Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
Jack McInerney grabbed all three points for the Union on Sunday night at PPL Park, nodding home a 90th minute winner to steal a 2-1 victory against the New England Revolution.
McInerney’s goal marked the Union’s first comeback victory of 2012, after Saer Sene’s 12th minute blast had thrust New England into the lead. When Kevin Alston hauled down McInerney, Freddy Adu stepped to the spot and dispatched the equalizing penalty kick, beginning the comeback.
In a wide open match, both sides had ample opportunity to claim the victory, but it was not until the final minute of regulation that McInerney latched onto Sheanon Williams’ cross at the back post, sending the Union to their fourth consecutive win at PPL Park.
First Half
Adu returned to the starting lineup, taking his place alongside McInerney up top, but the night’s big story was Antoine Hoppenot earning his first MLS start for the Union after impressing as a late game substitute. In the midfield, Gabriel Gomez rejoined Brian Carroll and Michael Farfan while the back four remained constant in front of Zac MacMath.
While the Union were looking to rebound from a lackluster performance at Red Bull Arena, they nearly got off to the worst possible start when a miscommunication between Carlos Valdes and MacMath nearly gifted the Revolution an early advantage. In the 6th minute, the two got their signals crossed when MacMath raced off his line to claim a New England through ball. Thinking the play was too close, Valdes headed back to his unsuspecting keeper, sending the ball to the feet of Saer Sene. Despite rounding MacMath twice on the play, however, Sene could not muster a shot before Gomez eventually cleared the danger.
The Union put plenty of early pressure on the New England back line through the lively runs of McInerney and Hoppenot, but it was Sene who would snatch an early lead for the visitors.
Bouncing off bodies in the midfield, Kelyn Rowe picked out Sene’s run. When the Union failed to close down the striker, Sene unleashed a powerful, swerving, dipping drive that wrong-footed a helpless MacMath.
The Union had been pushing bodies forward in attack in the early minutes and, despite conceding, they were immediately back after it. Gabriel Farfan soon earned a Union corner following a smart interplay between Adu and Michael Farfan, giving the Union a chance to bring bodies forward. The initial delivery was cleared, but on the resulting long throw-in, the ball rattled around, falling to Michael Farfan. Picking out Carlos Valdes at the back post, the Union skipper got power on his header, but not direction, with Reis claiming it comfortably.
McInerney and Hoppenot continued to give Stephen McCarthy and A.J. Soares a workout at the back. Hoppenot nearly broke away clean in the 21st minute, but McCarthy’s well-timed tackle snuffed out the opportunity.
With the danger posed up front, the Union abandoned their traditional possession game in favor of a more direct approach, but New England was organized and continued to press high up the field. The pressure from Sene nearly resulted in a second tally for New England after he dispossessed Michael Farfan in the 23rd, but his shot went straight at MacMath.
Another positive run from Hoppenot saw him leave the New England defense in his wake, and the Revolution were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men after Soares clattered through Hoppenot with a late, violent tackle that earned the game’s first caution.
As both teams threw numbers forward, New England began to find gaps in the wide open midfield. First Lee Nguyen had a long run at goal, only to be stood up by a strong tackle from Gabe Farfan. Next Rowe found his way past the Union offside trap. While his shot beat MacMath, it rolled wide of the far post, and the scoreline remained at 1-0.
At the other end Hoppenot continued to look the most likely for the Union, but he could not find a handle on the ball after he was twice played into space.
It was end-to-end stuff, and Michael Farfan was the next to find himself with an opportunity on the break. Before he could play in McInerney, however, Benny Feilhaber drove through his back, setting up a free kick 25 yards from goal. Farfan stepped up to take the set piece himself, hitting the ball well, but without enough venom to beat Reis, who easily claimed the curling effort.
Minutes later, Hoppenot had the Revolution’s other center back in the book when McCarthy cut him down when he raced into the corner.
