamo should have supported their teammate. Instead, Donovan "had to be led away by one of his own team-mates - all the while, no one from Houston, not even Ianni, cared to confront the LA forward...It portrayed a real lack of camaraderie from within Houston's ranks, which is very concerning given the pre-season favourites' precarious position at the bottom of the Western Conference, without a win to their name." Personally, I think Ianni handled the incident quite professionally, and camaraderie is one thing that doesn't appear to be a problem with the Dynamo. I do agree with Hislop's later accolades about The Dom.
Another factoid from the Hislop piece: In Portsmouth "the fans are famous for their vehement support, so much so that the number 12 was reserved for the crowd - no player would wear the No12 shirt." Cool tradition, that.
All's I know is that Alejandro Moreno will probably score a goal; he has netted one every time he's faced Houston since his departure from Houston. And I will say unequivocally that Moreno will earn his team at least 2 dangerous free kicks. That's how he rolls. Still, I feel that Houston should win if they play like they have been. Here's hoping for a game like the first half versus LA, only with more scoring for the orange.
Here is the MLS game preview.
Caraccio has been a long-time admirer of Schelotto. Tonight is a great chance for the young gun to impress the old maestro.
A brief note about the defensive line. This will be the first time this season our back line will have the same personnel lining up in consecutive games.
Did you know that Sigi Schmid coached The Dom on the USNMT years ago? Sigi said Dom was on the "World Cup Team" but Dom wasn't on the final roster for the 1990 team. Maybe Sigi was the assistant coach and Dom was with the team through the build up, then was cut before the final roster was made?
Also, do the Dynamo want to be the team that gives Sigi his 100th win? (Read the fourth bullet under Item #5 here. Also, Item #1 talks about the weird knuckling action of the MLS ball; could unfamiliarity with the MLS ball be the reason for Caig's slow start? That would be nice if it were true; and it might explain why his last few games have been better. But: (1) that wouldn't explain one of his apparent weaknesses, which is his hesitancy as to when to come off his line and (2) it wouldn't explain the performance in Saprissa, where they don't use the MLS ball and he still struggled.)
A final (?) word on Donovan and His Angry Face
Shaka Hislop has an interesting take on the Dynamo's reaction to Donovan's vocal showmanship last week: the complacency is a sign that all is not well in Dynamoland. He feels Ianni should have confronted Donovan and the Dynamo should have supported their teammate. Instead, Donovan "had to be led away by one of his own team-mates - all the while, no one from Houston, not even Ianni, cared to confront the LA forward...It portrayed a real lack of camaraderie from within Houston's ranks, which is very concerning given the pre-season favourites' precarious position at the bottom of the Western Conference, without a win to their name." Personally, I think Ianni handled the incident quite professionally, and camaraderie is one thing that doesn't appear to be a problem with the Dynamo. I do agree with Hislop's later accolades about The Dom.
Another factoid from the Hislop piece: In Portsmouth "the fans are famous for their vehement support, so much so that the number 12 was reserved for the crowd - no player would wear the No12 shirt." Cool tradition, that.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Trip to LaLa Land
Tonight it's Houston vs Hollywood. The LA Beckhams will pit their offensive prowess against a Dynamo defense that will be playing without ERob and has yet to prove it's up to the standards it set in 2007. On the other end of the field, the Dynamo should have plenty of opportunities on goal due to a porous Galaxy defense.
The official game preview. Not-so fun factoid: "In seven games in all competitions in 2008, the Dynamo have been shutout in five. In the other two, they scored three goals in each."
An article about our goalie for the game. Caig says, "It will be nice to get more touches because unfortunately my first touch with this team was picking up the ball out of the back of the net." Onstad says, "He's helping me along. It's a good relationship, and I think it's going to help the club." I say the term "admirably" should have been left out of the headline until Caig has had more than one good showing. No better time to have a good game than tonight in LA.
The Galaxy should provide plenty of opportunity for Caraccio to have a good outing. He says "It is obviously a different game here [in the US] because we run more. It's more dynamic, but soccer is soccer and little by little I am getting more rhythm." He also admits, "I am here to score goals and win games. It hasn't happened yet, but we are working toward that." The Galaxy backs will provide the chances, will young Caraccio be able to take advantage? Will Ching or DeRo?
