May 18, 2008

2nd half thoughts, Seattle-Atlanta

...
  • Bolton came on for Rios at the half in an interesting move. In the early going, they go to a 4-4-2, with Buete wide on the left and McLaughlin wide on the right and Bolton sitting deep in a holding position.
  • That's blown to hell as another sub, Zach Kirby, gets a red card after an elbow to Le Toux. Even better, it was in the box and leads to a PK goal. Kirby keeps getting chances, but how many more after this?
  • The constant switching of Kandji, Toure, and McLaughlin is still causing problems and the best thing Atlanta has going for them right now.
  • The problem with that is that they often end up playing in a flat line, which gives up dangerous amounts of space to the opponent on the wings.
  • I'll be really curious to see how Le Toux does in MLS next year. He's a great player in this league.
  • Quintero gives up a fourth when he goes on a walkabout, chasing a through ball around on the side of the box. He's lucky he didn't give up a PK when he grabbed the guy who beat him. Lancaster and Levesque collided on the cross, but it fell for Gardner to head in.
  • The announcers said Quintero is having "a howler". Can't really argue too much...
  • Wow, that one guy standing in the walkway with a flare looks really pathetic.
  • Crap, Toure is hurt. He and Le Toux have been the best players on the field tonight.
  • These announcers have celebrated two goals that didn't happen. One was offside, the other was wide and hit the backside of the net. Great job guys!
4-2 final score...

The Seattle curse continues. At least goals were scored this time out...

11 comments:

Jefa said...

I see you used your new favorite toy ... graffiti maker ... on your title graphics. Looks good!

Now could we do something about the cupcake drawing? It's cute and I get the point, but it's really hard to see. At least use a "Sharpie" on the original so it scans better.

Anonymous said...

I just have to point out that it is once again glaringly obvious that Jason Smith is coaching about 5 levels above what he should be. Its good to know people in high places. Ever hear of a making changes to the lineup? When you go to play a team as high a calibur as Seattle is two days after a big game against Minnesota essentially you need at least a draw. The best way to get that draw is with some fresh legs. Sorry but Felipe is a good goalie but not exactly the fresh legs we are looking for here. Maybe remove the defensive liabilty that is Rios, possibly another one in Mac or Toure who as far as I have seen haven't played a lick of defense this year. Or maybe rest one of your two center backs, center mids, or even Hayes who looked dead on his feet for Bolton, Camp, Parrish or Chevelier who hasn't gotten any decent minutes this year. Any one of that group could probably use some rest and the players on the bench are good players and have proved themselves at this level, in the MLS or in college yet you show no respect or faith in them. Instead we saw the same group who played almost a full 90 against Minnesota and fly a day up to play in the game. Obvious from the start the tired legs were evident when Lancaster gives up a very poor goal in the first minute and then another very late no attempt to clear for the 4th goal? Some lackluster play from the "Captain" which we as fans have had to endure for six straight games. Is this the sentimental captain or what. So far this year I have to say Rios has no business being on the field nor representing a group of blue collar players as their captain when he does it so poorly. He is hiding on the field! Enough said about that. Next was Mac on the field tonight? Normally a great offensive threat completely neutralized by what I would guess is tired legs. There is your first example. Second when you guys actually break the curse and score two very good goals and actually look like your getting the better of the play going into the half. Guess what now the changes come, and who is it Bolton for Rios(I will applaud this long overdue change) and Kriby for Moore(what the %$^% was that) but however instead of going defensive it is a 4-4-2 with Buete out wide and two up top. You need the point or you could steal one in a 4-5-1 but instead we are tryig to attack???? Why did Moore come off for a center back to go to right, and why was Buete not playing in the middle with Mclaughlin and Kandji/ Toure playing on the other side with the other up top. Why you ask, because Jason is a club soccer coach and doesnt know how to manage a professional team. The great substitutions immediately showed their impact by Kirby getting a deserved red card after blatently elbow Letoux in the face. He is going to be lucky if he is not suspended for more than one game. Well now we are down a man and a goal and panic begins to set in. Seattle takes over and does whatever they want for much of the rest of the match. However the bright points took place when Camp and Monterio joined the game after the two who should have come on as subs Kandji and Toure went off. Both played well as did Bolton who was playing out of position by the way. We actually had some good play and good opportunities at the end of the second half but it was too little too late as we had to press for the equalizer Seattle scored their 4th goal on a terrible play on Quintero and Lancasters part. Why didn't Mac and Ansu Rest and come on in the latter half of the game when they got some rest and Seattle would be worn out? Because Jason still should be at a second rate D3 school. Yes Jason you need to be ousted soon and let Chacon a true soccer mind take over, or lets make Hayes the player coach. Thats a good idea I would have to say and you could go back to bossing little kids around instead of being the face of a pro team because thats all you are. Very very evident in simply your squad selection on a two game trip. I haven't even brought up your inability to have some sort of defensive shape from your outside mids or forwards. If I am another teams coach I say lets attack your outside midfield because they are playing as forwards and really all we have to do is beat your outside backs which over the course of 90 minutes is bound to happen at some point and then we just have to double and triple team Mac and cover the kickball that you try to instill out there. Good strategy from a guy who never came close to playing at this high a level and continually shows his inexperience. You suck and I know you read this so defend yourself and make me and the rest of us believe you.

