Happy Monday, folks. NFL returned this weekend, my Lions won on Sunday night, so I’m feeling good this morning. Here’s some of the soccer news we had over the weekend…
Washington Spirit pull off last-minute win against Portland Thorns (DP)
The Spirit come from behind to beat the Thorns, as Trinity Rodman had the equalizer and then provided the assist to Leicy Santos late as she scored the game-winner on a header.
D.C. United was on the road at Chicago, and they were able to win 2-1.
The most important thing to come from that match: welcome back Russell Canouse! He appeared as a substitute late in the match, completing his comeback from his multiple surgical procedures for Ulcerative colitis. Really great to see him healthy above all and also back on the field for the Black-and-Red.
Emotional Alex Morgan exits final game early in San Diego (ESPN)
Alex Morgan officially retired last night, walking off the field for the final time in the 13th minute of San Diego Wave’s match against the NC Courage. Thanks for everything, Baby Horse.
Varas: USMNT lacked right ‘mentality’ in historic loss to Canada (ESPN)
The USMNT lost 2-1 to Canada in Kansas City on Saturday, just the second time ever they lost to Canada at home. They need to be much better against New Zealand on Tuesday night.
Enjoy the day, y’all.
I honestly don’t understand how (almost) an entire squad of professional soccer players who have done well enough to play for their national team could collectively fail to compete this badly. Canada are a tough team to play against, and if this squad didn’t think they would be, they don’t need a coach, they need serious psychological help. I’m frankly ashamed of what I saw for most of my viewing experience.
I didn’t watch this game mostly because other sports were happening but also because this team is obviously in flux. A 2-1 loss, even if the US played bad isn’t an insane result to me without a coach. But that’s just my thoughts.
It honestly wasn’t a fair reflection of the game. Schulte, the extremely young gk, made some fantastic saves in the first half, and looked bewildered that all these players were hanging him out to dry.
Given Canada’s dominance in the first hour and the ease with which they got to goal, the US was lucky not to lose by 3 or 4
This. It was clear that Canada showed up and the USA did not. Look, I get that absent a full-time coach, that can lead to some tactical indecision. But this was a lineup of (mostly) USMNT vets. If they had lost 3-0 but had put the energy out there and just couldn’t finish, OK. But we were the minnows this match. Talonesque is absolutely right–this match should have been 4-1 except for Schulte.
I’m relieved United won against a bad team, and overjoyed that Canouse could get back on the field and aid with that. But I think what I want to talk about is, what do we think about Ted?
TKD hasn’t so much plateaued lately as become a bloodless commodity. Do we think that this is just bad form, or were our expectations for his effectiveness and growth this season just way off? Cuz right now, he’s not even looking sub worthy
Don’t know if TKD has something going on or what cuz he looked exhausted even coming on as a sub. He was ineffective, to put it nicely.
Obviously this is all speculation but is it coaching or maybe him not getting enough of it as an individual? Maybe Lesesne is still trying to find his best position? Hell, Lesesne is still trying to find his best XI and best formation so I get it if a young guy doesn’t look comfortable out there, but something is definitely off.
To me, it’s definitely KDP/Lesesne trying to figure out his best spot in the team. He had a really good understanding with Benteke last year but this year he’s ended up playing deeper in a lot of games and it feels to me like he’s trying to do too much. This is probably partially on Lesesne asking the team to run as much as they do, but KDP needs to do a bit better at choosing his moments.
I am hopeful that once Schnegg is healthy again we go back to the 4-1-3-2 and KDP gets a chance to partner Benteke up front. I think that would really help to elevate his game.
I didn’t see the game, but he’s been coming off of a fairly decent personal spell, with a goal and assist against Santos Laguna, and assists in games against Toronto and Dallas. He’s shown some good flashes this year and gotten a bit unlucky at times. Both of his goals have come from him being opportunistic though, and the first player on either team to follow up on deflected shots.
He’s dealt with some injuries this year, and I believe he also got engaged in the offseason, so perhaps he’s coping with truly moving into adulthood (something a lot of us do without a lot of grace). It’s nice for the team to show some faith in him by signing a contract extension and using a U-22 slot to do it. The ball is in his court now. The team has shown faith and now he needs to deliver. It’s also on Lesesne and the staff to coach him up. If Gabriel Pirani can seemingly turn a corner, then I’m certain that Ku-DiPietro can too.
I was taking a look at some of Klich’s assist numbers, since he picked up a pair against Chicago.