Second Half
Neither side made changes during the halftime break, but the Union took the interval to change shape. Pushing Gabe Farfan into the midfield opposite his brother, coach John Hackworth asked Williams to swap flanks, with the Union’s new 3-5-2 setup attempting to combat New England’s midfield dominance over much of the first half.
The Union looked disorganized, however, and the Revolution nearly made them pay quickly. Kelyn Rowe cut past Valdes and played in Sene, who had found space in the box. With the goal gaping, Williams slid in to save his side before Sene could add to his opener.
On the resulting corner kick, MacMath came off his line but flapped badly, allowing the ball to fall behind him. In the ensuing scramble, Nguyen found possession but blazed his effort over the bar.
It was all New England and Williams was again called on to make a sliding intervention on Sene before Ryan Guy came inches from adding a second goal in the 55th minute.
But with New England failing to capitalize on their opportunities, the Union clawed back into the match following a controversial refereeing decision in the 58th minute. Pressing forward into midfield, Gabe Farfan spotted McInerney racing in behind the Revolution defense and hooked a curving ball over the top into his path. Trailing the play, defender Kevin Alston tripped up McInerney, who slid down in the box. The foul was unquestioned, but after a moment’s hesitation, referee Edvin Jurisevic pointed to the spot, despite replay’s showing clearly that the contact had occurred outside it. Adu stepped up to take the spot kick and buried a powerful drive beyond Matt Reis, who had guessed correctly.
New England nearly got the goal right back when Alston raced in on MacMath, but the Union keeper got enough of a touch on the ball to satisfy Jurisevic.
At the other end, Brian Carroll picked the pocket of substitute Shalrie Joseph, setting off a move that sent Williams into space on the right flank. Putting his head down, the Union fullback split two defenders, dashing into the box and unleashing a rasping drive that Reis had to beat away.
Reinvigorated by the goal, the chances were flowing for the Union and Michael Farfan nearly latched onto a cutback in the 67th minute. But when Soares beat him to ball, the Union playmaker crunched into the New England center back, earning himself the Union’s only caution on the night.
Both team’s looked to fresh legs as they both felt capable of grabbing a late winner with the wide-open, end-to-end play continuing.
Newly-signed Dimitry Imbongo then earned a free kick for the Revolution after a physical challenge from Valdes, but MacMath got comfortably behind Chris Tierney’s left-footed effort.
New England began to pour on the pressure looking for a winner. In the 79th minute, Joseph evaded the attentions of Okugo, finding space in behind the Union defense. Between the onrushing MacMath and recovering Okugo, the pair did enough to put off Joseph, who lofted his chip onto the roof of the net. Next, Imbongo raced clean through an alarmingly ragged-looking Union backline. Valdes recovered quickly however, and before Imbongo could get his shot off, the Union captain nipped in to save the day. Moments later, the Union failed to properly deal with Tierney’s teasing ball into the area and Feilhaber found space in the box, smashing his shot narrowly over the bar, much to the relief of the sellout crowd at PPL Park.
Relieved to be let off the hook, the Union countered. Michael Farfan’s through ball put substitute Lionard Pajoy into space, but his return pass was poor.
The Union nearly had a chance to take the lead with a second penalty on the night, but when Darrius Barnes handled the ball in his own box, neither Jurisevic nor his assistant were moved.
With time winding down, Sene bulldozed his way through Okugo and Valdes, but MacMath stood strong, saving the shot, despite being bowled over in the process.
Stoppage time seemed all that separated the teams from a share of the points after McInerney squandered a dangerous breakaway, but the Union No. 9 was quick to atone for his mistake.
Switching the field of play with three quick passes, Carroll released Williams up the right wing. Taking a touch up the line, Williams whipped his service to the back post. Ghosting inside of Alston, McInerney rose to meet the ball, powering his header down into the turf and beyond Reis, igniting celebrations across PPL Park.
There was still defending to do however, and Ryan Guy nearly canceled out the Union’s advantage in the first minute of stoppage time. Racing towards the endline, Guy cut his sharp-angled shot past MacMath and the sliding Okugo, but Valdes arrived at the right moment, sliding the ball clear of danger to preserve the victory.
