Tuesday Orange Slices: Mission Control
by Zach Woosley on Oct 11, 2011 1:12 PM CDT
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- Dynamo's mission simple as they know they're in control [MLS Soccer]
- Hainault declines call-up; rests to help Dynamo fight for playoff spot [MLS Soccer]
- Playoff spot and much more on line for Chabala, Palmer [MLS Soccer]
- Dynamo rely on Davis' consistency in midfield [Houston Chronicle]
- Dynamo take part in a different kind of friendly during week off [Houston Chronicle]
In Other News:
- Ref Week: So what is MLS doing to develop officials? (Pt. 1) [MLS Soccer]
- Klinsmann says extra work required for MLS-based players [MLS Soccer]
- Panasonic extends soccer sponsorships [NorthJersey.com]
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My takes on the above
So Klinsi is saying that MLS should have an 11-month season and players should not have more than two weeks off at any time? Are there any domestic competitions in the world with 11-month seasons? I can’t think of any at all. This is not realistic, and I would be concerned with burnout. I mean, look at Landon Donovan. He’s the best US player ever and even he was completely burned out after keeping that schedule in 2009 and 2010. I do not see this happening.
Regarding the first story, how exactly are Dynamo in control? They can win the two remaining games and still miss the playoffs right? Looking at Ginge’s handy-dandy chart, it looks like that if we get max points (49), then there’s a possibility of NYRB also getting 49 and they would have the tiebreaker due to goal differential. Either I’m reading this wrong (always a possibility) or Dynamo have put themselves in the position where they need to help themselves and have others help them for a berth.
Good for Andre, but I think too much is being made of this. Canada was not pushed and not going to be pushed in their two games. He’s still on their first team.
Chabala and Palmer who? I kid. I kid. Did you hear Glenn Davis’ second hour last night. Some woman from Oregon called in to talk to Chabala and if she could have wrapped herself around Mike over the phone, well it would no longer have been Family Radio Hour. Davis called her a “groupie” and lamented that they never had that back in the ASL days. A quality broadcast.
If Dynamo make the playoffs, then I think he should get serious run as MVP. He certainly would be the top candidate among those cashing AEG checks. Go ahead and tell me I’m wrong. This is why I want Dynamo to make the playoffs over all, just to show to all and sundry that Davis is better than Beckham.
Dynamo playing flag football? I feel like I do when I see my kids pull stupid stuff. If anybody gets hurt doing that……
With all the success that MLS has had over the years developing American officials, why would anyone doubt the success of this endeavor? Maybe Abbey Okalaja can lead one of their little group talks. Jeezus mareezus.
Panasonic? Hmmm. I think this is a good thing, and possibly about to be all the more lucrative with the NBC deal.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
I think
the comment about being in control is, if we crap out/take the piss and lose points we won’t be helped in to the playoffs…we have to win or, worst-case scenario, get a draw plus additional help…so from that perspective we do control our fate: win and we have a chance, don’t and we watch the playoffs
I appreciate
the Orange Slices, but the ref piece was a failed attempt at marketing. I know you’re simply reporting what’s out there relevant to us and keep fightin’ that fight, brother because Houston simply doesn’t get alot of press. All that being said…
my goodness, the MLS officiating is bad. That’s not hyperbole, its not looking at it from a Dynamo perspective, its simply bad across the league. And I don’t see any real improvements because MLS is simply a client of USSF, and we effectively have to accept the referees they provide. Gulati is too occupied with the USMNT, sponsors and deals to give any real, dedicated efforts to improving the officiating. Just like we had the discussion regarding the CONCACAF CL, the attitude in regards to officiating is the same: CTC. As long as people and sponsors keep ponying up, there will be superficial improvements but only just enough for them to say “see? we’re doing something” and then drop it the moment people look away. Sorry, I didn’t expect to wake up on the cynical side of the bed this morning…it is Wednesday though, right? :)
If you think Part 1 is bad
you should check out Part 2: http://www.mlssoccer.com/referee/news/article/2011/10/11/ref-week-so-what-mls-doing-develop-officials-pt-2
Total propaganda.
--
"You live and learn. At any rate, you live." -Douglas Adams
Managing Editor of Dynamo Theory
Yo si le voy, le voy al naranja!
by Zach Woosley on Oct 12, 2011 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions
I feel like MLS should create some sort of Socialist Realist posters to go with these pieces. Abey Okalaja staring heroically into the heavens, raising his whistle to blow for a foul that has not happened or waving on play while a player lies half-decaptitated on the ground.
THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES!!!
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Oh
and Jurgi, I’m all for thinking outside of the box but Tim Ream needs to be dropped. I know you may not have seen this fellow Geoff Cameron playing games on the moving-picture box but he’s pretty f***ing good as a CB who can get forward. Oh, and defend too. Just thought I’d throw that out there
Sincerely,
Michael_D (who desperately needs his coffee w espresso shot)
Cannot drop Team Ream just yet
he’s very young and needs to learn. He just seems so miserable because we all jumped on the hype. Didn’t we learn our lesson with Adu? And I’m glad to see that Agudelo has been shielded somewhat from that b/c he’s amazing but needs time.