Goal.com says "In a two-on-two matchup of the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan and David Beckham against Houston’s Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario, the home side probably wins. However, nine other players will be on the field for each side and that’s where Houston has a resounding edge... L.A. will score, but not as much as Houston will. The Dynamo’s midfield was given a boost last week by the return of Ricardo Clark, one of the best two-way midfielders in the game. With De Rosario in front of Clark and those two flanked by Brian Mullan and Brad Davis, the midfield of Los Angeles will be overrun."
Here's one supporter's view of the Dynamo's struggles early in the season.
Fox Sports has a game preview. "Even struggling teams are finding a way to break out of an offensive slump against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Not many clubs have had as much trouble scoring goals than the Houston Dynamo." Ouch. I'm sensing a consensus among the journalistas.
The journalista at the LA Times notes that Lan-Don has "irked" some Dynamo fans. Of course, the irked fans were responding to an informal blog, just as the LA Times is trying to rile up the Galaxy fans by reporting this in a blog. Hey, who is the cool guy who wrote that witty-but-too-lengthy thing about "The coddled team that apparently needs more special breaks"? Whoever that was, he sure sounds intelligent. Good looking too.
The official game preview. Not-so fun factoid: "In seven games in all competitions in 2008, the Dynamo have been shutout in five. In the other two, they scored three goals in each."
An article about our goalie for the game. Caig says, "It will be nice to get more touches because unfortunately my first touch with this team was picking up the ball out of the back of the net." Onstad says, "He's helping me along. It's a good relationship, and I think it's going to help the club." I say the term "admirably" should have been left out of the headline until Caig has had more than one good showing. No better time to have a good game than tonight in LA.
The Galaxy should provide plenty of opportunity for Caraccio to have a good outing. He says "It is obviously a different game here [in the US] because we run more. It's more dynamic, but soccer is soccer and little by little I am getting more rhythm." He also admits, "I am here to score goals and win games. It hasn't happened yet, but we are working toward that." The Galaxy backs will provide the chances, will young Caraccio be able to take advantage? Will Ching or DeRo?
Goal.com says "In a two-on-two matchup of the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan and David Beckham against Houston’s Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario, the home side probably wins. However, nine other players will be on the field for each side and that’s where Houston has a resounding edge... L.A. will score, but not as much as Houston will. The Dynamo’s midfield was given a boost last week by the return of Ricardo Clark, one of the best two-way midfielders in the game. With De Rosario in front of Clark and those two flanked by Brian Mullan and Brad Davis, the midfield of Los Angeles will be overrun."
Here's one supporter's view of the Dynamo's struggles early in the season.
Fox Sports has a game preview. "Even struggling teams are finding a way to break out of an offensive slump against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Not many clubs have had as much trouble scoring goals than the Houston Dynamo." Ouch. I'm sensing a consensus among the journalistas.
The journalista at the LA Times notes that Lan-Don has "irked" some Dynamo fans. Of course, the irked fans were responding to an informal blog, just as the LA Times is trying to rile up the Galaxy fans by reporting this in a blog. Hey, who is the cool guy who wrote that witty-but-too-lengthy thing about "The coddled team that apparently needs more special breaks"? Whoever that was, he sure sounds intelligent. Good looking too.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Caig Mans Up
I like to think of myself as an independent thinker. A guy that doesn't jump at the latest trends. A guy that isn't stuck in the childish phase of needing to have the latest toys. In other words: I don't have HDNet and couldn't watch the Dynamo last night. Some might say that makes me more of a Luddite than a man of principle, and really the truth does lie somewhere in between.
I also was unable to make the trek across town to the known viewings of the game. That's due to me being a boring family man.
But I DID get to listen to the game on the radio. Steve Mark, the "Voice of the Dynamo" (VOTD), isn't the best play by play guy. He doesn't use natural soccer terminology. He doesn't keep up with play. He leaves painful gaps in the monologue while he figures out what's going on. So listening to the game through his eyes isn't the best way to enjoy the game, but I still managed to enjoy the experience. It seems nostalgic to listen to a game on the radio, particularly with a local crew and local perspective, and I rarely do it anymore. It's how baseball used to be followed by fans before cable, and how the English followed their football teams before the EPL made televised broadcasts ubiquitous. The game took on a sentimental flair for me.