Longshoe said...

Wow, vent much?

I think that's a pretty harsh assessment. The wings are an issue, I've thought that might end up being a big problem as the season goes on.

If you're going to keep Rios in the team as the #10, you have to play McManus and Buete behind him to do the defensive work. You can play a 4-3-3/4-5-1 with that, Kandji and Toure act as the wings on either side of McLaughlin. They have to put in the work on the defensive side of the ball though, or the midfield gets stretched and the backs are exposed. It doesn't look like the understanding is there yet with the shape of the team.

It is early though, and there's plenty of time to fix things. It'll be hard to count a team with this much firepower out, but the defensive issues have to get solved if the 'Backs want to stay in the upper echelon of the league.

Anonymous said...

It is obvious that Anonymous 2:51 is one of your fruitcake boys. I would say Hornguy2(El Guero Pucko). If Smith is so bad how did he take an underfunded and outmanned team to the finals last year? The Silverbacks are going to give up a lot of goals this year because the center backs are too slow for this league and McIntosh is scared right now. They are going to have to outscore everyone.

Anonymous said...

Well Jason, the reason the team you coached last season went to the finals was because you have some great players on the team and the league didn't know how to defend against a player like Kandji at the time. You had some true blue collar players who work their butt off for the entire game not because you did such a fantastic job coaching them. You still have many of those players on the team or the bench yet you have 3+ guys who are out there solely for their glory and that hurts the team.

Anonymous said...

I love how when ATL wins a game there is nothing said but then they lose a game there is a crisis for ATL and smith doesnt know what he is doing. Sure there are thing he could do better but no matter what you say he doesnt have much to work with. Ukah who was going to be the target up top is injured. Ambersley who was obtained to replace rios is injured. so i guess that is poor coaching when guys get injured in tackles at practice or in games .
lastly, i never post but i get tired of everytime someone disagree with you for slamming smith u assume it is him. This may shock you but there are a lot of people who think he is doing a good job with limited resources.

Anonymous said...

What do you mean he doesn't have much to work with. You are missing Ukah and Ambersely never has even played a game as a Silverback and hasn't been an all star performer in the league yet so don't use him as an example. The only big contributer to last years team is Antoniak and Jarun. Lancaster was just as big a when Moore went down injured so there Jarun is replaced and Mclaughlin seems to be scoring goals at will. These players on this team have great playing backgrounds and have proven to be some of the top players in the league consitently for a while now so give me some better evidence than that. It's not even when your losing, you just have no idea how to change tactics based on what is going on in the game and it's evident when your playing a terrible Minnesota team by two goals late and you still have defensive liabilities of Rios, Kandji, and Toure running around the field doing whatever they want besides defend a lead.

Anonymous said...

That's the point DA. There is no money to get all star players.Hayes is the only all star. The rest of the team consists of PDL, USL2 and MLS reserves. You still don't get it do you?

Anonymous said...

Another terrible statement. The only reason Hayes is an All Star is because he scored a ton of PK's and free kicks and maybe one or two goals from the run of play last year. Attacking out of the back he is very good, but as a defender he is very average. Watch him for 90 minutes sometime and see how suspect his defence is and then give me that statement again. You have argued nothing successfully. The point is there are some great players on the team for one reason or another didn't make it with their respective MLS clubs first teams or whatever team, but they are just as good as any player from any other team so what exactly are you proving here? What was the point DA?

El Güero said...

yes, i'm so hardcore i have to post anonymously on my own blog.

fucking mongs

Anonymous said...

Fruitcake boys- HAHAHAHA! It fits.