Next up, the Union make their first trip to Stade Saputo where they take on Montreal Impact on Saturday, August 4 at 7:30pm.
Philadelphia Union
Zac MacMath; Sheanon Williams, Amobi Okugo, Carlos Valdes, Gabriel Farfan, Brian Carroll, Gabriel Gomez (Michael Lahoud ’59); Freddy Adu (Josue Martinez ’82), Jack McInerney, Antoine Hoppenot (Lionard Pajoy ’78)
Unused substitutes: Chase Harrison, Keon Daniel, Raymon Gaddis, Porfirio Lopez
New England Revolution
Matt Reis; Kevin Alston, Stephen McCarthy, A.J. Soares (Darrius Barnes ’71), Chris Tierney; Clyde Simms (Shalrie Joseph ’59), Ryan Guy, Lee Nguyen, Kelyn Rowe (Dimitry Imbongo ’69), Benny Feilhaber; Saer Sene
Unused substitutes: Tim Murray, Fernando Cardenas, Florian Lechner, Blake Brettschneider
Scoring Summary
12 – NER: Sene (Rowe)
59 – PHI: Adu (penalty)
90 – PHI: McInerney (Williams)
Discipline Summary
25 – NER: Soares (caution)
39 – NER: McCarthy (caution)
67 – PHI: M. Farfan (caution)
Referee
Edvin Jurisevic
despite the win, i hope to never see that 3-5-2 again. it was breakaway city, but kudos to the u for the thrilling comeback.
HOW IS IT A CONF. RIVAL (CHICAGO) GETS A GOAL SCORER (ALVARO FERNANDEZ) FOR CASH ONLY AND THE UNION GIVE UP THE #1 OVERALL PICK (MWANGA) IN THE SUPER DRAFT FOR A STIFF (JORGE PALAZZA) WHO CAN’T EVEN GET ONTO THE SUB BENCH????
Answer = Peter Nowak
Maybe Timbers fans are asking why they dealt a stiff for a high pick who cant crack the starting XI. Mwanga’s last 4 matches – 95 minutes, 2 shots, 0 SOG. Oh Danny Mwanga
7/28/2012 CHV @ POR L 1-0 Subbed On 4
7/21/2012 POR @ DAL L 0-5 Started 57
7/18/2012 POR @ CHV L 0-1 Subbed On 13
7/14/2012 LA @ POR L 5-3 Subbed On 21
danny needs a certain environment to be succesful. ie. a hard working frenchman who he can run onto and have no pressure to score. Any situation where he needs to create for himself he struggles. He may learn/mature into this skill but he will be a long term project and one a certain coach was unwilling to fund right or wrong.
YES, BUT AT LEAST MWANGA IS PLAYING AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE IS STILL YOUNG. PERLAZZA IS IN HIS PRIME AND CAN’T EVEN GET TO THE SUB BENCH. IS THE ANSWER AS SIMPLE AS, INGTAR SUGGESTS, NOWAK???
After watching the game here are a few things that are definitely needed.
Carlos Valdes T-shirts
Carlos Valdes Tifo
Carlos Valdes Songs
Carlos Valdes Chants
Carlos Valdes commemorative chess set
Carlos Valdes Flamethrowers. (kids will love em’)
Carlos Valdes Blacklight Posters
Carlos Valdes Super hero team up Comics (Issue 1 he teams up will the Garfans and Wolverine against a mysterious new villain known only as “The Diver”
ect. ect. ect.
Oh my god, why hasn’t anyone done an independent comic based on an MLS team yet?
Does Issue 1 dance around the fact that “The Diver” and Charlie Davies are never seen in the same place at once?
I never noticed that before….
i for sure want the carlos valdes blacklight poster.
I guess us U fans can’t get enough of the Valdes effect.
100% ditto @ Andrew.
