What is this? Are you some kind of a hypnotist? Waving your powers around.
by playtherapy on Sep 2, 2011 3:11 PM CDT
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Closing in on a season defining fortnight, I have several questions about our beloved Naranja. Micheal D, Martek, and I discussed this ad naseum over lunch today. The answers, of course, will mean the difference between attending the playoffs possibly for the last time at Robertson Stadium and watching the playoffs from the depths of my couch (those that are actually broadcast on noncable TV).
Here goes:
If Ching does not score, who takes up the slack? (this has been an annual question for several seasons)
If Camargo gets significant minutes, who sits?
If not, how do we know if he's a keeper?
Must Cameron ALWAYS start? (hats off to DynaNole for that question)
Does Costly have to score and score big to earn a contract for next season?
Alternately, given Costly's lack of scoring production, does Bruin start in his place?
Where do Watson's comments put him, this year and next? See link
If we become mathematically ineligible for the postseason, should making roster decisions (giving players minutes to determine who stays and who goes) or results be the priority?
How many away wins do we need to get in the post-season party (rather than partying in the post season)?
What think you?
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Hey other editors
If you can turn the BOLD off on this story, PLZ DO!
Thanks
So
play, you and Martek have been asking some intriguing questions lately. I don’t like thinking but when I do, I prefer to think about the Houston Dynamo. Now, responses:
So, who can take up Ching’s slack? Er…….Bobby Boswell? Whoops! Just swallowed my own vomit. But really, we don’t have another go-to person. In basketball terms, we don’t have someone who can create their own shot. And I think we’ve all noticed that as a trend this season: we score, and we know the conditions that allow us to score, but we have a tough time re-producing it consistently. That speaks to a lack of creativity, something we’ve sorely missed the last couple of seasons.
As I posted in another thread, Dom has too much riding on his pursuit of Camargo to leave him on the bench for the last 7 games or so. Whether Camargo is up to snuff is a different story for a different day, but a) he needs minutes to be properly evaluated and b) if you talk up a guy and pursue him throughout a season, why would you bring him in late to help and then not play him?? Oh, and Watson begins to sit more and more. This ties in to the other point you brought up but we can kill two birds with one stone here: Dixon’s form was beginning to show as Watson began to descend into a grade-school tantrum. So I say start sitting Watson more and bringing in Dixon as his replacement. Let’s face it, Watson won’t be here next season. So why not start giving Dixon his minutes since that’s likely the role he’ll help fill next season?
And this is a compliment, both intended and backhanded: Cameron always needs to play. He needs to because we had no better options in the middle until now, and we have no better defenders…but that being said, Cameron is a FANTASTIC defender and we’ve needed him there all season. Put him back at CB and watch our defense solidify.
As for Costly, he doesn’t have to score big, but he has to score. I’ve been giving him alot of leeway as far as production and what-not but at the end of the day, he is a forward and if he’s wanting a fair paycheck (not DP-worthy but near there) then he has to produce, plain and simple. If he doesn’t start producing or he starts pulling a Watson then yes, Bruin should be phased in more as the season draws to a close.
And for me there’s absolutely no debating this: if we are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs we play for roster evaluation purposes. If we don’t I’m calling in to Glenn Davis and giving them the mother of all Uneducated Fan Rants, because that would truly be a stupid move on the part of the team. No debate.
We have 4 more road games and 3 more home games: that’s a total of 21 potential points lying in wait. We need at least 1 away win and I’d say 2 home wins 0 the rest (sigh) could be draws – in order to be safe. So that would be 13 total points (assuming we’d get 4 draws and no losses) from the rest of our season, giving us a grand total of 48 pts. I think that should be sufficient to get us in, though of course the form of others has to loom in the background.
Guh
the sad thing is he actually does have skill and talent…but is either entitled, lazy or both because he almost never goes after a ball or tries to engage an opponent with the ball. When he’s on the field we only have 10 guys who will defend
He is both!
