User Blog: ChestRockwell Posts made by ChestRockwell on D.C. United Scouting Report: San Jose Earthquakes ChestRockwell Fri, 11 Jul 2014 12:25:51 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>San Jose is at the foot of the Western Conference, but the Bay Area has never been a happy hunting ground for D.C. United. That said, fans are well within reason to demand a third straight road win out of the Black-and-Red given their place in the standings as compared to their hosts.</p> <p>Sometimes you have to really land hard to figure things out. Both <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">San Jose Earthquakes</a> had stellar 2012 seasons followed by debacles in 2013. Of course, there are debacles and there are <i>debacles</i>. The Quakes only finished with 15 fewer points from their Supporters Shield-winning 2012 performance; United entered the argument for having the worst season in MLS history.</p> <p>Both clubs made big changes: United retained its decision-makers and remade the roster, while San Jose opted to ditch head coach Frank Yallop and retained nearly all of the core group of players from 2012. During the offseason, the Quakes likely were expected to be the better team, especially after Mark Watson's tenure started with a late charge for a playoff spot while United was relying on castoffs from the Re-Entry Process mid-table teams.</p> <p>And that's why offseason predictions should not be something one spends too much time on. United has found consistency far earlier than expected and has gotten an MVP-caliber season out of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a> en route to being in first place in the East halfway through the year. The Quakes, meanwhile, are at the bottom of the Western Conference and are the only team in MLS that averages less than one goal per game.</p> <p>Of course, their scoring woes are a bit misleading for our purposes. The Quakes have only managed four goals in their seven road games, which is just dreadful. This game isn't at RFK, though, so we have to deal with a side that has put up eleven goals in nine home games. That's not great by any means, and it's inflated by a 3-0 win over the hapless <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Houston Dynamo</a>, but it's still no wonder that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ben Olsen</a> referred to this as <a href="">a trap game</a>. Any trip to Buck Shaw's tight confines to take on the physically aggressive Earthquakes is a tough one, just like any cross-country trip to play a team along the Pacific coast is going to be difficult. It's worth noting that, before a 2011 win in this fixture, United hadn't gone to the Bay Area and returned with three points since 1998. 1998!</p> <p>It's also worth pointing out that the Quakes, for all their troubles, are a tough nut to crack. Even while dealing with a revolving door central midfield, injuries across the back four, and the absence of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Victor Bernardez</a> due to Honduran World Cup duty, San Jose is keeping opponents to one goal per game on the season. If anything, they're almost bizarrely consistent in that department: In each of their last six games across both MLS and Open Cup play, the team playing the Quakes has scored precisely one goal. First goal wins? It could well be a game like that.</p> <p>In terms of formation, the Quakes mostly stick with a 442. They did play a 4411 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">LA Galaxy</a> a couple of weeks ago, but that was likely down to the game being a "home" match on a field with more normal dimensions than the Thunderdome that is Buck Shaw. With <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Wondolowski</a> back in the fold and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Steven Lenhart</a> not injured, anything other than a 442 would be a big surprise (says Jason as he thinks back to TFC's 4231 ambush last week):</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="1039310_san_jose_earthquakes_medium" class="photo" src=""></a> <br id="1405098535676"></p> <p>The question marks are really just in the midfield, which makes sense since San Jose's lack of goals mostly stems from their struggle to create opportunities from open play. On the right, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Cordell Cato</a> gets more of the starts than Atiba Harris. Cato offers more speed and direct running, but he's still a pretty raw young prospect whose game lacks anything approaching nuance. Harris is probably more likely to score a goal, but without Cato's speed the Quakes lose their only true north-south threat.</p> <p>On the other side, the Quakes probably won't be able to call on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Shea Salinas</a>, their other speedy winger. The Quakes were discussing the (low) possibility of the issue <a href="">requiring a surgical procedure</a> last month, so it's hard to see him being fit enough to start even after a couple weeks off. As such, San Jose will probably shift <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Yannick Djalo</a> - their alleged big offseason signing - out to the left. He's perfectly comfortable out there, and has some outstanding technical ability, but up to this point he's had big problems adapting to MLS. When he's been fit enough to play, Djalo seems to be on a different page from his teammates, but he does still possess the pure skill on the ball to create a goal out of nothing.</p> <p>Centrally, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Khari Stephenson</a> has pushed his way into a starting role due to being the only central midfielder on San Jose's roster with any history of creating offense. His partner will likely be one of either <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi</a> or Sam Cronin. Pierazzi was another supposedly big offseason acquisition, but the Quakes seem to have made the same mistake with him that United did with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dax McCarty</a>; both are defensive midfielders that were wrongly assumed to have the ability to function in a more creative role.</p> <p>When it comes to how these teams like to play, United is actually pretty well-suited to dealing with San Jose. The narrow nature of the Black-and-Red's midfield will make the transition to playing at Buck Shaw an easier transition than most other teams have dealt with. Moreover, the Quakes are built around winning knockdowns by Steven Lenhart. Between <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bobby Boswell</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Steve Birnbaum</a> - who will likely be up for this one given that it's kinda-sorta a homecoming for him - United should be comfortable with stopping Lenhart from having much say in where those loose balls fall.</p> <p>The other side of fighting off this strategy is simple hard work and determination. The Quakes are, if nothing else, a group that prizes work rate and fight at home. Winning those knockdowns is a product of anticipation and chemistry, to be sure, but it also heavily involves good old fashioned willpower. United has to match or exceed San Jose's desire to battle for every 50/50 ball, or the Quakes will get to play the game they prefer. </p> <div class="pullquote">United has to match or exceed San Jose's desire to battle for every 50/50 ball<span></span> </div> <p>The other worry United will have defensively is defending 1v1 down both flanks. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sean Franklin</a> is far more athletic than Djalo, but Djalo's ability to pull rabbits out of his hat might make this a moot point. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nick DeLeon</a> is going to have to put in his customary hard work defensively to minimize the number of times Franklin is isolated. Generally speaking, Djalo has shrunk away from the games in which he's constantly being harassed and doesn't get the one-on-one opportunities he loves.</p> <p>On the other side, the challenge is a bit different. Cato isn't afraid to pull out a stepover, but more often than not he only goes for a move or a feint when he's not sprinting. That's a good sign that he won't be getting around his man, because he's far more dangerous at full speed. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Korb</a> gets less help from Rolfe than Franklin does from DeLeon, so in this case Korb needs to be ready to win some tackles while isolated. He'd also be wise to either play very tight against Cato to prevent him from getting up to full speed. In the event that Korb can't arrive in time for that sort of marking, he'll have to concede space wide in order to cut off any avenues to enter the box on the run.</p> <p>Going forward, United needs to be successful between the lines. San Jose's flat 442 has left them with some issues between their holding midfielders and the center backs in terms of protecting zone 14. Berdardez's return helps in that regard, as he's confident stepping ahead of the rest of the back four, but it's much easier to defend that area of the field from the midfield than by temporarily breaking up your defense.</p> <p>The Black-and-Red will need players making unexpected runs into this area of the field. The good news is that, in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Rolfe</a>, we have someone perfectly suited to exploit this particular weakness. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Luis Silva</a>, if he gets another start, should see a few opportunities to shoot from long range in space as well. If these two can come up with big games, United should be well on their way to a good result.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a> might be in for a good performance as well, but United needs to make sure to use him in the right areas. If EJ is going to be fed a diet of through balls in behind the defense, these need to be played when Johnson is running off the shoulder of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Clarence Goodson</a> rather than Bernardez, who despite his hulking frame has legitimate recovery speed. Goodson is very good at anticipating this sort of thing, but he needs help from the midfield in preventing the pass from ever happening. In the middle third - particularly just inside their own half - United needs everyone picking their head up and looking for EJ running the channel between Goodson and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jordan Stewart</a>.</p> <p>It's a bit of a shame Christian has gone back to Spain, as his overlapping runs would be a good way to break things open against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brandon Barklage</a> at right back. We all know Barklage gets pumped up to face the club that drafted him, but the fact is that he's never going to be a natural at right back, and on top of that he's limited in terms of quickness. Korb has struggled badly with his crossing, but his running off the ball might still be a good source of offense tonight. What United needs out of Korb, rather than your typical high cross, is a hard low cross in behind the defense. That's an easier ball to strike, and it mitigates the size advantage San Jose has in the air.</p> <p>Set pieces are going to be tough to defend. The Quakes are fully aware of their struggles on offense, so they're strongly invested in trying to score from corners. Bernardez is among MLS's best targets in those scenarios, and guys like Goodson and Lenhart are also big threats. However, I'm just as concerned with Wondo, who excels in these scenarios because of his sheer bravery and his innate ability to be first to the ball inside the box.</p> <p>United really needs to do a strong job preventing the Quakes from getting any headers at the near post. Between glancing headers on goal or flick-ons, this is where San Jose generates a lot of their set piece threat. The best cure here is to simply win the initial header and clear it well, but that's far easier to type than to actually accomplish. We can safely assume that the Quakes will eventually win a couple of these balls, so United needs to be very focused in terms of marking up and also very fundamentally sound whenever they get the chance to clear their lines.</p> <p>Intriguingly, the Quakes have not been as strong defending set pieces as they are attacking them. They have a very big, tough-minded group of players, so the issue isn't one of simply being outmatched. Instead, San Jose loses their way due to a lack of synchronization. Players are well-marked at first, but once the runs begin and things start to get chaotic, San Jose tends to lose people and/or cough up loose balls inside their own 18. Throw in Jon Busch's lack of size largely robbing the Quakes of the luxury of their goalkeeper coming out to catch or punch services, and this could be a good way for United to grab a goal.</p> <p>Overall, this is a game United should win. Without Espindola there have been issues in terms of generating real chances, but United is good enough to score a goal or two on a team as low on confidence as this Quakes side is. The return of Wondo should make them harder to shut out than they have been in their recent matches, but I find it hard to believe that San Jose would be able to mount a strong comeback if United can grab the lead. Plus, San Jose has been shut out by lesser defensive sides than today's DCU. If United wants to be more than just a standard-issue MLS playoff team, this is a game they find a way to win.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, World Cup, and US Open Cup links for Wednesday July 9th, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:57:48 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>There is D.C. United and US Open Cup news, but seriously you guys? Germany beat Brazil 7-1. I've slept on it, and I'm still staggered. It was carnage, it was preposterous, and it happened. 7-1. Seven to One. Today's Freedom Kicks is here, and it promises not to run up the score on you.</p> <p>I'm still recovering from the shellacking Germany laid on Brazil last night, so let's jump right into the links.</p> <p><a href="">Training Notes: July 8, 2014 |</a><br>Ahead of a trip out to San Jose for Friday night's game, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> did some agility drills, possession work, and closed practice out with three games of 7v7 played in one half of a normal-sized field. It's good to get used to those tight quarters given that the playing surface at Buck Shaw is basically the same size as a rowhouse back yard.</p> <p><a href="">Projecting the 2018 US World Cup Roster | Huffington Post</a><br>First of all, I should note that this is original HuffPo content, not a copy and paste job. Second, Ryan Madden is one of the only people I've seen tab any current DC players to make the 2018 squad. He's got <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bill Hamid</a> edging out <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sean Johnson</a>, because apparently he's seen Johnson play before, as well as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Perry Kitchen</a> edging out Wil Trapp. People will naturally disagree on these things, and they're impossible to do without being very wrong in the future, but at least this one doesn't leave the Black-and-Red in the cold.</p> <p><a href="">Life After the Revs: Sainey Nyassi is Back doing What he Loves | The Bent Musket</a><br>Nyassi won't be fondly remembered in these parts, but it was a slow news day for United. The former United winger/experimental right back is now playing in Finland.</p> <p><a href="">Let the Recriminations Begin in Brazil, and Let Them Begin with Scolari | New Republic</a><br>Franklin Foer is smart enough to know that there's plenty of things to blame for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brazil's</a> drift from being soccer's great entertainers to a physical, cautious team that arguably just suffered the most public humiliation in human history. He spends some time on how and why Brazil has stopped developing their stereotypical horde of joyfully skilled attackers before turning his ire on Felipão.</p> <p><a href="">The Most Shocking Result in World Cup History |</a><br>A game effort from Nate Silver to show just how unlikely yesterday's game was. In my opinion, he comes up short; it's not that Silver mailed this one in, but rather that this was simply an ineffable result.</p> <p><a href="">A haunting defeat for Brazil |</a><br>Fernando Duarte sums up the shell-shocked mood of the Brazilian squad here. The money quote probably comes from Willian: "We know this defeat might haunt us for the rest of our lives."</p> <p><a href="">A shocking exit for Scolari and Brazil |</a><br>Gabriele Marcotti paints the scene from inside the Estádio Mineirão, pointing out the crucial early decision from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Germany</a> to push Sami Khedira further upfield to help pick off Brazil's naive passing as they started to unravel.</p> <p><a href="">Low urges calm after Brazil mauling |</a><br>Meanwhile, Germany has started the process of trying to keep their feet on the ground. This would be tough for most countries, but somehow I think the Germans will not be overconfident in the final.</p> <p><a href="">Match recap: Union survive wild weather and red-hot Revolution en route to Open Cup victory |</a><br>The Union have advanced to the US Open Cup semifinal after overcoming the Revs - not sure if "red-hot" applies here, since they've lost their last five games against MLS competition - and the almost customary weather delay that comes with all Open Cup games for some reason. This one wasn't the traditional lightning delay, though. Instead, PPL Park was hit by a dust storm. You know, like deserts get hit with. I don't get it either. I guess Chester sucks even more than we previously thought.</p> <p><a href="">2014 US Open Cup Quarterfinals preview: Which three Wednesday winners will join Philadelphia Union in Semifinals? |</a><br>This is your essential reading for tonight's trio of USOC quarterfinal matches. Not only is there a preview of each game, but the links to the streaming video for each match are included.</p> Toronto FC 1-2 D.C. United: Nick DeLeon and Perry Kitchen give United a valuable road win over TFC - recap & highlights ChestRockwell Sat, 05 Jul 2014 23:15:03 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>After a difficult first half, D.C. United took advantage of a tiring Toronto FC to win 2-1 at BMO Field. Nick DeLeon and Perry Kitchen scored the goals, while Steve Birnbaum and Bill Hamid made big plays at the other end.</p> <p>Since Fabian Espindola was injured in Montreal and suspended for retaliating, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> has had to grapple with the question of how to replace their one undisputed star. Perhaps the key is to convince <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nick DeLeon</a> that every match is a road game in Canada? For the second straight away trip - both to our neighbors to the north - DeLeon scored a goal at a crucial point in the game, and D.C. United eventually went on to win 2-1 over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Toronto FC</a>.</p> <p>The similarities between the win over the Impact and today's victory over TFC ends at that DeLeon goal. The Black-and-Red ran rampant in Quebec, but tonight spend virtually the entire first half bending but not breaking. Toronto boss <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ryan Nelsen</a> sprang a tactical ambush, fielding a 4231 instead of the 442 he'd trotted out all season long. Making things more difficult for DC was the return of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Michael Bradley</a> from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> duty for the United States.</p> <p>Nelsen chose to field Bradley in a very similar role to the one he held with the USMNT in Brazil, and it contributed to a first half that the Reds dominated. Bradley pressed United's central midfield, disrupting any attempt at possession from the visitors, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Luke Moore</a> - normally a striker - and Jackson repeatedly got into dangerous positions making runs from their wing roles into the center channel. Adding to the confusion was <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jermain Defoe</a>, who consistently pulled <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bobby Boswell</a> out of position with his off-the-ball movement.</p> <p>The overall effect was a bit like what United's attack does to teams when Espindola is available. Ben Olsen's side spent nearly the entire half scrambling defensively. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bill Hamid</a> had to make his first clutch save in the 21st minute after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Collen Warner</a> waltzed through a giant hole in the midfield to send Defoe in on goal. Eight minutes later, Bradley Orr's stepover froze DeLeon and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Davy Arnaud</a> along the left, allowing him to send <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Justin Morrow</a> into a dangerous spot. Morrow's low cross was just inches from the reach of a lunging Defoe, who surely would have scored if he made any contact.</p> <p>At halftime, Nelsen cut his old club some slack. The 4231 that had so confounded DCU from the start was changed back to TFC's normal 442, with Orr coming off for Dominic Oduro. Toronto was looking to increase their attacking options, but what they ended up doing was giving United some breathing room in the midfield while simultaneously becoming the team United had spent all week preparing for.</p> <p>DeLeon would push United into the lead in the 54th minute with a goal largely of his own creation. He and Silva applied some timely high pressure on Toronto center back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nick Hagglund</a> after the rookie was put into trouble by a poor ball from Morrow. Having popped the ball loose, DeLeon held the larger Hagglund off while surging into the box before shrugging him to the ground. DeLeon then cut the ball back, sold a feint to Warner that left the midfielder on the ground, and struck a precise shot into the lower left corner.</p> <p>Warner, at least, would get a chance to redeem himself. For the third time in the game, he slotted Defoe in behind Boswell, who struggled all night with the runs of the English star. Boswell recovered to prevent Defoe from going to goal, but no one was in place to stop his pass back to the onrushing Jackson. The Brazilian's blast should have been held by Hamid, but he spilled a juicy rebound that the rest of United's defense simply didn't react to. Moore was on hand to poke the ball over the line on the hour mark.</p> <p>Nonetheless, United started to take control of the game thanks in part to TFC - who played mid-week and were down a man for the last hour - simply running out of gas. Those tired legs saw United win a few corners, and in the 69th minute one paid off. Substitute Lewis Neal delivered a driven ball to the top of the six yard box, where Kitchen arrived to thump a header down and past Joe Bendik. TFC's decision to defend the corner zonally was a major factor, as captain <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Steven Caldwell</a> misjudged the flight of the ball while Hagglund didn't see Kitchen's storming run until too late.</p> <p>There was still defending to do, as United blocked a pair of 72nd minute shots and later had <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sean Franklin</a> to thank for Morrow - who frequently escaped marking when he overlapped - not being able to get a shot away from a promising position in the 81st.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a> made his mark on the game late on. In the 86th minute, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Steve Birnbaum</a> blocked a Defoe effort, and United broke out. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Conor Doyle</a> - like Neal, a substitute - playing EJ in behind with no one between him and Bendik in the Toronto net. Johnson chased down the pass and was clearly going in alone on goal, but Hagglund grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back. Referee Dave Gantar initially gave Hagglund only a yellow card, but after roughly 90 seconds of consulting with the assistant referee that flagged the foul (and possibly the fourth official via headset) he correctly changed his decision to a straight red card for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.</p> <p>It felt like the game would end as a contest with that, but TFC created some danger in stoppage time. First, Moore spun away from Arnaud to hit a long-range effort just wide of Hamid's right post. Then, in the sixth minute of time added on, Hamid had his biggest moment. A hopeful cross from the right by Warner to the back post found rookie substitute Dan Lovitz wide open, but the left winger's running volley was denied by the reflexes of Hamid.</p> <p>With the win, United moves back into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference on 28 points. Given that this game marks the halfway point for United's season, it's worth pointing out that the Black-and-Red are right on pace to match 2012's 56 point total, which was good enough for 3rd overall in MLS (and 2nd in the East).</p> <p><b>Five quick thoughts:</b></p> <ol> <li><span>Birnbaum came up big time and again defending inside the box. He had at least four blocked shots that I can recall, and won several headers under pressure. He was among the many players who failed to react to the rebound on Moore's goal, but aside from that he continues to live up to the lofty expectations placed on him at the Superdraft.</span></li> <li><span>Boswell, on the other hand, struggled badly with Defoe all night. Sure, Defoe is an elite striker, but it was still unsettling to see Boswell doing pretty much whatever the former Spurs man wanted.</span></li> <li><span>After a very uninspiring start to the season, DeLeon now has 2 goals in 3 games. There is no direct replacement for Espindola, but Nicky D at least is taking his share of the weight.</span></li> <li><span>Silva failed to make much of an impact for the second game in a row after destroying, er, the Impact. Meanwhile, Neal and Doyle both came in and made big plays off the bench. Could we see Rolfe pushed up alongside EJ next week and one of those two starting at left midfield next week?</span></li> <li><span>I can't emphasize how much TFC controlled the first half. It's important to remember that most coaches would not have made the grave error of changing tactics that were working superbly.</span></li> </ol> World Cup 2014: Round of 16 TV/streaming information and open thread - Argentina vs. Belgium & Netherlands vs. Costa Rica ChestRockwell Fri, 04 Jul 2014 23:11:45 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>The World Cup quarterfinals continue today. You're probably wiped out from Independence Day revelry, and D.C. United doesn't play until 7 tonight. Take it easy today and let the soccer wash over you. Argentina needs to prove they aren't a one-man gang, while Belgium needs to show they can score before the final minutes. In the afternoon, the Netherlands will attempt to derail Costa Rica's Cinderella run.</p> <p>Happy July 5th! It's...well, it's not so much a holiday as it is a national "get over your excess drinking booze/eating heavy food/overexposure to the sun" sort of day. Or maybe you have self-control, in which case please keep the noise down for the first couple hours today so that the rest of us can gracefully cope with our hangover.</p> <p>Of course, even the disciplined may feel down today after watching yesterday's tense but disappointing matches. <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Germany</a> barely had to get into third gear to overcome a strangely flat <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">France</a> side, while the Brazil vs. <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Colombia</a> match saw both James Rodriguez and Neymar knocked out of the tournament. Rodriguez and Colombia were eliminated by the home side, while <a href="">Neymar suffered a vertebrae fracture</a> and will play no further part for the Seleção. It was a real wet blanket of an outcome, quite frankly. We lost the most entertaining team in the whole tournament, as well as <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Brazil's</a> most fun-to-watch player.</p> <p>On the plus side, we have some games today that will hopefully be as high on quality as they are on tension. <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Lionel Messi</a> and <strike>the random dudes he picked up on the way to the stadium</strike> <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Argentina</a> should offer <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Belgium</a> their biggest test of the tournament thus far. Then in the afternoon, we'll see if Louis van Gaal's ability to change his tactics on the fly will come up trumps against <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Costa Rica</a>, who are the darlings of everyone who has forgotten all the batteries, coins, lighters, beers, and bags of urine their fans have thrown towards the USMNT during the qualifiers of the past. What, me bitter? Never!</p> <h3>Argentina vs. Belgium</h3> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> 12:00 Noon EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> You have a ton of options here. ABC will carry it over the air, but it will also be available on ESPN2. Univision will have the game in Spanish. WatchESPN and Univision Deportes are your streaming options, though it should be noted that - starting with yesterday's games - Univision Deportes began <a href="">requiring authentication through an approved cable provider</a>.</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> These two teams are still alive despite not meeting the lofty expectations most people had for them coming in. Argentina were supposed to be right there with <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Spain</a> and Germany in the group of teams with a real hope of knocking off the hosts. Belgium, meanwhile, were supposed to get the hipster cred Colombia ended up snagging instead.</p> <p>For the Argentines, <a href="">the starting eleven appears to be predictable</a>, even if hard workers like <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Pablo Zabaleta</a> and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Javier Mascherano</a> will need a rest at some point. Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio are fighting for the right to join Gonzalo Higuain in the role of decoy runner who makes room for Messi up front, while it appears that Jose Basanta - a full-time center back at club level with Monterrey - will start at left back for Marcos Rojo, who is suspended (and is also a center back at Sporting CP in <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Portugal</a>). Yes, somehow one of the world's great talent exporters has a left back situation like the one we now have here with <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a>.</p> <p>Belgium, meanwhile, has consistently gotten better play out strikers <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Romelu Lukaku</a> and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Divock Origi</a> off the bench than starting. At this point, coach Marc Wilmots might actually be better off starting the player he's less confident in before sending his top choice in as a sub. It's been weird. Oh, and Belgium also doesn't have a real left back either. <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Jan Vertonghen</a> looked pretty good there against the US at least. Parents: Teach your kids to use their left foot!</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> If you are a holder of grudges like me, you're probably tempted to go against the Belgians. Sure, they were the better team for all but 15 minutes in the round of 16, but who cares? We're out, and they're why.</p> <p>Or, if you deal with your issues in a healthy manner rather than letting the anger fester, think about it this way: If Argentina crashes out, the tournament loses Messi - who has been spectacular - as well as the potential for a Brazil-Argentina final. Didn't we lose enough brilliance yesterday?</p> <h3> <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Netherlands</a> vs. Costa Rica</h3> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> 4:00 pm EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> Make sure you switch over to regular old ESPN if you're watching on TV, or just stay on Univision if that's your bag. WatchESPN and Univision Deportes are your streaming options.</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> The Dutch have, at least to my eyes, gotten progressively worse as the tournament has gone on. To be fair, their 5-1 hammering of Spain in their opener was among the great one-off performances in tournament history, so it's no surprise that their level has decreased. However, that doesn't excuse nearly losing to an <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Australia</a>n team that had no players that could get into the Dutch roster, nor does it excuse needing a late, great escape against a <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Mexico</a> team they're clearly better than on paper and on the sidelines. <a href="">They'll also need to sort out</a> how to replace defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong, who will play no further part in this <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">World Cup</a>.</p> <p>That said, Costa Rica have benefited as much from the powers in their group overlooking them as they have from playing particularly well. I don't mean to say that the Ticos have stumbled blindly into the quarterfinals by any means, but since ambushing <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Uruguay</a> and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Italy</a> they've gone a bit flat themselves. Coach Jorge Luis Pinto is in a tough spot: He doesn't have the depth to rotate his squad, but his regular eleven is probably too tired to play at the level they reached in their first two games. I mean, <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Roy Miller</a> is on this team. Roy Miller! Two-time MLS washout <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Umana</a> starts for them? What's even going on here?!</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> Oh sure, everyone's talking about the underdog Ticos and the great story that a semifinal run would be.</p> <p>I say screw that. As has been established, I hold grudges like I was <a href="">Beatrix Kiddo</a>. Therefore, the USMNT's past history with Costa Rican fans and the endless Hans Backe-style whining about the "Snowclasico" has made my choice easy here.</p> <p>Plus, as I've said in previous World Cup open threads involving Australia, one of these teams contains a Red Bulls player (even if this one is easily my favorite Red Bulls player of all time thanks to his ability to ruin everything for his team). I hope for the Dutch to score at least 15 goals, all via a series of nutmegs.</p> <p><i>This is our open thread for today's World Cup matches, but feel free to discuss other World Cup-related issues. Maybe you're fascinating by the dream-like Oscar Niemeyer architecture in Brasilia? Or perhaps you want to share your hangover cure* with the group? Either way, go for it in the comments below.</i></p> <p><i>*Two glasses of water, omelette with no more than two toppings, at least two cups of coffee, and then some Gatorade in front of the TV with the sound low and the shades mostly drawn. I also recommend leaving your phone in another room. This probably won't work if you have kids.</i></p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Toronto FC ChestRockwell Wed, 02 Jul 2014 22:40:10 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Last year, this was a horrible fixture pairing two deplorable teams. In 2014? It's a match between the two best points-per-game teams in the Eastern Conference. Toronto FC's counterattacking style is going to be tricky to overcome, but United might still have some advantages in this one.