Also, why also impresses me with Jack is his ability to drop back and link up. But like, he is so timely and intelligent than it doesn’t negatively impact his forward runs or his positioning. When he feels it would help, he drops back and provides an outlet. Then it feels like he is still there making the run at the end of the play as well.
That helps explain the Adu lack of touches more clearly. Adu doesn’t move to open spaces, doesn’t run without the ball, and can’t hold with pressure on his back, so never puts himself in position to receive the ball like JacK Mac.
Does it explain why Adu is complete shit and people are finally waking up to that?
“wrong footed a helpless MacMath”? Only helpless to the extent that he seems to regularly give up goals a professional goaltender should not. He’s not reaching Seitzian proportions yet, but we can’t afford these kinds of goals if we are going to beat teams that don’t suck. To his credit, he had a few good saves in the second half.
Adu had a total of 10 seconds of good play all game. And 4 of those involved the PK. The “Adu Triangle” – where scoring chances go to die.
I liked the thought of giving Hoppenot the chance to start – he has earned it. That being said, I still prefer him coming off the bench, because his energy against more tired defenders, IMO, gives the Union a huge boost and advantage.
Valdes is king-stud. That is all.
Did not like the 3-5-2, but I give Coach Hack credit for recognizing that we HAD to have 3 points and going after it. I truly really like this guy.
Sene is a beast. First time I’ve seen him play. Big, fast and skilled. Not afraid to shoot, and his powerful shots looked effortless. Also repeatedly came back on D and provided real help. Basically, everything Adu is not.
Ton of energy at the game. Really, since Nowak was fired, the energy and excitement at the games has felt, to me, the highest it has ever been in any season at PPL.
Firstly I think that goal has ridiculous English, from the behind the player angle it clearly swerved like a soccer ball shouldn’t, I really wonder how many goalies in this league would have had the same thing happen to them.
Also, MacMath is still 20. It’s going to take more than 20 games before he starts playing like he isn’t For what its worth, this is part of the process. For every shaky moment has had he has made a big one v one save. But this is why we are starting him. If we wanted to jump from steady, but league average GK for years we woulda kept Perkins or gone after a career MLSer. But MacMath is different. He is our GK because we know given games and a chance to grow he can become one of best GKs in the league and possibly move on.
And I also like his attitude in goal, he looks to command the box which is hwy he gets into trouble. But that tells me his bad decisions part of the learning process of when to go vs when to stay, whereas with someone like Seitz it was just because he sucked and looked lost out there.
Agreed. The way that shot dropped at the last second would have been hard for any keeper to defend against.
I think ZacoMacoMatho has the makings of a great keeper if we stick with him. I don’t know his stats, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s about in line with the league average anywhere. Frankly, though I’m really hoping for a playoff run, it’s a tall order for us to expect much more than that given the first-half season wreckage, courtesy of Davarish Nowak. I’d rather us build a cohesive unit and build confidence than jettison talented players in a myopic all-in bid to win it this year.
Also, can we sell Adu? Please?
“He is our GK because we know given games and a chance to grow he can become one of best GKs in the league and possibly move on.”
How do we know this? He is our keeper because Mondragon took a red-eye back to Cali. I find it hard to believe that the plan for a playoff team was to go into the next season with an unproven keeper. He’s Plan B because there is no other plan. So we will see these learning curve type of goals, which he was partly to blame for, just as Garfan was partly to blame for dropping off Sene so far. I thought Zac’s worst blunder was when he misplayed that Valdes header.
Really? Top ten pick in the draft, played for the US at various youth levels, has had Europe interested in him? Hell based on the Olympics squad he is the #3 U23 American GK.
I am not saying anything of this proves he will become great, but lets not act like he doesnt have a great degree of potential.
Agree. I need to remind myself that he is only 20.
Re: Sene – (forget his goal, I’ll leave that to the others) that guy is the best player I’d never heard of until Sunday. Wow. I suppose I should make a better effort at learning the rest of MLS. I would have had Pajoy totally man-marking his ass as soon as the team went up 2-1. He was danger with a capital D.
