Re: [nas] Dallas v Metrostars What did you think of the Metros experime

Well, considering that Dallas was doing a better job than in the previous four games of maintaining shape and discipline and pressuring at appropriate points, I think the switch would have been a very good idea.  Do they have enough confidence in their fullbacks (other than Pope, of course) to do it, though?

 

I wasn't worried about Dallas not doing it as we seemed to be able to hold our defensive shape and play the ball forward, even into traffic.  Sure, that ended up with a few long balls to nowhere, but considering that we had completely lost our defensive shape in the previous four games, that is a trade off I will take at this point.

 

I think another problem Metro has is that Vaca is not strong, defensively, and while he has offensive prowess, it isn't enough for him to not play defense.

 

But the biggest problem, imo, is that outside Taylor and Glenn (who I agree are definitely quality forwards) Metro struggles without those two.  With them not available to go 90 minutes, the team is going to struggle.

 

I am curious as to why Bradley hasn't been able to reproduce his magic from Chicago in New Jersey.

 

Agreed on the points as to Clarke.

 

I think possibly Bradley thought that against the team with the worst record in the league, he could play around a bit and try a few things out.

 

He forgot that as an ex-Chicago person, esp. as the former coach, he was going to get the Chicago treatment from Dallas - we were going to play tough, no matter what.  (Hell, look at last year - when we were the worst team in the league by a country mile - and the games we played against Metro.)

 

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----- Original Message -----

From: Rick Young

To: NAS

Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 6:34 AM

Subject: Re: [nas] Dallas v Metrostars What did you think of the Metros experiment? R

On Jun 6, 2004, at 7:11 AM, RichieAnimal@cs.com wrote:

It is true that Guevara plays defense when the team losses the ball. But, he does it naturally. I don't think you can make that responsibility mandatory on his part.

 

* that is a puzzling one, I agree.

Metrostars have a very bad habit that evidently Bradley their coach does not see. We hardly ever reverse the field anymore to play away from pressure from a pressured flank. I remember Metros doing it only 1 time Guevara did it. That is an important job of the defensive mid incidentally reversing the field.

Once we play on one side we continue on that side even though the opponents players are moving to ball side space killing our space to play. Before that happens we must play out of that pressured space into less pressured space or it will be very hard to hold the ball.

 

* Richie I made this same observation. But I thought Dallas was doing the same thing.

I am amazed that Bradley didn't see that it wasn't happening. If he saw it we would have seen the team start switching sides of the field more. I just don't get it?

One good thing Clark would do as a defensive mid was when he got the ball from a pressured side he would pass to the open side of the field. When his game started to slip he would forget to reverse his team field.

As a right back Clark attacked well, but I don't remember his playing defense as an outside back as well.

* he did not look comfortable to me during the match.

On Lisi he can pass, but he can't get many shots off in the flow of play like Guevara can. What he proved he can do is take corners, and he should continue taking corners for the Metrostars.

* I think the announcer picked up on it and called for it when Guevara walked up to take the corner.