</p> <p>In the past, a trip to face <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Toronto FC</a> would usually be viewed as a great way for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> to bounce back from a home loss in the league and a Cup upset. Thanks to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> break, United will enter this match without having won or even tied a game in twenty-four days. Regardless of the number of games involved, that's a long time to have to dwell on a lack of recent success. This isn't 2013, where a win three weeks ago felt like yesterday. Playoff teams don't go nearly a month without posting a W.</p> <p>This year's TFC is a different story, however. The Reds have started 2014 with the best stretch of results in club history, and their 21 points over 13 games is good enough for the best points-per-game in the Eastern Conference. That they've pulled this off missing <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Michael Bradley</a> during the World Cup and having only gotten ten games out of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jermain Defoe</a> so far bolsters the claim that a sea change is going on up in Ontario.</p> <p>Ryan Nelsen's side may actually be in their best run of form right now. They're unbeaten in their last six MLS games, and are scoring just under two goals per game over that stretch. There are no big wins in this 3W-3D-0L run; in fact, their one two-goal win required a 95th minute goal to pad out the lead. Still, winning matches by a goal is what good teams do in leagues all over the world, and that's that TFC is relying on.</p> <p>So TFC is no longer the joke they once were, but they come into this game having played mid-week and dealing with some player availability issues. Their 1-1 draw in Chicago against the Fire involved playing over an hour while down a man after Moore was sent off. Brazilian striker Gilberto, last seen scoring a rocket of a free kick goal after nearly coming to blows with Defoe, has a hip flexor strain and is out for tomorrow's game. Bradley is supposed to be back in Toronto for the game, but there's no certainty about whether he'll play after covering more ground than anyone else in the World Cup.</p> <p>Despite all this, and tomorrow's game being the end of a Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday spell of games, there has been little rotation. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Mark Bloom</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Steven Caldwell</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Justin Morrow</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Collen Warner</a>, Jackson, and Defoe have all played 180 minutes this week, with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jonathan Osorio</a> playing 177 and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dominic Oduro</a> 155. On top of that, the last hour in Chicago was played with ten men; in that group of players, Osorio is the only one to get any rest, and it was all of three minutes. Despite going down a man on the road and having a lead to protect, Nelsen opted to use just one sub, which <a href="">baffled TFC fans</a> as well as just about everyone else.</p> <p>All of this makes the normally predictable TFC lineup trickier to call than normal. We'll still be seeing a 442 - Nelsen is the least likely to tinker boss in all of MLS - but the players chosen and the positions they're used in might change Toronto's normal style:</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="1033379_toronto_fc_medium" class="photo" src=""></a> <br id="1404466816650"></p> <p>Stay with me here, because where there are a ton of possibilities in the above lineup, we're not talking about twenty different possible starters. In the back, Caldwell will start alongside either rookie <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nick Hagglund</a> or Doneil Henry. Henry was kept on the bench against Chicago due to a knee injury, which indicates that it was a minor issue. If he can return, Nelsen might do well to move Hagglund to right back so that Bloom can rest. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bradley Orr</a> is also an option at both spots, though he has been used in central midfield over the past month or so. At left back, meanwhile, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ashtone Morgan</a> could possibly be given a rare (in 2014 anyway) appearance to prevent Morrow from breaking down due to overuse.</p> <p>Further forward, the suspension of Moore and injury for Gilberto leaves Nelsen with few options on the wings if he elects to move Oduro up front. if <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dwayne De Rosario</a> is given a shot against his old team, Nelsen will probably use Oduro at right midfield and either Jackson or Osorio on the left. If Oduro is preferred as a striker, Nelsen more or less has to play Jackson on the right and Osorio on the left.</p> <p>In central midfield, Nelsen isn't so limited as he is on the wings. Warner probably needs a break, but even if Osorio is needed on the left and Bradley is given a (much needed) rest, TFC can still field Orr and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Kyle Bekker</a> in the engine room. My guess is that Nelsen will throw Bradley right in and might well ignore Warner's tired legs and leave him in as a starter, but any pair from this group of four is a possibility.</p> <p>While there may be some stylistic differences - particularly if De Ro starts as a withdrawn forward rather than Oduro, who will push higher - Nelsen's overall gameplan is the same in all circumstances. On the road? TFC plays on the counter. At home? TFC plays on the counter. Playing a road game at Estadio Azteca? Counter. Home game against a local u-9 team? Counter. The Reds are to counterattacking what <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Real Salt Lake</a> is to possession or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sporting Kansas City</a> are to high pressure.</p> <p>It's a simple plan that works because TFC has crazy attacking speed. Defoe has made his living based on his pace, and on top of that his runs off the ball are superbly timed. Oduro has been arguably MLS's fastest player for years. Jackson isn't quite as fast as either of them, but he's still pretty damn fast. That kind of speed means that TFC doesn't need to connect a bunch of passes to create danger. Any midfielder that gets the time to pick his head up will invariably look for a long pass - through ball or lob over the top, doesn't matter - first and foremost. If TFC were a boxer, they'd lead with their haymaker rather than work the jab.</p> <p>This puts the opposing midfield under pressure, but not the kind of pressure we usually talk about. To beat TFC, you need to constantly harass their midfielders so that the opportunity to spring a break never pops up. It takes tremendous discipline and focus to make sure the Reds aren't getting that half-second on the ball over and over and over again. Compounding the issue is that chasing people all over the midfield requires the defense to compress the space with a higher line...the sort of line that will leave United's back four with no chance of recovering if Defoe or Oduro is running onto the ball and into space.</p> <p>Going forward, United needs to solve the final ball issue that dogged them last week. Seattle is a stronger defensive team than TFC, but the Sounders came to RFK looking for a shutout and sat deep as a result. TFC's counterattacking style presents the same general problem, and if Bradley plays they'll have the soccer IQ advantage in central midfield (provided his legs don't just fall off) to help with that. I'm on the record as wanting to see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Rolfe</a> playing as a second forward while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a> is out, but whether it's Rolfe, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Luis Silva</a>, or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Collin Martin</a> in that spot the issue is the same. United needs to find a way to get that player into space, and that player needs to deliver in terms of creativity and execution.</p> <p>Against this Toronto side, I'd look to make that happen on the dribble. Rolfe has proven that he can get past his man 1v1, and TFC has had trouble with guys capable of doing the same (e.g. Harry Shipp and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Justin Meram</a>, both of whom have scored against the Reds in recent weeks). Hoofing crosses in seems foolish, and not just because United is generally not good at crossing in the first place. It's also not the best way to beat the TFC back four.</p> <p>Along with that emphasis on the dribble, United should look to give TFC a taste of their own medicine and put <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a> in behind a few times with an early ball. Caldwell would have no chance in a footrace with EJ, and Henry's penchant for giving away penalty kicks - he's been whistled for four this season - is an indicator of the young center back's lack of judgment in key moments. TFC will probably sit deep enough to make this easier said than done, but if the opportunity ever arises United needs to take advantage. </p> <div class="pullquote">TFC needs to be made to run all game long.<span></span> </div> <p>In terms of tempo, United should keep things moving at a reasonable clip. TFC will be the tired team in this one, and they're also going to cede possession (<a href="">remember our last visit to BMO Field?</a>). Nelsen's side isn't particularly interested in having the ball all that often, but since they're going to be on short rest that plays against them provided United makes them work hard. If, as in the link above, we see a DC side connecting a ton of passes but playing at a plodding pace, then the advantage of being well-rested is wasted. TFC needs to be made to run all game long.</p> <p>In terms of set pieces, TFC's main threat is probably Henry, though Orr and Caldwell are the sort of brave and determined players that are hard to keep under wraps. The Reds aren't an elite set piece team, but when they do score it's usually because the service and runs are all aimed right into the center of the goalmouth. They're not big on the Dynamo-style glancing header at the near post, or even a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Davy Arnaud</a> vs. NYRB back post finish from a near post flick-on. TFC's method is to create enough of a traffic jam that someone gets free right on the doorstep. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bill Hamid</a> is going to need to use his size and strength to push through the obstruction attempts, while United's defenders need to do some obstructing themselves to keep Hamid's path to the ball clear.</p> <p>At the other end, I think TFC can be had a bit, particularly if Henry marks Bobby Boswell. Henry is not the most attentive player, and Boswell has preyed on such pairings throughout his career. Assuming Steve Birnbaum gets another start over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jeff Parke</a>, we could also see Toronto struggle to find someone that can contain him. He should be itching to set things right after sending a free header wide in the 90th minute against the Sounders, too. And that doesn't even mention Johnson - who should really be treating corners and free kicks as big moments given his one total goal this season - or Kitchen, who are also targets that TFC won't enjoy trying to mark.</p> <p>Overall, this is a tough but winnable game for United, even without Espindola. TFC's counterattacking style makes them a tough opponent, because they're looking for the easiest and least risky way to create offense. However, their being tired and short-handed needs to be something United makes them pay for particularly after being unable to do so against Seattle, who were in the same boat last week. As much as this seems like a mid-season game during the World Cup that isn't that important, the fact is that it's a conference game between two teams occupying playoff spots. United could make a big statement by notching a road win over a good team for the first time this year.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, USMNT, and MLS links for Wednesday July 2nd, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 01 Jul 2014 23:00:04 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>The USMNT was knocked out of the World Cup yesterday, so I drank a hefty amount of bourbon and then wrote today's Freedom Kicks.</p> <p>Belgium knocked the US out of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> yesterday, despite the USMNT's late, desperate push creating some real opportunities to push the game into penalty kicks, where one has to assume Tim Howard would have saved all Belgian shots and probably also converted the winning shot for the US, and then also flown the plane from Salvador back to Sao Paulo, and also while doing so concoct a remedy for hangovers.</p> <p>Anyway, it is a reasonable but still sad ending to the tournament, and I drank a lot as a result, so this might not be the best Freedom Kicks ever.</p> <p><a href="">Training Notes: July 1, 2014 |</a><br>TJ Scholl walks us through yesterday's training session. Despite the heat, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> did some sprinting drills, some passing work, different passing work, what sounds not too far removed from croquet with soccer balls, and then played a 30 minute 11v11 game.</p> <p><a href="">D.C. United and Cristian Fernandez mutually agree on termination of contract |</a><br>We already covered this on the site, but here's the official release from United on Christian's departure. My guess: Our ham wasn't as good as Spanish ham.</p> <p><a href="">Sounders vs. D.C. United Tactics: 4-2-2-1-1 | Sounder at Heart</a><br>ScottWinter from Sounder at Heart takes a look at United from the opposition perspective. There are some nice gifs here worth a look.</p> <p><a href="">World Cup: USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard sets World Cup record with 16 saves vs. Belgium |</a><br>This, more than anything, sums up how the game went yesterday. Tim Howard probably felt more than a little like goalies in hockey feel when their team is outgunned.</p> <p><a href="">World Cup: USMNT go out with a roar, but "game states" paint the picture |</a><br>Matthew Doyle points out some stuff that I agree strongly with, like a) not bringing a second target forward really limited our options and b) the USMNT is not better off bunkering. We have a year to learn these lessons before the next Gold Cup.</p> <p><a href="">A long day for USMNT fans |</a><br>Clinton Yates was on hand for the watch party at Freedom Plaza with a lot of people who were hot and sweaty.</p> <p><a href="">He's here: Orlando City unveil Brazilian star Kaka as club's first Designated Player signing |</a><br>Back to MLS, where Orlando City did what they've been rumored to have planned for like 70 years now in signing Kaka. The Brazilian attacking midfielder will play on loan with Sao Paulo until Orlando starts their first MLS preseason, which is actually a pretty important move for him considering his unremarkable play in the past few years.</p> <p><a href="">Community Moving to Yahoo for Sixth Season | Vulture</a><br>I really liked Community, and needed good news, so here is some good news. I'm starting to learn that the Internet will always show up and save the day, at least sort of. Pop pop!</p> <p><a href="">New July Releases on Netflix Streaming | Paste Magazine</a><br>There are some good movies on Netflix if you need to distract yourself from the sadness. We're talking "City of God," "12 Angry Men," and "XXX: State of the Union." Wait, one of those doesn't belong.</p> <p>Anyway, Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" will be available on the 14th, so that's cool.</p> <p>That's pretty much the best I can do given the circumstances. If you used booze to move past World Cup misery, remember to hydrate all day. This is your open thread for the day, and you probably have relevant links that I missed.</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Seattle Sounders ChestRockwell Sat, 28 Jun 2014 10:01:17 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>It's a clash between the top teams in MLS's two conferences, but both the Seattle Sounders and D.C. United are missing key players. Here's what to look for from a Sounders side that has been lighting up the scoreboard all season.</p> <p>MLS's return to the field may feel like waking up from a fever dream - Costa Rica beat Italy? The return of the 352? Suarez bit someone again? All preposterous! - but it's true. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> goes back to work tonight against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Seattle Sounders</a> in a rare clash between the two conference leaders. It's a chance for the Black-and-Red to make a major statement after essentially shrugging their way out of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">US Open</a> Cup.</p> <p>So you know the Sounders are top of the table, which means you probably know they're in good form. In this case, "good" doesn't cut it: Seattle has lost once in their last thirteen games in all competitions. Nine of those games were wins, and in six of those games they scored three or more goals. The one loss - a 5-0 drubbing at Gillette Stadium by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">New England Revolution</a> - was a classic example of a team having "one of those nights;" the Revs could do no wrong in front of goal, scoring twice via heavy deflection and generally having every odd bounce sit up perfectly for whatever they needed at the time.</p> <p>Seattle's philosophy this season has been pretty simple. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sigi Schmid</a> assembled a team full of attacking talent and has decided to bank on the collective goalscoring prowess of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Clint Dempsey</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Obafemi Martins</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Lamar Neagle</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Marco Pappa</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Kenny Cooper</a> to win games. The Sounders give up a goal per game, but it usually doesn't matter because they score a hair over two per game on average for themselves. This year's Seattle team lives and dies by their ability to put the ball in the back of the net.</p> <p>That's why this may once again be an occasion where United is meeting a team at the perfect moment. It's happened all season, and fortunately we've seen DCU able to take advantage more often than not. Seattle will be without Dempsey (USMNT duty) as well as Martins, who is suspended for this game. Dempsey may be the bigger name, but it can be argued that Martins is the Sounders equivalent of Fabian Espindola. The Nigerian - somehow not deemed essential by a goal-shy Super Eagles side in Brazil - has eight goals and six assists on the year, and is the fulcrum of Seattle's attack.</p> <p>Like I said, though, he's suspended, so both teams are going to play this one without their key attacking player. Seattle will have to change who they play through, just like United will. Throw in the fact that Seattle played 120 minutes in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">the Open</a> Cup on turf - and not their normal home turf at CenturyLink Field, but the beat-up turf at Starfire Soccer Complex, a surface that Schmid didn't want to risk several regulars on - and is flying cross-country on that short rest, and you'd have to admit that this is an ideal moment to get the Sounders.</p> <p>Seattle still has depth to field a pretty good team though. Longtime MLS observers have used <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chad Barrett</a> as a punchline for years due to his wasteful finishing, but the fact is that Barrett has turned 312 minutes of playing time in the league into three goals and an assist this season. He is certainly not as talented as Kenny Cooper, but in terms of form Schmid will likely have to look at his forward pairing for this one and choose between Cooper or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Cam Weaver</a> to partner Barrett rather than the expected "Cooper and somebody" thought process one would expect.</p> <p>Unlike United - who I expect to see in more of a 4411 than a 442 without Espindola - Seattle will not be shifting out of their normal 442 to accommodate their absent players:</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="1029173_seattle_sounders_fc_medium" class="photo" src=""></a> <br id="1403966856058"></p> <p>If Seattle hadn't played that Open Cup game, there would be no question marks here. As Dave Clark from <a href="">Sounder at Heart</a> told Ben yesterday, <a href="">the Sounders are down to 21 available players</a> to pick an 18-man gameday roster right now. There isn't excessive room for rotation, but that doesn't mean there won't be a few changes.</p> <p>In the back, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jalil Anibaba</a> only played 21 minutes in Seattle's penalty kick triumph over the Earthquakes. I'm not sure Schmid trusts him to the same degree that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Frank Klopas</a> did in Chicago, but if he wants to freshen up his team he has few other options in the back. Anibaba can play right back or center back, and I'd give him about a 45% chance of playing. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brad Evans</a> could be moved into the midfield, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Zach Scott</a> is about to turn 34 (making him a strong candidate for a rest).</p> <p>In other circumstances, I'd be certain that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Leo Gonzalez</a> would be rested at left back. Unfortunately for him and Seattle, his natural back-up <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dylan Remick</a> is injured. Schmid has options - Scott, Evans, or even rookie <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Aaron Kovar</a> are, in theory, able to fill in - but in all likelihood we'll see Gonzalez. This is actually bad news in my book, as United has never quite been able to solve Gonzalez despite the fact that the Costa Rican is - by MLS outside back standards - slow both laterally and in terms of straight-line speed. Gonzalez tends to make up for this by reading the game at a high level and having an excellent sense of timing with his tackle attempts. Personally, I'd like to see United send <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sean Franklin</a> overlapping at him whenever possible and make it less of a 1v1 situation and more of a footrace.</p> <p>I mentioned that Evans could step into the midfield, and it's a distinct possibility even though he played all 120 minutes on Tuesday. 31 year old <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Gonzalo Pineda</a> could probably use a rest, and both Lamar Neagle and Marco Pappa played the full 120 minutes on Tuesday as well. If Anibaba comes in, Evans could end up alongside <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Osvaldo Alonso</a> or at right midfield, with one of Pappa or Neagle on the left. It's not quite a toss-up, but it's not a possibility to ignore either.</p> <p>In the attack, United will need to take advantage of the fatal flaw in Seattle's current formation. By playing a flatter midfield, Seattle has taken Alonso out of the spot he's best suited for - deep in central midfield - and filled the gap with...well, nothing, actually. This is why I'd advocate for a 4411 this week: Silva, if played truly underneath <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a>, will be in an area of the field where there is no ever-present Sounders player to shut him down. Either the center backs will have to step up, or the central midfielders will have to drop back. In both cases, Seattle's defensive structure is no longer ideal, which means openings for everyone else.</p> <p>If Seattle is going to leave that area unguarded, we should take advantage. If Perry Kitchen and (we assume) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Lewis Neal</a> can keep Alonso and Pineda occupied, Silva should have plenty of room to operate. If he can come anywhere close to his performance against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Montreal Impact</a>, we should be able to create plenty of chances.</p> <p>I'd like to see United augment that with a reinvigorated <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Rolfe</a>, who since starting his career in DC has tailed off a bit. With Espindola out for over a month with the MCL sprain he picked up via Felipe's goonery, we can't simply hope for Silva to cover for Espindola's production by himself. The dynamic will be different since no United attacker will be drifting wide left - thus allowing Rolfe to move inside to great effect - but that shouldn't see Rolfe continue his recent plateau in form. Especially if Anibaba is at right back, Rolfe will have the soccer IQ advantage, and we need to see him out-foxing opponents more regularly.</p> <p>Defensively, United is going to have to put in a top-notch performance even without Dempsey and Martins. Seattle has decided that Pappa's tendency to make absolutely horrible turnovers in the defensive third - the Sounders have conceded five goals directly from careless giveaways by Pappa - is worth what they're getting out of him going forward. Pappa's inventiveness on and off the ball are something of an X factor for Seattle; one minute he might provide a superb cross-field ball, and the next he'll go wide to isolate someone on the dribble. He's also a threat to score from long range. In other words, up to this point Seattle's gamble on him is paying off.</p> <p>Franklin will need to attack Pappa regularly, as the former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chicago Fire</a> star is not inclined to defend with anything approaching vigor. If Schmid decides to switch his wingers - which is to be expected during the course of the game - Christian should get the green light to attack instead. The best way to take Pappa out of a game is to make him defend.</p> <p>Speaking of Pappa, I mentioned his penchant for awful, disastrous giveaways in the defensive third. These have all come following half-cleared corner kicks or free kicks, right as Seattle tries to break out on the counter. If Pappa picks up the ball in a central spot in this sort of situation, United should have someone sprinting at top speed to apply pressure. If we foul him, so be it. Selling out in this instance is worth the risk, because five goals is no longer a coincidence. Pappa is a huge liability in these situations, and not taking advantage would be foolish.</p> <p>After that, United will want to put him on his right foot whenever possible; Pappa is almost comically left-footed. However, it needs to be taken into account that Pappa has some tricks he likes to use to get around this issue; he's used to teams selling out to give him only his right foot as an option. If United can apply pressure to Pappa every time he's on the ball, we can turn him into a back-pass machine. If we're inconsistent in that regard, he will eventually set himself up to do something with that deadly left.</p> <p>On the other side, Neagle's speed and knack for getting into goalscoring positions are both significant threats. In fact, Neagle may be the player I'm most worried about in this game. It's not so much that he's spectacular at any one thing, but that he's good enough at most things that he always has an option. If you take away his ability to cut inside, he'll stay wide and look to cross. If you sell out to keep the ball on the other side of the field, he's very good at making back-post runs that evade detection. No matter which wing Neagle is on, United is going to have to be very sharp at individual defending as well as team-wide communication to keep his influence at a minimum.</p> <p>Up top, the Sounders will be very busy through Barrett and Cooper. United has done well enough this season against forwards that are more about quantity than quality, but with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jeff Parke</a> missing out due to his foot injury it's going to be a big test for Bobby Boswell's organizational ability. The Sounders don't have any particularly clever forwards available, but they make up for it by being active. United won't have many complicated problems to solve at the back, but they will have a ton of ordinary problems to deal with. One simple mistake could easily become a goal against.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Steve Birnbaum</a> is coming off a disappointing showing against Colin Rolfe of the Rochester Rhinos, who broadly played a similar game to Barrett: Physical, active, not particularly skillful, and doggedly determined. If Birnbaum can't bring back the level we saw against Columbus and Montreal, this could be a tough game.</p> <p>Another factor with the Sounders is the passing ability of Pineda, assuming he plays. The former Mexican international has made the Seattle central midfield a bit softer defensively, but he's made up for it by adding both consistency on the ball and an improved passing range. I'd stop short of calling him Seattle's playmaker, but he can pick out just about every variety of pass you can think of. If United gives him time on the ball, it's going to be a long 90 minutes. Without the normally abrasive <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Davy Arnaud</a>, we're going to need to see a particularly active outing from Kitchen and Neal to minimize Pineda's time and space.</p> <p>On set pieces, Seattle will always be a threat with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chad Marshall</a> on the field. Pappa and Pineda are both capable of good service, and Seattle has plenty of targets. Marshall will probably draw Boswell as his marker, and after that we'll see guys like Cooper, Barrett - look for him flashing across goal to the near post - and Scott (if he plays) as second-tier threats. United has plenty of players capable of winning these battles in the box, but "capable" doesn't mean it gets done.</p> <p>We need to see a gritty, determined effort in these individual battles partnered with smart goalkeeping from Bill Hamid. If Seattle isn't getting to the first ball, they'll look to create scrambles for guys like Barrett and Neagle, and that's where Hamid needs to be sharp. If he decides to leave his line, he has to either catch or punch every time.</p> <p>At the other end, I actually have some optimism about creating from our own set pieces. Losing Espindola obviously hurts, but Seattle doesn't have the best set of players to defend their box. Marshall is elite in this department, and Scott/Anibaba will be good, but United's third or fourth targets - guys like Kitchen or Christian - should be able to get loose regularly. Their runs are the ones we should target. Make no mistake: With both teams missing their key attacking player, this could well be how the three points are won.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, World Cup, and US Open Cup links for Wednesday June 25, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:45:33 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Yesterday was nuts. Luis Suarez bit a guy again, Greece somehow advanced out of their group despite looking like one of the worst teams in the tournament, and approximately 150,000 people were red carded in a US Open Cup game.</p> <p>The soccer will not stop. There is more soccer today. There was soccer yesterday. There will always be more soccer. Before there was anything, there was soccer.</p> <p>Here are some soccer links:</p> <p><a href="">As hearing approaches, United stadium backers practice their pitch |</a><br>Allan Lew has apparently gone into full campaign mode and picked up some endorsements from local business groups in favor of the stadium deal. Also worth noting: the article refers to United without adding the phrase "soccer team" anywhere nearby.</p> <p><a href="">Weekly Rundown: June 23, 2014 |</a><br>It's another "Have a beer on us" promotion night at RFK this weekend, which means getting a ticket and a beer for less than you can normally get a ticket. Plus, United Drives is collecting used soccer equipment, and Target is doing...something. Things will be inflated, and there's a machine you can tweet at? I don't know. I go to RFK to watch soccer.</p> <p><a href="">USA and Portugal played an amazing match in the jungle and everyone left unhappy |</a><br>Ryan Rosenblatt is still in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brazil</a> and still going to USMNT games. I am still very jealous. At least he's earning his place with really good pieces like this one.</p> <p><a href="">Luis Suarez appears to bite Italy's Giorgio Chiellini |</a><br>Pretty much the big soccer news on this planet yesterday. Luis Suarez, in the space of two games, has shown us his best and worst sides. We should no longer be shocked seeing him veer from amazing player to villain, but here we are.</p> <p><a href="">Greece vs. Ivory Coast, 2014 World Cup: Greeks through on 93rd minute winner |</a><br>This doesn't make any damn sense.</p> <p><a href="">John Feinstein says Americans will stop watching the World Cup when the U.S. loses | DC Sports Bog</a><br>Dan Steinberg points out that John Feinstein's opinions on soccer's progress and the interest Americans have in watching games are based on inaccuracies and the failure of the NASL.</p> <p><a href="">American Exports: Bob Bradley invites familiar face for Stabaek trial: Freddy Adu |</a><br>I'd say this is Freddy's last chance, but somehow I think this never-ending saga will continue for another 10 years. Also, if you're about to advocate for United signing Adu, remember: The 2011 Gold Cup was 3 years ago. It is not indicative of the Adu of today, who last we saw him was not good enough to get time for the Philadelphia Union.</p> <p><a href="">US Open Cup: Former Columbus Crew GK William Hesmer to serve as backup for Carolina RailHawks |</a><br>It's the kind of thing you normally associate with hockey: Due to injuries in goal, the Carolina Railhawks signed former Columbus Crew GK Will Hesmer - who retired this past winter - to a one-game contract so they had a back-up on their bench for last night's Open Cup match with the Galaxy.</p> <p><a href="">Four red cards and both coaches dismissed as cup run ends for the Rapids |</a><br>You're reading that headline correctly. This game ended 10 versus 8, with ex-United defender Marc Burch sent off for the Rapids and three Atlanta Silverbacks players ejected (two from the same incident that saw Burch walk, and a third minutes later for abusive language). Pablo Mastroeni and Eric Wynalda were also ejected. Oh, and there was a lightning delay. Man I'm salty we're out of the Open Cup.</p> <p>There are probably many more links to post, but there is soccer to be watched. This is your open thread, so comment on the soccer you're surely watching.</p> World Cup 2014: Day 12 TV/streaming information and open thread ChestRockwell Sun, 22 Jun 2014 22:36:06 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>It's the beginning of the end of the group stage, which means some incredibly high tension is guaranteed. Groups A and B finish up this afternoon.</p> <p><a href=""><img alt="SB Nation's 2014 World Cup Bracket'" src=""></a></p> <p>Now that you've had a night to feel all the feelings you might have about the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">United States</a> scoring two good goals - specifically, arguably the best shot of the tournament from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jermaine Jones</a> followed by a well-worked team goal eventually bundled over the line by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Clint Dempsey</a> - to come from 1-0 down, only to then concede with essentially the last touch of the game and go from "through to the round of 16" to "likely needing to get a result against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Germany</a>, who also needs to avoid defeat," and now that I've dragged this sentence out to Faulknerian length, let's think about today's games.</p> <p>It's the first set of double games, where each group starts at the same moment to avoid <a href="">skullduggery or generally unethical play</a> (that's a link that matters quite a bit in terms of German soccer history and the current circumstances in Group G). Today, we see Groups A and B decided:</p> <h4> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Australia</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Spain</a> </h4> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> Noon EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Arena da Baixada, Curitiba</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> ESPN2 and UniMas are your TV options if, for some reason, you choose to watch this meaningless game over what is likely to be a goalfest. WatchESPN will also have it, and since they have a feature that allows multiple games to stream at once, that might be the best bet.