MLS - May 3 - D.C. (CF)

[gbservis]

OK, just got home. Was that actually a penalty? Our whole team was protesting and pointing up at the jumbotron, and the replays didn't look like much to me on the crappy in-stadium monitors. But apparently there was no VAR disagreement with the call? Was a truly WTF moment in the stadium.

And more than a few boos after the final whistle. Not thunderous, but noticeable.

Looked extremely soft on the broadcast.

I know it's not supposed to work like this but it's an embarrassing call to send to VAR. If a ref got tricked because a player dove that's one thing but this was just a very soft call. PRO isn't going to send that to VAR for one of their most Sr refs. VARs argument is likely that there was contact (very soft contact) that the ref on the field considered enough to warrant a PK so there is nothing missed and no error to review.

 

[Shwafta]

I know it doesn't really really change the outcome, but Elfath is one of my least favorite MLS refs. I remember him back in 2016 being very very inconsistent and he's still very inconsistent.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Wasn't able to watch, and while this is a bad loss against a team we really shouldn't lose to, we've also played like 73 games in the last three weeks so its understandable for the team to have such a bad performance. I don't think today's no-show is indicative of the team's capability, and I still think this is a good team in a bad slump.

I love Pascal and he should absolutely be nowhere near the hot seat right now but he does not rotate enough. We probably should have had more rotation when we've had three straight weeks of midweek games, and a fatigue-based bad game after an emotional Derby win probably shouldn't have been a surprise.

I love the USOC and want us to play in it every year, but the rounds are far too compact together. And not for a good reason, either. After the quarterfinals, the semifinals are in September. Surely we could spread this tournament up a little more.

 

[Seth]

Looked extremely soft on the broadcast.

I know it's not supposed to work like this but it's an embarrassing call to send to VAR. If a ref got tricked because a player dove that's one thing but this was just a very soft call. PRO isn't going to send that to VAR for one of their most Sr refs. VARs argument is likely that there was contact (very soft contact) that the ref on the field considered enough to warrant a PK so there is nothing missed and no error to review.

Didn't want to click "like" but there doesn't seem to be an "ugh" button available LOL

 

[joe]

 

[Shawn Ryu]

At this point, focus all effort on US Open Cup, so we can at least have something to look forward to this season.

 

[gbservis]

Wasn't able to watch, and while this is a bad loss against a team we really shouldn't lose to, we've also played like 73 games in the last three weeks so its understandable for the team to have such a bad performance. I don't think today's no-show is indicative of the team's capability, and I still think this is a good team in a bad slump.

I love Pascal and he should absolutely be nowhere near the hot seat right now but he does not rotate enough. We probably should have had more rotation when we've had three straight weeks of midweek games, and a fatigue-based bad game after an emotional Derby win probably shouldn't have been a surprise.

I love the USOC and want us to play in it every year, but the rounds are far too compact together. And not for a good reason, either. After the quarterfinals, the semifinals are in September. Surely we could spread this tournament up a little more.

I agree, we were bound of drop points due to fatigue on the back end of the stretch of heavy schedule congestion, especially today with a bunch of our first choice starters out and a CB with no attacking capabilities playing right back.

That said I don't really know what Pascal was supposed to do for rotation given the current state of the team and the roster they gave him. They said on one of the broadcasts that Pascal mentioned that the young guys, and he specifically mentioned Carrizo are talented but just not there yet. I believe him too as he's shown that he has no problem playing young players he thinks are ready. He played Jones and Perea the moment they were ready. He played a few young guys he trusts in Shore and Farnos.

I also wonder what guys like Maxi and Nico are telling him. I'd bet with the WC coming up those guys are others are saying play me every game, I have a month off to rest.

Then there's Magno who Pascal tried to start today but they pulled him out because his leg felt tight. This is not the first time Magno has been a warm up time scratch. In his first stint with the team he also asked out of games early in the first half on multiple occasions with "leg tightness". The guy is a diva that won't play with even the slightest level of discomfort. He messes up our press, he won't play enough defense to be trusted to start at LW. He's a waste of a DP spot and their delusional for thinking it was going to go any different this time around.

 

[Gene]

We need to start the Pascal Jansen Hot Seat Watch. I know we loved his first season, but if this doesn’t improve, the sooner we pull the ripcord, the better.

I don't think he's on the hot seat, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he isn't pissed about the half assed way this organization goes about building a roster and bolts for the first reasonable job offer he gets from a Euro club over the summer. He wouldn't be the first IMHO.