On the flip side, if we’re giving all these center backs some looks then you’re right, Cameron should get a shot.
The thing is
its not that Ream is crap, its just I don’t think he’s ready for the CB spot yet. I think in time and given the right opportunity he’ll do fine. Gonzalez has a much higher ceiling, but I would treat both of them similar to as you said, like Agudelo: ease them into the team rather than put them in and see if they sink or swim. Of all the more “mobile” CBs out there, perhaps Cameron is the only one ready for prime-time now: he played the position at an All-Star level for a couple of years and were it not for positional issues outside of his control, he would’ve had another similar season. So he’s used to playing against high-level competition and would be most suited to that, as well as offering attacking options out of the back.
I would take Cameron over Gonzalez
…no bias or anything…but seriously I think that Cameron has the ability to aid the attack from the back which would give both the midfield and the forwards strength moving up the field…something that the USMNT has seriously lacked. Thinking about a Gonzalez/Cameron pairing is intriguing.
Klinsi is playing around with lineups and tuning formations, players positions, and seeing what he likes and doesn’t. I’m very surprised Brad Davis hasn’t been called up yet. He would add to the attack and there is NO better free kick taker in the US pool (again no bias..). The next best is probably Stuart Holden. We are miserable at free kicks and sending the ball in. I read an interesting article in SI that asked if Brad Davis could move to left back. Made me think about that a lot considering how well Ashe has done there.
The US team has a lot of problems. Finding a solid back line that is consistent! Finding a midfield that can move forward, hold the ball well/send it in, and be creative! And finding forwards that can score..I wish Ching were younger =(
Agree
I think Cameron, if selected, could be a factor in the years to come and definitely in time for qualifying and the next WC. Gonzalez is the future, I don’t think anyone can argue that, but throwing him in there might be premature; give him time to grow into the position and I think it’ll pay off long-term. The answer now is Cameron: he can defend but also initiate the attack from the back either himself or through quick and smart distribution. I think the days of having two big “lump” CBs who are there simply to defend are numbered; nowadays, teams are looking to counter quickly and having at least one CB who can get forward makes a huge difference. Just like we’ve seen, when you have that type of CB paired up with a good midfield, suddenly the opposing team has more than they might be able to handle
Ream might end up being a great CB, but he’s not one yet. Gonzo or Cameron should get a call. If Ream gets called again, then we riot.
--
"You live and learn. At any rate, you live." -Douglas Adams
Managing Editor of Dynamo Theory
Yo si le voy, le voy al naranja!
by Zach Woosley on Oct 12, 2011 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
If we win the play-offs
How would you react?
I would be happy of course…….
but also would be worried that all the problems from this season would be swept away and not fixed.
What do you guys think? I sort of hate the playoffs to be honest. We will soon have 20 teams, playoffs arent necesary!
Hoo boy
me, Martek & playtherapy have been wrestling with this one for a good couple of weeks now. Of course, making the playoffs is always a good thing as far as the team is concerned and for raising the profile of the team and it just generally “lifts the tide”, so to speak. But I certainly share your concerns as well that success can sometimes gloss over problems that still exist. It’s tempting to turn around and say, well, this is the team that made the playoffs so we’re not so bad, right? And to a point that’s correct: I’d say we have a solid foundation for a very good team. But, we’re lacking key elements that make us predictable and easy to plan against; namely, we have little pace and we have little creativity. Those issues have been poked at, but I don’t think they’re addressed by any means.
Camargo represents an attempt at creativity, and to be honest we haven’t had a midfielder in the middle with his skill in quite some time, but I think his preference is to play in the middle and stay around there as opposed to getting forward. Plus, while he has great touch and passing, its not what he’s known for and I don’t think most would label him a “pure” CAM. He’s more a central midfielder who can do some CAM-like things. I believe playtherapy made the point that our best creative play was when we had DeRo; obviously he’s not coming back (and to be frank, I’d rather go younger and without the baggage and expectations) but we need someone with that creative talent he has.
We’ve also dabbled in speed with Carr getting healthy and being put in the line-up; again, I don’t think he’s the answer but he gives a glimpse of how things could be for us if we have at least two pacey players in the line-up.
So yeah, while it would be good to make the playoffs (great for the team, city, great experience for younger players), it tends to cover up issues that will still be there next season. With the new stadium coming on line, this off-season will be one of the most critical for the next couple of years. We can either be a good team or a great one, and honestly I’m putting that on Kinnear and Canetti in the off-season.
could this season have been any better?
should we be disappointed with this season? I think so, but we could still make the playoffs and are in a decent position in the east. but i think that the east and west conference coupled with the playoffs serves to completely muddle everything. I mean, who should be the champion? probably LA, but it could potentially be us. I mean, thats what a league cup is about.
I suppose this is a discussion for another day. But seriously, Single table + League cup based on playoff qualification. I mean, if we want to keep the playoffs then fine but lets get rid of this stupid east and west conference system
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