</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> What is there to say here? Spain - that's defending <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> and twice-defending European Cup champions Spain - will still be looking around wondering what just happened, while Australia far exceeded their very limited roster but is still out with two losses already. Look for both teams to rotate plenty of players in so that the guys who have earned it with hard work at training get to say they played in a World Cup. Sure, this game doesn't matter, but that particular honor sure as hell does.</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> Is Tim Cahill still a New York Red Bull? Yes. Is Black and Red United still a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> blog? Yes. Cahill is suspended, but you should barrack - in Australia, the verb "root" means something quite different - for Spain anyway.</p> <h4> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Netherlands</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chile</a> </h4> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> Noon EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Arena Corinthians, São Paulo</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> ESPN and Univision on TV, WatchESPN online. Watch this game, it should be an excellent one.</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> Both of these sides have won twice, and both have scored plenty of goals in the process. The Dutch, playing a "back five" that is more of a very attack-minded 3412, have banged in eight goals. They're basically trying to make up for 2010's anti-soccer approach. Meanwhile, Chile plays a similar system and bombs forward with the same sort of speed and vigor. Both of these teams want to win by outscoring their opponent rather than smothering them en route to 1-0.</p> <p>Even without the suspended Robin van Persie, this should be a spectacle. Neither team will want to face Brazil, who barring an absolute shock should finish atop Group A later this afternoon, so there will be little room for slacking off or simply accepting the order of things. Even if coaches Louis van Gaal - who is seen as likely to revert to a 433 thanks to a concussion suffered by defender <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bruno Martins Indi</a> - and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jorge Sampaoli</a> rotate some players through their team, the idea will be to go get the win.</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> I don't know what to tell you here. This particular Dutch team can't help but surge forward. Even Nigel de Jong is keeping the attempts to literally murder his opponents to a polite minimum. Chile, meanwhile, has decided the best way to get their best technicians on the field includes playing without actual center backs: Gary Medel and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Francisco Silva</a> are natural midfielders, and Gonzalo Jara is an attacking right back. That's the sort of game this will be. Root for the poor goalkeepers, who will probably feel a bit like the GKs who got the honor of being shelled in East vs. West MLS All-Star games of the past.</p> <h4> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Cameroon</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brazil</a> </h4> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> 4pm EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> ESPN2 and UniMas are the TV options, WatchESPN online or surreptitiously setting your cell phone in such a place at your desk that people can see your computer monitor but not the screen of your phone. You would never spend twenty minutes trying to get it just right, factoring in reflections off of other glass objects. No, you're a focused worker who can be counted on to not watch soccer at work. Right.</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> Cameroon has been quite disappointing thus far. It's one thing to lose in a group with three superior teams; it's another to routinely drop your outside midfielders back so your 4141 turns into a 6121. It's also pretty disappointing to see scenes like the one near the end of their last match, where Benoit Assou-Ekotto headbutted teammate Benjamin Moukandjo. The two have <a href="">apparently cleared the air</a> thanks in part to Samuel Eto'o's intervention, but still.</p> <p>Meanwhile, I've buried the lede. Brazil is through with a draw, but a loss would actually let Mexico and Croatia get past them if those two sides tied. Thanks to Croatia's goal explosion against Cameroon, that set of results would see Croatia's goal difference stay at +2, while Brazil's would drop to +1 or worse. As such, expect <strike>Gene Hackman</strike> Felipão to play a very strong side. That said, starters Neymar, Thiago Silva, and Luiz Gustavo (as well as Ramires, who will probably appear in every game whether starting or off the bench) are all carrying yellow cards, so if Brazil gets a 2-0 lead you can expect subs to be made on avoiding future suspensions. Yellow cards are now wiped clean after the quarterfinal stage, so Brazil needs to keep those four players out of trouble.</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> In my last World Cup open thread post, I told you I have a soft spot for Cameroon. However, this tournament would be badly diminished with Brazil somehow going out this early. There is also the danger of an already angry society having to endure what would be arguably the most shocking group stage exit in World Cup history. Maybe we'd all be better off with Brazil winning here.</p> <h4> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Croatia</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Mexico</a> </h4> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> 4pm EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Arena Pernambuco, Recife</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> ESPN and Univision if you're watching on TV, WatchESPN online</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> This is weird to say, but it's Mexico's ability to keep clean sheets that have put them in a position to actually win this group rather than merely advance. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Guillermo Ochoa</a> did his best Tim Howard impression against Brazil to preserve a 0-0 draw, which means that El Tri will be through to the round of 16 as long as they don't lose today.</p> <p>Croatia, meanwhile, trounced a ten-man Cameroon side the day after Brazil-Mexico to keep themselves in the discussion. With Mario Mandzukic back from suspension, the Croats have something that Mexico just isn't very good at coping with: A big target man who works hard and scores headed goals. We know this because we've been using it against them for like 15 years now. Croatia could theoretically get through with a draw here, as we covered in the previous segment, but we all know that theoretical is never going to become real. For the Croats, this is a win-or-go-home game. For those of us who do not own a Mexico or Croatia jersey, it should add up to fun.</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> Is Mexico still Mexico? Yes. Do they still have Rafa Marquez, who has done <a href="">this</a> and <a href="">this</a> and <a href="">this</a>, in their ranks? Yes they do. It is a moral requirement that you hope for Mexico to be eliminated via a Marquez own goal.</p> World Cup 2014: Day 7 TV/streaming information and open thread ChestRockwell Wed, 18 Jun 2014 00:33:02 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Everyone is playing their second of three group stage games as the tension at the World Cup continues to increase. We've got Australia vs. Netherlands and Cameroon vs. Croatia serving as the bread and Spain vs. Chile as the delicious center of a soccer sandwich.</p> <p>I can barely remember a time when this <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> was not going on, but in reality it's just Day 7 of what has been an extremely fun tournament. Yesterday saw fewer goals, but we still got yet another comeback win, an electric 0-0 draw - yes, really - and some goalkeeping errors to chuckle at. Here's what's on tap for today:</p> <h4> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Australia</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Netherlands</a> </h4> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> 12 noon EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> ESPN and Univision will carry this one starting with the customary half-hour pregame show. WatchESPN and Univision are your options online if you can pull yourself away from cat gifs or whatever.</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> Things couldn't have gone much differently for these two in their respective openers. The Dutch engaged in the ultimate revenge fantasy by eviscerating Spain with some of the best counterattacking soccer you'll ever see. The Aussies, meanwhile, lost 3-1 to Chile, the team they probably felt was their best (only?) hope for three points in this group. The Netherlands surged up the list of potential favorites to win it all as a result of their performance, while Australia's status fell from "they have Everest to climb" to "they have Everest to climb, and can only do so via walking handstand."</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> I could make some kind of reference to canals or kangaroos, but this is a D.C. United blog and one of these teams features a New York Red Bull. That's unforgivable. Hup Holland Hup!</p> <h4> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Spain</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chile</a> </h4> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> 3pm EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Estadio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> Same as the first game: ESPN and Univision on TV, WatchESPN and Univision on the cat gif machine.</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> Spain's 5-1 loss to the Netherlands is one of the <a href="">more remarkable results</a> in World Cup history. Spain simply couldn't defend through the midfield or at the back, and on top of those problems Iker Casillas turned in probably the worst performance of his entire career. If the Dutch beat Australia as they should, Spain would be eliminated with a loss and would need multiple miracles on the final day with a draw. Chile, meanwhile, was a bit short of the hype; the soccer was attractive, but not as effective as expected.</p> <p>This one always promised to be good, but now it's fascinating in a totally unexpected way. Spain has to make significant changes on the fly to a system and a lineup that has dominated world soccer in unprecedented fashion. Chile, meanwhile, struggled with an Australian team that arguably couldn't get any of their individuals onto the Chilean roster. Chile also knows that they probably need to win this one to avoid needing three points against the imperious-looking Dutch in their third match. This is basically a knockout game already. Enjoy it.</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> Not sure if you know this, but Chile is coached by <a href="">Pitbull from the future</a>. Pitbull shouted "Dale!" enough times that, in 2034, he became the first person to travel through time. For some reason, the first thing he did was travel back 20 years to coach this Chilean team. That fact alone is crazy enough that I say we choose pisco sours over sangria this time.</p> <h4> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Cameroon</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Croatia</a> </h4> <p><b>Kickoff Time:</b> 6pm EDT</p> <p><b>Venue:</b> Arena Amazônia, Manaus</p> <p><b>TV/Streaming:</b> Yup, same thing again: ESPN/Univision on TV, WatchESPN/Univision on the internet.</p> <p><b>Cliff's Notes:</b> It seems like forever ago that Croatia was taking the lead against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brazil</a> in the first game of the tournament. While the Croats weren't perfect like they probably needed to be to win that one, they proved they could play an even match against the favorites. Cameroon, meanwhile, created just one chance against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Mexico</a> and were quite flattered to only lose 1-0. No surprise, then, that <a href="">Croatia would be favored</a> even if Mario Mandzukic were not coming back from suspension. Adding to Cameroon's woes: Samuel Eto'o is in doubt due to injury. Maybe the only good news is that Cameroon's players may be slightly more comfortable playing in Manaus than Croatia (though since both teams are made up of European-based players, this is probably not going to make much of a difference).</p> <p><b>Who Should I Root For?</b> I have a soft spot for Cameroon dating back to their Cinderella run in 1990. Names like Roger Milla and Francois Omam-Biyik make me nostalgic, and I loves me some nostalgia. On the other hand, Croatia has checkered jerseys, and I'm from Maryland so that appeals to me on a spiritual level. Maybe we need to reverse this question, because I don't know how to choose.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, USMNT, and World Cup links for Wednesday June 18, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 17 Jun 2014 23:57:52 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>D.C. United stadium news (sort of), pieces on the USMNT and their fans in Brazil, Portuguese problems, and more.</p> <p>If it's not a soccer game, I don't have time to read about it right now. Lucky for you, that means I still read several things worth sharing:</p> <p><a href="">Evans Wants D.C. United Hearing Recessed for World Cup Game | Loose Lips</a><br>The local political scuttlebutt section of the Washington City Paper has found out that Ward 2 councilmember Jack Evans tried to hook soccer fans up with a recess during the first <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> stadium hearing (that's June 26th, the same day as USA-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Germany</a>). Evans wrote to council chair Phil Mendelson to propose recessing the hearing <i>and</i> showing the game in the council chambers. Mendelson, however, seems disinterested in the idea.</p> <p><a href="">What it felt like in the stadium when USA beat Ghana |</a><br>Our man Ryan Rosenblatt is in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brazil</a> and was in Arena das Dunas for the US's 2-1 win over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ghana</a>. This is his firsthand report. If you read any of these links, read this one.</p> <p><a href="">Jozy Altidore will be back for this World Cup, Jurgen Klinsmann says |</a><br>Klinsmann thinks that Altidore's injury is not the worst-case scenario, and that he has a chance of playing again before all is said and done. In more positive news, Klinsi declared <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Matt Besler</a> ready to go against Portugal.</p> <p><a href="">Fabio Coentrao's World Cup over |</a><br>While most of the talk about Portugal before the tournament centered on Cristiano Ronaldo, the fact that they start two Real Madrid stars in defense was swept under the rug. Well, it turns out that lack of attention was completely reasonable, because Pepe went and Pepe'd himself a red card, and later left back Coentrao went down in a lot of pain. His injury will keep him out for over a month, which means he won't be fit to face the USMNT. Look for Andre Almeida - the Almeida without the remarkable mustache - to deputize.</p> <p><a href="">Rui Patricio injured, could miss match against USA |</a><br>Oh, right, and also <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Portugal's</a> #1 is looking doubtful for Sunday's game. At this rate, Portugal will just be glad to show up with enough players to legally start the game (that threshold is eight, by the way).</p> <p><a href="">Explosion hits Nigeria World Cup gathering |</a><br>Terrible news out of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nigeria</a>, as a reported suicide bombing has taken lives at a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> viewing event in the troubled northeastern section of the country.</p> <p><a href="">Xavi "signs pre-contract with Al Arabi" |</a><br>All transfer rumors are flimsy, but this one's worth noting due to previous links sending Xavi to the Metros or the Fightin' Acronyms of NYCFC.</p> <p>In the words of Andre 3000, that's about as far as I got. This is your open thread, do with it as you will.</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Rochester Rhinos ChestRockwell Tue, 17 Jun 2014 04:41:10 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>D.C. United's defense of the US Open Cup will start in Rochester against the Rhinos of USL-PRO. Rochester has struggled to score all year, but has relied on a stingy defense to maintain a playoff spot in league play. Can United take advantage of Rochester's unforgiving schedule?</p> <p>In the recent past, <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> has not really had to extend itself in US Open Cup openers. Since a deflating 1-0 loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders back in 2007, United has had a harder time getting into the USOC - navigating fellow MLS sides in the rather silly qualification process that has been scrapped - than actually getting through that first official game. Sure, the Richmond Kickers took United to penalties last year, and to overtime in 2012, but the only time DC wasn't in the fourth round draw was in 2011, when the Black-and-Red failed to qualify for the tournament proper. In Cup openers from 2008 to today, United has conceded just one goal in 510 minutes.</p> <p>The Rochester Rhinos, who will host United tonight at Sahlen's Stadium, have their own history with the tournament. They're the only non-top flight team to win <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">the Open</a> Cup since MLS began play in 1996, <a href="">a run justifiably called "legendary"</a> due to a streak of four straight wins over MLS teams. The Rhinos are among the small number of lower-level US clubs that can cite numerous Cup upsets in their past (though admittedly it has been a while).</p> <p>This year's Open Cup looked to be proceeding in a normal fashion, with Houston and San Jose edging to home wins with a mix of starters and second-choice players last Wednesday night. That trend came to a crashing halt Saturday, however: the Atlanta Silverbacks - with head coach Eric Wynalda in attendance, if you were wondering - harried <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Real Salt Lake</a> all night before snatching a 92nd minute winner; the Carolina Railhawks went toe-to-toe with <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Chivas USA</a> before eventually advancing after a farcical penalty kick tiebreaker; and most deliciously, the New York Cosmos <a href="">demolished the Red Bulls 3-0</a>.</p> <p>The results aren't necessarily what we should focus on here, though. Watch enough soccer and you'll see the odd string of upsets happening all at once. What was worth noting from where I sit - and not just in the NASL-over-MLS upsets - was that the lower-division teams weren't particularly fearful once you take away Houston's win over the PDL Laredo Heat. Carolina and Chivas were very even, while both Atlanta and the Cosmos relied on high pressure as the main ingredients in their win.</p> <p>Rochester is perhaps not the most likely team to step high and harass opponents - head coach Bob Lilley appears to have set his side up to play on the break in numbers - but they come into the game in an odd place and may change tack. The Rhinos have played nine of their fourteen league games on the road thus far, and their home record (1W-2D-2L) indicates that they have struggled to carry play.</p> <p>On the other hand, adopting a more aggressive stance might not be physically possible. While United has been enjoying a <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">World Cup</a> break, the Rhinos are dead in the middle of a grinding stretch of five games in eleven days. The first two of those games were out west against the Galaxy's in-house USL side and Arizona United, and this weekend Rochester will play on both Friday and Sunday. Every USL team has to endure spells like this - playing games in clusters like this can help keep travel costs down - but it doesn't allow much for high-pressure play.</p> <p>Rochester's current form is something of a mixed bag. Defensively, they're very solid: Since the start of May, they've posted four shutouts and have only given up ten goals in twelve matches (league and Cup). Over that span, they've gone unbeaten in four games against Orlando City, the Kickers, and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> II (the top three teams in the USL-PRO standings).</p> <p>On the other hand, the Rhinos are scoring just one goal a game in the same set of matches, and their recent 3-2 loss at home to Pittsburgh gave the Riverhounds their only win of the season thus far. In USOC play, Rochester has played two home games but was pushed to extra time by both the Western Mass Pioneers and Reading United (both of the PDL). Things like scoring goals and being the dominant team just haven't come easily to the Rhinos this year.</p> <p>After watching a few Rhinos games in the past couple days, I have a handle on how they like to line up. Lilley appears to prefer a 4141 that looks similar to what we see out of the <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Revolution</a>, with goal-hungry wingers being just as likely to provide the scoring threat as anyone else.</p> <p>However, Brendan Doherty over at The Bent Musket <a href="">mentioned a 4231</a> being on the cards, and he follows the Rhinos regularly. Given some personnel issues we'll get into later, this is my best guess at their lineup:</p> <p align="center"><a target="_blank" href=""><img src="" class="photo" alt="1020713_rochester_rhinos_medium"></a> <br id="1403001428180"></p> <p align="left">This is not quite Lilley's preferred eleven, but it's pretty close. The biggest name missing for Rochester is JC Banks, <a href="">who is unlikely to play due to a knee injury</a>. Banks has over 30% of Rochester's league goals this season, which only compounds their issues going forward. Tyler Rosenlund - once of <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto FC</a> - and Johnny Mendoza will try to replicate the runs out of midfield that Banks offers, but neither is really the sort of #8 who provides a regular goal threat from midfield.</p> <p align="left">In the back, goalkeeper John McCarthy and defenders <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Tony Walls</a> and Kyle Hoffer are sure to start. Hoffer hasn't missed a game at center back, while Walls - who played for the <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Fire</a> in 2012 - has been Lilley's Swiss Army knife across the back this season. With right back Pat McMahon questionable and left back Onua Obasi <a href="">recently coming back from a week off</a>, my guess is that Walls lines up on the right. Like most utility players, Walls isn't the best with the ball. Instead, he will rely on his high-end athleticism throughout the match, meaning that United should probably look to beat him with combination play or individual skill rather than simply trying to run past him.</p> <p align="left">The other defensive spot will likely go to one of Rochester's pair of towering center backs. 6'6" Patrick Slogic spent the preseason with <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Sporting Kansas City</a>, but I think we're slightly more likely to see 6'4" Babacar Diallo after Slogic's mistake gave Arizona the game's only goal this past weekend. Of the two, Diallo is faster both in terms of straight-line speed and lateral quickness. If Slogic plays, United should attack him on the dribble throughout.</p> <p align="left">Further forward, on-loan midfielder <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Alec Sundly</a> has been a regular but will instead be in Richmond with the Revolution to face the Kickers. United will have to watch out for <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Lance Rozeboom</a>, who will be eager to prove that the Black-and-Red were wrong to let him go during the 2013 preseason. For the Rhinos, Rozeboom drops deep to pick the ball up off the center backs and sees a lot of touches as their midfield metronome. Making life hard for him will be key, because Rochester will likely want to keep the pace slow given their heavy legs and shortened bench.</p> <p align="left">On the wings, former <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Union</a> man (and one-time United trialist) <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Levi Houapeu</a> has been second choice to <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Dynamo</a> academy product Alex Dixon. However, Dixon is dealing with a foot injury and may not be able to start. In both cases, we're looking at a winger with plenty of speed and a direct style, but both players can lose focus and are somewhat lacking in the defensive department. On the left, Minh Vu is a clever player who has the speed to run down the touchline but can also cut inside and combine. Assuming that Banks is out, he may be Rochester's key player on the night.</p> <p align="left">Up top, Colin Rolfe - no relation to Chris - is the sort of player United fans are all too familiar with: the non-scoring target forward. In league play, the Louisville product has precisely zero goals in 720 minutes of action. Rolfe's only goal in 2014, in fact, is the goal that got the Rhinos into this fixture. His 119th minute goal on a set piece from Mendoza saw Rochester past Reading last month, and he's probably a bigger threat in the box on set pieces in general than he is from open play. Rochester will look to use Rolfe's big frame to hold the ball up with his back to goal more than anything else.</p> <p>The surface at Sahlen's Stadium is Fieldturf, and watching their last home game I can confirm that it looks very rough. It plays quickly, which is never an easy adjustment for visiting teams to make. United should emphasize playing to feet in the early going to get a feel for the surface before trying too many balls into space as the game goes on.</p> <p>With Rochester coming into the game with heavier legs, it will be up to United to make sure they control the pace of the game rather than letting the hosts dictate the tempo. I mentioned earlier how teams that applied pressure have had success in this fourth round of the Cup, and I think that might be a strategy that pays dividends. Rochester's defenders aren't the most comfortable on the ball, and pressure will also reduce Rozeboom's ability to influence the game. </p> <div class="pullquote">High pressure might be a strategy that pays dividends.<span></span> </div> <p>However, high pressure doesn't just happen in a vacuum. United will need to watch out for raids down both wings, and Rolfe's ability to hold off the center backs or flick the ball on in the air would grow in importance if United plays higher up the field. In those circumstances, we'll need to see a dominant display by whichever set of center backs <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Ben Olsen</a> chooses. If United can successfully press high up the field while also ensuring that Rolfe has a poor outing, there's little to stop the Black-and-Red from setting up camp in Rochester's half.</p> <p>I've already noted that Rochester will rely on their wingers as their main goal threat, but shutting those players down may come down to winning the central midfield and cutting off their supply line. We know Rozeboom can pick a pass, but Rosenlund and Mendoza are good distributors as well. United will need to make sure those players are forced to keep things short and sideways rather than switching the point of attack or playing balls from deep that free up the wingers.</p> <p>We always close with set pieces, and tonight will be no different. Rochester's goalscoring troubles point to a team that will see corners and free kicks as big opportunities. With Rolfe, Diallo (or Slogic), and Walls on the field, they'll have some dangerous targets available. It seems safe to assume that the Rhinos will be placing a big emphasis on their set piece chances, so United needs to match or exceed their intensity and focus in these moments. Rochester's defensive strength means that going behind 1-0 from a set piece is the scenario most likely to see United lose this match.</p> <p>At the other end, United has been good at creating opportunities from their set piece looks. Even if some players are rested, a player like <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Steve Birnbaum</a> could be a real asset. It's unlikely that Rochester has faced a player like him in these situations, and if Olsen also rolls out starters like <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobby Boswell</a>, Christian, <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Perry Kitchen</a>, and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Eddie Johnson</a>, the scales strongly lean United's way. Set piece goals are a great way to break a bunker, which might be what is required tonight.</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Montreal Impact ChestRockwell Wed, 11 Jun 2014 11:22:36 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Don't shift into "all World Cup all the time" mode just yet. D.C. United and the Montreal Impact both have good reasons to see tonight's match as a vital one. Can United contain the Impact's counterattacking style?</p> <p>The planet-devouring juggernaut that is the <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">World Cup</a> is upon us, and though we welcome the temporary end of civilization it brings, there's some business to attend to first. <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> has a thoroughly unexpected chance to go into the World Cup break atop the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2012. It's a weird moment to play a game, but the points count just the same. Yes, that rhymes. No, I'm not sorry.</p> <p>United's opponent tonight is the <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Montreal Impact</a>, who sit at the other end of the standings in the East. L'Impact are actually dead last in MLS after <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Chivas USA's</a> 1-1 draw with the Galaxy on Sunday. However, any thoughts that this game will be easy should be dismissed: Montreal is on a two-game winning streak - if you include their second leg win over Toronto in the Voyageurs Cup - and has conceded just one goal in three games. It was only about three weeks ago that United needed an 84th minute goal by <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Eddie Johnson</a> - something akin to a winning lottery ticket at this point, sadly - to grab a 1-1 draw at RFK.</p> <p>Frank Klopas's tenure with the <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Fire</a> was marked with a tendency to go on long streaks. His 2013 Chicago side was a perfect example: Terrible for about 60% of the season, but borderline unstoppable in September and October. It's too soon to say that Montreal is another Klopas team that suddenly turns things around and fights their way into playoff contention, but they're certainly showing some of the symptoms.</p> <p>After the move to trade <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrew Wenger</a> for <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Jack McInerney</a> - which is looking really good right now, by the way - the talk surrounding Montreal concerned how they'd best use their new acquisition alongside <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Marco Di Vaio</a>. Both players like to exploit the gray area between offside and onside, neither has the size of a traditional MLS target man, and both are used to playing down the center channel.</p> <p>An injury to Di Vaio made the choice easy for Klopas at first, though he did unveil an intriguing tactic in the match before the Italian veteran picked up a hamstring strain. Di Vaio started in his traditional #9 role in Montreal's 4231, with McInerney out on the left wing. However, both players exchanged roles on a regular basis, and Montreal's 1-0 win over Philadelphia that night flattered the Union. It looked like Klopas had come up with a pretty effective way to confuse opponents while getting his supposedly incompatible players on the field.</p> <p>During Di Vaio's absence, however, the 4231 stopped working, forcing Klopas to scramble yet again. An ever-changing back four didn't help matters, and the Impact's season threatened to go from bad to disastrous. In fact, given the hair trigger owner Joey Saputo has with coaches, Klopas may well have been fired if his side hadn't received an extremely dubious stoppage time penalty kick in their Voyageurs Cup semifinal against FC Edmonton.</p> <p>Seasons can turn on such moments, though, and the Impact came to RFK just three days later and played arguably their best game of the season up to that point. The secret? Montreal got back to basics. They relied on keeping two solid banks of four in defending, and attacked purely via counters. Despite having to chase the ball for long periods, the Impact created as many shots - and more shots on goal - than United. The way forward was starting to become clear.</p> <p>Since that night - where the Impact played out of a 4411 without Di Vaio - Klopas has more or less stuck to the same formula. If Di Vaio and McInerney are available, they play a 442; if not, Felipe is given an attacking midfield role with an emphasis on getting forward to be a second goal threat. The back four is closer to being settled, though the recent trade for <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Futty Danso</a> and signing of former KC right back <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Mechack Jerome</a> might change that. <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Patrice Bernier</a> and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Hernan Bernardello</a> - like Di Viao and McInerney, a very similar pair - have had time to sort out their roles in central midfield. <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Justin Mapp</a> keeps playing the best soccer of his life. All the sudden, Montreal is a tricky opponent.</p> <p align="center"><a target="_blank" href=""><img src="" class="photo" alt="1015932_montreal_impact_medium"></a></p> <p align="left">Given the recent success of Montreal's defense, I doubt we see Danso or Jerome. Of the two, Danso is the more likely starter long-term, and I'd bet it would be over <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Wandrille Lefevre</a> rather than <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Heath Pearce</a>. I just don't think it's that likely to be something the Impact attempt tonight.</p> <p align="left">Left back has been a question mark, but it's basically a decision Klopas has to make between Karl Ouimette or Jeb Brovsky. Neither is a born-and-bred left back - Ouimette has mostly played center back, and Brovsky is a convert from central midfield - but both have been fairly stable of late. Ouimette has gotten more of the available minutes since Pearce and Lefevre became the first-choice center back duo, and if he starts he'll tend to stay home more than Brovsky.</p> <p align="left">Further forward, central midfield and the forward pairing are settled. However, Mapp was today <a href="">downgraded from "no known injury" to "questionable,"</a> which is a good sign that he won't play. If that proves true, it's a big break for United. Mapp's runs from right midfield are the X factor for Montreal, and they don't have a similar replacement. Issey Nakajima-Farran has been scoring goals from wide midfield and is the likely choice here for Klopas.</p> <p align="left">He could also play <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Andres Romero</a> on the right, but this system has worked better with inverted wide players. In Romero's case, that means playing on the left instead. It's also worth noting that Felipe has seen minutes as a wide man in MLS, and Klopas could roll the dice on him at either flank position.