Sunday, April 29, 2007

Game 3 - DC United 0:1 Columbus Crew

Is it time to blow this thing up? That's the question facing this team as they deal with the reality that they have started the season 0-0-3 and dug themselves a gigantic hole in the Eastern Conference. The defense seemed better, but was unable to clear the ball out of the box after a shot and no one covered the eventual goal scorer, a constant theme this season. Unmarked men in the box have an easy time beating the goalie. Marked men have a more difficult time scoring. Not a difficult concept. How the midfielders keep allowing the opponents to take the ball and fail to mark men in the offensive third of the field is maddening. I don't think it is time to reconstruct the team, but I definitely feel that the lack of defensive subs and a dramatic decline in the production of Carroll the Elder, Olsen, and Gros is the problem. If it is a scheme issue having to do with the coaching change, it should be fixable. If it is a talent issue, it may be a long season.

The Good:
  • Fred looked very dangerous as did Emilio.
The Bad:
  • Gomez was invisible and the coach seemed to notice as he was replaced in the second half.
  • Caroll the Elder also seems a shadow of his former self and was replaced at the half.
Simplified grades:

Forwards: B-

Midfielders: D+

Defense: C-

Subs: I

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