He’s now at 19 career assists for DC, good for 12th most all-time (and breaking a tie with Jeff Agoos, Freddy Adu, Fred, Fabian Espindola, and Roy Lassiter). He’s four away from entering the top 10, which he could conceivably do by the end of this year.
He had 9 assists last year and 10 this year, and is the first DC player since Christian Gomez in 2006-7 to have at least 9 assists in back to back years. (Gomito was playing on two Supporters Shield winning sides, let’s not forget.) Klich and Jared Stroud both have 10 assists, which is the first time since 2006 that two United players have hit double digits in assists in one season (Jaime Moreno joined Gomez in that one).
Of the 11 players ahead of Klich on the career assist total, only Marco Etcheverry and Tony Sanneh were providing assists at a higher rate than Klich has done.
I think there’s a good argument to be made from moving on from Klich after this season, but he’s also been pretty underrated, I feel, as a chance creator.
Speaking of underrated, Tony Sanneh! He had 14 goals and 25 assists in 71 games for DC as a fullback/outside midfielder! John Harkes had 14 goals and 23 assists in 83 games over the same seasons, by way of comparison. Sanneh also came up with huge goals when trophies were on the line.
I didn’t start really following DC til 2007, but I think having a weapon like Sanneh on the team goes a long way towards explaining the success of United at the beginning of the league, beyond just the Magic Triangle of Moreno, Etcheverry, and Diaz Arce/Lassiter.
I was a very young fan prone more to hyper activities in the basement tv area than studied analysis back then, but I remember Tony Sanneh with extreme respect. Clutch, effective, and grounded. Frankly, I think he’s a better example of a fullback pro than Sergino Dest, who is way too high on his own hype.
Tony was a great guy. I let him test out my BMW Z3 when he signed with Herta.
This also seems like a Chris Korb activity.
I did not give the keys to Durkin….
:^)
It was everyone, really. I may be biased in remembering but around half point of the first season that first United team started clicking. There were several losses at the beginning, normal of a new team learning each other. But once they got going, they didn’t stop for several seasons. We had the triangle as mentioned but we also had a great backline, I don’t remember the team needing Marco, Jaime or Diaz Arce to help much in defense so they were free to create. Pope, Agoos and Llamosa, they were so reliable. Richie Williams was there to be the enforcer and yes Sanneh was always there when needed. Both he and Eddie Pope came up with big goals. And while DC only won one Championship during the early 2000s, those teams were for the most part also very good. In my opinion, what both versions had in common aside from the triangle (Jaime-Marco-Raul | Jaime-Gomez-Alecko) was great defenders (Namoff, Nelsen), something we’ve been lacking for a while. DCU will truly take the next step in becoming a reliable winning team only when Lesesne is able to figure out how improve the team’s defense, the offseason must focus on getting one outstanding CB to lead the rest.
You memory serves you well. And we started clicking when a certain Jaime torched Jeff Agoos twice in a friendly at RFK, USA vs Bolivia. Signed him pretty much on the spot and we were off to the races.
Christian Benteke is only 98 goals away from tying Jaime’s record for DC.
Ha, Benteke got started a bit later, but by all means! 🤣
This is Bobby Boswell erasure and I for one won’t stand for it.
Bobby came a year later in 2005, I think. I think Kiwi Captain was gone by the time Bobby came in? I love Bobby though. 🙂
Only Bobby could score on Chelsea….
Rodman, Santos Buzzard Points snatched victory from jaws of defeat 2-1 over Portland. The tally to date:
Buzzard Points (home goals): Sarr (5); Rodman and Bethune (4); Santos (2); Hatch (pk), Hershfelt, Krueger, Metayer, Sullivan (ok)
Talones (home assists): Bethune (5); Rodman (3); Hatch, Krueger (2); Carle, McKeown, Metayer, Santos, Sarr
Taloncitos (drew home pk): Bethune (2); Rodman
All-time Buzzard Points (home goals): Rooney (20); Benteke, Ashley Hatch (18); Acosta, Ola Kamara (13); Trinity Rodman (11) — top six.
All-time Talones (home assists): Rooney, Gressel (14); Acosta (11); Trinity Rodman (10); Benteke (8); Asad, Ashley Hatch, Klich (6) — top eight.
Of note: Rodman’s Sunday Buzzard Point knocked a certain Greek-who-shall-not-be-named out of the top six.
Also, Hatch’s oh-so-close-miss would have placed her only one behind Rooney. I hope that she gets more playing time.