</p> <p align="left">The Impact have always been a more difficult proposition at home. Obviously that's the case with every soccer team on the planet, but within MLS the Impact seem even more heavily reliant on playing in Quebec than the average side. It's tempting to think they might try to play more expansive soccer as a result, but I have my doubts. They'll be more aggressive about keeping the ball than they were when we last saw them, and they won't sit so deep, but I'm guessing that the Impact will still be focused on keeping a shutout. Montreal is still on the road to recovery from their poor start to the season, and playing an open game risks their still-fragile confidence.</p> <p align="left">If Mapp is unavailable, the Impact lack the sort of speed that makes counterattacking soccer so dangerous. There's still plenty of technical skill and soccer IQ, though, so United will have to be mentally sharp for 90 minutes. In particular, Montreal has shown a knack for breaking out from deep due to the long-range passing ability of Bernier. Turnovers are always bad, but against Montreal they really need to be kept to a minimum. United will also need <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Perry Kitchen</a> and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Davy Arnaud</a> to be alert to how quickly our attacks can become threats to our own goal.</p> <p align="left">The other major threat is that forward pairing. Any time you face two clever players off the ball who can finish like Di Vaio and McInerney can, you've got a problem on your hands. There's not a particularly innovative solution involved here. United will need to apply consistent pressure on the ball throughout the midfield to prevent early through balls, and the back four needs to maintain good spacing and communicate well. I haven't talked about it as much this season as in the past, but this is a huge test for United's ability to focus defensively.</p> <p align="left">Montreal's preference for counterattacking means United has to pick an approach and do it well. If we want to be aggressive on the road - with <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Parke</a> doubtful, this seems like a risk even with <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Steve Birnbaum</a> doing so well in his first-ever pro start - our pressure has to smother Montreal's counters at a very high rate. If we want to sit back we have to be very sharp whenever we end up with the ball. Otherwise, the goal becomes hanging on for a 0-0 draw and/or hoping to snatch a goal on a set piece.</p> <p align="left">Going forward, United needs to maintain a speed of play that's quick enough to prevent Montreal from getting organized. At RFK United was too slow with the ball for much of the game, and that allowed Pearce and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Troy Perkins</a> to get their troops in place. The Impact didn't do anything particularly innovative on that night; it was just good old fashioned organization and discipline.</p> <p align="left">For United to break Montreal's shutout streak, things have to happen faster. That doesn't mean running faster, though speed always helps. We're talking about thinking faster, moving in concert rather than waiting on one person's run to end, and things of that nature. In particular, United will need to be precise when passing the ball. It's one thing to pass to your target; it's another to place the ball on their preferred foot or in a spot where they don't have to break stride to collect the ball. Those lost half-seconds mean everything when playing a team like the Impact.</p> <p align="left">I'd like to see <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick DeLeon</a> step his game up for this one, as I think he can get the better of either Ouimette or Brovsky at left back. Ouimette doesn't have very good lateral quickness, while Brovsky seems to be lacking belief at the moment. In either case, DeLeon needs to be aggressive on the dribble. If Montreal is going to play a stay-at-home outside back, there's no reason to hold back down the right side (especially if Romero, who isn't exactly a dogged defender, is at left midfield as well).</p> <p align="left">We probably go over this every week, but this is once again a great chance for EJ to break out. He's faster and smarter than the inexperienced Lefevre, and has speed and strength advantages over Pearce. Johnson needs to get himself into situations where he's being marked 1v1 so that he can take advantage of these advantages. United also needs to put in a few more traditional crosses to help him get on track. There will be opportunities to do so - again, especially on the right if <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Sean Franklin</a> overlaps well - and getting a goal might cause Montreal to revert back to the losing mindset they had throughout the spring.</p> <p>I mentioned set pieces earlier, and as is often the case United should have the advantage inside the box. Birnbaum replacing Parke actually increases that, as Birnbaum was a goal-scoring machine in college despite playing as a center back the whole time. Montreal has some size themselves with <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Hassoun Camara</a> and Lefevre, but their second-tier options aren't going to be able to cope with guys like Kitchen. If Espindola's service is better than it was against Columbus, this could be a pretty successful means of attack.</p> <p>At the other end, Montreal does have pretty decent service, with or without Mapp. Bernardello isn't an elite set piece taker, but he's a pretty consistent option. The real danger with Montreal isn't necessarily them scoring on headers, but rather turning the scrambles and second-chance looks into goals. With Di Vaio and McInerney involved, there's always a chance that they get onto a loose ball first, and with their finishing ability that's a big problem. United needs to win the first ball throughout, and then clear it effectively rather than letting the Impact put the ball back into the box.</p> <p>All in all, this is a tricky sort of game. The expectation is that United should be able to get a win over a bad team. The pressure is almost entirely on the visitors. That's just how the Impact would want it, too. In terms of team psychology, United needs to start well and force Montreal to question whether their recent good form is just anything beyond a simple flash in the pan. The longer the Impact are dictating the terms, the more their sense of belief will strengthen.</p> <p>Much has been made down here about how this is a huge game for United. That's true of any chance to go into first place in your conference. However, I'd argue this is an even bigger game for Montreal, who are really at the precipice of changing the narrative of their season. Right now, they're experiencing a brief recovery that may point towards better things. A win tonight, and they head into the break as a team charging up the standings. When you're eight points out of a playoff spot, winning your midweek games becomes hugely important. It's up to United to make sure the status quo is maintained, and that will require a focused performance for 90 minutes.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, USMNT, World Cup, and US Open Cup links for Wednesday June 10, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 10 Jun 2014 17:45:29 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>There are so many things happening right now. Soccer gluttony is in full effect.</p> <p>Guys, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> starts tomorrow. <b>Tomorrow!</b> And before that starts, we get another <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> game as well as two <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">US Open</a> Cup matches tonight. We are living the dream!</p> <p><a href="">D.C. United Stadium Bill Now Online For Public Comment |</a><br>It wouldn't be Wednesday without some kind of stadium news. This isn't anything significant, but then again when it comes to the stadium it's always significant.</p> <p><a href="http://Talking%20Strategy:%20D.C.%20United%20vs%20Montreal%20Impact">Talking Strategy: D.C. United vs Montreal Impact |</a><br>Molly Bruh talks to United goalkeeping coach Preston Burpo about the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Montreal Impact</a>. Burpo wants to see more <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Rolfe</a>; I couldn't agree more.</p> <p><a href="">Central Winger: How Jurgen Kinsmann is using USMNT diamond to multiple outcomes |</a><br>Devin Pleuler digs deep on the USMNT's recent formations. I don't really agree that the 4231 deployed against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nigeria</a> was a diamond - unless we're changing what that means for soccer - but that's not really the point. The discussion of strategy vs. tactics and the passing diagrams here are what's important, and they're very fascinating.</p> <p><a href="">American Exports: Nantes look to secure USMNT's Alejandro Bedoya amid growing interest from rivals |</a><br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Alejandro Bedoya</a> may be one of the least-discussed USMNT regulars in recent memory. A major factor is that he plays for Nantes in Ligue 1, which is a very good league to be a starter in but is not a league people talk about much here. In any case, he did well enough that Nantes wants to give him a raise and/or extension.</p> <p><a href="">It’s Brazil’s World Cup to Lose |</a><br>Nate Silver's numbers match what everyone else is already saying. Still, that doesn't make this piece worth skipping. One good point Silver makes: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brazil</a> hasn't lost a match on their home soil that they truly cared about was in the semifinals of the 1975 Copa America. It's also worth noting that Silver - unlike some other stats-driven analysts out there - takes pains to note that his numbers are not perfect due to soccer's lack of discrete situations.</p> <p><a href="">10 rules for not being a gross misogynist during the World Cup |</a><br>Kirsten Schlewitz shouldn't have had to write this article, but that's the world we're in. Basically, please try your best to avoid being an asshole.</p> <p><a href="">Mexico's World Cup lineup is out and it has holes |</a><br>Ryan Rosenblatt takes a look at El Tri's starting lineup, which has already been announced by Miguel Herrera because he doesn't care what you think. Injuries have hit an already shallow pool of central midfielders to such an extent that left winger Andres Guardado will be playing centrally.  Have fun with Luka Modric, guys!</p> <p><a href="">Philadelphia Union fire coach John Hackworth |</a><br>Regular readers are probably aware of my opinion of Hackworth, but to sum it up: Hackworth's real weaknesses are not his near-constant tactical meddling. Rather, it's his inability to pick the right tactics for the right occasion and the fact that his players often look unsure of what to do with themselves from game to game (sometimes even from half to half or minute to minute).</p> <p>There's a bit of <a href="">Underpants Gnome</a> about Hackworth: He comes up with a plan, ???, profit. The ??? stage should be where he clearly describes what he wants his players to do and works with them in training on the best ways to make that vision come true. You know, the important part of coaching.</p> <p><a href="">Official: Chivas USA extend forward Erick "Cubo" Torres' loan to end of season | The Goat Parade</a><br>This is very good news for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chivas USA</a>, a team who sorely need it. Make no mistake: Without Cubo, this Chivas team is as bad or worse than United was in 2013. I'm serious.</p> <p><a href="">Match Preview: Houston Dynamo versus Laredo Heat in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup | Dynamo Theory</a><br>The 4th round of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">the Open</a> Cup starts in Houston, where the badly listing Dynamo won't get an easier chance to break out of their bad form than a home game against the PDL (read: semi-pro) Laredo Heat. Then again, Laredo will rightly consider this a golden opportunity to make history given the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dynamo's</a> current plight: 389 minutes without a goal, four straight losses, and a crippling injury crisis. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dominic Kinnear</a> will field more starters than he usually would at this stage of the USOC, but largely because he has no other alternatives.</p> <p><a href="">US Open Cup: Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes kick off 4th round | Matchday Preview |</a><br>This covers the Dynamo game as well, but we'll focus on the Quakes and their battle for supremacy in northern California with the Sacremento Republic. Sacremento is a USL-PRO expansion side drawing crowds most MLS teams would be happy with, and they're also San Jose's USL affiliate. This should be a good one, especially with Mark Watson saying that the Quakes could field more regulars due to the World Cup break.</p> <p>That probably covers everything, so the floor is yours. What other MLS coach/South Park comparison can you make? Or perhaps you have something entirely unrelated you want to talk about? Either way, go for it.</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Columbus Crew ChestRockwell Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:33:02 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>D.C. United has already had an embarrassing loss and a frustrating draw against the Columbus Crew. It's time to get a win. With Federico Higuain and several others unavailable, there may not be a better time to play Gregg Berhalter's side. B&RU takes a look at a tired, short-handed Columbus.</p> <p>There was a brief period in MLS history where teams only played each other twice, and the games were virtually always far apart. Those times are over due to expansion, so <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> will <a href="">once again</a> face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Columbus Crew</a>. We're not even halfway through the season! By the time this one is over, games against the Crew will represent over 21% of United's total league matches. You have to suspect that US Open Cup and playoff matches loom. Maybe CONCACAF will even find some zany reason to let the Crew into the Champions League.</p> <p>Hyperbole and forced references to my favorite album ever aside, this may not be the irritant it would seem to be. Sure, Columbus taught United a harsh lesson in the season opener, and then bagged a stoppage time equalizer while down a man in what is likely the most frustrating result for the Black-and-Red thus far in 2014, but it takes three to make a pattern. This won't be the same Crew team we've played twice before.</p> <p>It hasn't been fun playing them as of yet, but right now is an ideal time to get another shot at Gregg Berhalter's side. Since the beginning of May, the Crew are on a 1W-2D-4L run and have been shut out three times. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Federico Higuain</a> - basically the sun in the Crew's solar system - <a href="">will be out for tomorrow's game</a>. Defensive midfielder Wil Trapp's status has been treated as a state secret for over a week in Ohio, making him a significant doubt for this one. Oh, and this game will be the Crew's third in a week, right as the weather has started to get more humid.</p> <p>Still, this same team is good enough that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Real Salt Lake</a> - a team with 25 points and just one loss in 2014 - went hyper-defensive for their midweek visit to Crew Stadium. In that game, Columbus forced RSL goalkeeper <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jeff Attinella</a> into several highlight-reel saves before snatching a draw late. The results may not be there at the moment for the Crew, but they're also a better team than "five points from a possible twenty-one" indicates.</p> <p>Higuain and Trapp aren't the only players at issue at the moment. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Giancarlo Gonzalez</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Waylon Francis</a> - two guys who have done their best to ensure that they're deeply unpopular around RFK Stadium - are with Costa Rica's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> team. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dominic Oduro</a>, their leading scorer from 2013, is in a deep funk right now. The Crew have reasonable depth, but it's being pushed to its limits at the moment.</p> <p>Still, some things aren't going to change. Berhalter is, by all appearances, staunchly committed to playing a 4231 with the mindset of hoarding possession, sending the outside backs forward often, and stretching the field out horizontally as much as possible. Plenty of teams in MLS play a 4231, but none of them values width more than the Crew.</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="1011807_columbus_crew_medium" class="photo" src=""></a> <br id="1402049597665"></p> <p>You're probably thinking "Geez, that's a lot of question marks. Do you even know anything about who's going to play in this one?" It's a deceptive issue; most of these players will play, it's just a question of where. Like any coach who doesn't want the dual issues of an injury-battered side and a heavy loss due to tired legs, Berhalter has a plan for rotating his players, and that raises more issues here.</p> <p>Across the back, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Josh Williams</a> went 90 minutes against Toronto and RSL. He is the Crew's most attacking fullback, and likely is atop their chart of total distance covered. Normally Williams is a no-brainer to start, but pushing him to go 90 again would be a risk for Columbus. Hector Jimenez - normally the Crew's starting right winger, though that role is under threat - and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chad Barson</a> could also fill in here.</p> <p>Centrally, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Michael Parkhurst</a> will be captaining the side; it's just an issue of who partners him. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Tyson Wahl</a> strongly prefers to play left-center back, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eric Gehrig</a> has a similar preference for the right-center spot. As Gehrig just played mid-week against RSL and Wahl is the calmer player with the ball at his feet, my guess is that Wahl is recalled.</p> <p>On the left, Barson has stepped in for Francis, but against RSL the job went to midfielder Bernardo Anor. Anor did pretty well, though, and only played in stoppage time last weekend. He may be fresh enough to start again, especially if Barson - more of a natural right back anyway - spells Williams.</p> <p>The scenario is similar elsewhere. Finlay has in roughly a month gone from an afterthought who entered games as a high-energy sub to the Crew's best goalscoring threat at the moment. He only played 13 minutes against RSL, so he may be the least questionable player in the above diagram (aside from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jairo Arrieta</a> and Steve Clark). If he's held out, however, I'd expect to see Jimenez. Oduro could also be used, but given his form and the full 90 he played Wednesday that seems highly unlikely.</p> <p>Centrally, Higuain's spot should be given to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ben Speas</a>, but even that is not entirely certain. Berhalter had said all season that the Homegrown product - a winger in college and under Robert Warzycha - is Higuain's understudy. However, with Higuain suspended for the TFC match, Berhalter turned to Dan Paladini for an hour before sending in Speas.</p> <p>From where I sit at least, the idea was to get the gritty Paladini out there to disrupt TFC's midfield on the road before trying to snatch three points. It almost worked, too: Speas got an assist just five minutes after coming on, and only some disastrous Crew defending allowed a 2-1 road lead to become a 3-2 road loss. Speas replaced Higuain just before halftime on Wednesday, and had a <a href="">splendid assist</a> on Finlay's equalizer. Without Higuain, the Crew's chances of scoring are pretty low unless they field Speas, so I expect the former UNC Tarheel to finally get the start.</p> <p>Speas may be Higuain's replacement, but he's not the same kind of player. Speas doesn't have Higuain's touch with the chipped pass, and he's not as much of a goal threat, but he does like to get going on the dribble more often than "Pipa." Speas isn't going to pick out too many long crossfield balls or anything like that; instead, he looks to unbalance defenses by beating people with the ball at his feet, then dishing to a runner. Forcing him to play with his back to goal and function as more of a traditional #10 would be preferable than to let him face goal on the run.</p> <p>On the left wing, Meram has recently taken over as the starter but went the full 90 in each of the Crew's games this week. If Berhalter wants to rotate someone, he's probably looking for guys that played 180 minutes in wide positions. The only issue here is that Meram's replacement would be Anor, who a) just went 90 mid-week and b) may be needed elsewhere.</p> <p>In central midfield, Trapp has been replaced by Agustin Viana, but it's not like-for-like. Trapp's actual responsibility as the Crew's metronome has - bar a few moments here and there - fallen to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Tony Tchani</a>, who normally functions in a shuttling, ball-winning role between Trapp and the rest of the midfield. Viana has filled in at that spot, but he's another potential left back. Tchani could also return to his normal spot if awesomely-named rookie Kingsley "Fifi" Baiden gets a start. Baiden made his season debut as a sub in Toronto and immediately took the deeper role. Berhalter could also use Paladini in the shuttling role; he hasn't gone that route much this season, but it's a far more natural fit for Paladini than playing as a #10.</p> <p>Trapp's use as the tempo-setter for Columbus is one of those vital things that often goes unnoticed until it's no longer working correctly. The differences between Trapp and Tchani are small, but they infect everything about Columbus when they're in possession. While Tchani's positional discipline has been better than I expected, he's not as aware as Trapp.</p> <p>What's more alarming for the Crew is that Tchani's passing touch isn't as reliable. Where Trapp routinely strikes crisp passes on the ground at angles that set his teammates up to keep the ball moving quickly, Tchani will occasionally mix in a bobbling, difficult pass or an overly casual lob. The ball gets to its target, but it takes longer to do so and requires an extra touch to control and/or get it onto the other player's preferred foot. That extra second or so is often the difference between catching your opponent before they've gotten into their defensive shape or after.</p> <p>Up top at least, things are straightforward. Arrieta is the normal starter, and Berhalter noted that resting him against RSL was part of the rotation plan. The Costa Rican didn't play at all Wednesday, so unless he gets injured in the warm-up he'll be starting against United. That's not great news, because Arrieta's history of success against DC goes back to his days with Deportivo Saprissa in the first-ever CCL.</p> <p>Question marks aside, the Crew will - like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sporting Kansas City</a> last week - try to play the same game they do when everyone is available. The outside backs will push high in possession while the deepest defensive midfielder hangs back. In possession, Columbus regularly morphs from a 4231 into a 3331 (or a 3313 if the wingers get really aggressive).</p> <p>They are almost certainly going to win the possession battle - they're only behind KC in terms of their possession percentage on the season, while United is merely mid-table - and they're going to try to get the ball wide. The reason this hasn't been effective of late is that the Crew are struggling to maintain a speed of play that allows them to exploit the gaps all that width creates. </p> <div class="pullquote">The Crew are struggling to maintain a speed of play that allows them to exploit the gaps their width creates.<span></span> </div> <p>Early in the season, Berhalter said he wants teams to come out and high-press his side. It's not because he wants to engage in 5-4 shootouts every week; rather, it's because he knows full well that his team is probably going to have a harder time breaking down teams that opt to stay compact and minimize the number of times Columbus gets to attack in transition It's no accident that I bring this up just days after the Crew got their goal against RSL from one of the few times they caught the 2013 US Open Cup runners-up upfield. If you let the Crew play in transition, their commitment to stretching the field and their team speed are going to burn you.</p> <p>In the attacking third, a real danger has been the goalscoring form of their wingers. Finlay has three goals in four games, while Meram (two goals, including the previously mentioned stoppage time equalizer against DC), Anor (two goals), and Jimenez (one goal) are all capable of getting on the scoresheet.</p> <p>In each case, the main threat comes from cutting inside to shoot from just outside the box, but each player has a slightly different bag of tricks to go with that. Finlay is the fastest of the group and plays like a traditional winger; when he has the chance, he'll look to run the channel in pursuit of a through ball. Meram is the best dribbler and has a knack for curling shots in a similar fashion to the Pontius Special. Anor is a sneaky threat in the air, and Jimenez has a very good shot from long range.</p> <p>Going forward, the Crew have been weak at the back (no big surprise for a team missing half their defense). Against TFC, Parkhurst played like he was still dwelling on being cut from the USMNT roster. His horrible giveaway gave the Reds their equalizer, while Wahl's careless decision-making opened the door for an admittedly soft PK call against the Crew earlier in the game. The Gehrig-Parkhurst partnership didn't make such drastic mistakes, but then RSL could barely be bothered to attack at all so it's hard to build a case that the latter pairing is the more effective one.</p> <p>In either case, Parkhurst will be tired - just to add to the whole short rest thing, the USMNT camp was full of two-a-days - and neither Wahl nor Gehrig is the kind of guy that would start anywhere else in MLS bar <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chivas USA</a>. Throw in some gassed and/or unfamiliar fullbacks, and you have a back four that is vulnerable. United will need to attack at pace and keep the runs coming from odd angles. Tired minds have difficulty grasping complex problems, and United has produced goals by confusing fresher teams than the Crew.</p> <p>When it comes to set pieces, the Crew are a middle-of-the-pack team even with Higuain. Without him, Speas (or, if he plays, Paladini) will take the corners and free kicks. Those two aren't in Higuain's class, but they're still good enough to be a threat. Williams is a great target, and both Anor and Viana fearlessly hurl themselves at the ball to make up for their average size. Tchani doesn't usually get to the service, but he is good at drawing attention and is strong enough to set picks.</p> <p>At the other end, Columbus seems to struggle a bit with fully clearing their lines on set pieces. RSL's goal came on a sequence that saw a free kick turn into a corner that was only half-cleared before becoming another corner that was half-cleared. That clearance was fired in from distance, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Luis Gil</a> slotted the ensuing rebound home. If Berhalter didn't keep his hair so short, he'd likely have pulled it out as a result.</p> <p>United has the size advantage here, but on the looks where Columbus gets to the service first there will still be chances to get the ball back into the area. Either way, there will almost certainly be promising looks available if United can win some corners or draw some fouls in the attacking third.</p> <p>All in all, this is the kind of game good teams don't waste. Much like facing Sporting without three-quarters of their starting defense and their starting defensive midfielder, getting a game against an injury-riddled team on short rest at home is a gift from the soccer gods. United essentially fell asleep in the last ten minutes of their visit to Columbus and paid for it; this time, a far more ruthless approach is necessary to turn this opportunity into three points.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, Buzzard Point Stadium, USMNT, and US Open Cup links for Wednesday June 4th, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 03 Jun 2014 17:01:26 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Small news on the field for D.C. United, but big-ish news off of it. Plus we find out who United would face in the 5th round of the US Open Cup, and plenty of World Cup-related stuff. This round of Freedom Kicks is packed with good stuff.</p> <p>No real intro today, as I go on long enough below. This is today's open thread:</p> <p><a href="">Fabian Espindola nominated for Etihad Airways Player of the Month for May |</a><br>I've already resigned myself to Espindola getting little or no MVP attention nationally, but that's because I am a misanthrope. While several New England players may also get attention here, there's an argument to be made that no one in MLS is carrying his team like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">United's</a> #9, and his performances in May were, at worst, "really good."</p> <p><a href="">DCU to host World Cup Watch Party 6/22 | @SoccerInsider</a><br>Steve Goff may be (understandably) more focused on USMNT duty at the moment, but sometimes his beats dovetail. For those of you on the wrong side of the Virginia border, United's watch party on the day of USA vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Portugal</a> will go from noon to 9pm at the Reston Town Center. I'll be elsewhere, obviously.</p> <p><a href="">Tuesday's Practice Pitch Updates - With Audio | Massive Report</a><br>United faces the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Columbus Crew</a> on Saturday, so it's appropriate to check in with what they're up to. This one leans heavily towards their game tonight with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Real Salt Lake</a>, but it's still worth a read.</p> <p><a href="">D.C. United soccer stadium hearing set for June 26 | District of DeBonis</a><br>In news that is somehow not at all surprising, DC city council chairman Phil Mendelson has scheduled the first of what will likely be several hearings on the Buzzard Point stadium deal on June 26th. You know, the same day as the USMNT faced <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Germany</a> in something called the "<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a>," which I'm to understand is fairly important for soccer types.</p> <p>This link has plenty of info on which hoops the stadium will have to jump through, so be sure to read up.</p> <p>Also, I asked Mike DeBonis, the author of the piece, if he thinks there's any chance the city council will change the date of the hearing. <a href="">He said yes, if the complaints come in fast.</a></p> <p>DC residents, this especially applies for you: Contact your councilmember and ask for a date change in the most polite way you can. Marylanders like me and Virginians like much of the fanbase can also complain, but those of you living in the District will actually get attention. And remember: Twitter is probably the least effective method to make an impact. Taking the time - if you have it - to write an email or call will go further.</p> <p><a href="">D.C. United stadium's fate will be determined by next mayor, Mendelson says |</a><br>Mendelson also noted that, no matter how hard he tries, Vincent Gray is pretty unlikely to get the stadium deal done. Like it or not, we're kind of in the hands of skeptics Muriel Bowser and David Catania. On the plus side, Catania's stance on this stadium is nowhere near as furious as he was over Nationals Park.</p> <p><a href="">Even Tommy Wells Isn’t Sure About the D.C. United Stadium | Washington City Paper</a><br>Speaking of votes in flux, outgoing councilmember Tommy Wells - formerly a loud proponent of the stadium - says he can't vote yes on the deal after the potential for a streetcar stop was killed in favor of tax cuts. That's pretty bad news, but Wells will leave the council in January. Given that the stadium's chances of being passed with Gray still in office appear to be very slim, it's likely that stadium proponents - that's you and me - need to get the next Ward 6 councilmember on board for a 2015 push to get the bill passed.</p> <p><a href="">La Barra Brava: Why US football fans chant in Spanish |</a><br>The BBC did this short video on the Barra and the bilingual nature of United fandom. Some of you may well be in this video.</p> <p><a href="">2014 US Open Cup Round 5 draw unveiled; potential matchups known for June 24-25 |</a><br>United's potential opponent in the 5th round of this year's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">US Open</a> Cup is, unsurprisingly, the winner of the match between the Richmond Kickers and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">New England Revolution</a>. The good news here: United will host either side at the Soccerplex. A potential game against Richmond would take place June 24th at 7pm, while a pairing with the Revs is TBA (but would have to take place either the 24th or 25th).</p> <p><a href="">Frank Hanrahan called Fabian Espindola’s goal for D.C. United, and it was amazing | DC Sports Bog</a><br>There was a time when the Bog covered United regularly. A big factor in those days ending was that United simply stopped being good, which meant a lot of unhappy players, coaches, and fans, which meant a lack of Bog-worthy material. One can only hope this year's team helps correct the issue.</p> <p><a href="">The MLS Grinder: How Frank Klopas channeled Hannibal | Top Drawer Soccer</a><br>There's a reason I link to The Grinder (Will Parchman's weekly piece on MLS). They're not just worth reading for the tactical discussion, either. This week's reference involves the Second Punic War.</p> <p><a href="">Bill Clinton Got Pretty Mad When He Found Out That Qatar Was Chosen to Host the World Cup | New York Magazine</a><br>One of us! One of us!</p> <p><a href="">Growing Up In U.S. Soccer’s Dark Ages |</a><br>I often wind up as the old soccer head in any given conversation on the game, so naturally I really enjoyed this piece by Andy Glockner on watching American soccer's growth over the last 25 years.</p> <p><a href="">The Quiet Tragedy of Alvaro Saborío’s World Cup Injury | Grantland</a><br>This isn't about the USMNT or DC United, but Graham Parker is good and I'll always enjoy the idea of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">England</a> struggling with a team they can't be bothered to treat with respect.</p> <p><a href="">E:60 Qatar's World Cup |</a><br>If you didn't catch it on TV, here's Jeremy Schaap's gut-wrenching report on Qatar's labor force. Find 17 minutes to watch it, but be prepared to feel sick afterward.</p> <p><a href="">ALL IS LOST |</a><br>Finally, because this has been a pretty unpleasant Freedom Kicks, we close with Jon Bois and the last piece in his series on the NBA 2k14 video game. While "ALL IS LOST" screams more sadness, this is actually the hilarious result of taking a sports video game and making every player in it awful. Please make sure to watch the video segments.</p> <p>Have thoughts? Sure you do. Comment where comments go!</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Sporting Kansas City ChestRockwell Thu, 29 May 2014 23:22:48 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Sporting Kansas City is usually a nightmare for D.C. United, but KC is on a four-game winless streak and have been absolutely hammered by player absences. It's an exceedingly rare opportunity for United to put one over on the defending champs, but only if they can cope with Sporting's typical high pressure.</p> <p>Over the past few years, the last opponent <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> supporters wanted to see on the schedule has been <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sporting Kansas City</a>. While it has been a while since Sporting absolutely destroyed United, the inevitable one-goal loss that this fixture has resulted in almost always flattered the Black-and-Red. On the rare occasions where United kept KC's chances down, there have been extremely late game-winning goals for the former Wizards.