You know what else was nostalgic? The clean sheet. You remember those? You just have to look back to last season to see our calling card of clean sheets and defensive dominance. The clean sheet was particularly welcome after we've been conceding three goals per game.
Hats off to the the defense and particularly to Caig who made some solid saves, intercepted some crosses/passes, and didn't make any howlers. I wish this was the Caig who played vs FCD, but beggars can't be choosers and I'm just glad that the Caig that Dom knows made himself known to the Orange faithful.
I hope this means that the defense is beginning to get in sync. We'll need them next week at the Toolshed when we face the LA Beckhams. The LA defense, which is fundamentally pathetic, should also give our forwards plenty of opportunities. I hope our attack makes the most of the chance. They scored in spades versus FCD, but not in any other MLS match yet. Let's reverse that trend next.
Media mining:
Dynamo recap. The overall summary: "Both teams played smothering defense in what was a well-played match. Each side tried to make opportunities on goal, but it was a struggle for both throughout."
The MLS recap from the KC side.
Another Dynamo summary. "'I think overall we dominated the game,' Caig said."
Quotes from both sides. Curt Onalfo says the Dynamo are "hard to play against. They're very direct. They compete, they make you stay in every single play. I thought our guys did a good job of that. We had some good chances to score and we didn't, and they did as well. Overall I thought it was an evenly played game."
Barrett made his 200th consecutive start last night. He is the ironman.
Kansas City Star's recap. "But there are also times when you settle for hard-earned draws. You can probably count playing against the two-time defending MLS Cup champions on a windy, freezing night as one of them." Here's a factoid: "It was the first scoreless draw for the Wizards since Aug. 9, 2006, when they played New England scoreless at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass."
I also was unable to make the trek across town to the known viewings of the game. That's due to me being a boring family man.
But I DID get to listen to the game on the radio. Steve Mark, the "Voice of the Dynamo" (VOTD), isn't the best play by play guy. He doesn't use natural soccer terminology. He doesn't keep up with play. He leaves painful gaps in the monologue while he figures out what's going on. So listening to the game through his eyes isn't the best way to enjoy the game, but I still managed to enjoy the experience. It seems nostalgic to listen to a game on the radio, particularly with a local crew and local perspective, and I rarely do it anymore. It's how baseball used to be followed by fans before cable, and how the English followed their football teams before the EPL made televised broadcasts ubiquitous. The game took on a sentimental flair for me.
You know what else was nostalgic? The clean sheet. You remember those? You just have to look back to last season to see our calling card of clean sheets and defensive dominance. The clean sheet was particularly welcome after we've been conceding three goals per game.
Hats off to the the defense and particularly to Caig who made some solid saves, intercepted some crosses/passes, and didn't make any howlers. I wish this was the Caig who played vs FCD, but beggars can't be choosers and I'm just glad that the Caig that Dom knows made himself known to the Orange faithful.
I hope this means that the defense is beginning to get in sync. We'll need them next week at the Toolshed when we face the LA Beckhams. The LA defense, which is fundamentally pathetic, should also give our forwards plenty of opportunities. I hope our attack makes the most of the chance. They scored in spades versus FCD, but not in any other MLS match yet. Let's reverse that trend next.
Media mining:
Dynamo recap. The overall summary: "Both teams played smothering defense in what was a well-played match. Each side tried to make opportunities on goal, but it was a struggle for both throughout."
The MLS recap from the KC side.
Another Dynamo summary. "'I think overall we dominated the game,' Caig said."
Quotes from both sides. Curt Onalfo says the Dynamo are "hard to play against. They're very direct. They compete, they make you stay in every single play. I thought our guys did a good job of that. We had some good chances to score and we didn't, and they did as well. Overall I thought it was an evenly played game."
Barrett made his 200th consecutive start last night. He is the ironman.
Kansas City Star's recap. "But there are also times when you settle for hard-earned draws. You can probably count playing against the two-time defending MLS Cup champions on a windy, freezing night as one of them." Here's a factoid: "It was the first scoreless draw for the Wizards since Aug. 9, 2006, when they played New England scoreless at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass."
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