On top of the total excitement of that win, the other thing I came away with was a total respect for that dude
He’s Mario Balotelli Light.
I mean that in the most positive way. I like Mario.
I thought the exact same thing. He has the ability of balotelli (on an MLS level)without all the angst and attitude.
Unbelievable ability to move his shot, but wants so desparately to go to his left foot that I was surprised about the decision not to force him to his right. Nice player, but I think that he might be able to be defended better than was shown.
I watched a gamer earlier this season and he (sene) stuck out as a top performer.. hes what Mwanga could become.. just a big strong beast of a striker. plus at around 140K hes a steal..
That goal didn’t wrong foot MacMath. It looked like MacMath was going to play the cross… From that angle, I never thought Sene was going to shoot the ball, but he did and he caught MacMath trying to think ahead of the play.
That’s what I thought at first, but watch the replay. MacMath didn’t cheat at all, the shot just beat him.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-07-29-phi-v-ne/highlights?videoID=194762
Thanks for the link. It’s not obvious until I see the shot from behind Sene (around 0:54) then it’s clear that he bent the ball quite a bit. That was a good shot with pace. I am not at all inclined to blame Zack for that goal. I would like our strikers to take some shots like that.
maybe I am just don’t understand what it is to be a goalkeeper but regardless of pace or bend I don’t think a goalie is ever without guilt on a ball shot from 30 yards out.
And to not think they would shoot from this far out is to not see the goals that the revs have scored this year. something a union fan may be able to not know but a goalkeeper and his coach a fact very needed.
lee nguyen scored a similiar goal earlier in the season.
Lastly I am not sure we have a “striker” who can hit a ball with pace from 30 yards on frame right now much less put some knuckleball english on it.
I am afraid you are correct about the Union players. Maybe Gavilan (not a striker I know) could hit a ball like that before he got hurt; he certainly hasn’t done it since.
Gavilan was a lethal weapon for us on free kicks prior to his break for int’l duty. Why is Adu taking all of the free kicks now? I don’t get it. Corners? Maybe… but free kicks twenty-something yards out? GAVILAN!
u r a bitch. i grew up a golie and i cant save that
i will add you to the list.
chris seitz
zach macmath
gounion
matt
any others that want to make the list of those who can’t or as gounion feels below should not save that shot.
That Sene shot was insane. The amount of knuckle on there would confuse most keepers. I agree Zac should have saved it, but It wasn’t a soft goal or anything. The PK was clearly a foul outside the box but don’t feel bad one bit about it. How many times has Philly been victimized by a bad call? They missed a clear handball later on as well. Both of these goals were Levin Alston’s fault and he also took a dive in the box I’m surprised the ref didn’t card. I like this team a lot but everyone in MLS is loading up their rosters with talent and here we are, needing to make a run, standing firm.
HE SHOULD NOT SAVE THAT! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!
I tend to believe that if a keeper puts a hand to it, it should be saved. Sooo…
A nice curling shot…directly to the center of the goal. MacMath has his issues…
Dude, that is awesome. “He should not save that! It is impossible!” should become a new chant at the river end. Actually, maybe it already is. I have a little bit of trouble understanding the SoBs sometimes. The only thing that would make it better would be if it rhymed with “orange.”
Thank God these kids play a full 90, 98 or whatever is thrown at them. I was also positioned behind Sene’s shot that led to the goal, and I could not imagine the movement on that ball being easy to handle. (It looked like the umpire should have checked Sene’s glove for sandpaper.) Now that the Union has decided that the high defensive line is what they want, Zach is going to need to learn that he cannot be playing a fullback position; high lines are great, but a goalkeeper on an island like he thought he was last night leads to Zach trying to attack the ball at midfield. That helps nobody. And, as much in favor of physical play by the defenders as I am, that horsecollar tackle in the last minutes was several things at once. First, the referee surprisingly made the proper “play on” call since the ball went through to the Revs. Second, Okugo got very lucky that the ref followed by failing to come back to him; that play would have called for a red card and would have justified an ejection from an NFL game. Third, considering the pressure that was developing on that run by the Revs, the loss of a man like that could have cost the game. I love aggressive, tight defending, but don’t want the aggression to cost as much as that could have done. Overall, that was a good, exciting game with enough time down a goal to make a Philadelphia sports fan feel at home, sensing impending disaster, and the last minute heroics that makes a sports fan come back for more.