</p> <p>There's no way around the fact that this series has been one-sided for years now. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ben Olsen</a> is 0W-1D-6L against the Sporks. United hasn't beaten Kansas City in just over four years (last win: May 5th, 2010...yes, believe it or not, United won a game in 2010). Since that win, DC has just two goals against the Sporks. That's two goals in seven games.</p> <p>The good news is that this isn't the normal Sporting Kansas City. I won't lie and say this is the perfect time to play them - that privilege fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chicago Fire</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Toronto FC</a> over the past couple of weeks - but it's still a very good opportunity to finally slay this particular beast. The defending MLS Cup champions are in the midst of a bizarre personnel crisis when it comes to their back four, and for all their high pressure this is a team that is fundamentally built around keeping clean sheets. This month, Sporting has managed to lose to Philadelphia at home and Chicago on the road, and also threw away leads against TFC and the Red Bulls.</p> <p>Only Seth Sinovic among the normal four starters has been available for the entire month, and it's worth noting that he's the least of KC's defenders. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Aurelien Collin</a> missed games with a hamstring strain, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Matt Besler</a> is going to Brazil for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chance Myers</a> - at the time deputizing as a center back due to a lack of other options - tore his achilles tendon against Toronto.</p> <p>Even the second-choice players have been unavailable. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ike Opara</a> picked up a season-ending injury weeks ago, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Lawrence Olum</a> was <a href="">called up on very short notice</a> by the Kenyan national team, and Homegrown product <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Erik Palmer-Brown</a> - after recovering from an injury - was sent off in his debut. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Oriol Rosell</a>, who played some center back when coming up through Barcelona's B team, has been injured as well (he's in doubt for tomorrow's game as well).</p> <p>This farcical list of missing players doesn't even mention <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Graham Zusi</a>, who is with Besler and the USMNT. Peter Vermes has had no choice but to try players in unfamiliar roles, change the responsibilities of certain positions, and even roll the dice on a 352. Youngsters like rookie <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Alex Martinez</a> and teenage loanee <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Igor Juliao</a> are being given starts instead of merely making the gameday squad, and stars like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Benny Feilhaber</a> are lining up in new spots.</p> <p>It's a measure of KC's depth and the winning culture they've established that, despite this potentially season-derailing injury crisis happening just as they start a stretch of five games in two-and-a-half weeks, the results are two one-goal losses and two draws in which they were unlucky not to take three points. Vermes has his team trying to press just as high as ever in an effort to dictate the terms of each game, which is a better way of protecting a patchwork defense than simply sitting back and hoping it works.</p> <p>It also hasn't hurt that this year's KC is actually a better team than last year's MLS Cup winner. They're more attractive going forward, they have a better portfolio of potential wide forwards, and in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dom Dwyer</a> they appear to have a real Golden Boot contender.</p> <p>As that 352 experiment resulted in probably the worst game of the year for KC, we should absolutely expect to see the Sporks play their normal 433:</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="1006096_austin_aztex_medium" class="photo" src=""></a></p> <p>As I indicated earlier, KC's fortunes are starting to turn when it comes to player availability. That does mean fewer question marks, but this is still a very unfamiliar Sporting eleven with several players in odd spots. The more straightforward question mark is on the left wing, where <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sal Zizzo</a> may simply be rotated out since KC played NYRB on Tuesday. If Zizzo is rested, look for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jacob Peterson</a> to step in. Zizzo is the bigger offensive threat due to his speed and direct running, but Peterson usually makes a pest of himself on both sides of the ball.</p> <p>The midfield is where things are more up in the air. Rosell's status is the crucial factor here. If the Catalan is fit, KC gets one of MLS's best defensive midfielders and their midfield metronome back. On top of that obvious benefit, it also means Feilhaber can push further forward into the spot that would otherwise be taken by Martinez.</p> <p>If Rosell is out, Feilhaber will function in a role we don't often see in MLS: A legitimate deep-lying playmaker. There's a trade-off involved here, though. Feilhaber's passing range is better than Rosell's, but defensively there's no comparison. Feilhaber's perceived lack of interest in defending has always been overstated, but he's still principally an attack-minded player. As a team, KC becomes more elegant with Feilhaber in that role, but they're also a weaker side defensively.</p> <p>Vermes doesn't really have options, though, as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Paulo Nagamura</a> doesn't do very well when he has to be tethered to a small region of the field. The Brazilian wants to cover tons of ground in pursuit of the ball, and he can't do that when playing the bottom point. Thus, Vermes must leave the most defensive midfielder he has available in his normal spot and instead hope that his side can keep the ball enough to hide the fact that Feilhaber's defensive acumen isn't the highest.</p> <p>That issue means that United should be able to find space between the lines, which is usually not the case against the Sporks. Chris Rolfe, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nick DeLeon</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Lewis Neal</a> have found time and space tucking inside - particularly Rolfe, who often gets into the sort of spots you'd expect from a central attacking midfielder who drifts left of center - and the most vulnerable spots are going to be the ones left and right of Feilhaber. DeLeon (or whoever plays right midfield for United) will need to be sharp, because Martinez brings less defensive bite to the table than Nagamura.</p> <p>Across the back, there's an understandable lack of familiarity. Juliao has only been on these shores for a couple of months, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Kevin Ellis</a> was only recalled from a season-long loan with the Oklahoma City Energy due to the injury crisis (and is also more of a right back than a center back), and Collin is an unusually dynamic center back in the first place.</p> <p>The Frenchman's ability to cover so much ground makes KC harder to play against, but it's also not a normal thing to see from a center back. Those playing alongside him need time to figure out when he's going to hurl himself forward in an attempt to win the ball early, and against the Red Bulls it was clear that Ellis and Juliao are still uncertain in that category.</p> <p>United can take advantage by maintaining possession - easier said than done against KC, but nothing's truly easy against the Sporks - and by being a confusing team in terms of movement. If Rolfe and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a> are both ready to play from the start, this should be a promising match. The last thing a new-look back four shielded by an unfamiliar defensive midfielder wants is to confront an unorthodox attack, and that's what United is capable of with those two on the field exchanging spots on the fly.</p> <p>Smart play will open up channels for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a> to run, and with Espindola and Rolfe doing their work left of center it'll often mean crosses aimed over right-center back Collin and towards Ellis at left-center back. EJ has a big advantage there physically, and it's a situation United should be trying to manufacture as often as possible.</p> <p>Defensively, United will need to be alert to the prospect that Feilhaber can deliver his through balls from that deeper spot. The Black-and-Red will need help from their forwards to press Feilhaber, but they'll also need to maintain increased awareness of the threat along the back four all game long.</p> <p>Another threat in terms of defending in the midfield is Martinez's ability to dribble through traffic. The rookie was a rather unheralded pick, but he's shown that he can unlock defenses at the top of the box by dribbling out of crowds before laying the ball off to another attacker. It will be important for United to prevent him from facing goal around the top of the box; instead, he needs to be under pressure before the ball arrives so that his best-case scenario becomes a back pass.</p> <p>Along the front line, new-ish signing Toni has been tasked with replacing Zusi. The Spaniard - <a href="">who was incorrectly billed as a left back when signed</a> - pops up in the same sort of spots that Zusi does. What that means is that he prefers a starting position tucked inside and slightly beneath the front line (that's in contrast to Zizzo or Peterson, who both play as true wide forwards).</p> <p>Toni is inverted on the right side, and his left foot is no joke. He <a href="">scored a very nice goal</a> on the run against the Red Bulls mid-week and nearly had what would have been a very similar second. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Christian</a> will need to play a bit narrow to keep Toni out on the wing, and he'll also have to avoid fouling his countryman too often. In my book, Toni has progressively gotten better in each appearance for KC, so he'll probably be a big threat tomorrow.</p> <p>That brings us to Dwyer, who was previously only limited by his finishing ability. Dwyer remains less skillful or clever than <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Claudio Bieler</a>, but his endless running - good luck trying to find a preview or profile on him that doesn't include the words "relentless" or "bulldog" - and his enthusiasm for physical play are far more suitable for KC's style.</p> <p>Now that the Englishman has started finishing the tougher chances, though, stopping him has become extremely difficult. Dwyer's speed makes him a threat to chase down through balls, and his non-stop engine means that he's always finding channels to run. His runs aren't that clever yet, but they don't have to be because he's fast and despite his size is quite strong. Dwyer hasn't lost his touch on finding loose balls or diving onto crosses in the process of sharpening the rest of his game either. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bobby Boswell</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jeff Parke</a> are going to have to play as well as they have all season to contain Dwyer, and they'll have to do so while also ignoring his attempts to provoke them.</p> <p>Set pieces are always a danger against KC. Feilhaber hit the woodwork direct from a free kick on Tuesday, and Collin has better goalscoring instincts inside the 18 yard box than many starting strikers around the league. Sure, they're without their normal free kick taker in Zusi, and without Besler or Rosell they've lost some secondary targets, but they're hardly starving with Feilhaber over the ball trying to pick out Collin and Dwyer.</p> <p>That said, United may be able to find some joy at the other end. Collin, for all his ability in the air, isn't as good at marking up in these situations as one would expect. And even if he locks up one DC target, there's a distinct lack of size in this KC lineup without Besler, Rosell, Olum, and Opara. Assuming Collin marks Boswell or Johnson, guys like Sinovic and Ellis will be mismatched against Christian, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Perry Kitchen</a>, or Parke. There's a chance here to give KC a taste of their own medicine.</p> <p>The bottom line is that United might have to wait years for a better opportunity to end Sporting's run of success in this fixture. Furthermore, legitimate playoff teams don't waste games like this against embattled opponents regardless of how good or bad they are. Vermes will still put out a team that can win this game, but they're not as confident or as organized as they normally are. I'll stop short of calling this a "sweep the leg" game out of deference to the Sporks owning this series for four years, but United needs to seize this golden chance to finally beat KC and score more than one goal in the process.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, USMNT, and CONCACAF Champions League links for Wednesday May 28, 2014 ChestRockwell Wed, 28 May 2014 05:07:03 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>D.C. United may appeal Eddie Johnson's suspension, while off the field the political games have only just begun in pursuit of a stadium deal. All this plus the CCL draw and the USMNT in today's Freedom Kicks.</p> <p>Plenty of links for you today, including a few on the all-important stadium front:</p> <p><a href="">D.C. United news and notes | Soccer Insider</a><br>Steve Goff has some news for us: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> may be appealing Eddie Johnson's red card against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">New England Revolution</a>, Chris Rolfe's allegedly minor hamstring ailment may keep him out of a second consecutive game, and United will have three players - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sean Franklin</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Conor Doyle</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Luis Silva</a> - at more or less full strength this weekend.</p> <p><a href="">Soccer stadium deal lands with legislators | District of DeBonis</a><br>Elsewhere at the Post, District blogger Mike DeBonis starts his own link round-up with a few words on the status of United's stadium deal. Short version: It's completely up in the air at this point.</p> <p><a href="">With a D.C. United stadium deal on the table, will D.C. Council play ball? | Washington Business Journal</a><br>Daniel Sernovitz of WBJ spoke with council chairman Phil Mendelson, who had some positive things to say about the deal but also expressed reservations about the tax abatements involved.</p> <p><a href="">Community Garden Could Become Substation Under D.C. United Deal | Washington City Paper</a><br>If the stadium deal does go through, the city will lose an urban garden when Pepco relocates the substation that has to move. I have the same idea as Matthew, a commenter on the piece: Make the community garden part of the stadium grounds.</p> <p><a href="">Breakdown: D.C. United reclaims identity through application and diligence |</a><br>When Kyle McCarthy takes a look at United, he sees a team with a vastly improved mentality compared to last year's debacle of a team.</p> <p><a href="">Training Notes: May 27, 2014 |</a><br>On the docket as Doyle and Silva returned to training: Various warm-up drills, agility work, 11v9 high-pressure keep away, and 8v8 games played on half of a normal-sized field. Dealing with congested space and constant harassment in possession is crucial for this weekend's game against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sporting Kansas City</a>, so those last two were smart choices. It's worth noting that Doyle and Silva both scored twice in those 8v8 matches.</p> <p><a href="">CONCACAF Draw Tomorrow, May 28 |</a><br>United will learn its CCL opponents and schedule at 7pm tonight. We'll have coverage of the draw after it happens, but since I ran out of time to do a real preview here's the TL;DR version:</p> <p>Favorable draw - Caribbean teams<br>Unfavorable draw - Costa Rican teams (Alajuelense and Saprissa are confirmed, and unless Belize built a CONCACAF-approved stadium over the last year, my guess is that there will be a third Costa Rican side taking the spot of Belize's entrant, the well-named Belmopan Bandits)</p> <p><a href="">Rhinos Advance Against Reading |</a><br>Speaking of tournaments United is in, we now know who we start our US Open Cup defense against. The Rochester Rhinos of USL-PRO made hard work of their home game against the PDL's Reading United - who saw University of Virginia star Darius Madison sent off in extra time - but eventually finished off the visitors 2-1. Colin Rolfe (no relation to Chris) scored the winner in the 119th minute.</p> <p>United will play the Rhinos in Rochester on June 17th. The remaining fifteen Third Round matches will take place tonight.</p> <p><a href="">United Drives to Collect Toiletries for Thrive DC |</a><br>Do you and a friend need tickets to Saturday's game? Bring some toiletries, get a buy one, get one free voucher.</p> <p><a href="">USA vs. Azerbaijan: Final score 2-0, USMNT unimpressive in World Cup tune-up win |</a><br>Shifting gears, Ryan Rosenblatt sums up a slightly discouraging outing for the national team. Mix Diskerud and Aron Johansson scored in the final fifteen minutes to give the USMNT a 2-0 win over Azerbaijan, a team that likely wouldn't have gotten into the Hexagonal at all if they were in CONCACAF. Hopefully this was just an example of a team doing two-a-days and lots of fitness having heavy legs, and the game could have been a blowout if <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Wondolowski</a> had been more precise on two early chances, but it's still tough to draw much to be optimistic about from this game.</p> <p><a href="">Clint Dempsey injures groin, out of USMNT lineup | Stars and Stripes FC</a><br>This is just to further dampen your spirits. Dempsey is said to be in no danger of missing games; hopefully he's not just fit enough to play come June 16th, but in the sort of form that saw him laying waste to MLS defenses before camp.</p> <p>That's it for me. Got some comments? Maybe some Klinsi rage you haven't expressed, or a preferred CCL opponent? Or perhaps you just had a good lunch? Either way, have at it in the comments.</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: New England Revolution ChestRockwell Fri, 23 May 2014 13:32:05 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>The New England Revolution are the hottest team in MLS right now, but D.C. United has also improved dramatically from the first meeting of these two clubs back in April. In a match where the tempo of the game will be key, can the Black-and-Red slow the high-octane Revs down?</p> <p>Seven Saturdays ago, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">New England Revolution</a> engaged in a stereotypical early-season match at RFK Stadium. For the Black-and-Red, the match presented a good chance to get their first win <strike>since the Clinton administration</strike> of 2014, while the Revs were trying to rediscover the chemistry that brought them within a lightning strike - that's what a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Seth Sinovic</a> goal counts as, basically - of an upset of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sporting Kansas City</a> in last year's playoffs.</p> <p>United was the only team that got what they came for, but neither team impressed. The game featured a total of three shots on goal, the last of which was Chris Rolfe's stoppage-time nail in the coffin. Like many games in the first month or so of any MLS season, the game turned on a stroke of luck: Christian's driven cross was too close to goal for any United attacker, but fortunately it was struck with enough force to flummox <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jose Goncalves</a>, who inexplicably volleyed it past <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bobby Shuttleworth</a>. It's not the Own Goal of the Year - <a href="">surely Victor Bernardez, with an assist from Jordan Stewart, will hold onto that title</a> - but it was a huge slice of luck for a team that needed it at the time.</p> <p>Since that game, United is 4W-2D-1L and has outscored opponents 12-6. If not for two stoppage time goals against on the road, those figures would be even more impressive. United finally getting an MLS win seems to have helped the team turn a corner mentally.</p> <p>However, United's improvement has mostly fit under the category of steady improvement rather than some evolutionary leap forward. That latter description suits the Revs, who are on a 5W-1D-0L streak at the moment. New England first responded to their listless early-season form with some better defending - letting up just two goals in the next four matches - before exploding for ten goals in their last two matches.</p> <p>Suffice it to say this will be a far different match from the first outing. That's good in one way: the Revs side that will be available tomorrow might not have hung five goals on early April United, but they would have certainly controlled the flow of the game and scored two or three goals. Today's United, however, is a far more confident side, even if our best road result is a perfunctory 1-0 win over a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Philadelphia Union</a> side who looked awful on the day.</p> <p>What changed in New England? Actually, not that much. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jay Heaps</a> still plays a 4141, he still wants his team to raid forward at a high speed, and his team relies a lot less on crossing than most MLS teams. Part of their progress was, like United's, simply the growth that happens when a team has time to work on things in training. Patience is a virtue, and all that. The Revs had to cope with Jose Goncalves - their most important player in 2013 - <a href="">being grumpy about his contract</a>, and later both Goncalves and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Kelyn Rowe</a> were injured. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Matt Reis</a> had retired. These weren't things that they were built to just brush off in a couple training sessions.</p> <p>Beyond that, though, Heaps figured out how to use his players in a more efficient manner. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Teal Bunbury</a> was never going to be a suitable replacement for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Juan Agudelo</a> in the lone forward role, because Bunbury is not a back-to-goal player. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Charlie Davies</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jerry Bengtson</a> have the same general problem, even if each is slightly different.</p> <p>Meanwhile, on his bench, Heaps had <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Patrick Mullins</a>, a player perfectly comfortable being a target man who thrives on technique rather than physicality. Mullins got tons of press for scoring goals at Maryland, but he was also the fulcrum of the Terps attack. Everything went through Mullins, even if he eventually was supposed to finish off those same moves.</p> <p>He was the best answer for the Revs, but most pundits - and apparently at the time, Heaps - felt he was more of a winger. Mullins started New England's first game of the season at right midfield, played poorly, and was pulled at halftime. Faced with an attack in need of a spark, Heaps turned back to the MAC Hermann Trophy winner. Bunbury was moved out to the wing, where he had some previous experience playing as a wide forward in KC, and Mullins was started at forward.</p> <p>The Revs have scored twelve goals in the three games since, and the schedule was not an easy one. The Revs went to Toronto and won 2-1, then put five past Seattle (who were top of the table at the time), and then went to Philly and won 5-3. The change of adding Mullins isn't the only reason - we'll get into all that below - but it was the final piece of the puzzle. The Revs can now score goals just as well as they can defend, and at the moment they are (in my opinion) the best team in MLS.</p> <p>Another huge factor in the Revolution suddenly seeming unstoppable is the play of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Lee Nguyen</a>, who was a good player last year and early this season but has since outstripped any realistic expectations one might have had. He may not stay in the MVP race, but he's getting <a href="">that kind of hype now</a>.</p> <p>That sort of talk is justifiable, as Nguyen has found a way to showcase his own ability to beat teams on the dribble with his normal playmaking and tempo-setting duties. Last year Nguyen was the only player capable (or even interested) in slowing down the go-go-go Revs, but this year his job is different. Being partnered with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Daigo Kobayashi</a> - a player who Heaps probably had no intention of starting until Rowe got hurt - has freed Nguyen up to be more attack-minded.</p> <p>The reliable Japanese veteran can also be trusted to keep the ball cycling throughout the team, which lets Nguyen jump forward as an attacking element the Revs lacked. There's plenty of speed, and the wingers can be devastating when they start their slashing runs, but last year the central threat from the Revs was Rowe arriving late from central midfield. This year, the Revs have the added weapon of being able to enter the box centrally due to Nguyen's footwork and deceptively good balance. People try to barge him off the ball due to his size, but he's stronger than he appears and usually those attempts to charge into him end up with the defender missing entirely.</p> <p>Another factor that has gotten far less attention in this streak is that the Revs have also been lucky. Certainly they've deserved to win their last two games handily, but the Sounders and Union both gave a perfect demonstration of how to lose at soccer with some of their mistakes. Last week, Philly buried themselves by giving up two goals that came directly from thoughtless clearance attempts. The week before that, Seattle found themselves down 2-0 with both goals coming from truly awful turnovers by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Marco Pappa</a>, who seems to have left his spatial awareness back in the Netherlands.</p> <p>Even when the Sounders weren't shooting themselves in the foot, fortune chose the Revs. The third goal in the game saw Bunbury's shot from an acute angle clip keeper Stefan Frei's shin, picking up enough spin that the ball bounced off the turf at a nearly 90 degree angle to go into the net. Bunbury's shot wasn't even on frame. And then, moments into the second half of the same game, Bunbury's hard cross attempt deflected off <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chad Marshall</a> and into the goal. It's been that kind of May for New England.</p> <p>The old saying that you make your own luck applies, but only so much. Yes, the Revolution deserve credit for putting themselves into spots where hard shots and crosses deflect off of defenders facing their own net, and certainly those bad turnovers didn't end up in the goal by themselves. The lesson here for United is that while the Revs don't force you to make a slew of mistakes like Sporting KC, carelessness will be punished. If you take one thing from this scouting report, it should be this: United cannot afford turnovers in their own end or aimless clearances.</p> <p>Getting back to that 4141, here's the eleven we should expect to see:</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="1001654_new_england_revolution_medium" class="photo" src=""></a> <br id="1400881410382"></p> <p>The Revs are missing a couple players with injuries, but there's also no good reason for Heaps to tinker with his field players at this point. As such, the only issue is whether Bobby Shuttleworth - who has quietly improved over the past month - has recovered from the concussion that kept him out of the match against the Union. If he can't go, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brad Knighton</a> will deputize, and that would count as good news for United. Knighton appeared rusty against the Union, and though the three goals weren't really his fault he appears to have lost ground on Shuttleworth in terms of his ability to quickly diagnose situations.</p> <p>Ahead of whoever the goalkeeper ends up being, you'll notice that Goncalves is not listed. Since his injury, the Revs have been surprisingly good in the back. AJ Soares is showing more leadership than he previously seemed capable of, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Andrew Farrell</a> combines his comfort with the ball at his feet with high-end athleticism. This is still probably a center back pairing that you beat with movement and ideas rather than power, but they're further along in the mental department than anyone expected them to be without Goncalves.</p> <p>Farrell's move inside opened up a hole at right back, and utility defender <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Darrius Barnes</a> has taken a grip on the spot with some of the best form of his career. That's not to indicate that he's playing like an all-star or anything, but he is earning his starts over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Kevin Alston</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">O'Brian Woodbine</a> (who was first choice for Jamaica during the Hex). On the other side, Chris Tierney's set piece ability has been on full display recently, and United will have to prevent him from hitting crosses when he comes forward.</p> <p>For United, the key to the game - well, after that whole "no easy turnovers, no dumb clearances" thing - is to control the tempo of the game. The fact that the Revs want to rush forward in waves means that dictating the pace is crucial in any venue and with any amount of days between games. Throw in the fact that United is the only team on short rest, and that this game will be played on New England's notoriously fast turf surface, and it only makes that idea more vital. If United plays at the speed the Revolution want to set, this will not end well. Slowing the game down - not to a crawl, because that's not the Black-and-Red's game, but not 100mph either - is the best way to cool off the white-hot New England attack. </p> <div class="pullquote">If United plays at the speed the Revolution want to set, this will not end well. Slowing the game down is the best way to cool off the white-hot Revs. <span></span> </div> <p>That's easier said than done. United is going to have to have frequent stretches of possession, and there will be times where the best move is to pass sideways or backward. That might not get the hearts racing out there, but the Revs are killing teams in transition right now. The more this game becomes end-to-end, the less likely DCU is to get a result. Bunbury and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Diego Fagundez</a> - who has finally hit his stride this season - are electric running at defenders, and the Revs know damn well to feed the bears. If Nguyen and Kobayashi are playing 20-30 yard passes to those two in stride, we're in trouble.</p> <p>Positionally, United will need to cope with a taste of our own medicine. Just as our attack has been better whenever we can unbalance teams by overloading our left side, the Revs tend to be a bit left-sided thanks to Nguyen. His movement is generally towards the left side of the top of the box, where he can either combine with Fagundez (who will cut in) or Mullins (who also thrives in that region of the field).</p> <p>The movement and technical ability of that trio is troublesome enough, but it's just as important for our left flank to stay alert. If United collapses to deny space, Nguyen is especially good at either finding Kobayashi as an outlet or switching play to Bunbury, who is fast and strong enough to exploit 1v1s without having to pull out stepovers or other trickery. If United isn't mentally sharp and positionally sound across the field, this sort of move forward will happen repeatedly.</p> <p>Going forward, United has some avenues to exploit. The central midfield trio tends to get too narrow defensively, so there will be gaps to the left and right of the central channel to exploit. Further, neither outside back is a particularly stout defender, with Barnes being a bit slow of thought and Tierney slow of foot. Things have been going well for the Revs lately, but it helps to score a ton of early goals and then get to play defend-and-counter. If United can sustain a 0-0 scoreline for the opening portion of the game, New England's so-so defending will start to make itself apparent, and I'm not sure any of their defenders is prepared for the puzzle that is <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a>.</p> <p>On the set piece front, we have some things to worry about. Tierney buried a free kick from a few yards outside the box against the Union, while their first goal in that same game was a near-post header from Soares on a Tierney corner kick. The Revolution don't have the look of, say, Dallas or the Houston teams of the past; there's not a huge amount of size here, and of the big targets only Soares has the sort of angry mentality that your best set piece targets tend to have. However, Tierney's service right now is pinpoint accurate, and just as good targets can elevate so-so service, accurate balls in can cover up a lack of size and power.</p> <p>Going the other way, though, those issues can't be covered by Tierney being accurate. United will have an advantage on attacking set pieces, and it's probably one that we need to capitalize on. If DC can make this game more of a chess match punctuated by set pieces, they'll be playing a game that the Revs aren't well-suited for.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, MLS, and USMNT links for Wednesday May 21st, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 20 May 2014 21:02:27 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Today's round of Freedom Kicks includes bad news for D.C. United fans, plus a look around MLS and an interview with a USMNT player. Plus there might be free pie at the end, who knows?</p> <p>Today in Freedom Kicks, we start with the bad news, but things get less bad as we go along. I promise.</p> <p><a href="">MLS Disciplinary Committee suspends DC United's Eddie Johnson, Portland Timbers' Alvas Powell</a><br>I know I like to start my day off with bad news, so here goes: The MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a> for tonight's game against Houston for what they are calling a "reckless challenge" against the Impact. Personally I think it's a bit harsh, but I do feel like EJ could have done better to not make contact with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Troy Perkins</a>.</p> <p>I also got the sense on Twitter last night that I had one of the least angry reactions - in that I didn't swear while objecting to the suspension - so if you need to rage, head to the comments.</p> <p><a href="">Talking Strategy: D.C. United vs Houston Dynamo |</a><br>This link is less likely to incite a rabble. Preston Burpo tells Molly Bruh some things the coaching staff is looking for from Houston tonight.</p> <p><a href="">2014 U.S. Open Cup fourth round draw: Union host Harrisburg or Baltimore |</a><br>Jonathan Tannenwald compiled all the potential dates of every fourth round <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">US Open</a> Cup game. On our end, things are simple: The game will be the evening of Tuesday, June 17th, regardless of whether it's away (if the Rochester Rhinos win) or at the Soccerplex (if Reading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">United</a> AC wins).</p> <p><a href="">2014 World Cup: Graham Zusi explains how MLS, Sporting KC are fueling USMNT | Sports Illustrated</a><br>Brian Straus is at USMNT camp, and yesterday he put out this video interview with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Graham Zusi</a>. Better questions here than your normal heading into halftime, "Graham, tell us about how you scored that goal" mini-interviews you often see.