Thursday, March 13, 2008
First thoughts
Dashing out a few thoughts before bed following Harbour View 1-1 DC United...
United can't really feel too bad about this result. Yes, they were five+ minutes away from a first leg victory when Lovel Palmer's finish punished some lead-footed set piece marking, but they'd hardly built any sort of clear advantage up to that point in what was on balance a ragged and disjointed match. The two Gonzalos in central defense looked capable and assured all night, but deserve fair criticism just for that blunder alone, which took place on a particularly high, floaty corner kick delivery from onetime Wizard Jermaine Hue.
The biggest talking point of the night has to be Moreno. I'm stunned to see him last less than 15 minutes on an evening featuring near-ideal weather and a rough, but not unplayable, pitch. Are his legs really that worn down by preseason fitness work? Is he truly match fit? Might he even have warmed up inadequately?
For all the murmurs about his advancing age, Moreno is more central to this team's prospects than ever. He holds the ball better than anyone on the team, he wears the captain's armband and with the influx of South Americans, he's a primary conduit of information flow both on and off the field, and in a number of directions. Soehn is going to have to clearly and honestly attempt to assess just how many minutes Moreno's body can bear this season, because it's going to have plenty of influence on the season's course.
Now, the squad can journey back home to DC...finally...could that alone spur a positive result on Tuesday...?
United can't really feel too bad about this result. Yes, they were five+ minutes away from a first leg victory when Lovel Palmer's finish punished some lead-footed set piece marking, but they'd hardly built any sort of clear advantage up to that point in what was on balance a ragged and disjointed match. The two Gonzalos in central defense looked capable and assured all night, but deserve fair criticism just for that blunder alone, which took place on a particularly high, floaty corner kick delivery from onetime Wizard Jermaine Hue.
The biggest talking point of the night has to be Moreno. I'm stunned to see him last less than 15 minutes on an evening featuring near-ideal weather and a rough, but not unplayable, pitch. Are his legs really that worn down by preseason fitness work? Is he truly match fit? Might he even have warmed up inadequately?
For all the murmurs about his advancing age, Moreno is more central to this team's prospects than ever. He holds the ball better than anyone on the team, he wears the captain's armband and with the influx of South Americans, he's a primary conduit of information flow both on and off the field, and in a number of directions. Soehn is going to have to clearly and honestly attempt to assess just how many minutes Moreno's body can bear this season, because it's going to have plenty of influence on the season's course.
Now, the squad can journey back home to DC...finally...could that alone spur a positive result on Tuesday...?
Comment posted by Charles Boehm @ 12:47 AM 
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