 

[BC19]

I don't think he's on the hot seat, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he isn't pissed about the half assed way this organization goes about building a roster and bolts for the first reasonable job offer he gets from a Euro club over the summer. He wouldn't be the first IMHO.

Unfortunately I think the same applies for Nico. Why stay?

 

[Revfugee]

I hate to single anyone out, but the biggest dropoff is from KOT to Cavallo. He got off to a great start in his first like 2 matches last year but he just looks lost, makes poor decisions, slowly, and just seems overmatched going both ways.

Not that the rest of the squad looked good.

Also glad to see Perea and Malachi back and healthy, and that’s about the only positive I can take away today. That and the pastrami sandwich.

 

[Shwafta]

I hate to single anyone out, but the biggest dropoff is from KOT to Cavallo. He got off to a great start in his first like 2 matches last year but he just looks lost, makes poor decisions, slowly, and just seems overmatched going both ways.

Not that the rest of the squad looked good.

Also glad to see Perea and Malachi back and healthy, and that’s about the only positive I can take away today. That and the pastrami sandwich.

Yeah, cavallo has not looked good at all recently.

I know we are trying to play the youngster academy guys, but imo the only one right now (or maybe two) that has a good shot is shore. I can see an argument for Reid but I also just don't think he's ready either.

 

[Marito]

I hate to single anyone out, but the biggest dropoff is from KOT to Cavallo. He got off to a great start in his first like 2 matches last year but he just looks lost, makes poor decisions, slowly, and just seems overmatched going both ways.

Not that the rest of the squad looked good.

Also glad to see Perea and Malachi back and healthy, and that’s about the only positive I can take away today. That and the pastrami sandwich.We

 

[Marito]

I hate to single anyone out, but the biggest dropoff is from KOT to Cavallo. He got off to a great start in his first like 2 matches last year but he just looks lost, makes poor decisions, slowly, and just seems overmatched going both ways.

Not that the rest of the squad looked good.

Also glad to see Perea and Malachi back and healthy, and that’s about the only positive I can take away today. That and the pastrami sandwich.

We could do the opposite exercise and ask ourselves who are really good in our team? IMHO it's just 3 people: Nico, Freese and Martins. Aidan and Tayvon maybe qualify too, barely. Ojeda has improved but is one-dimensional, and plays a style we cannot take advantage of without somebody crashing the 6-yard box. Wolf, Maxi at 39, KOT, Trewin, Raul, are serviceable but wouldn't be starters in a really good team. Keaton is either not fit or not rated by our coach, so for whatever reason doesn't profile as a key contributor this season despite his talent. On top of that we have no depth whatsoever. Without Alonso we are no better than the Revs, Montreal, DC, etc. teams that would be happy just to scrape into the playoffs as an 8th seed. With Alonso, Ojeda's crosses start turning into assists and we raise to 5th or 6th, but that's our ceiling, barring an injury to any other key piece such as Nico or Martins. We may just miss the playoffs altogether.

 

[Revfugee]

We could do the opposite exercise and ask ourselves who are really good in our team? IMHO it's just 3 people: Nico, Freese and Martins. Aidan and Tayvon maybe qualify too, barely. Ojeda has improved but is one-dimensional, and plays a style we cannot take advantage of without somebody crashing the 6-yard box. Wolf, Maxi at 39, KOT, Trewin, Raul, are serviceable but wouldn't be starters in a really good team. Keaton is either not fit or not rated by our coach, so for whatever reason doesn't profile as a key contributor this season despite his talent. On top of that we have no depth whatsoever. Without Alonso we are no better than the Revs, Montreal, DC, etc. teams that would be happy just to scrape into the playoffs as an 8th seed. With Alonso, Ojeda's crosses start turning into assists and we raise to 5th or 6th, but that's our ceiling, barring an injury to any other key piece such as Nico or Martins. We may just miss the playoffs altogether.

Fair. Though I think Maxi still provides excellent quality and vision. The issue is that we can’t really on it for 90 minutes especially during crowded windows. I think the others are what they are but I feel like Trewin has shined at times and still has unrealized upside. And yes our depth is terrible outside of CM

 

[moogoo]

We could do the opposite exercise and ask ourselves who are really good in our team? IMHO it's just 3 people: Nico, Freese and Martins. Aidan and Tayvon maybe qualify too, barely. Ojeda has improved but is one-dimensional, and plays a style we cannot take advantage of without somebody crashing the 6-yard box. Wolf, Maxi at 39, KOT, Trewin, Raul, are serviceable but wouldn't be starters in a really good team. Keaton is either not fit or not rated by our coach, so for whatever reason doesn't profile as a key contributor this season despite his talent. On top of that we have no depth whatsoever. Without Alonso we are no better than the Revs, Montreal, DC, etc. teams that would be happy just to scrape into the playoffs as an 8th seed. With Alonso, Ojeda's crosses start turning into assists and we raise to 5th or 6th, but that's our ceiling, barring an injury to any other key piece such as Nico or Martins. We may just miss the playoffs altogether.