</p> <p><a href="">The MLS Grinder: The jazzmen of the Revolution | The 91st Minute</a><br>Will Parchman's "The MLS Grinder" pieces are usually worth your time, and this one concerns the Revolution, who we'll play on the weekend. If you want to know how they've scored five goals in two straight matches, this will give you an idea.</p> <p><a href="">Colorado Rapids forward Gabriel Torres to miss next three games to work on muscle strengthening |</a><br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Gabriel Torres</a> has been among the least effective DPs in MLS this season. Apparently the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Rapids</a> think they have the issue figured out: He has some sort of muscular damage that needs to be rehabbed before he can play again. I say "some sort" because Colorado has not specified where he's injured at all. It's a strange one.</p> <p><a href="">Houston's attempt to sign Ben Speas on loan comes too late | @AdamJardy</a><br>Adam Jardy covers the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Columbus Crew</a> beat, and he has an interesting note here: The Crew and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Dynamo</a> reached a deal to send Crew homegrown winger Speas to the Dynamo for an intraleague loan - likely to cover for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Tony Cascio</a>, who is also a loanee with the Dynamo but tore his ACL - but neither side was aware that MLS has a deadline for this sort of deal. It was news to me, as well, so there you go. This year's deadline was apparently May 12th.</p> <p><a href="">Fear the Underdog? | Grantland</a><br>Brian Phillips could turn the mundane tale of your 9v9 coed team's 3W-3D-3L season into a grand saga worth reading twice, so you know he did well with this piece on Atletico Madrid. This was actually written before Atletico's 1-1 draw in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Barcelona</a> clinched the La Liga title, but it's worth a look anyway.</p> <p>And with that, I'm out of links. Use the comments to discuss this stuff, or something else entirely.</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Houston Dynamo ChestRockwell Tue, 20 May 2014 13:19:29 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>The Houston Dynamo are usually bad news for D.C. United, but they come into tomorrow night's game lacking several starters, including Brad Davis and Oscar Boniek Garcia. Some thoughts on how United can get the better of a team that usually torments them.</p> <p>Normally, scouting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Houston Dynamo</a> is not a particularly complicated endeavor. Dom Kinnear has given us years of evidence in terms of how he wants to play. The formation may change a bit here or there, but ultimately you know what you're going to get: Some mix of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brad Davis</a>, physical play, and a preference for being somewhat direct going forward. Houston's secret is keeping things simple and being very good at what they do. This is not a team in search of an identity.</p> <p>This time around, however, things might be more complicated. This year's Dynamo have been inconsistent in both their performance and their results.In an eight-day span earlier this month, they won 4-1 at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chivas USA</a> but also managed to lose 5-2 to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Real Salt Lake</a>. Pull back to view their whole last month of play and you see things like a stretch with three wins in four games, but also a 4-0 loss to the Red Bulls.</p> <p>On the road, things have not gone well for Houston. Their travels have seen them roll up a record of 1W-1D-3L, with five goals scored against nine allowed. Four of those five goals came in that thrashing of Chivas, which may be an outlier given how poorly the other games went.</p> <p>Then again, when it comes to the Dynamo, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> can never feel too confident. United is still winless in Houston, and our home record against the Dynamo isn't all that much better. The Dynamo have won six of the last seven meetings, with United only managing three goals (and zero wins, as the odd match was the 1-1 playoff draw at RFK in 2012). Meanwhile, the Dynamo have two separate 4-0 wins in that span. It's safe to say that things have not gone well against Houston, in other words.</p> <p>This game is also a tricky one to judge due to player availability. The Dynamo will be without Brad Davis and Oscar Boniek Garcia, both of whom are with their respective national teams. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ricardo Clark</a>, barring a sudden and dramatic turnaround, will miss out with a concussion. That's three quarters of Kinnear's first-choice midfield, and it doesn't even count center back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eric Brunner</a> and winger <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Tony Cascio</a>, who will both miss out due to injury as well.</p> <p>The Dynamo are carrying a smaller roster as is, and on the weekend they played the Galaxy with only six substitutes available rather than the normal seven. That was with Garcia available, which won't be the case tomorrow. This isn't a particularly deep team, but right now Kinnear has no choice. The Dynamo are also flying to San Jose following their game with United for a match against the Quakes on Saturday, so a rotation featuring some lesser-known players is kind of a must in one of these two games.</p> <p>All that said, I think Kinnear will try to field his best available team against United given that it's an Eastern Conference game. The trick is figuring out who those players are, and how Kinnear will line them up. The Dynamo were recently playing a 4141 and calling it a 433, but scrapped that for the Galaxy and played a 4132. There is also the possibility that they play a regular old 442 now that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Servando Carrasco</a> is no longer suspended, but I'm guessing he goes with the 4132:</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="999271_houston_dynamo_medium" class="photo" src=""></a></p> <p align="left">There aren't too many question marks, but those that exist are interesting. The defensive midfield role will either go to Carrasco or Warren Creavalle. Both are decent enough players, but Creavalle's MLS career has shown more promise than Carrasco's to this point. However, Creavalle's form in 2014 has taken a nosedive; only against LA this weekend did he start to look like his old self. Given that this is one of the only positions where Kinnear can rotate without a major drop-off, I'm not sure who he'll start. I give the slight edge to Carrasco, but don't be surprised if he starts both players, pushes <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Giles Barnes</a> up front, and drops a striker.</p> <p align="left">The choice between the two players is an interesting one. Creavalle is more likely to quietly go about his business; his passing style is more about connecting the dots rather than getting assists himself, and he doesn't bring a remarkable edge to the game. Carrasco, on the other hand, is very aggressive but also has a bigger passing range than Creavalle. That can get him in trouble sometimes, as he'll choose the more difficult pass when an easy pass is called for, but it can also open up the Dynamo attack.</p> <p align="left">The other question mark is out on the right flank, where the Dynamo are severely short-handed. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Omar Cummings</a> subbed in for Garcia after he came out injured in the first half against the Galaxy, but he's more of a forward who can play wide in a five-man midfield. In a 4132, he's not that comfortable with the defensive part of the job, and on the road I think Kinnear will at least consider <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brian Ownby</a>.</p> <p align="left">Ownby is not a conservative wide man by any means, but a) Houston has tried him out as a right back here and there and b) he's more of a natural right midfielder than Cummings. Even if Cummings does get the start, his 64 minutes on the weekend almost doubled his season total (thanks in part to injury), I expect to see Ownby play some part in this match. He's got speed and is perfectly comfortable with staying wide and running at defenders, which is also what United will be facing in the form of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Andrew Driver</a> down the Houston left.</p> <p align="left">Across the back, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jermaine Taylor</a> had a recent - and apparently sudden - groin strain, but the Jamaican is back and should partner <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">David Horst</a> in the middle of the back four. Neither player is a defensive leader, though, and that could be important for United. Houston is good at emergency defending and there's plenty of bravery and athleticism back there, but they don't diagnose plays very well. United's movement - particularly the exchanges between <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Rolfe</a> - should be the emphasis here, as the Dynamo can be confused if you throw enough moving parts at them.</p> <p align="left">Down the wings, I'd recommend more attempts to play on the dribble from United. Kofi Sarkodie and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Corey Ashe</a> both have a tendency to pick up cards. The referee for tomorrow's game will be Alan Kelly, who has been consistent but is very strict (it's a small sample size, but he's called over 30 fouls a game so far this season). If we can get one of those two an early yellow card, we should attack that flank relentlessly. Sarkodie has picked up that second yellow more than once in his career, while Ashe never seems comfortable when he has to tone down his aggressiveness.</p> <p align="left">Playing through the midfield, United will need to keep the ball moving quickly. With Barnes and Cummings both playing roles that aren't their specialties, there should be gaps to exploit. Those two simply aren't going to read the defensive side of the game as quickly as a natural would, and without Clark in there to shut down those gaps with his ability to cover so much ground, United should be able to move through the midfield at pace. If there was a lesson from the draw against Montreal, it's that speed of play and speed of thought are vital.</p> <p align="left">Defending the Dynamo will be tough, especially with such an attack-first midfield. Barnes has three goals in four games and poses a unique threat. In his younger days, Barnes was an elite track athlete in the 100 meters, which is not the sort of speed you normally see from central players in soccer. Sure, <a href="">not every goal he scores will require that speed</a>, but anticipating his runs rather than simply tracking them will be important for the United midfield.</p> <p align="left">Coping with Driver down the left will require some strong individual defending, no matter if it's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Korb</a> retaining his place or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sean Franklin</a> returning from injury. Driver is more or less a stereotypical English winger: He stays wide, he wants to hit crosses, and his first touch is always going to be an attempt to set himself up to run at his defender. United needs to be prepared for that, because Driver has enough of a burst to get through the midfield layer and isolate his man. Stopping him can't just be left to United's right back.</p> <p align="left">Up top, the Dynamo have a very Houston Dynamo sort of forward pairing. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Will Bruin</a> is no longer the most physically imposing forward for them now that rookie <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Mark Sherrod</a> has pushed his way into the starting lineup with two goals against RSL and an assist on the winner against LA. Both players are powerful and work very hard for their team, so you can count on seeing a lot of individual battles throughout the match. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bobby Boswell</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jeff Parke</a> are going to have to bring their A game tomorrow, because the Dynamo's size up top combined with their second-choice midfield will probably see a fairly high number of long balls and headers to be won.</p> <p align="left"> </p> <div class="pullquote">The second ball is where this sort of game is won or lost.<span></span> </div> <p>2012 excepted, this was precisely the kind of forward duo that has troubled United for years. Fortunately, this year's team seems more at home facing that sort of soccer. It still bears mentioning, though, that it's not purely about one center back beating one forward. Winning the initial ball is always nice, but the second ball is where this sort of game is won or lost.</p> <p align="left">Boswell and Parke may well dominate Bruin and Sherrod in the air, but if we don't pick up the ensuing knockdowns it will be useless. One of Houston's "secrets" is just plain old fundamental hunger to win loose balls. It's not fancy, it's not complicated, and it's not sexy, but it wins games. United has to have eleven players on the field with that sort of mentality, because Houston has always had a knack for sniffing out the one or two guys who would rather keep their jersey clean for 90 minutes and exploiting them.</p> <p align="left">Normally set pieces are a huge worry with the Dynamo, but they don't really have a good person to take them right now. Driver isn't a bad crosser, but their ability to threaten in these spots is significantly lower without Davis serving in his traditionally driven corner kicks. It is worth noting that Barnes has a very hard shot from distance, so we may see him get the green light on free kicks due to lack of other options.</p> <p align="left">At the other end, Houston still has plenty of size and strength, but there's been a certain lack of organization about them this season when defending set pieces. If United can draw up a more intricate set piece or two, the Dynamo could be confused into losing track of someone like Boswell or Eddie Johnson. In midweek games -which are usually played at a slow pace and feature few goals - that sort of thing can make all the difference.</p> <p align="left">After throwing two points away with a flat display against the Impact, the Black-and-Red could really use three points. Houston is traveling on short rest, and they have to travel all the way across the country for a game on the weekend as well. As tough as it might be to find the energy on short rest, a higher tempo through the midfield and a willingness to fight for every loose ball could well swing this one in United's favor. It won't exorcise the ghost of Andre Hainault, but the East is likely to be a logjam at the end of the season. Winning games like this one will be the sort of thing that gets United into a playoff spot; losing this sort of game may well see United do without postseason play once again.</p> D.C. United to face Rochester Rhinos or Reading United AC in US Open Cup's fourth round ChestRockwell Fri, 16 May 2014 15:56:47 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Today's US Open Cup fourth round draw revealed that D.C. United will take on either the Rochester Rhinos or Reading United AC, with United hosting the game only if Reading wins the pair's third round match.</p> <p>The draw for the fourth round of the US Open Cup took place earlier today, and for once <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> will open the tournament against someone other than the Richmond Kickers.</p> <p>Instead, the champions were drawn against either the Rochester Rhinos of USL-PRO and Premier Development League (PDL) side Reading United AC. The Rhinos - <a href="">who in 1999 became the only non-MLS team to win the Open Cup</a> since MLS started in 1996 - are currently in 5th place with a 2W-4D-1L record, and defeated the PDL Western Mass Pioneers 2-1 in extra time to get to the third round. Reading, meanwhile, has played just one game this season (a tie) and qualified for the third round by beating the Greater Binghampton Thunder of National Premier Soccer League by a score of 5-2.</p> <p>Reading will travel to Rochester to face the Rhinos at Sahlen's Stadium on <strike>May 28th</strike> May 27th for the right to face United. If Rochester wins, they will host the Black-and-Red in the fourth round, while a victory for Reading would see United host the game at the Maryland Soccerplex.</p> <p>The rather important question of <i>when</i> that game would take place is up in the air. US Soccer has stated that the fourth round will take place between June 10th and June 18th, and is very excited about the prospect of weekend Open Cup games, but no dates have been announced yet. June 11th can be safely ruled out: United is at Montreal that evening, while both Rochester and Reading also face away games the same day. The Rhinos also play on June 14th against Arizona United, making a weekend game impossible.</p> <p>Things get even more complicated when you add in the fact that Sahlen's Stadium hosts several other teams. The only event listed at the moment during the week in question is June 18th's NWSL match between the Western NY Flash and the Chicago Red Stars. Essentially, a Rhinos win narrows the dates down to the 16th, 17th, or 19th. The 16th would be a terrible idea, as it's also the day the USMNT opens the <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">World Cup</a> against Ghana, so we're probably looking at a Tuesday or Thursday game.</p> <p>The whole issue would be more straightforward if Reading can pull the upset. They have no other games beyond that match on the 11th, and the Washington Spirit aren't playing any home games during that period either.</p> <p><a href="">The complete draw is here</a>, and it has some fascinating pairings. Naturally the biggest news is that the New York Cosmos - provided they can beat the NPSL's Brooklyn Italians - will host the Metros in the most anticipated Open Cup non-final in ages. The Galaxy's years of whining about having to play against North Carolinian opposition have been cured by placing LA's other team, <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Chivas USA</a>, in that portion of the bracket (the Goats didn't apply to host a game at all, naturally).</p> <p>Locally, if the Kickers can beat NY Greek-American Atlas (an amateur team), they'll host the <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Revolution</a> at City Stadium. The Baltimore Bohemians, meanwhile, will travel to PPL Park to face the <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Union</a> if they can spring an upset over the USL-PRO's Harrisburg City Islanders.</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Montreal Impact ChestRockwell Thu, 15 May 2014 23:39:02 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>The Montreal Impact are tired, playing poorly, missing players, and can generally be described as miserable. D.C. United needs to be assertive and physical from the start to keep the Impact from turning this one into a trap game.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Montreal Impact</a> are a disaster. I use the present tense because the disaster is ongoing, right this second. On <a href="">Filibuster this week</a>, our guest Sofiane Benzaza from <a href="">Mount Royal Soccer</a> - a very cheerful, positive guy in general - used words like "shambles" and "panic" in talking about the Impact. With six points, they're three adrift of the rest of MLS, and they've also got the worst goal differential (-10) and are tied for the fewest goals scored with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Toronto FC</a>, who have played two fewer games. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> fans who survived 2013 know how bad things can get, and up in Quebec they are rapidly approaching <i>that</i> kind of bad.</p> <p>They are coming off a win, but it's as dubious as they come. Up 3-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate, they found themselves on the verge of humiliation in the Voyageurs Cup - Canada's much smaller answer to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">US Open</a> Cup - after letting visiting FC Edmonton score twice and pull ahead on away goals.</p> <p>Five minutes into stoppage time, <a href="">one of the more generous penalty kick calls</a> you'll see in 2014 went their way, however, and captain <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Patrice Bernier</a> saved his team from what would have been a truly embarrassing loss. Edmonton isn't even a good lower-division team: They're in ninth place in the ten-team NASL, and are the only team scoring less than one goal per game. That team managed four goals over two legs against the Impact.</p> <p>Sound familiar? Maybe you even made the trip down to Richmond last season to see United go down to nine men in extra time before converting all their penalty kicks? Or maybe you'll more easily recognize a team standing pat through the offseason despite some obvious signs that moves were required?</p> <p>Oh sure, the Impact have <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Marco Di Vaio</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jack McInerney</a> up top rather than <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Lionard Pajoy</a>, but then United didn't have <a href="">stories about players potentially half-assing games</a> to get new coach <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Frank Klopas</a> fired coming out. You didn't see Dave Kasper or Will Chang <a href="">on the field arguing with opposing head coaches</a>. The problems are different, but the result is pretty similar. Barring a major course correction, Montreal is on course to give last year's United a run for their money.</p> <p>The problems are as varied as they are deep. Despite Alessandro Nesta's retirement, the group of regularly-used players is still among MLS's oldest, and those old players have either missed numerous games (Di Vaio, via suspension and now injury) or are in horrendous form (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Matteo Ferrari</a>). Designated Player Hernan Bernardello - note: Montreal has a DP anchor midfielder, which is already not how things work in MLS - is not old, but he's been injured too, as has La Liga veteran center back Adrian Lopez. Nelson Rivas, who was inexplicably re-signed for the season, hasn't played a second. The list goes on.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the players that are fit have been bad. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Heath Pearce</a> only played a couple of games before getting benched for some combination of rookie <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eric Miller</a> and academy trio Karl Ouimette, Maxim Tissot, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Wandrille Lefevre</a> (from that group, only Lefevre is older than 22). Felipe has shown some flashes when breaking into the attacking third, but has largely been poor when it comes to delivering the final ball or finishing himself. Jack McInerney, acquired in MLS's biggest trade this season, has looked close to being the guy that went on a fourteen game scoreless streak last season as opposed to the Di Vaio successor the Impact probably thought they were getting.</p> <p>Compounding matters, Montreal will arrive at RFK having endured the following recent schedule:</p> <p>- May 7th: Flight to Edmonton (about 1800 miles, or roughly equal to New England flying out to play RSL) to play on turf against FC Edmonton<br>- May 10th: Home game against the buzzsaw that is <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sporting Kansas City</a><br>- May 14th: Home game against the Eddies that required them to push themselves as hard as possible in the last 30 minutes</p> <p>It's not an incredibly brutal stretch, but Montreal is not at all equipped for difficulties right now. Given their injuries - Lopez, Miller, Rivas, Ferrari, Felipe, and Di Vaio are all carrying some kind of issue, despite the clean slate listed on the MLS injury report that few teams are honest about - and a suspension for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Collen Warner</a>, the Impact might not have a spare field player to leave out of their gameday 18 (sorry, third string GK Maxime Crepeau).</p> <p>It's still tough to predict who will start, though, and also what their formation will be. Klopas has stuck mostly with a 4231, but these are desperate times for Montreal. The offense really needs Di Vaio and McInerney paired, but sacrificing the extra midfielder given the Impact's defensive woes is unlikely on the road and with tired legs.</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="996058_montreal_impact_medium" class="photo" src=""></a> <br id="1400218610386"></p> <p>So, lots of question marks here. I am reasonably sure that Ouimette and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Hassoun Camara</a> will play, but exactly where they'll do so depends on who else makes up the back four. Ferrari was not in the 18 Wednesday, and Pearce - in his first start in weeks - took a blow to the face just before the final whistle. It's probably easiest to say that Ouimette is usually used left of center, but will play right-center back if Pearce retains his spot. Camara could also play center back, which would require moving <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jeb Brovsky</a> out to the right and leaving left back to Tissot or Pearce. Lefevre is also in the running to start, but thankfully he is a pure center back and thus can't confuse things further.</p> <p>Montreal's back four, no matter who plays, is a mess right now. The constant changing of players has resulted in a clear lack of understanding among the group, and the potential vocal leaders (Rivas and Pearce) have either been injured or out of form. United's attackers work hard and come from rather unorthodox angles, which is not at all what you want to see when your defense is already a jumble of confusion.</p> <p>Camara and Ouimette do have some respectable aerial ability, but United can still fire in crosses because every Impact defender is prone to ball-watching and/or bad judgment. Normally I try to mention a channel that is particularly vulnerable, but in this case they're all weak. The Impact leave gaps because they don't diagnose runs quickly, plain and simple. It's a team-wide problem, too, because the midfield either does just as poor of a job at that or simply fails to keep up when their man makes a hard run.</p> <p>If Eddie Johnson's head is in the right place after missing out on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> roster, he could be in for a very good outing. He's faster than the players that can compete with him for strength, and he'll be able to physically overpower the rest of the Impact's defenders. If EJ's movement and effort are there, he'll have plenty of chances. EJ should look to exploit the gap between the two center backs, because Montreal doesn't defend well enough to force him to run other channels.</p> <p>It's worth noting that despite his being suspended in MLS play, Klopas opted not to play Warner against Edmonton. That leaves Klopas with only one fresh central midfielder (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Calum Mallace</a>, who has just one start in 2014 and 472 MLS minutes in a three-year career). Bernardello is only just back from injury, and Bernier has seen only spotty playing time due to misgivings about his being a 34 year old central midfielder.</p> <p>Klopas has no other options here, so I'm leaning towards Mallace getting the call in an effort to keep the game close by giving the Impact a chance to compete physically in central midfield. If Perry Kitchen and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Davy Arnaud</a> can turn this into a more physical game in the middle of the field, however, United should be able to dictate the terms from there.</p> <p> </p> <div class="pullquote">The Black-and-Red need to be an aggressive, harrying team to further Montreal's misery.<span></span> </div> <p>Dictating the terms is important, because in spite of their flaws Montreal is a pretty respectable possession team. While I expect them to sit deep and purely look for chances on the break via turnovers or rashly-timed attempts to step high by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bobby Boswell</a> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jeff Parke</a>, the Impact are still a team capable of slowing play down and keeping the chances to a minimum. United simply cannot let this happen, because it's the best way for Montreal to accomplish a couple of things (e.g. hiding that woeful defense, building some confidence, etc). The Black-and-Red need to be an aggressive, harrying team tomorrow night to further Montreal's misery.</p> <p>Further forward, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Justin Mapp</a> will surely start on the right despite playing the full 90 mid-week. Mapp has been <a href="">the lone bright spot</a> for Montreal this season, and with all due respect to Di Vaio is the most dangerous player for the Impact by a comfortable margin. Whatever threat Klopas's side will pose is going to largely come from the right wing.</p> <p>The funny thing with Mapp is that his game is fairly simple and predictable; he's just so good at what he does that it keeps working. Mapp wants to receive the ball at his feet rather than chase it into space; he wants to face his man on the dribble; he prefers to cut inside just outside the box, but failing that will cut in within five yards of the endline; and Mapp will look to pass or cross low rather than make traditional crosses. It's not a wide range of possibilities, but his timing is excellent and his speed puts people on their heels.</p> <p>Unfortunately for United, the defender most vulnerable to this sort of thing is Christian. I'm not so much worried that Christian will get skinned a bunch of times as I am that he'll either a) miss once badly, as he did against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Patrick Nyarko</a>, or b) will pick up a card (or two) in the course of fouling Mapp repeatedly.</p> <p>The key for stopping Mapp is to prevent him from getting going in the first place. He likes the ball played into his feet, so marking him tightly helps. He shrinks away from physical play, so a (legal) bump or shoulder-to-shoulder collision as he receives the ball will slow him down. In the event that Mapp does start a run towards goal, the best thing to do is to deny him a shot while staying marked up with other runners. Eventually, Mapp will stop running and play a backpass, and that means the attack will probably die at someone else's feet soon enough.</p> <p>Up top, Montreal could pose an additional threat if Di Vaio is fit. In their match against Philly a couple of weeks ago, Di Vaio and McInerney freely swapped the roles of striker and left winger throughout the game and caused the Union all sorts of trouble. Yes, it's only the Union, but it was still broadly similar to the confusion United has been causing teams with the movement of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Rolfe</a>.</p> <p>Di Vaio is nursing a hamstring strain and hasn't been in uniform for the last two Impact games, but if he's at all fit I would imagine Klopas would get him out there. If not, however, his decision is more complicated. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Andres Romero</a> is the freshest regular, but has not impressed this season at all. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sanna Nyassi</a> is back from injury, but just played 90 minutes on Wednesday. One player that Klopas hasn't used much is <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Blake Smith</a>, who offers more speed and work rate than Romero and more defensive bite than Nyassi. Smith wasn't even in the 18 for the game against Edmonton, but Klopas should consider all of his options at this point.</p> <p>Mentally, United needs to get two things right: Avoid big-time mistakes while pushed high up the field - thus preventing breakaways for McInerney or Di Vaio, which are a huge part of Montreal's attack - and starting the game at a good level. L'Impact have conceded 10 first-half goals in MLS play, but have also managed to score three of their seven total goals in the first 15 minutes of their matches. It's a weird situation: Montreal tend to be very vulnerable to start games, but they're also more likely to score themselves. The opening stages will be crucial for United to prove they can be ruthless with a weakened opponent.</p> <p>We tend to close with set pieces, and Montreal's defending in those situations has been...well, not great, but better than you'd expect from a hypothetical worst team in MLS. They have some size, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Troy Perkins</a> has been mostly sound coming off his line, but when I watch them I see a team that would struggle badly with any sort of pick-based movement or some rehearsed runs. Don't be surprised if the Black-and-Red's new focus on being harder to predict on dead balls results in some big chances.</p> <p>Offensively, Montreal's set piece play has been poor. The delivery hasn't been there, the creative runs haven't been there, and there's a distinct lack of that mean attitude teams tend to have that helps them fight off defenders to get onto the incoming service. Again, there are targets here - Camara in particular is a threat - but Montreal's set piece plan often seems to consist of "OK, you cross the ball in, and everyone else just run around and hopefully it works somehow." <a href="">'arry Redknapp</a> would be proud.</p> <p>It's been a long time since United had any games where the expectations were for a definite win, but last week and tomorrow fit the bill. DCU was not that good in Philly, but they got the job done with strong individual defending and via midfield dominance. At home, against an even weaker (and wearier) opponent, everyone around the club will be hoping for a more impressive showing. Hopefully we can see the United that sensed blood in the water once <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">FC Dallas</a> went down to ten men. This is a classic #SweepTheLeg game if there ever was one.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, USMNT, and US Open Cup links for Wednesday, May 14th, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 13 May 2014 21:45:35 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Due to a lack of other news, we're still talking about EJ being left off the US World Cup roster. Well, that plus thoughts on D.C. United, USMNT, shirts that are better than you, US Open Cup, and a few stories from abroad.</p> <p>There wasn't as much <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> news as there normally is on a Tuesday, but I did my best and padded this out with links to USMNT, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">US Open</a> Cup, and international stories. I didn't even have to resort to linking to anything about Kurt Russell or whatever 90s thing I'm stuck on, so congratulations I guess?</p> <p>Freedom Kicks!</p> <p><a href="">DC United head coach Ben Olsen "extremely disappointed" for USMNT snub Eddie Johnson |</a><br>Maybe EJ takes this snub on the chin and comes roaring back to form in an effort to prove Jurgen Klinsmann wrong. It'd be pretty impressive, given how awful it must feel to go from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">World Cup</a> shoe-in to not even on the provisional 30-man roster. As United fans, all we can really do is hope EJ proves Klinsmann wrong through the rest of 2014.</p> <p><a href="">Eddie Johnson didn't earn his place | Stars and Stripes FC</a><br>B&RU (and virtually everyone else on SB Nation)'s Kevin McCauley comes at the EJ issue from the other side. Some cold hard facts here, it must be said.</p> <p><a href="">How D.C. United turned things around |</a><br>Brendan Darr looks at some of the available data on how United is no longer a constant disaster at soccer. I'm not convinced by some of the metrics he consulted - Squawka's player score, for example, seems to indicate that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a> has made a significantly less positive contribution over his nine starts than <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Rolfe</a> has in three - but the idea that United's improvements are more on the defensive end is valid.