He reminds me of a certain spaniard because he also had skills but was LAZY as f***! Whenever Watson has the chance to actually defend he tries to get the ball but then he does a stupid tackle out of frustration. You would think that after a red card he would learn from it but from what I’ve seen lately he still does those late challenges and eventually exposes the teams weakness in defense. Oh and having a player play with a team who got their asses beat down by Ecuador (I don’t think Ecuador is really good) sucks a lot.
by RedAce on Sep 3, 2011 11:53 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
You would hope
that he learned but I think those sloppy, late challenges are because he doesn’t want to really challenge but can’t make it obvious…and its those hesitant or timid challenges that lead to cards. We had been hoping (like a certain Spaniard) that in time that would change and that his commitment would match his level of skill but it hasn’t happened and as that article made clear, its not going to happen. That article was his ticket out of town…if another team in MLS is desperate enough to give him a chance, good luck and God bless.
Well then...
That explains why he was so desperate to get into the Dynamo, just to get out of his former team. I know another MLS team will find him useful because he certainly isn’t valuable to us. He means nothing to me
by RedAce on Sep 3, 2011 3:33 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Yep
there’s always another team who will give a guy like him a shot…but now that Dixon is out for about 3 weeks, we may have to play Watson. I’m really not sure about that, but what other options do we have unless we keep Camargo at AM and Moffat at DM, and that’s assuming he’ll put in Camargo straight away
Watson won't be wearing orange next year.
Historically, any player who crosses, discounts, mouths off at or disagrees with Kinnear, will be sent packing. Watson’s performance this year is very much like Kei Kamara’s…he just hasnt been motivated or productive in orange. It might take playing with another team, for him hone in his skills on the pitch. This is a coach’s problem just as much as it is a players problem.
by Nancy Finkelstein Shaddock on Sep 5, 2011 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Not an uncommon issue
in sports, in general. You have those coaches who are “players coaches”: those who may be former players and relate to them on a more familiar level. And then there are others who are very hierarchical who are in the “my way or highway” vein…I think Dom leans more towards the latter but is understanding to players, in general. In the case of Watson, however, it smacks of a case of a talented player who simply isn’t worth the hassle. If he’s a Carlos Tevez and you have to put up with his headaches to get the talent then I guess you have to, but Watson isn’t remotely in that league of talent. There’s much better out there who will have the motivation to perform without less hand-holding
Mini run for the playoffs
Lets see the dynamo need to be pro active. Thats means we can not hope for other teams to help us and we need to win on the road.Since some of the other clubs have some games on us the margin of error is very small. we need to win as many matches as possible.
our Forwards can get the job done if the midfield can provide better service to them. Ching and Costly should be the starters with Bruin and Weaver backing them up.The midfield has not jelled like it should have done. Players never developed the chemistry with each other. Kinnear could be at fault for adding too much pressure on them. Davis,Clark, Moffit and Cameron need to play. Camargo gets PT when he proves himself. Cruz needs to back up Clark. Kinnear is wasting his physical talents. Cruz needs to be our attacking mid. Kinnear does not use his players talents enough. Our problem has been the defense and a keeper who does not dominate his goalie box.Corey,Andrew, Taylor need to play. Boswell and Hunter need to rest. Boswell has scored some big goals but he has made some big mistakes. Hall positions himself to block shots but does not come off his line and grab the ball. In the second season he will be tested.
