Dallas Postmatch

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While it's disappointing that we had no answer to DAL owning the midfield entirely (just kidding, the answer was probably to play Camargo instead of TMac), it's honorable to leave Frisco with a point, and heartening that DAL's goal was basically only due to a straight up marking failure rather than poor defensive setup.

RSL is absolutely beatable. Let's go.
 
MOTM
1. Johnson
2. Chanot
3. Ring

Thought TMac was easily our worst player the whole match. Then he makes that ridiculous play for the goal.

First time I found myself actually calling for Mikey Lopez to be subbed in. We needed his legs and for him to draw a nasty yellow.

Ben Sweat should have been subbed out. He was gassed and seemed pretty lazy the last 20 minutes.
 
Sean John easily MOTM for me. He saved our asses on at least a couple of occasions. I thought on the whole we deserved to lose 3-1 if not for him.

Also I said at halftime that I would have taken TMac off and switched to a 4 man midfield but as someone said post game (think it was SoupInNYC SoupInNYC) this game epitomizes TMac. He was pretty damn bad all match and then pops up in the right spot at the right time and puts it on the line for the team. That's what Vieira has always praised him for -- his reading of the game. All the other NYC players were standing around with thumbs up their asses but he was following the shot. Good on him.

As for RSL, I hope PV heavily rotates the side. A lot of our guys looked shot after that match in 86 degrees and high humidity. Let's give some other guys a shot against a struggling RSL and go strong against Orlando.
 
Very happy with the result considering a few things. We were without our likely best 11. We were against arguably the best team in the league over the past few years even though they haven't won anything (MLS' Tottenham?) they have a distinct home field advantage in the heat. Might have left something out but that's mainly it off the top of my head.

It was the defensive and non flair players that stood out tonight. I knew he was better than Slosh but I'm liking Johnson more and more all the time. Chanot is also the best defender in team history, that's not really up for argument is it? Probably one of the classiest in the league at this point as well? Not sure what it says for the league that a journeyman Luxembourg international looks so class here but that's another story lol.

Villa should be first choice on freekicks even if Pirlo is on the pitch. We all know and respect the Maestro's history but only one of them has show it since coming to the America and that's The captain.
 
Well earned point. We're down two starters and they played a strong game.

Villa - 7. Pressed well. Thought he got a bit too fancy trying to distribute. Showed again why he needs to be on free kicks with a chance for goal

Wallace - 7. I thought he played fine offensively but was everywhere defensively. Tucked in more offensively in the second half. Solid game

Harrison - 5. Maybe his worst game if the season. Just didn't get in the flow of the game unfortunately. We rarely found him enough going forward. Had one strong attempt at goal

Maxi - 4. Got some good foul calls. Gave the ball up easy. Looked out of sorts with Villa. One of his worst games with us. They had a very good game plan for him

McNamara - 5. Was absurd in the midfield. But the goal was all hustle. Very American of him. Still rough on the ball. His skills, if you call them that, aren't meant for an MLS 3.0 attack. He's all hustle. That said, he did pick out some beautiful balls in the first half

Ring - 8. Was everywhere tonight. Tactically, he was almost perfect. Positionally, he was brilliant.

White - 5. He played fine. He is what he is. I feel like he will fluctuate between 4-7 all year. Wasn't tested too much as their attack was mostly up the other side and through the middle it seemed

Sweat - 5. Going with a 5 here as well. Was decent defensively. Surprisingly to me, he's been good going forward. Has a decent left foot which has surprised me

Chanot - 7. Our rock defensively. Wasn't great tonight but was very good. I think that he somehing to do with Callens

Callens - 5. I think his athleticism bails him out sometimes. I think he has the physical tools to be a terrific CB but Chanot has to cover for him way too much. Was very good tonight 1 v 1 but he still struggles when under pressure with distribution

Johnson - 8. My MOTM. We could have lost 3-1. Would like to know if the choice to clear Long a lot to start the game was by design or if his own doing

Lopez - N/A. Nothing to say. I don't think he performed the role well that he was sent on to do but I won't get into that here

Camargo - N/A. Did nothing but have one great run when he came on. I think Maxi played him a poor ball and played it too early

Vieira - I won't give him a rating because I don't know what the game plan was. I understand you are concerned about getting the point but I was surprised he only used 2 subs and that he waited that long on the second sub. We play again in a few days. I think the guys who are going direct all start. I'm surprised Maxi or Wallace wasn't taken off
 
I'm a big Wynalda fan. He's a blowhard, but once you get past that, he's entertaining. And he LOVES the game. He doesn't view this as work. And I like that in his announcing. He just gets really excited about soccer. Like a, "I can't believe they are paying me for this shit," philosophy.
 
I'm a big Wynalda fan. He's a blowhard, but once you get past that, he's entertaining. And he LOVES the game. He doesn't view this as work. And I like that in his announcing. He just gets really excited about soccer. Like a, "I can't believe they are paying me for this shit," philosophy.


You also gotta love that his Satellite radio talk show is WTF "Wnyalda Talking Football" lol.
 
I'm a big Wynalda fan. He's a blowhard, but once you get past that, he's entertaining. And he LOVES the game. He doesn't view this as work. And I like that in his announcing. He just gets really excited about soccer. Like a, "I can't believe they are paying me for this shit," philosophy.

He calls the game like he doesn't have anything to prove and he's perfectly fine with the quality of play on display on the field.

Reminds me of the way John Gruden calls Monday night football games. Except better somehow?