GAME COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN 7 – 1 REVS. ALSO, HOW IS IT A CONF. RIVAL (CHICAGO) GETS A GOAL SCORER (ALVARO FERNANDEZ) FOR CASH ONLY AND THE UNION GIVE UP THE #1 OVERALL PICK (MWANGA) IN THE SUPER DRAFT FOR A STIFF (JORGE PALAZZA) WHO CAN’T EVEN GET ONTO THE SUB BENCH????
hey arent you that commenter from philly.com
IS THAT COMMENTER INTELLIGENT, GOOD-LOOKING, PERCEPTIVE AND WITTY? IF SO, PROBABLY NOT ME.
MAYBE I’LL JUST TYPE IN ALL CAPS NOW WHAT
This is like the third stoppage time winner since Hack took over. Excitement is certainly not lacking. Adu was shit. Jackmacks celabration was epic. Valdes is a beast. That is all
Also, despite all of the play Gomez over Lahoud talk on this board, raise your hand if, like me, you said “Thank God!”, when Gomez was subbed out. Not sure that Gomez and Carroll at the same time really works.
Gomez looked a bit slow. Lahoud was a great sub. I thought he was terrific.
Yeah Lahoud was great. Finally dribble, finally passing forward.
+1. That was Lahoud’s best performance for the Union. He was exactly what was needed.
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I think it’s official: Gomez and Carroll can’t play together. Gomez goes deep into his own half to get the ball. That’s where Carroll usually is. So Carroll pushes up field, where he’s way out of his comfort zone. I think Gomez departs by midseason next year.
Though on that topic, Gomez is still a very good player I think and he could actually net something valuable in a trade or transfer.
What’s with the infatuation with Carroll?
He’s a nice piece. But if Bakary is healthy, isn’t it obvious by now that Okugo has to push up to stay on the pitch?
I’d like to see Okugo and Gomez try to play together, but it may be that BOTH Gomez and Carroll should move on.
Nothing’s obvious. Okugo is showing potential to be a future starting USMNT center back. Soumare has joined a team under a difficult scenario: He’s coming off an injury, and the coach and scout who brought him in have both been fired. Sure, Okugo may go back to midfield, but who knows?
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As for Carroll? Infatuation … well, if you must know, I like his haircut.
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Carroll played great last year. He’s been good this year when deployed in the same role. Gomez is a solid player, but the team has yet to play well with him in the driver’s seat. Sure, maybe Okugo & Gomez would be good together at CM. Maybe Okugo and Carroll would too. We’ll have to see. Neither Carroll nor Gomez will leave before season’s end, I’d guess. Plenty of time for this to play out.
As much as I love Okugo at CB Kenny Cooper demonstrated that the Union need Soumare’s physical presence in the box. I don’t care who leaves the midfield, but Okugo needs to be playing in it. He offers Brian Carroll’s defensive prowess, but also better passing ability, greater strength and he has consistently shown an aptitude for well timed lofted through balls.
I know that this idea has been tossed around in some form on PSP conversations for quite a while, but I would love to see Gabriel Farfan shift into the midfield. A future midfield of Okugo Marfan and Garfan would be for lack of a better term–sick nasty. Garfan and Okugo have shown a greater understanding with one another than Gomez and Carrol and they are both physical and aggressive. A midfield of Okugo and Garfan with Marfan in front of them would dominate physically and technically just about every team in the MLS.