For now
Ching and Costly should start and Bruin/Weaver should be the sub-combo. And you’re right about the midfield, and I think that’s mostly because its been a group of about 4-5 guys (Watson, Clark, Cruz, Cameron, Palmer when he was here) who would rotate in and out at different slots. Sometimes Cam would be up front, sometimes Watson and rarely Palmer. Then sometimes Cruz or Clark would cheat over there. So you’re right, we haven’t had a midfield line-up that’s worked enough to keep it in place to let it gel. My only concern about putting Cruz there is his decision and touch. I love his pace and energy and it would definitely cause problems for opposing center-backs, but I’d be afraid of his decision making and touch, which I think will get better with time. While Dixon may not have his speed, he does have the coolness and touch that could be very useful in the middle, eventually backing up Camargo. As for Boswell, well, I’ve said my peace about him: like him but we need to move him for someone else. I think we could have a window of opportunity with Chivas USA, as they lost HEath Pearce to injury and I believe Jimmy Conrad retiring they’re short on solid center-backs. If we could pick up maybe one of their forwards or midfielders in a trade for Boswell this could really help us out. The roster freeze deadline is Sept.15, but I somehow doubt the FO will move on it (guys come on….at least look at it). If Chivas, who just lost to RSL, drops their next game to DCU on the 10th then I think they get desperate. We’ll see…to me if we’re looking to get Boz’ salary off our books this is a good chance to do it
Fully read article
At it ready does seem like Dom doesn’t want Watson here. I guess the only reason hes keeping him is for the heck of it. If the Dynamo release him (which I think is stupid) then we get no money back, but if we sell him to another MLS team then it’s such a win-win situation only if we get some profit out of him. I think Montreal will most likely pick him up if we don’t find a buyer. Anyways it seems like he doesn’t want to be here anymore
by RedAce on Sep 4, 2011 12:57 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Just saw that
in a tweet…and really, at this point what else can go wrong? It sucks because now it looks like we may have to play Watson, and I don’t think anyone wants that at this point: Watson doesn’t want to be here, Kinnear probably doesn’t want the drama and his lethargic play and Dixon would’ve been perfect to fill that gap. Guh
Blog title
Allusion to Flaming Lips song in blog title is what I think we need to make the playoffs as we will have to be phenom on the road (need a hynotist).
Hmmm, the song continues, “the sun eclipse behind the cloud…”
On a brighter note (same source) :
“I had forgiven you for tricking me again
But I have been tricked again -
Into forgiving you "
So, at least, all is forgiven and we become “educated fans” again, with lower expectations!
Blog title
Allusion to Flaming Lips song in blog title is what I think we need to make the playoffs as we will have to be phenom on the road (need a hynotist).
Hmmm, the song continues, “the sun eclipse behind the cloud…”
On a brighter note (same source) :
“I had forgiven you for tricking me again
But I have been tricked again -
Into forgiving you "
So, at least, all is forgiven and we become “educated fans” again, with lower expectations!
I don’t think Cruz in the center of midfield is a good option. His decision making and accuracy still need a lot of conditioning and those are two things that are a must in the middle of the field. I do think he should play more. He has amazing speed and he likes to take players on and that’s great out on the wings. Bring him on when Clark and Davis are tired. Watson is done. Bench him and trade him. We can play our younger players and let them develop. If it’s conceivable that Taylor will leave over the status of Watson, then this talk of trading Boswell needs to end we’ll need him. And honestly I think that he and Cameron have a great understanding in the back; the only downside is that leaves Hainault on the bench and he’s been great this season. So we need to keep those 3 center backs on the roster (releasing Robinson and losing Taylor). After seeing the ‘friendly’ Geoff starts at CB (I know I was the one that was doubting him). Play Costly- he will score eventually.
I'd hope not...
I would hope that Taylor would know that he should be judged on his own merits, not the merits of Watson (or previously, Palmer). Taylor is a fair defensive jack-of-all-trades backup, so if either he or Boz could be swapped for someone from Chivas USA who could help us I wouldn’t mind at all (I mentioned this in a post above).
I can see the argument for pairing Cameron & Boz, but I still stick to my guns (pig-headed, anyone?): Cameron & Boz. We need to get younger and we need to be flexible, and Hainault is that way forward. I love Boz and he’s still a good defender, but he is in his late 20’s and costing us almost $200K a year. Hainault is younger and far cheaper and provides about the same, if not more, protection as Boz. Mind you, Hainault doesn’t score like Boz but that’s not really in his wheelhouse.
And yes, keep playing Costly and let him wear his Honduras kit under his Dynamo one so that he might lose track of who he plays for and actually put one in the back of the net. I kid, I kid but really, keep giving him the opportunities to play and score and if he doesn’t produce then he can’t complain if he gets cut.
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