More from the Columbus-DCU Game
There is a point where a team stops competing against other teams in the league and starts competing against history. We're not there yet but a couple more games like the Columbus game and we'll have to evaluate how this team ranks against the Golden Age of DCU. Right off the bat, if this year's team ends up being comparable to those classic teams it'll be without the first generation of legendary names such as Harkes, Agoos, Etcheverry, Lassiter, Diaz Arce, Pope, Sanneh, LLamosa and others. DC has consistently drawn players that aren't big international names but that fit into a system.
One of the reasons that I see that accounts for DC's early success is the way they play with the ball at their feet. Many DC players (when playing with conviction) are looking for the quick pass and as soon as the ball leaves their feet, they run into space. But above all else DC has the ability to shake off shoulder charges. Jaime is one of the best in the league at holding the ball and taking a challege from defenders while maintaining his composure. Many times last night Adu (who's pretty small) would shake off Columbus midfielder Rozental.
Alecko is at his best with a defender on his right arm running straight at the keeper lining a shot up with his left foot. Gomez and Gros also have the ability to keep a challenging defender at bay.
Gros also needs more accolades for his tireless efforts. He, above all other DC players, can run up and down the field and play consistently well on both ends. Not only does he have amazing endurance, he is one of the fastest players on the team. On more than one occassion he has tracked back from midfield to clear a ball out of bounds at the endline. A key move that shut down what little offense Columbus did have was to move Gros from the outside left in the first half to the outside right in the second half. Taking nothing away from Namoff and Adu's games, they could not contain Ngwenya in the first half. Unfortunately for Namoff, he had a mental lapse and left his man (Ngwenya) alone for a pretty good goal. Gros put a stop to all of that in the second half and had enough energy left over to grab himself a goal. To have the endurance to run up and down the field and contribute offensively and defensively, signals to me that we're looking at an sorely underrated player and as soon as the finer points of his game (such as his first touches and confidence striking the ball) are refined, he'll no doubt become an All-star, premier outside midfielder in the league.
Thing I missed: July 12th at RFK DCU plays run away Scottish Premier League Champions Celtic FC at 7:30 pm. You can count on the Celtic fans to show up and represent so we have to get out there and make sure our presence is felt.
If anyone has the video of the opening montage that they play right before the teams come out onto the field highlighting DC United's first ten years, please let me know.
Finally, little did I know that Olsen put out an instructional video in his younger days. Below is a teaser of just that video. Look at that shaggy hair.
One of the reasons that I see that accounts for DC's early success is the way they play with the ball at their feet. Many DC players (when playing with conviction) are looking for the quick pass and as soon as the ball leaves their feet, they run into space. But above all else DC has the ability to shake off shoulder charges. Jaime is one of the best in the league at holding the ball and taking a challege from defenders while maintaining his composure. Many times last night Adu (who's pretty small) would shake off Columbus midfielder Rozental.
Alecko is at his best with a defender on his right arm running straight at the keeper lining a shot up with his left foot. Gomez and Gros also have the ability to keep a challenging defender at bay.Gros also needs more accolades for his tireless efforts. He, above all other DC players, can run up and down the field and play consistently well on both ends. Not only does he have amazing endurance, he is one of the fastest players on the team. On more than one occassion he has tracked back from midfield to clear a ball out of bounds at the endline. A key move that shut down what little offense Columbus did have was to move Gros from the outside left in the first half to the outside right in the second half. Taking nothing away from Namoff and Adu's games, they could not contain Ngwenya in the first half. Unfortunately for Namoff, he had a mental lapse and left his man (Ngwenya) alone for a pretty good goal. Gros put a stop to all of that in the second half and had enough energy left over to grab himself a goal. To have the endurance to run up and down the field and contribute offensively and defensively, signals to me that we're looking at an sorely underrated player and as soon as the finer points of his game (such as his first touches and confidence striking the ball) are refined, he'll no doubt become an All-star, premier outside midfielder in the league.
Thing I missed: July 12th at RFK DCU plays run away Scottish Premier League Champions Celtic FC at 7:30 pm. You can count on the Celtic fans to show up and represent so we have to get out there and make sure our presence is felt.
If anyone has the video of the opening montage that they play right before the teams come out onto the field highlighting DC United's first ten years, please let me know.
Finally, little did I know that Olsen put out an instructional video in his younger days. Below is a teaser of just that video. Look at that shaggy hair.
posted by SccrPlaya at 9:55 PM
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