“A future midfield of Okugo Marfan and Garfan would be for lack of a better term–sick nasty.” GREAT POINT! I WOULD TAKE YOUR MF FOR THE USMNT!!! THEY WOULD OUTPERFORM M. BRADLEY, JERMAINE JONES AND JOSE TORRES – RIGHT NOW!!!
Hmmmmmmmmm…..Yep. You are right.
My “Yep, you are right” was directed at MikeRSoccer. We need a big dude on the back line for set pieces. STAT!
I can not agree with your assessment that Okugo is showing potential to be future USMNT center back…He lacks the physicality (height and strength) to compete at the senior international level at CB. His future with USMNT and the Union lies at Def Mid. He’s got Makalele written all over him…he just needs to start next year at D Mid to continue growing.
+1. Okugo has been fantastic for us and has saved us at CB … but lets relax for a bit. He was a NT prospect his whole life at DMid and 6-8 games at CB isn’t going to change that.
Good points from Los & Mike. The Makalele comparison is an interesting one. I keep an open mind about it. This is one of those where it could go either way. One thing I’d point out though:
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Carlos Bocanegra: 6-0, 170.
Amobi Okugo: 6-0, 175.
Agree. I’d like to see Soumare on the back line with Okugo and Gomez together in the midfield. Gomez must still not be totally fit. He’s not as active on the pitch since the injury.
gomez is slow. he has technical ability on set plays but not the speed needed to play in our midfield for more than 30 minutes. Though lahoud lacks some of the talent his tireless work rate is more applicable to our game right now.
LAHOUD IS A BALL-WINNER THAT PLAYS GOOD DEFENSE WITH LOTS OF INTENSITY. GOMEZ HAS NO GAME. I’D PLAY GADDIS AT MF BEFORE PLAYING GOMEZ.
Someone help me understand the greatness of Freddy Adu that I’m unable to see. I see Freddy dribble and step over his way into a cluster of Revs defenders only to be forced into a turnover, but I’m told this is called creativity. I see Freddy make lazy passes and concede possession, yet I constantly hear that he’s a playmaker. My eyes see lack of effort and yet I’m told Freddy unleashed the beast last night. The offense perks up when Freddy leaves the match, but yet I’m told Freddy brings experience and intangibles to the Union. Help me, please fellow PSPers, help me understand that which makes Freddy Adu awesome.
You must still be learning the game. Only a truly knowledgeable fan can see that Freddy brings unmatched ability to fill the team’s glaring void in unabashed self-promotion in clear disproportion to on-field production. The team otherwise has a glaring hole in that area. The other players are too concerned with things like team, effort and hard work. They show up to events in team attire. Promote the team. Adu steps “above” that, bringing transcendent me-firstness.
^^ Awesome.
“bringing transcendent me-firstness.”
That’s just brilliant.
LOL!!!!
The problem with Adu is his salary and exposure. He needs to go, fast. Because honestly he has not had any more or worst up and downs than players like Marfan or Pajoy. Adu;s talent is still unquestionable. However, because of those first two things he will always be bashed until he turned in a world class performance evry night.
Thats why he needs to go.
James, I see what you’re trying to say, but I don’t think that’s true. Pajoy has shown a remarkable improvement in his game since Hack too over and Marfan’s inconsistency is nothing compared to Adu’s; when he’s on, Marfan is way on. When he’s not, Marfan never disappears the way Freddy does.
Adu does have talent, but this has been too long, too slow, and too expensive an experiment to justify continuing. I’m not looking for him to become a world class performer — I’m not even asking him to earn his relatively stratospheric salary — I just want him to contribute to most games. And, no, scoring from the spot doesn’t count.
Torres > Adu.. put him in.
I’D LIKE TO SEE ADU PLAY IF THE U HAD A LEGIT GOAL-SCORER ON THE END OF HIS PASSES. THE U SHOULD HAVE MADE A RUN AT EL FLACO. NOW, FIRE HAVE A PLAYOFF EDGE.