</p> <p><a href="">Philadelphia Union manager on "Fire Hackworth" chant: "I certainly heard the fans" |</a><br>Unfortunately for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Union</a> fans, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">John Hackworth</a> did not join Bob Bradley and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Hans Backe</a> on the list of rival head coaches fired after a demoralizing loss to United. The rest of the Eastern Conference should be quietly pleased that he'll continue to lead Philly for the time being.</p> <p><a href="">The 10 Most Significant Goals In U.S. Soccer History #10: Rewritten History | Sports Illustrated</a><br>The World Cup is in a month, and SI is doing some great work with this collection of pieces on vital, transformative goals in American soccer history. I'm linking to the first piece, by Brian Straus, but links to the other pieces that have been released are there too.</p> <p><a href="">World Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo highlights list of 30 players on Portugal preliminary World Cup roster |</a><br>Feeling good about Bert Patenaude's hat trick? Well, now I've ruined it by reminding you that our World Cup group features a team with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, and that team isn't even the best team in our group.</p> <p><a href="">World Cup: To d-mid or not to d-mid? 25 years of USMNT tactics under the microscope |</a><br>Attention tactics nerds: The thrust of this piece by Devin Pleuler is that the USMNT gets better World Cup results playing an anchor-style defensive midfielder, and it's a compelling case containing Opta data from World Cups that happened before Opta was a thing. I don't know how they got it, but it's fascinating stuff.</p> <p>For me, though, the real reason Klinsmann should opt for a purely defensive midfielder is less about USMNT history and more about current USMNT players. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Michael Bradley</a> is at his best playing ahead of another more defensive central midfielder, and since Bradley is our most important player, we should construct a team that lets him play his best role.</p> <p>TL;DR: Jurgen, please see the light. Don't start Jermaine Jones.</p> <p><a href="!2014-kits/c1tlu">Baltimore Bohemians 2014 kits unveiled | Baltimore Bohemians</a><br>I know many of our inside-the-beltway readers see Baltimore as being some mix of a) exactly like The Wire, b) full of uncivilized "Baltimorons," or c) at least 6 hours away by plane. None of these things are true, so you'll have to read this item.</p> <p>The Bohs justifiably won acclaim with their debut season's home jersey, which was a glorious and beautiful tribute to the only state flag that matters. This year's is not too different, but the emphasis has switched from black/gold to gold/black. I must admit I preferred the 2013 version, but I should also note that the new one is still a staggering piece of clothing fit for the gods. In fact, that doesn't go far enough. The gods don't even deserve to wear it. This shirt >>>>> gods.</p> <p>Also, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Santino Quaranta</a> is their head coach, and they play in the Open Cup tonight against Icon FC.</p> <p><a href="">List of teams that will stream video of their Open Cup games tonight | @usopencup</a><br>Speaking of the Open Cup, tonight will be the craziest night in tournament history: 23 of the 24 second round matches will be played tonight, provided there are no forfeits (which, due to there being amateur teams featuring people with real jobs, is always possible this early). This includes the Richmond derby between RVA FC and the Kickers, who will travel the three miles or so north to Sports Backers Stadium. I can only assume that our own Ben Bromley will be there. If not, feel free to hassle him in the comments.</p> <p>The odd game was last night's dramatic 3-2 win for USL-PRO side Arizona United SC, who were 2-0 down against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Portland Timbers</a> u23 team in the 84th minute but scored twice in four minutes and then bundled in a winner five minutes deep into stoppage time.</p> <p><a href="">Canadian Championship: to offer free stream of semifinal second legs, final |</a><br>Speaking of cup soccer, the second legs of both Voyageurs Cup semifinal pairings are tomorrow night. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Montreal Impact</a> will host the NASL's FC Edmonton down 2-1, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Toronto FC</a> posted the same score against what was basically a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Vancouver Whitecaps</a> junior team at BMO Field.</p> <p><a href="">Nothing Can Stay Buried | ESPN The Magazine</a><br>Wright Thompson wrote this absorbing piece on Bosnia & Herzegovina striker Vedad Ibisevic, who like many Bosnians went through some terrible things as a child during the Bosnian War. If you can't find time today, bookmark this one to read before the World Cup kicks off.</p> D.C. United grinds their way to a 1-0 decision over the Philadelphia Union ChestRockwell Sat, 10 May 2014 12:47:12 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Chris Rolfe's early goal at PPL Park was all D.C. United needed to end an interminable road winless streak, as the Black-and-Red gritted their way to a narrow, tense win over the struggling Philadelphia Union.</p> <p>In a game MLS will not want to use as an advertisement for the league, one moment of quality was all it took.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United</a> got over last week's wide-open 3-2 loss in Portland with pretty much the opposite: A gritty 1-0 win against a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Philadelphia Union</a> side that was booed off the field. Chris Rolfe's 6th minute strike from the center of the box was enough for United, who despite some sloppiness in possession probably should have added a second goal.</p> <p>Coming into the game, both teams were in need of something to feel good about. United had conceded a 94th minute goal to lose to the Timbers, wasting an unexpectedly assertive road performance. The Union were even more desperate, with one win in their opening ten matches of a season that was supposed to see them among the playoff chasers.</p> <p>Philadelphia pushed up the field from the start, but United ended up converting the first chance for either side. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Lewis Neal</a> - in for an injured <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nick DeLeon</a> at right midfield - found <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Davy Arnaud</a> centrally, and the veteran whipped in a lovely searching ball to the back post. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Christian</a> settled before attempting to fire a low cross in for runners at the back post. That service clipped off of the foot of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Raymon Gaddis</a>, but Rolfe was in the right spot to chest the ball down and half-volley the ball past Union goalkeeper <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Zac MacMath</a> and into the lower corner.</p> <p>The goal was not without controversy, however, as both Neal and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a> were in offside positions when Rolfe shot. MacMath will probably argue that they screened or obstructed him, but the goal was allowed to stand as neither made a move towards the ball.</p> <p>From there, things got sloppy. United was content to sit back and try to hit the Union on the counter, while Philly was static in possession and a mess in terms of their defensive spacing. As the half wore on, United had the two best chances: First, Eddie Johnson had a 32nd minute goal called back for an extremely tight offside decision - the only replay was from a bad angle, making accurate judgment for TV viewers impossible - after a rare sequence of quick passing saw Arnaud send him in behind Fabinho.</p> <p>Two minutes later, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a> nearly turned a horrible error from center back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Austin Berry</a>, who was getting his first start since March 15th. Christian's long ball was a bit too short for Espindola's initial run, but Berry's attempt to chest it down simply set it on a platter for United's #9. Espindola burst into the Union box, but the Argentine blasted his shot wide from a promising position.</p> <p>The second half saw more of the same, with the Union having a possession edge but lacking any sort of creativity. The halftime addition of former United winger <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Danny Cruz</a> - in place of defensive midfielder <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brian Carroll</a>, another ex-United player - gave John Hackworth's side some new angles to attack from but few ideas.</p> <p>Still, there were a few warning signs that the win wasn't going to come easily. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Vincent Nogueira</a> fired just over the bar after a layoff from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Conor Casey</a> in the 53rd minute, and Berry - possibly unsighted by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bobby Boswell</a> - headed over an empty net after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bill Hamid</a> rashly came off his line and missed a 59th minute corner from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Cristian Maidana</a>.</p> <p>That threat paled in comparison to a wild sequence inside the United box in the 64th minute. Fabinho intercepted a bad square pass from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Perry Kitchen</a> and, after the defense collapsed, found <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Andrew Wenger</a> at the top of the box. The much maligned striker produced a nasty spinning touch to elude <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jeff Parke</a>, but his ensuing shot was kick-saved by Hamid. The rebound fell perfectly for Casey, but Hamid popped up from a prone position to make a spectacular save. United still had to make one more block - Kitchen, making up for his error, stuffed Cruz's attempt with the net unguarded - to escape the danger.</p> <p>That was the last truly good moment from the run of play for the Union, and in fact it was United who looked more likely to score after a flurry of subs from the 73rd minute onward. Rolfe had a great chance to exploit a stretched Union defense but went for an overly ambitious killer ball for Johnson that was picked off, and later substitute <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Alex Caskey</a> took an inexplicably long time to square his feet after Espindola sent him in alone on goal in the 85th minute.</p> <p>Philadelphia did create one last chance. After United half-cleared a 91st minute corner kick, Boswell headed a Cruz shot from outside the box over the bar. Without the captain's intervention, Hamid may have had to come up with a huge save on a shot he would have only seen late.</p> <p>In the end, United's wastefulness and inability to push higher up the field went unpunished due to equal parts good play from Parke, Boswell, and Arnaud and an insipid showing from the Union, whose fans called for Hackworth to be fired as the game wore on. Despite a pretty lackluster showing, United scraped out a 1-0 road win, which is just the sort of thing MLS's contenders do from time to time. With the win, United jumps up into a four-way tie for 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, three points back of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sporting Kansas City</a>.</p> <p> <script height="349px" width="620px" src=""></script></p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union ChestRockwell Fri, 09 May 2014 09:34:25 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>The Philadelphia Union are struggling badly despite making major investments in their team during the offseason. Still, they keep playing close games where one lucky bounce would get them a result. A look at how D.C. United can dictate the terms to Philly and deepen their misery.</p> <p>For the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Philadelphia Union</a>, 2014 was not supposed to go like this. Starting the season with a 1W-4D-5L record and struggling to score would have been disappointing for the roster Philly had available last year. This year's remodeled team was supposed to shoot for the top of the table, not the bottom.</p> <p>That's not just talk, either. The Union spent two years working to clear some ill-advised signings from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Peter Nowak</a> era off their books. That might seem like one year too many to change your roster over in MLS, but the contracts the Union gave out in their early days were disastrous. If the Union were a house, a remodeled kitchen and a new deck weren't going to cover for the fact that the frame was rotting away.</p> <p>So Philly took a long view, patiently stockpiling allocation money and other assets. The fans were unhappy, but the Union's ceiling as a club was never going to be high until they fixed their issues behind the scenes. Everything was geared towards 2014 being the year the Union would no longer be hampered by their past.</p> <p>The plan appeared to work during the offseason, as they brought in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Vincent Nogueira</a> - a consistent starter with Ligue 1 side Sochaux - and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Maurice Edu</a> to boost their central midfield. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Cristian Maidana</a>, with experience in the first divisions of Argentina, Russia, Mexico, and Chile, was brought in to be the creative spark. Late in the preseason, the Union sent a stack of allocation money to Chicago for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Austin Berry</a> to add some size to their defense.</p> <p>Yet here we are in May, and almost nothing has panned out. Nogueira has been an excellent pick-up, but his natural instinct is to be a facilitator rather than the #10 role <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">John Hackworth</a> has him playing. Edu has been pretty good too, though there's a sense that he's still not playing his very best soccer. These slightly mixed outcomes, for Philly, are as good as it gets.</p> <p>The list of moves that haven't panned out is longer. Berry has barely played, benched for a converted striker who is very much learning on the job. Maidana has been kept out of the starting lineup several times due to a lack of fitness, the cultural adjustment to living and playing in the US, and a less-than-zealous take on defending. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Andrew Wenger</a>, brought in because Hackworth would rather change his squad than his system, has delivered the sort of goal-scoring threat that makes MLS observers - myself included - wonder why the former defender is still used as a striker.</p> <p>All of this has added up to a Union side on a pace to end up with just 27 points in 2014. No Union player has scored in 280 minutes (last week's goal in Seattle was a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brad Evans</a> own goal). They aren't quite in the sort of dire straits United saw themselves in last year, but they are walking down the sort of path that leads a team into the bottom three in MLS. No wonder <a href="">Hackworth is already talking about maintaining his self-belief</a> in the face of mounting questions about his future with the club.</p> <p>It's odd, though, because they don't match up well with any recent bad MLS team. Despite having four more losses than they do wins, the Union have a goal difference of -3. A quick look over their <a href="">schedule</a> points to why that is: Every single Philly game has been tight this year. Neither the Union nor their collective opponents have scored more than two goals in a given game. This isn't last year's United, but it's also not last year's defenseless Chivas, nor last year's baffled TFC.</p> <p>I mentioned Hackworth's system earlier, and it's an odd one. The Union are one of many MLS teams that say they're in a 433 only to leave their center forward on an island while the outside forwards play what anywhere else in the world would be called right and left midfield. It's the execution that's odd. The Union most often set up in a 4231, but there's a real fluidity in that trio of attacking midfielders.</p> <p>Hackworth has said more than once that formations aren't that important to him, and sure enough last week his team started in a sort of 4222/4231 hybrid, with Sebastian Le Toux starting as a forward but shuttling out to the left if the Sounders moved the ball down that side. After taking the lead, the Union moved more and more into a 4312 with Maidana playing in a more traditional playmaker's role rather than having to cut in from the wings. After halftime, they even played half an hour in the "Christmas tree" 4321, a formation rarely seen on these shores.</p> <p>Normally I am quick to criticize Hackworth, who often seems to want to use high-end tactical ideas without being able to explain them to his team, which is largely comprised of players who aren't particularly savvy tactically to begin with. However, the narrow formations all worked in taking a bit of the wind out of Seattle's sails. The Sounders have been playing shootout soccer recently, but found themselves a bit puzzled by the Union at both ends. In particular, Seattle's defensive spacing didn't look right until after the halftime break, and that lack of assurance really gave the Union more of a chance to win that game than form would have indicated was possible.</p> <p>Keep that tactical flexibility in mind here. I'm listing the Union in a 4231, but between their lack of rigid positions and the fact that they actually looked a bit better playing a diamond, there's every chance that we see more than one look Saturday:</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="991206_philadelphia_union_medium" class="photo" src=""></a> <br id="1399657015125"></p> <p>There are plenty of question marks here, but the Union have a virtually clean injury report. The issue is that Philly is doing poorly, so like most bad teams players are getting rotated in and out. Throw in Hackworth's instincts to tinker, and you have a starting eleven in flux.</p> <p>In the back, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Aaron Wheeler</a> will probably start, which is good for us and bad for the Union. I'm not saying Berry is a world-beater on the bench, and both have the lack of agility that we are built to prey on, but Wheeler's decision-making and inability to anticipate are crippling problems for a center back. Just this week, Hackworth said that <a href="">there's not much more Berry can do but bide his time</a>, a particularly bad thing to say publicly when Berry's competition for time is so obviously struggling. If Hackworth does change things up this week, he will do so having undermined Berry's confidence publicly just a few days ago.</p> <p>Wheeler does have some good qualities. Unsurprisingly for a guy who used to be a battering ram sort of target forward, he relishes physical contact. He's also got decent straight-line speed, and when given very simple duties to man-mark a specific player he's capable of doing a good job.</p> <p>Of course, such a role doesn't exist when facing a 442 like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">United's</a>, so Wheeler will have to think and communicate, which is where things go wrong for him. The more United forces Wheeler into spots where he has to anticipate a movement rather than simply follow someone around, the more likely he'll be caught in the wrong spot.</p> <p>The choice at left back might indicate just how desperate the Union are to get their attack going. Ray Gaddis is a conservative choice, which makes sense given that he's not really a left back at all (he only plays there due to the Union's preference to carry a ton of midfielders but few actual defenders). Gaddis will never attract a big move abroad or make an All Star team, but he will stay home and is athletic enough to be a capable 1v1 defender.</p> <p>The other choice is Fabinho, who will be far more aggressive about getting forward. The Brazilian does have the ability to hit a pinpoint cross - he did so upon his arrival in MLS last year, but tailed off as the season wore on - but is a liability when it comes to actually defending. If he's in the game, United should look to exploit him regularly. I'd even go so far as to say we should pick on him to the level that Portland went at Christian in the first half last week (where the Timbers were basically a one-sided team). Fabinho can be beaten 1v1 and also struggles positionally, meaning that quick combinations will tend to leave him spinning in space rather than actually stopping someone.</p> <p>Really, given the fact that Wheeler will pair with Gaddis or Fabinho, United can afford to be relatively one-sided. Sean Franklin's likely absence is not ideal, because this would be a game where his overlapping runs would cause disarray. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Korb</a> needs to be more assertive than he was in Portland, where he understandably stayed home most of the time. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a> should both flare out to the right from time to time as well, because the left half of the Union defense already struggles with conventional looks. An extra runner or an unorthodox approach will more often than not cause problems.</p> <p>The central midfield trio of Nogueira, Edu, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Brian Carroll</a> will be out there no matter how Hackworth decides to line his team up. That means United's wide midfielders will have to tuck inside to help out on both sides of the ball. In fact, United will probably want to quickly get the ball out of the middle and to the wings in transition, because that neutralizes Edu's ability to destroy and cuts Carroll out of the game entirely. Going over the top could also be useful, as the Union aren't particularly good at seeing that kind of service before it's happened. It will take something more than an aimless long ball, but anything that allows United to bypass central midfield should cause issues for Philly.</p> <p>On the wings, I'm guessing Sebastian Le Toux and Maidana will get another chance after doing alright against Seattle. However, Hackworth has used both of them as inverted wingers from time to time, and also has tinkered with the idea of playing Wenger on a flank so he can get <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Conor Casey</a> on the field. Given the Union's struggles in front of goal, I'd start Casey and then figure out my wide men from there, but I'm not Hackworth.</p> <p>United fans should know Le Toux by now. He's always busy, but sometimes his extra running is because he can't think fast enough to solve problems with his brain. He can cross if given time, and likes to do so after rounding his man. Maidana, meanwhile, lacks the speed to beat anyone and prefers to cut inside. His crosses are more likely to be clipped over the back four towards the back post, but really he wants to combine with people and play through balls.</p> <p>Last week, the Union's 4312 let him play a central role that he may actually be more comfortable with. Don't be surprised if that's where we see him, particularly if the 4231 doesn't create much in the opening 20 minutes (Hackworth loves to move players around after 15-30 minutes no matter how good or bad the game is going, so look for that too).</p> <p>Up top, Wenger will probably start but like I already said, I'm not sure that's good for Philly. Casey may lack his mobility, and certainly Wenger is getting himself into decent positions, but he is ice cold in front of goal right now. The Union are an odd mix of players, where Wenger tries to hold the ball up for runners that never arrive. It's really kind of unfair to their fanbase that they've endured <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Lionard Pajoy</a> and now have to deal with a similar sort of player (though Wenger is less frustrating than Pajoy, because honestly isn't everyone?).</p> <p> </p> <div class="pullquote">The Union's real struggles this year have been inside the 18 yard boxes at both ends of the field<span></span> </div> <p>The Union's real struggles this year have been inside the 18 yard boxes at both ends of the field. Like United last year, they're actually competent playing in the middle third for the most part. In Seattle, they slowed MLS's most potent attack down while also causing issues with their movement and the fact that everyone in their midfield is a reliable passer. However, in the end they lost the game because of some straightforward errors in and around their own box.</p> <p>For United, maintaining a pace that emphasizes playing in the boxes will be important. I'm not endorsing a wide-open, track meet sort of game, but the Black-and-Red can't let the game become a battle in central midfield. The Union will have more numbers and in Nogueira and Edu they have players who will thrive in that sort of match. Instead, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ben Olsen</a> will need his team to make this game about wide play. We're not just talking a bombardment of crosses - though Philly does tend to ball-watch on crosses - but rather using the wings in possession and also creating from those areas of the field. Sometimes that means whipping in balls, but it can also mean dragging a central player out to the touchline before attacking the space he vacated.</p> <p>I usually close with set pieces, and United must do much better this week in that department. Maidana's set piece service is usually pretty good, and the Union have plenty of size. USMNT fans know that Edu is a great target in the box, and both Wheeler and Okugo are decent second-tier options. It's also worth noting that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Sheanon Williams</a> has troubled United time and again with his long throw-ins; beating guys like Okugo to the near post for the flick-on is crucial.</p> <p>At the other end of the field, Philly gave up a goal to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chad Marshall</a> on a corner kick last week despite having the aforementioned trio of big men all within arm's reach of the ball. There seems to be a bit of a lack of organization in the box for the Union; guys get marked up and generally stay close to their man, but in my opinion they look very vulnerable to picks and more complicated runs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Zac MacMath</a> has made a big step up this season, but he still lacks the sort of strength to burst through heavy traffic, which means United can serve the ball closer to him than other more powerful goalkeepers. A set piece goal to take the lead would likely be particularly demoralizing for the Union given their current lack of belief.</p> <p>There is a lot to like about how United matches up with Philadelphia. Our emphasis on creating from wide spots and the unusual runs from Espindola are both great weapons to have against the Union. However, this game may hinge on the ability of one team to dictate to the other where on the field it's played. If the Union keep things narrow, they will likely control the match due to both the numbers and the quality they have in central midfield. If United can make sure the game is more spread out, however, a road win is entirely possible.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, MLS, and US Open Cup links for Wednesday, May 7th, 2014 ChestRockwell Wed, 07 May 2014 02:02:56 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Several tall United players discuss the good and the bad about the team's mentality, the US Open Cup, the Voyageurs Cup, various European punishments that may end in litigation, and a fence in space. All that plus my indecipherable dreams as we kick everyone in the face for freedom.</p> <p>I spent yesterday with a sore neck and lots of tedious paperwork, so I've sort of slapped this round of Freedom Kicks together. Due to a total lack of any intro beyond that, I'll close by saying that I had a dream yesterday that I was part of a group of people trying to stage a home invasion on "Community" creator/showrunner Dan Harmon, but in lieu of weapons both my fellow invaders and Harmon himself just threw liquor bottles at each other before agreeing that we actually had no reason to be fighting.</p> <p>Anyway, that concludes my standing on the ball by the corner flag. Freedom Kicks, go!<a href=""></a></p> <p><a href="">DC United still learning how to "kill the game off" following another late-game collapse |</a><br>Writing for the league site, Pablo Maurer talks to Bobby Boswell and Jeff Parke about United's struggles with closing out close games. Silver lining: We've thrown away five points, but those points are keeping us out of first rather than keeping us in touch with a playoff spot.</p> <p><a href="">Conor Doyle on first start of 2014 and winning mentality |</a><br>Molly Bruh has a piece on the team site about Conor Doyle, who has noticed the better mentality 2014 United has compared to last year. Also features a picture of Mike Magee laying down for a nap.</p> <p><a href="">Three Open Cup games to follow ... | Soccer America Daily</a><br>As of my writing this last night, this is one of the only articles anywhere about tonight's opening round of the 2014 US Open Cup. That fact kind of sucks, but in any case Soccer America gives us a brief look at six different teams that will face each other this evening.</p> <p>While they did cite one of the games I want to see - Ventura County Fusion vs. CD Aguiluchos USA, due to the <a href="">amazing Aguiluchos logo</a> that I will reference whenever given the chance - they don't share my interest in the Vermont Voltage's visit to take on the NY Red Bulls under-23 team. Sure, pretty much none of NYRB's u23s will ever play for the actual Metrostars, but I say they are still enemies of decency if they don that filthy shirt. Therefore: Vamos Voltage!</p> <p><a href="">U.S. Soccer to Broadcast ‘Game of the Round’ for 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup |</a><br>This is from last week, but it'll have to do. US Soccer, in a long overdue move, will ensure streaming video of one game from each USOC round. Tonight's game will be the PDL's Western Mass Pioneers hosting Mass Premier Soccer, an amateur side that qualified out of US Amateur Soccer Association's Region I (the same region Maryland, Virginia, and DC teams play in).</p> <p>Perhaps more interesting to our readers is that Round 2's streaming game will be a Richmond city derby between the Kickers and hosts RVA FC. That's next Wednesday (as is the Baltimore Bohemians vs. Icon FC match, for those of us living on the correct side of the Maryland-Virginia border).</p> <p><a href="">Toronto FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps: Voyageurs Cup, In It To Win It? | Waking the Red</a><br>Speaking of domestic cups, the Voyageurs Cup has already kicked off (a play-in round for the NASL's FC Edmonton and the Ottawa Fury). Tonight the MLS sides get involved. Our friend Kristin Knowles of WTR takes a look at who Toronto FC will run out in the first leg of their semifinal against the Vancouver Whitecaps.</p> <p><a href="">Match Preview: Whitecaps vs. TFC | 86 Forever</a><br>From the other side of that same pairing, here's the expected team from Vancouver. Note that this brings up an interesting difference between the Open Cup and the Voyageurs Cup: The Whitecaps roster for the Cup includes several high-flying academy products who haven't been signed to Homegrown deals.</p> <p><a href="">L'Impact sera en visite en Alberta pour affronter le FC Edmonton | Mount Royal Soccer</a><br>Our Cup interlude concludes with a preview of the Montreal Impact's visit to Alberta to take on FC Edmonton (Kyle Porter's former club, FWIW). Or at least, that's what I think this is about. I don't speak French, so this might just be hundreds of words about how I'm terrible. Gotta be one or the other.</p> <p><a href="">Financial Fair Play punishments set for PSG, Manchester City |</a><br>Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are about to be handed big punishments for violating UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules. Well, OK, the 50+ million euro fines will be shrugged off by their multi-kajillionaire owners. And a settlement can be negotiated. And both teams could take the matter to the Court for Arbitration of Sport if they're unhappy with the settlement UEFA proposes. So...yeah, maybe not so severe.</p> <p>At least the squad restrictions for the Champions League seem like an actual burden.</p> <p><a href="">Could AC Milan regret letting Clarence Seedorf go? |</a><br>Things are about to get ugly in Milan. Something silly happening that involves Silvio Berlusconi? I'm as shocked as you are.</p> <p><a href="">Air Force to award ‘Space Fence’ contract to track orbital debris | Washington Post</a><br>I don't know what it says about me that the farcical idea of an actual space fence was what drew me in, while the actual idea of using radar to predict the course of space debris leaves me bored.</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: Portland Timbers ChestRockwell Fri, 02 May 2014 01:49:51 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>D.C. United has a reasonable chance at going cross-country and taking points against the Portland Timbers, who are playing far below expectations at the moment. Still, the Timbers have plenty of quality, and a result will likely require a top performance from the Black-and-Red.</p> <p>When <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">D.C. United's</a> 2014 schedule came out, I looked at this stretch of April plus three days as potentially defining for the Black-and-Red. Two of the top three teams from the Eastern Conference in 2013, plus a potentially improved <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Columbus Crew</a> and a most likely improved <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">FC Dallas</a>, and then it was all capped off with a cross-country trip to face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Portland Timbers</a>, who based on last season's form should be an MLS Cup contender. Losing our first two games increased my anxiety, even as it became clear that last season's form wasn't holding for any of these teams.</p> <p>It's funny how things turn out. United came within moments of winning the first four of these games, which is the good news. The bad news, of course, is that every one of these opponents turned out to be weaker than expected. United hung on desperately for an hour against a Metrostars side lacking Tim Cahill. MLS's second-most bizarre own goal of 2014 was crucial in winning an otherwise even game against the Revs. The visit to Columbus saw United give away two points by letting a team with ten men score in stoppage time. And finally, regardless of the plaudits United earned by dismantling FC Dallas, it has to be acknowledged that the score was 1-0 to the visitors before Zach Loyd's red card.</p> <p>Which brings us to the Portland Timbers, who for those that haven't seen them this season are a baffling team. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Caleb Porter</a> only lost two starters - striker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ryan Johnson</a> is <a href="">getting his pockets straightened</a> in China, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Rodney Wallace</a> is a long-term casualty due to a torn ACL - while addressing his teams flaws rather than gambling on his side hiding them for another season. Last year's Timbers were masterful at hiding their weak center backs, so the addition of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Norberto Paparatto</a> made perfect sense. Meanwhile, solid MLS veteran Johnson was ostensibly replaced by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Gaston Fernandez</a>, a veteran forward with extensive experience in Argentina, Mexico, and a Copa Libertadores title on his resume.</p> <p>On paper, this should have made the Timbers legitimate Supporters Shield contenders along with a push for the Cup. The Timbers had weak defenders, so they got a better one. They upgraded at forward. They took a flyer on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Steve Zakuani</a>, banking on the former Sounder returning to the form he had before the broken leg he suffered in 2011. Late-season addition <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Maximiliano Urruti</a> would have a full preseason to settle in. It all pointed to this being a very difficult game for United.