Hi there, well, happy days are here again apparently!
Recaps of D.C. United’s 4-0 win over the Chicago Fire by us, WaPo and MLS.
Recaps of the Washington Spirit’s 2-0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars by us and WaPo.
Wayne Rooney ‘frustrated’ he hasn’t heard from D.C. United about new deal (WaPo): I’m happy Wayne *appears to want to extend his second tour with D.C. after leaving abruptly for his first one. But if the organization’s going to want to rebuild itself, it needs to do this. Would also point to the WaPo gamer endblurbs for some roster hilarity that was tweeted out Friday afternoon, hours after the organization absorbed the piece that published at 9:30 am.
Anyway, light weekend, long weekend, enjoy your Monday, stay cool!
Let’s hope this puts Benteke back on a roll–just in time for the playoff run.
You want your strikers averaging about a goal every two games. This performance gives Benteke 15 goal contributions (11 goals, 4 assists) in 32 games for DC. A massive boost to his numbers, and hopefully his confidence. Having Ku-DiPietro and Pirani to play off him was a massive boost as well.
And on a general note, I spent Saturday in Annapolis. While I was waiting in-line a woman ahead of me saw my DC United baseball cap (never leave home without it!) and said she had been to her first Spirit game last week. We talked about Michelle Kang, DC United (she asked who I should go to see them play–and I say anybody but Nashville because of how they defend in depth and laughed saying the only MLS player she new personally was on Nashville).
Benteke brace of Buzzard Points blows away the Windy City 4-0. The tally to date:
Buzzard Points (home goals): Benteke (6); Ku-DiPietro (5); Durkin, Fountas & Klich (2); Greene, Pines, Robertha, Santos, Williams
Talones (home assists): Benteke (5); Klich (4); Ruan (3); Ku-DiPietro (2); Canouse, Durkin, Fletcher, Jeahze, O’Brien, Santos
Taloncitos (drew home penalty kick): Fountas
KDP has 5 goals this season? Good for him. Thought it was 2 or 3. Hope he stays healthy! He’s been a spark plug to this team – almost Paredes-esque with his energy and ball skills.
Those five goals match Andy Najar (waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2010) for most goals in a single season by a homegrown player.
Miami looks like the best team in the league now after having beaten both Philly and LAFC on the road. Of course, that probably means they will miss the playoffs. Bouanga was powerful and effective and missed about TWO hat tricks worth of chances.
Yeah, it’s all about how many games the 9th place team has won by the end of the season, and it may be too many points to effectively make up.
Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good. Miami got lucky that Bouanga turned in such a clunker in the end. Maybe he was feeling the pressure coming from the allure of that stage. Miami definitely not dominating the play, but Miami is so lethal when they go on the attack.
Might add that DCU had only 4 SOGs but scored each. Otherwise, the stats vs. Chicago were pretty even (passes completed, possession, etc), but DCU denied them shooting opportunities or blocked them, and were so clinical with their counter-attacks.
Chicago’s defense was pretty darn woeful, but I’m happy that Benteke and DC punished them for it. Doesn’t always happen.
Sept int’l window DCU call-ups: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/september-international-window-which-mls-players-were-called-up
Éric Davis (Panama), José Fajardo (Panama), Andy Najar (Honduras) all called up for CONCACAF Nations League games.
Apparently Bill Hamid is now coaching at his alma mater, DaMatha High School.
Maybe he can help us identify players who should be in the academy?
And…Jorge Villa just won a WWC and he’s out of a job! He’s been fired.
Los dominos are beginning to fall in Spain.
Based on a tweet from Sharlie Joseph, it looks like Bruce Arena is gone from NE. Still absolutely zero info on what happened.
Isn’t it a consequence of the MLS investigation into a racial slur?
Weird. Meaning the lack of info….
Robin Fraser out in Denver. Assistant Coach Chris Little will take over as interim Manager/Head Coach for the Rapids: https://theathletic.com/4834781/2023/09/05/colorado-rapids-robin-fraser-coaching-change/
Jacob Greene has been loaned to Loudoun for the rest of their season. I’m happy for him to get playing time, but there’s not a lot of reason to not be getting it in DC. Especially ahead of this coming game, in which both Andy Najar and Eric Davis will be away with their national teams. That leaves Ruan and Pedro Santos as the fullbacks with no backups. So that means something like Cristian Dajome or Brendan Hines-Ike or Chris Durkin playing at fullback is a strong possibility to happen against San Jose.
Or possibly going to a 3-man backline. But yeah, I’m with you on that.
If Najar and Ruan are healthy, and Davis can go about an hour, no reason to go to a back three.
History suggests that assuming Ruan AND Najar will both be healthy for an extended period isa huge gamble 😅
One game at a time.