IF YOU DIDNT KNOW BY KNOW I REALLY LIKE THAT GUY
Roger Torres better be hurt. That would be the only reason he isn’t starting over Adu, let alone not one of the 18 available. If Roger can’t play, then Keon Daniel needs to be in for Freddie.
If I was the coach I would put Marfan in Adu’s spot and Torres in Marfans spot for sure. Seems like the obvious move TBH.
Torres looked like sheet against Aston Villa. Even muscled off the ball by 5’4″ Barry Bannan (aka the Scottish Messi)
I was suprised that there was little to no mention of the lack of courage from mack and to a lesser extent hoppenot last night. Time and again they were faced with a possibility to shoot and turned to hold up the ball, play a pass that turned into a turnover, or to a run no one was making. This is the play of a RB or LB not of a striker. Why did sheanon show more of a scorers mentality than they did. I also disagree with the fact that the goal by mack atoned for anything. That was a perfect ball that should be a goal everytime not a hard ball behind him that he showed incredible ability to get down to the turf.
I like them both but if they want to mature as strikers a little courage and selfishness is needed.
I think that is more the discussion that goes with the analysis article that comes out tomorrow- but you are v. right, there were a number of opportunities where more opportunism (get it?) was needed.
you are right about the article but I had to get it off my chest. I like jack and hoppenot and want desperately for them to succeed but can’t turn a blind eye to this as its not the first game its happen in. My friend said last year that mack has a toy cannon. I dismissed this but have to admit he hasn’t hit a fire cracker all year.
I think also it was all the more obvious based on the great outside shots new england took and there ability to shoot given only a half yard a few times.
Lastly Who does the scouting for the games. I turned to my son last night and said we need to play these guys tight from 30 yards out as they have to have scored more goals from outside 20 yards than anyone else and what happens a fire cracker comes flying at macmath. It was a great shot but macmath should have been ready. Yeah it moved, yeah hes young but if he wasn’t told that he should expect far out flying bullets than his coaches let him down.
By the end of the game, the whole stadium was growing audibly frustrated by the lack of shooting. Even my 8 YO daughter was yelling at them to shoot.
Greetings from Cancun!! Looks like I missed some game but seems nothing much new except for the come-from-behind win. Off the play some beach soccer 🙂
That whole game was desided by bad referee calls. Two penalties for hand balls not given. One by the Union the other by the Revolution. A penalty call given for a foul outside the box. The Union got real lucky, twice.
MacMath looks like he smokes weed right before the game. He plays like he does as well. Looks lost, unless the ball or the player is heading right at him. He needs another year or two as a back up. Add keeper to the Union’s must have list.
Adu is over paid. He is either out or they renegotiate his contract, and cut his pay.
Hoppenot looked good as a starter. Hope he gets more opportunities.
Both he and McInnerny are pochers. The Union is not a tall team. As such, if they are playing balls in from out wide would it not be better to spray the ball low accross the face of goal and have them run on to it? They kept going high and over the top. It seems low and accross goal may be a better idea. Have the forwards run on to the cross.
It was a win though. Great possession from the Union. But they need to bring that possession to fruition.
NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MCINOT POACHERS. BUT, YOU CAN’T WIN TITLES BY POACHING ALONE. THE U DESPERATELY NEED A LEGIT GOAL SCORING THREAT. AND COULD HE MAYBE BE AT LEAST 6’1″ SO THAT HE COULD COMPLEMENT THE POACHERS.
I agree. They need to spend cash. But it does not appear that they are willing to do so.
Felix my friend, many good points today, and we are all excited, but please turn your attention to the button at the left of your keyboard. It does not indicate that the hockey team from D.C. is a sure bet to win the Stanley Cup.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMMENTS FOR YOU TO READ. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO IGNORE MY POSTS.
hahahahaha. seriously felix, get with the program.
HAVE NO INTEREST IN YOUR PROGRAM.
IF ONLY WE HAD THAT GUY THAT THE FIRE GOT