I think this is a fair take and I agree with most of it. This is MLS though and no team can expect to have all 11 starters be game changer quality. For a team with supposed aspirations of winning silverware, we should have more than 3. We need at least 3 more high level players to be true contenders. We simply don't have it. Lack of signing players has created a stagnant roster with little competition to push players to develop and become higher level.

We are definitely a lower mid table side that got lucky with red cards in the early going. we look at the red bulls and say "ha, they are terrible" and yet we sit side by side with them in the table.

 

[gbservis]

Fair. Though I think Maxi still provides excellent quality and vision. The issue is that we can’t really on it for 90 minutes especially during crowded windows. I think the others are what they are but I feel like Trewin has shined at times and still has unrealized upside. And yes our depth is terrible outside of CM

I agree with you that despite his ago Maxi has looked very good this season. I think part of the issue this season is that Maxi and Nico are redundant. They both essentially play floating CAM, regardless of where they line up, the last few games Nico isn't even pretending to be the #9. I don't really know what you do if you are Pascal, they are two of our best players so its hard to bench Maxi but something has to change. It would be nice to see what things look like with a true #9, running the channels and causing trouble in the middle. Right now half the time its Maxi and Nico off floating around with the CMs and our two wings hugging the sidelines, that's not threatening at all.

I think this is a fair take and I agree with most of it. This is MLS though and no team can expect to have all 11 starters be game changer quality. For a team with supposed aspirations of winning silverware, we should have more than 3. We need at least 3 more high level players to be true contenders. We simply don't have it. Lack of signing players has created a stagnant roster with little competition to push players to develop and become higher level.

We are definitely a lower mid table side that got lucky with red cards in the early going. we look at the red bulls and say "ha, they are terrible" and yet we sit side by side with them in the table.

They sealed our fate when they didn't sign a #9 in the first window and brought Magno back. You add a high end #9 and high quality winger to this team and everything looks better. Everyone focuses on Ojdea but Magno and Wolf are far bigger issues from a roster resource stand point. Magno takes a DP spot, doesn't fit our system and barely plays. Wolf makes $1.5M and is one of the highest paid TAM players in the league and he needs to produce at a much higher level with far more consistency to justify that level to cap hit.

Also, on the aspirations front, I no longer believe they have high level aspirations. They can say what they want but their actions say that their barometer of success is making the playoffs, that's it. If they truly cared about winning trophies they wouldn't waste DP spots and leave gaping roster holes for 2/3rds of the season year after year.

 

[moogoo]

I agree with you that despite his ago Maxi has looked very good this season. I think part of the issue this season is that Maxi and Nico are redundant. They both essentially play floating CAM, regardless of where they line up, the last few games Nico isn't even pretending to be the #9. I don't really know what you do if you are Pascal, they are two of our best players so its hard to bench Maxi but something has to change. It would be nice to see what things look like with a true #9, running the channels and causing trouble in the middle. Right now half the time its Maxi and Nico off floating around with the CMs and our two wings hugging the sidelines, that's not threatening at all.



They sealed our fate when they didn't sign a #9 in the first window and brought Magno back. You add a high end #9 and high quality winger to this team and everything looks better. Everyone focuses on Ojdea but Magno and Wolf are far bigger issues from a roster resource stand point. Magno takes a DP spot, doesn't fit our system and barely plays. Wolf makes $1.5M and is one of the highest paid TAM players in the league and he needs to produce at a much higher level with far more consistency to justify that level to cap hit.

Also, on the aspirations front, I no longer believe they have high level aspirations. They can say what they want but their actions say that their barometer of success is making the playoffs, that's it. If they truly cared about winning trophies they wouldn't waste DP spots and leave gaping roster holes for 2/3rds of the season year after year.

not to take over the DC match thread but i'll be interested to see who will sit once alonso is able to play again.

 

[gbservis]

not to take over the DC match thread but i'll be interested to see who will sit once alonso is able to play again.

It's an interesting question, starting the season I would have guessed Maxi, but how do you sit a guy with a goal and 6 assists in favor of Wolf or Ojeda with far less production.

 

[Shwafta]

not to take over the DC match thread but i'll be interested to see who will sit once alonso is able to play again.

Ojeda or Wolf sits. Same way Malachi took one of those spots during the game.