</p> <p>As you surely know, none of this panned out. United is the team on a five-game unbeaten run, while the Timbers are somehow winless eight games into the season. What gives?</p> <p>It's never just one thing. The Timbers were lauded for their style of play throughout 2013, but part of the recipe was having guys that were comfortable playing direct. For last year's Portland team, those players were Johnson, Wallace, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Frederic Piquionne</a> (who has barely played in 2014, and wasn't even in the US for last week's game in Houston). The Timbers have tried to use Fernandez to replace both Johnson up front and Wallace as a left winger, but in both roles he's a different sort of player from the man who used to hold the job. To sum up the point, the Timbers have a rare problem in MLS: They're not direct enough to be effective.</p> <p>Another issue for Portland has been good ol' regression to the mean. Last year's Timbers saw some very special things all happen at once. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Will Johnson</a> played at a level above even what he'd shown on some outstanding <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Real Salt Lake</a> teams, chipping in nine goals while covering so much ground it would seem like Portland was playing 12v11. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Diego Chara</a> stepped up about two tiers from where he'd been in 2012. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Diego Valeri</a> came to MLS and, rather than the normal adjustment period, put himself in the MVP discussion. The poor-on-paper back four all stepped up as individuals and as a unit, and the sometimes shaky <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Donovan Ricketts</a> finally played up to the hype.</p> <p>None of that is holding true this year. Johnson is playing well, but "well" is a big step below how he looked in 2013. Chara, similarly, has regressed to simply being a good but not great MLS defensive midfielder (golazos against Seattle aside). Valeri had offseason surgery and has been quite frankly ineffective for all of 2014. All four defenders are no longer playing up a level, Ricketts has if anything gone beyond regression to the mean and is straight-up regressing, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Darlington Nagbe</a> hasn't been able to carry the load now that teams don't have threats everywhere to cope with.</p> <p>Nonetheless, Porter has stuck to his guns. The Timbers play the same formation that they did last year - the fashionable 4231 that coaches call a 433 - and they apply the same approach. They want to get the ball on the ground, dominate possession, and beat teams with their skill and their brains rather than athletically. The ideals Porter has his team aim for are admirable, but after eight games you have to start wondering if they're up to the demands of playing positive, attractive soccer.</p> <p align="center"><a href="" target="_blank"><img alt="985394_portland_timbers_medium" class="photo" src=""></a> <br id="1399016623057"></p> <p>The question marks are largely due to form rather than any injury concerns. Paparatto was prone to costly errors in the first few games of the season, but may return if only because <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Futty Danso</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Pa Modou Kah</a> haven't been much better. Danso at least has met expectations, but those expectations are "serviceable if he's the third-best center back on an MLS team." As Michael Orr told us yesterday, <a href="">Danso is currently Portland's best center back</a>. That's great news for United.</p> <p>Of course, Paparatto might be forced to step in due to Kah missing some practice this week due to a tight hamstring. The Timbers seem to be simply being cautious with Kah by resting him, but if a player's an injury risk and in poor form, you have to consider making a change.</p> <p>Porter won't be changing his engine room, but his front four could all be up in the air. Fernandez has three goals, but has also had some games where he made no real impact. Valeri will probably start, but one wonders how long a bold coach like Porter will wait for him to find himself. Nagbe will definitely start if he's OK after being stepped on by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Corey Ashe</a> late last weekend. The issue there is that Nagbe can play right, left, or center, and spent a few minutes centrally - with Valeri on the right - against the Dynamo. Kalif Alhassan seems like the choice to play opposite Nagbe, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Michael Nanchoff</a> has looked lively in recent appearances.</p> <p>Up front, Urruti works as hard as any striker in MLS but has struggled badly despite getting some good looks at goal. Starting Fernandez ups PTFC's chances of scoring, but they lose a lot in terms of pressuring up high in the exchange. Neither is a real target man, and that's the role Piquionne would fill. If I were Porter and Piquionne were available, I'd absolutely be starting him. More good news for United: <a href="">Piquionne is still in Martinique</a> due to a family emergency, so the Timbers will have to make due without anyone really capable of holding the ball up with their back to goal.</p> <p>Despite their issues and Porter's insistence on staying the course, it's not like the Timbers have been shambolic. They're still a tough team to beat. They haven't yet lost at Providence Park, and carried leads into the final 15 minutes in their last two home games. Portland hasn't been in good form by any means, but teams that are bad <i>and</i> mentally weak lose those games (as United fans know). The Timbers are bad right now, but they're not pushovers by any means.</p> <p>I touched on the Timbers conceding late goals of late, but it's not just a recent trend. Portland started the season by scoring equalizers in the 94th and 79th minutes of their first two games, but since then they've been the victim of the late goal rather than the scorer:</p> <p>- At Colorado, gave up two goals in the 73rd and 75th minutes to lose 2-0<br>- At FC Dallas, they lost 2-1 thanks to an 84th minute strike from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Mauro Diaz</a><br>- Hosting the Sounders, they saw a 4-2 lead dissolve via <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Clint Dempsey</a> goals in the 85th and 87th minutes<br>- A week later, they gave up a 79th minute goal to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chivas USA</a> and finished with a 1-1 draw<br>- At RSL a couple weeks back, they gave up the game's only goal in the 78th minute</p> <p> </p> <div class="pullquote">Combine that trend with arguably [Portland's] biggest flaw - set piece defending - and you can see a path for United to get a result.<span></span> </div> <p><br id="1399022866882"> Combine that dreadful trend with arguably their biggest flaw - set piece defending - and you can see a path for United to get a result despite the long flight. The Black-and-Red have been short of scintillating playing 11v11, but they've been mentally tough. Maintaining that sort of discipline and heading into the late stages tied would be a very promising scenario for United.</p> <p>Defensively, United will need to maintain the strong communication we've seen of late. The Timbers are very fluid, to the point that the above lineup graphic will probably only hold for 20 minutes or so before Porter shifts his front four around. Fernandez and/or Urruti are not target men, but they are mobile and pop up in unconventional spots. They're not as odd as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Fabian Espindola</a>, but they will drop deep enough that the Timbers will occasionally look more like a team playing a 4240 rather than a 4231.</p> <p>That's an unusual challenge between the lines for United, who has more recently faced fairly conventional runs and formations. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Ben Olsen</a> will need his defenders to step up at the right moments while also telling the midfield - and not just <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Perry Kitchen</a> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Davy Arnaud</a> - when they need to jump back and help out.</p> <p>The Timbers are too narrow much of the time, but when they get two or three players into a tight spot, you can be sure that there's an open runner somewhere nearby. Tracking those runners is the key, because Nagbe and Valeri haven't quite looked sharp enough thus far to play themselves out of a phone booth like they were last year. They need to make that pass rather than use it as a decoy, so if the pass isn't there we should be able to win the ball soon thereafter.</p> <p>At the other end of the field, United would do well to apply some occasional high pressure. In Columbus, United surprised the Crew a bit by stepping high and hassling <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Michael Parkhurst</a> and Giancarlo Gonzalez. That pair is far more comfortable on the ball than Danso, Kah, or Paparatto are,  and in general the Timbers are shaky right now. When the Dynamo finally decided to press with a 1-0 lead last week, they had their best spell of the game before backing off (and then conceding a few minutes later, naturally).</p> <p>In the attack, United needs to get the ball wide frequently. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Jack Jewsbury</a> is solid enough 1v1 but lacks speed, which doesn't do too much for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Chris Rolfe</a> but should be appealing for Espindola peeling out of the middle. On the other side, Michael Harrington's individual defending is his biggest weakness, and it would be nice to see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Nick DeLeon</a> go at him with the ball a few times. Even if he doesn't get past him, it might help keep Harrington home rather than bombing forward.</p> <p>It's not just about the outside backs, though. Portland's center backs have been almost laughably prone to ball-watching on crosses. Their work defending Will Bruin's <a href="">goal last week</a> illustrates the problem. Somehow, Danso and Kah managed to both be wrong-side of their man, leaving Bruin and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Giles Barnes</a> essentially to battle over who got to score. For United, that means more crosses than we normally produce are needed. It can't just be Sean Franklin. Let's not forget that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a>, despite his lack of goals thus far, is kind of good at converting this sort of opportunity.</p> <p>In terms of possession, don't be surprised to see United on the losing end. Portland has been doing a good job of keeping the ball, even if they lack the ability to get in behind regularly. In Columbus, United had some decent spells of keeping the ball, but ultimately ended up with less than 40% of the ball. That's cool if you're Real Madrid and you can break forward with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but in MLS it's not a good recipe. We might have the smaller share of possession, but we need to make sure our share is more like 45% rather than 35-40%.</p> <p>It feels weird to type, but there are plenty of Portland flaws that match up with United strengths. That said, this won't be an easy game. Porter is right to believe his Timbers are making incremental progress, and they have yet to put out the sort of awful showing that actual bad teams tend to do. United will need to be especially strong early, when Portland will likely be playing at 100mph.</p> <p>The Timbers Army is going to be loud throughout, but getting through those early stages will give both the crowd and the team a reason to get nervous, and we learned in 2013 what a decent team can do to a nervous side. United showed they have the sort of cruelty to punish a team that isn't at their strongest last week once Dallas was down to 10 men. This week, it's about standing up to Portland's best early shot and then being ruthless against a team that is struggling with confidence.</p> Freedom Kicks: D.C. United, MLS, and UEFA Champions League links for Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 ChestRockwell Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:27:04 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>Eddie Johnson, Fabian Espindola, Bobby Boswell, Andrew Dykstra made news for D.C. United. Some other things happened around MLS. Real Madrid crushed Bayern in the Champions League. All that and more in today's edition of Freedom Kicks.</p> <p>So yesterday there was some very big news about a very bad person getting punished for being a racist turd. In the interest of not having this tiny slice of the internet be like the rest of the internet, I'm going to artfully dodge all of that talk and focus on what we do around here.</p> <p>That is to say: Here are your Wednesday Freedom Kicks, soccer soccer soccer beer soccer whiskey.</p> <p><a href="">D.C. United news and notes: Johnson expected to return to practice soon | Soccer Insider</a><br>Steve Goff makes my job easy. This time, he's mostly focused on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Eddie Johnson</a>: EJ's injury, EJ's experiences with racism in Europe, and EJ talking to Clint Dempsey. Oh, and Will Chang will be portrayed in a movie about baseball pitchers from India, obviously.</p> <p><a href="">Fabián Espíndola earns MLS Team of the Week honor |</a><br>Damn right he did.</p> <p><a href="">Vote now for Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month for April |</a><br>Espindola and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Bobby Boswell</a> are both nominated for April's POTM. Putting aside uneasy feelings about the award's sponsor, it's kind of mind-blowing to see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">United</a> end up with two nominees for an award that was basically off-limits for everyone associated with the club just 6-7 months ago. Neither player is going to win - Dempsey just had one of the best months for any player in recent MLS history - but as I type this Espindola is in 2nd, so there's that. Hooray, combination of resilient players, actually being good sometimes, and fortune paying us back a bit for 2013!</p> <p><a href="">Unmarked Ep. 2: D.C. United's Andrew Dykstra tours DC Brau |</a><br>DC United Unmarked was a great idea, and the execution so far has been really good. This week, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Andrew Dykstra</a> went to DC Brau to help him up his homebrewing game. In fact, at one point Dykstra adds some hops to a vat, so one day soon you may be drinking what he helped make.</p> <p>Also: If you see me in person and there's time, ask me about the tour I took at the Lucayan Brewery in the Bahamas. It is a bold tale of heavy lifting, leaving the tourist zone, false promises, and the dangers of mixing Gatorade with rum.</p> <p><a href="">Scratching the Chalkboard: Zach Loyd's Not to Blame | Big D Soccer</a><br>Approaching last Saturday's triumph from the other side of the fence, Jason Poon takes a look at Oscar Pareja's tactical adjustments and is - for very good reasons - a bit confused.</p> <p><a href="">Play and compete against other readers in 2048: MLS Edition puzzle |</a><br>Honestly I didn't expect this to be very interesting, but I'll be damned if I didn't immediately get hooked. Get used to the sight of happy <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Graham Zusi</a> and happy <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Federico Higuain</a>.</p> <p><a href="">Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid, 2014 UEFA Champions League: Bavarians beat down |</a><br>Last year, Bayern's 7-0 win over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Barcelona</a> was viewed as the end of one era and the beginning of another. The latter part of that narrative is pretty much over now after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="">Real Madrid</a> showed what perfect execution on set pieces and counterattacks can do. Lesson learned: There's no best way to win soccer games.</p> <p><a href="">Chelsea vs. Atlético Madrid preview: When will the deadlock be broken? |</a><br>Jack Sargeant previews the second leg of the other Champions League semifinal. Personally, I'd rather see Atletico Madrid go through and get the chance to truly avenge a truly decade-plus run of sadness at the hands of their more famous neighbors. Also, I would be far happier playing for Diego Simeone, who is incredibly demanding but also honest, than I would be enduring the endless mind games from Jose Mourinho.</p> <p><a href="">Life after pro football is difficult for many Brazilians | ESPNFC</a><br>Sad but true piece on how many Brazilian soccer players find themselves struggling with addiction, poverty, and mental illness after they hang up their boots. By the time you read this, ESPN's 30 for 30 on Garrincha will have aired, further hammering the point home. Excellent work from Fernando Duarte.</p> <p><a href="">Give Us a Straight Answer, America: How Do You Really Feel About Soccer? | FiveThirtyEight</a><br>Once again, no one actually has a real answer for this question, but FiveThirtyEight is the kind of place that can tell us why soccer's popularity has been so hard to put into anything remotely concrete. You know, just like actual data on soccer is inconclusive. Maybe soccer and numbers need to see a couples therapist.</p> <p><a href="">Wizards vs. Bulls, NBA Playoffs 2014 Game 5: Washington moves to second round | Bullets Forever</a><br>I'm not jumping on the bandwagon or anything, but I am pleased for all the longtime Wizards fans I know who, just this once, got to be happy about their team. After all, the only local sports team that hasn't been either awful or choked in the playoffs over the last few years has been the Kastles.</p> <p><a href="">Angela Merkel | Time</a><br>Juergen Klinsmann: Legendary striker, head coach for two national teams, helicopter pilot, and now published in Time while writing in what is either his second, third, or fourth language. Not bad Jay Goppingen, not bad.</p> <p>OK, I'm done. You comment! Do it now!</p> D.C. United Scouting Report: FC Dallas ChestRockwell Fri, 25 Apr 2014 03:06:37 -0400 <img alt="" src="" /> <p>D.C. United exceeded expectations in last week's big test in Columbus, but things aren't any easier this week. FC Dallas is sitting atop the MLS standings and is comfortably the highest-scoring team in the league. Can United short-circuit the electric Hoops attack?</p> <p>This time last week, I was telling you that <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> faced their biggest challenge of the season in the form of a road trip to Columbus. It's safe to say that United exceeded most expectations, pressing early to throw the Crew off their game and - once in the lead - mostly defending as a cohesive unit. The late <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Hector Jimenez</a> goal was an unpleasant end note, but United held an expansive attacking side to few real chances, and forced MVP candidate <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Federico Higuain</a> into arguably his worst game in 2014.</p> <p>One would hope that United's next game would be at home and against a weaker opponent, but we only got half of what we'd like. Tomorrow's game is indeed at RFK Stadium, but the opposition is top-of-the-table <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">FC Dallas</a>. The Hoops - whose jerseys are now two-tone red, making the actual hoops hard to make out - are 5-1-1 and have scored 17 goals in that stretch. That's a pace that would give them 83 goals over a full season, or just short of the <a href="">all-time MLS record</a> set by the 1998 <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a>.</p> <p>Small samples aside, FCD has scored at least two goals in every game this season bar their 1-1 draw at <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Sporting Kansas City</a>, the team with what is probably the best overall defense in MLS. They're far and away the most dangerous set piece team in the league, and they're not reliant on one single goalscorer (three players have three goals, while three more have chipped in two apiece). They have an MVP candidate in Mauro Diaz. They're really good, is what I'm saying.</p> <p>Or are they? It's not getting much talk, but Dallas has played the easiest schedule of anyone in MLS up to this point. They've only had two road games out of seven, and they've only played three teams currently in playoff position. In those games, they're 1-1-1; the one win was over a <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto FC</a> side missing several key starters (including <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Jermain Defoe</a>), and even that game required an 88th minute gamewinner. TFC also had a strong shout for a penalty kick in the 75th minute with the score at 1-1, and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrew Wiedeman</a> wasted a great chance to equalize in the 94th minute.</p> <p>None of this is to say that Dallas will be easy, but they've been taking advantage of some really bad teams. Wins over this year's dumpster fire (Montreal), a Chivas side that defends with a comically high line given their lack of speed, and the winless Timbers are games you have to win if you're a good team, but they don't necessarily go down as calling cards for the rest of MLS. Even FCD's one impressive win - 4-1 at Houston - has lost some shine due to the Dynamo's five-game losing streak.</p> <p>It's been interesting to watch Oscar Pareja adapt the style of play he used successfully in Colorado to a rather different group of players. <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Schellas Hyndman</a> used to have his team play soccer based on speed, athleticism, and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">David Ferreira</a>; they could look threatening going forward, but if opponents controlled the tempo of the game the Hoops would struggle.</p> <p>Pareja has taken those same players and rapidly (sorry, I'll show myself out) got them playing a game that mixes those track-meet impulses with the possession-based game he wants his teams to play. As such, the Rapids look to transition out of defense quickly either by finding Diaz or feeding the wingers before taking their foot off the gas once possession is established in the attacking third.</p> <p>In terms of formation, Pareja is a big fan of what he calls a 433 but what is really just a standard 4231. The Rapids played it last year, and Dallas uses it in 2014:</p> <p align="center"><a target="_blank" href=""><img src="" class="photo" alt="980790_fc_dallas_medium"></a> <br id="1398421776254"></p> <p>There are a couple of positions that are up in the air right now. At right back, <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Kellyn Acosta</a> briefly lost his starting job and then joined the US youth national team at the Dallas Cup, only to start over <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Zach Loyd</a> last week. Even our friends over at <a href="">Big D Soccer</a> aren't 100% sure who Pareja's preferred right back is. When listing the pair, though, they list them as Acosta/Loyd rather than vice versa, so that's how I'll list them too. Both are reasonable players, with Loyd probably a more alert defender and has a bigger frame while Acosta is more mobile and better with the ball at his feet.</p> <p>In the midfield, the Hoops have an interesting question to deal with. Michel is among the best in MLS at set pieces, and as we'll get into below, that's a huge part of FCD's game. However, the Brazilian veteran is also a defensive liability to such an extent that a smart manager - and Pareja is firmly in that category - would have to consider holding him in reserve while on the road. It's actually a bit like Ben Olsen's issue with <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Branko Boskovic</a>, though Michel has more defending to do given his role as a defensive midfielder.</p> <p>Normally I'd mention all this but expect Michel to start, but I noticed that he was benched against the Sporks, and I also watched him do some rather dumb things positionally and in terms of his choices in being aggressive towards the ball last week against TFC. On more than one occasion, Pareja plugged more conservative players into his Rapids lineups when on the road or facing a particularly strong opponent.</p> <p><a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Adam Moffat</a> and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrew Jacobson</a> are candidates to step in if Pareja is truly worried about keeping things tight on the road - with Moffat slightly more likely the choice since Jacobson is coming off an injury - but I'd rate the chances of such a move at around 25%. In his shoes, I'd take the risk given United's still rather tepid attacking play. With either alternate option, <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Hendry Thomas</a> would move into a left-center role rather than the right-center spot he's listed in above.</p> <p>Up front, young DP David Texeira has started three straight games. Normal starter <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Blas Perez</a> has been coping with a hamstring strain, and Pareja has also mentioned wanting to keep the 33 year old Panamanian well-rested for the long haul that is an MLS season.</p> <p>As such, it's hard to say who will start. Texeira is the busier of the two, doing plenty of selfless running up top when Dallas doesn't have the ball. On the other hand, Perez's hold-up play was sorely missed against TFC, and he's also the sharper finisher of the two. I view this one as a toss-up; Perez only played 20 minutes last week and might not yet be a safe play as a starter. Texeira isn't a bad player by any means, but there's reason to hope that we caught Dallas a week or two before Perez could start, which would be welcome news. Dallas is already doing well enough without "Super Raton." </p> <div class="pullquote">It's an interesting contrast from last weekend against Higuain. Both are Argentine #10s who are legitimate MLS stars, but they play very differently.</div> <p><br id="1398426395695">One player that we definitely have to worry about is Diaz, who has looked like one of the best players in MLS this season. It's an interesting contrast from last weekend against Higuain. Both are Argentine #10s who are legitimate MLS stars, but they play very differently. Where Higuain roves around looking for pockets of space and sometimes even stays high as a second forward, Diaz tends to stay in the middle much more often. Higuain is also a huge danger just outside the box, whereas Diaz likes to combine and get inside the area from those same spots.</p> <p>The trouble with Diaz is that he's so good turning out situations that would look favorable for the defense on a chalkboard. You blink, though, and the River Plate product is gone due to his quickness, his ability to hold off challenges despite his small size, and a keenly developed sense of just when the defense is trying to shift or go for the ball. Throw in his vision and ability to sense where his teammates are without so much as half a glance, and you have a very difficult player to contain.</p> <p>United exceeded expectations last week in terms of defending as a unit and covering for one another, and the results were a predictable Crew attack. Higuain dropped very deep and played his passes both longer and earlier than he'd like to. It's going to take that kind of mental sharpness throughout to stop Diaz, but the implementation will be slightly different.</p> <p>United wanted Higuain wandering away from goal, but Diaz tends to resist that impulse. Instead, the goal should be to minimize the number of touches Diaz has in the attacking third. That's going to require a lot of work from <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Perry Kitchen</a> and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Davy Arnaud</a>, but it'll also need some well-timed steps forward from <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobby Boswell</a> and Jeff Parke. Diaz's preference to stay central means that United can compress his space and force Dallas to play through someone else.</p> <p>TFC tried to do this last week, but they undermined themselves a bit with their almost aggressive disdain for having possession. They compressed Diaz's space, but defended so deeply that they ended up in trouble anyway. United will have to play higher up the field - that should be easier as the home side - and they'll have to do a better job at keeping the ball. I've been harping on that all season, and it's really the next step for United to take if they don't want to be a team that grinds and hopes all year long. It's gotten results of late, but it probably won't be enough against the Hoops.</p> <p>Elsewhere, <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Fabian Castillo</a> has added a more polished final product to his game. The Colombian is always a threat due to his top-tier speed and his dribbling ability, but this year his choices have improved. I'm tempted to say his technique shooting or crossing has gotten better as well, but the more I think about it I think it's just down to attempting those things at better moments (i.e. under less pressure). He seems more composed under Pareja, whereas under Hyndman he played every moment like the ball was on fire.</p> <p><a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Sean Franklin</a> will probably have to stay home a bit more as a result, but he shouldn't let Castillo pin him back for 90 minutes. Castillo is not a very good defender; he makes the effort to a certain extent, but he chooses to lunge in at bad moments and often misses both ball and man. it's also worth noting that if Franklin can't get forward as often, Olsen should be instructing <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Christian </a>to attack more often to keep the numbers in the attack at a healthy level.</p> <p>In terms of depth, the Hoops don't have much going forward. Teixera played a few minutes in the #10 spot with Diaz going deeper as FCD tried to come back against Seattle, but hyped signing Andres Escobar looked far from convincing before picking up a back injury. Against TFC, their only attacking option aside from Perez was 20 year old Homegrown winger <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Danny Garcia</a>, who has yet to make his professional debut.</p> <p>In central midfield, Pareja prefers his two defensive midfielders to cut the field in half, so that one plays a right-center role and the other stays left of center. Both have roughly similar amounts of attacking responsibility, though Michel tends to choose to go forward more often than Thomas. What this situation can mean, though, is that playing outside-in can be effective if we're able to draw one of them wide before then playing back into the space they vacated. With Michel, this is a particularly smart thing to do given his lack of positional sense.</p> <p>Speaking of Thomas: If you're not familiar with him, prepare to dislike him. He's one of the hardest hard men in MLS, the kind of guy who makes sure you know you've been fouled. On the plus side, he's among the many potential red cards in the Dallas lineup; on the down side, refs are sometimes lenient with him and the result is banged-up midfielders on the other team.</p> <p>That said, Thomas is a Premier League veteran and a starter on the Honduran national team for a reason. He's smart positionally, plays very simply, makes himself an outlet for resetting failed attacks, and is very comfortable functioning as the voice of Pareja on the field. Thomas keeps his teammates organized, and this is a group that probably needs that. Part of the reason Dallas scores so much is that they have conceded at least one goal in every single game thus far.</p> <p>When attacking, United should be able to create some danger if they can secure their fair share of possession. We've covered Michel, but of the back four only <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Hedges</a> is a high-quality player. Due to what has become a long-term injury to <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">George John</a>, Dallas will use <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Stephen Keel</a> as a partner for Hedges in central defense. Keel is a big, powerful, brave defender, but he's not very agile when the ball's on the ground and he takes too long to figure out what opposing attackers are up to for someone who lacks quickness. In other words, he's a promising target for both <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Fabian Espindola</a> on the dribble and any through balls designed for <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Eddie Johnson</a> to chase after.</p> <p>The outside backs are also vulnerable. Acosta is going to be a strong right back, but he's still learning to think at the MLS level, and he can get caught ball-watching. On the other side, <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Jair Benitez</a> - another card-prone provocateur for Dallas - is starting to show his age. At 35, Benitez still plays the style of game you see out of guys in their prime, but he's starting to lose his wheels. We're not talking about a De Ro-style physical breakdown, but it doesn't take much for a fullback that was never that positionally aware in the first place. I think <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick DeLeon</a> should put his new-found physical fitness and core strength to drive past Benitez whenever possible; I don't think Benitez will have much of an option beyond fouling or simply falling back in hopes of blocking the cross.</p> <p>Finally, there are those set pieces. Dallas is by far the best team in MLS at turning them into goals right now; their announcing crew last week brought up the idea of Dallas simply looking to get fouled or win corner kicks rather than actually attacking. That might overstate their plans a bit, but it's no accident that Big D Soccer <a href="">took a look at the locations of United's fouls</a> in the past few games and got excited.</p> <p>Michel in particular excels at hard, driven, bending service targeted for the near post or for dead center at the top of the six yard box. The former gives keepers little chance to attack the ball, while the latter forces said keepers into traffic. Meanwhile, the group of targets - Hedges, Perez, Keel, and <a href="" class="sbn-auto-link">Je-Vaughn Watson</a> topping the list - has huge confidence in their collective ability to either get on the end of the ball or create enough chaos that there's a loose ball to turn in at some point.</p> <p>Both Dallas goals last week came off of set pieces, as have the majority of their goals on the season. While I'm more confident in United's ability to defend set pieces than I have been in a long time, fouling or giving up cheap corners against Dallas is still the best way to ensure they keep that streak of scoring twice or more going.</p> <p>Funny thing about set pieces, though: Dallas is really pretty shaky at defending them. You'd think with all that size throughout their team and the mindset it takes to convert attacking set pieces (where you're always going to be outnumbered in the box) that they'd be solid, but they're often a disorganized mess. Last week was a good example: TFC offered up what was either a rehearsed low corner kick or simply a badly hit service, but Dallas could never clear the ball and Toronto ended up taking the lead with their third bite of the cherry.</p> <p>That's really good news, because United is arguably just as reliant on set pieces for goals as Dallas is (they're just better at them than us). Hedges and Keel are pretty good against the biggest targets, but we've seen Kitchen score on a scramble, and Christian is still a very good third target after Boswell and EJ. Dallas is looking at RFK as a happy hunting ground, but I think we might actually be just as likely to get a set piece goal this week as they are.</p> <p>Bottom line: Dallas is going to be a very tough opponent, but we might be able to give them a taste of their own medicine if we can improve our possession play and avoid having to defend too deeply or for too long.</p>