We've gone from Suck to Blow

1) Olave is not to blame for Seitz' injury...he was attempting to clear the ball. A defender cannot pause to see (or ask) if the Keeper is coming out to make a play on the ball, because indecision leads to cheap goals. As a defender you must attack the ball to clear it, again waiting on the ball also leads to cheap goals. Keepers are taught taught to make their presence known (yell) when leaving the goal line especially when their teammates are in their path, because defenders typically have their backs to them.

2) It was an accident plain and simple...a spilt second decision from both of them, no time for "I got it you take it". You can bet there would be a lot more people on these boards complaining if both of them would have stopped and looked at each other while someone tapped it in. I recv'd a bruised kidney from a play in college almost exactly like this one. Running full speed toward the goal, slid to clear the ball, keeper (on-rushing) slides to make the save, wet field, collision - keeper's knee to my back...out for 2 months. No ones fault, we were both going for the ball. Freak accident!

3) Bench 'Em or Start 'Em: It's time to take a serious look at several performances:
KYLE: has been VERY ineffective in the last 3 games as the Defensive Ctr Mid - when Ian comes back why not try Russell at D-Mid (good in the air & fast). Your defensive Ctr Mid should be good at being defensive!
YURA: piss poor, bad decision making and unable to strike a ball well. His size isn't doing anything for us.
WILL: we love him for his effort for 90 minutes, but he's no longer taking players on and beating them (which could be attributed to our forwards lack of ability in a) holding the ball up, and b) distribution)
WINGERT: new contract = sophomore slump. Chris looks like his mind is somewhere other than the pitch right now. Sit him down and get his head right.
FINDLEY, ANDY, GRABAVOY, COX: subs.
ESPY, ESCALADA: lace 'em up, it's your turn

We're at a crossroads...I understand we've built a family, and the organization as a whole functions better when we care about each other, but someone has to be the parent. JK, it's not your job to their best friend, it's your job to get them to perform to the best of their ability, and sometimes that means a kick in the ass instead of a hug. You should have started Saturday night with wind sprints after the game!
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http://4foosball.blogspot.com/

What's the 4-5-1

I don't fault Jason for implementing a new formation for road games, nothing else was working, but it requires selecting the right tools if it is to be effective. My criticism is based on the following truths about this team's style of play.

1) Our outside backs are encouraged (dare I say expected) to get into the attack at every opportunity
2) Our biggest strength is our midfield
3) Our main offensive weapons are speed (beating players outright) and the through ball from our creative midfielders.
4) We do not have all-star forwards capable of creating scoring threats consistently through their skill alone.

Using the items above accepted as truth, I have observed the following of the 4-5-1 in it's RSL incarnation. This may get technical, so go relieve yourself and grab a beverage, it may take a while.

1) Yura is not the right forward to be the 1.
In the 4-5-1 your forward has 2 options when receives or tracks down the ball: a) try to beat the defender marking you , or b) hold it up and dish to re-enforcements coming to your aid. You should only implement option A if you have one man to beat to be in position to score, yet Yura was taking on defenders by his lonesome all night, ignoring option B. This poor decision making leads too....

2) Wearing out your midfield.
Too often Saturday night, our midfield (and our outside backs) were rushing up the field to support Yura, only to watch him (or someone else) lose the ball foolishly by forcing something (which we tend NOT TO DO AT HOME). Nothing wears out your midfielders faster (and pisses them of as well) than running up and down the field to join the attack, only to have to slam on the breaks and sprint to recover from a turnover in hopes of....

3) Preventing an odd man rush and the resulting scoring opportunity.
With your midfield wearing itself out running up and down the field all night, possession and defending in the midfield becomes less and less effective as the minutes tick by. I'm sorry but Javi, Kyle, and Clint cannot run wind sprints for 90 minutes, but Will can. So I guess we give Will the ball and we hope he can get it to....

3) Robbie Findley
Why not Robbie instead of Yura? He's a lot faster so he could actually turn a ball over the top into a breakaway, and even though his touch isn't great, he's as good as Yura with his first touch usually being backwards.

If we don't beat KC on Saturday, we'll be lamenting more than the 4-5-1 when the boys come home from their extended road trip!

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http://4foosball.blogspot.com/

Killing Pablo

Pablo Mastroeni did his job...period. Skill is not his trade and you
would sooner find Pablo conductor of the NY Philharmonic than winning
the Golden Boot. It's why we love to hate him when we play against the
Crapids, but we cheer for him on the Nats Team. He's on the pitch to
pester the shit out of everyones center midfielder...that's it. When
you don't have finesse, keep throwing body blows and they'll at least
think about coming inside for the rest of the night. In NHL terms,
he's Shawn Avery, and he has a place on his team because of his
ability to get in the head of his opponent, and as we saw on Saturday,
Javi was so pissed at Pablo he was rendered useless. Job well done
Pablo...now Mr. Kreis, who's gonna shadow Pablo in SLC when we play
the Crapids next, because if were relying on the league to tae Pablo,
we'll be waiting for a VERY long time!

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