Stottpocalypse Now
The referee, Kevin Stott, did not have his best game. The score could have been 1-2 with DC fully-manned and almost half an hour to go. An entirely different match.
But, even if we lived in an alternate universe where Moreno drew the PK and Olsen was not sent off after being mauled, United would have lost. The result was inevitable, and neither tragic nor surprising. It was more like the passing of an elderly relative after a protracted illness and less like the sudden loss of a child in a traffic accident.
Great teams create their own luck. DC has raised its game recently to a level of dreary mediocrity, but this was far from sufficient. Neither great nor lucky (nor well-coached), United went down hard.
The best part of the match came before the first whistle blew. United's starting lineup was somewhat promising. With neither slow Moreno nor worthless Emilio starting, we had the superior forward in Pontius, fed by Quaranta on one side, the speedy Khumalo on the other, and creative Gomez underneath him. Even Dejan Jacovic was sufficiently recovered from injury to start. Sure, the defense was shaky and who knew which Gomez would show up, but, Go Team!
The first half was tense, with Chivas working harder and looking sharper and more aggressive in all aspects of play. DC wasn't terrible, but its midfield was awfully porous and its offense was failing to create many dangerous chances in the final third.
The match seemed like it would hang in the balance for awhile until the disastarous first goal, in which two of our weaker links got exposed on the same play. And there, right there, it looked like the match was going to be over unless aliens arrived and mysteriously replaced United with Chelsea, Barcelona, or maybe even Melbourne.
As the half sagged toward its end, the question was, would Soehn make decisive changes to try and win this game? United needed to play like the season would end right now unless they scored goals. Where was the energy, the desire, the intensity? What was Soehn going to do to change the equation?
He answered the question sooner than I'd ever imagine, by substituting Gomez for Moreno with a couple of minutes to go in the half. Holy shit! He's making my job too easy. Was Gomez really playing that poorly? Would Moreno really be such an improvement? Of all the changes to make, before the half even, Soehn decided to do that? Gomez let Soehn have it on the sideline, too.
BUT WAIT, as they say on late night infomercials, THERE'S MORE! Along with your miracle skin cleanser, Soehn delivered, at the start of the second half, Fred for Khumalo. Boyzzz, who plays like a cheaper, better, Fred, and who, unlike the Brazillian, can (i) see the field when he has the ball, and (ii) shoot. Khumalo also looked like the United player the most dangerous and likely to score during the first half. Oh, I could see Fred coming into the game at that point, maybe for Burch or Olsen but to play in an attacking role, but for Boyzzz?
Useless Fred quickly confirmed that he is a stupidly useless turnover machine. (Actually, he's a very useful turnover machine--for the other side.) The other players in black were getting beaten all over the pitch and resorting to undisciplined fouls. Great. Go Team.
So yes, United was getting worse as the game progressed, which the quality of play reflected. All that we needed for the night to be complete would be for (i) Burch to completely fail at playing defense, leading to a goal; and (ii) Emilio to come in and butcher a couple of decent chances to score.
What's that you say? Oh, I see.
In minute 65, I had a front row seat for Olsen getting run down from behind and brutally elbowed in the head. Right in front of the fourth official. Olsen's attempt at a quick restart (or was it retaliation?) struck a Chivas player, and then Ben was gone. Hopefully this was not his last official exit from RFK. On the quiet side, a funerial atmosphere descended. From the loud side, first white, then pink, then yellow smoke was released. (What does this mean? What is the code? I have never been able to figure this out.)
In the second half, Pontius and Quaranta seemed to be the only ones 100% committed to winning the game. These guys deserve raises with the money left over after we shit-can Emilio and Fred.
Then came the inevitable fade-to-black as United, circling the drain, watched almost like a collection of bystanders as its post-season hopes were flushed away. Another resounding chorus of boos from the spectators that remained. The players were morose as they walked off the pitch, avoiding eye contact with the fans waiting by the first-base dugout.
As I ponder the season ticket renewal form, here is A PROPOSAL: as a show of accountability and for keeping faith with the fans, as well as the players that still matter, how about firing Soehn and promoting Olsen to player-coach to see out the rest of the year? Just think about it.
Talon Rating: One Bird
Updates likely later, as there's a lot to think about here . . . .
You always hit the nail on the head with your recaps...Keep it up!
Posted by: Florence Carlsson | October 05, 2009 at 05:28 PM
Impressive blog! -Arron
Posted by: rc helicopter reviews | December 21, 2011 at 06:46 AM