Pretty much everyone in this country would agree the system is broken.
And pretty much everyone is WRONG!
Wrong about precisely what it is that’s broken. You see, everyone just parrots the reasons the status quo protectors sell them. But the real problem is the status quo protectors themselves.
We’re broken because of the people. Not because of the system.
If you want a quality product, you need quality people.
I think it’s safe to say the Wilmington Hammerheads do not have a quality product.
Cal FC, a team slapped together a little over a month ago, with minimal training just wiped the floor with the Wilmington Hammerheads, a Professional Team in the 2nd tier of US Soccer. 4-0
Questions:
- David Irving is the coach of Wilmington. Should he be?
- What are David Irvings “qualifications“? An A license? LOL.
- Who is the GM of the Hammerheads? Is he just as culpable? More so?
- What type of product does Wilmington want to field?
- How did Wilmington select it’s players to contract? Who selected?
- Are their player selections in error?
- Does this result say anything of USL Pro in general?
- Should Wynalda be coaching a pro team?
- Should these Cal FC players be playing MLS, USL, NASL or on one of those MLS U23 teams (Portland Timbers where you at)?
- Is anybody digging into who these Cal FC players are?
- Who has known of these Cal FC players for a long time, and passed on them?
Two more …
- Are the people occupying the federation’s corner offices asking these types of questions?
- Do YOU appreciate the magnitude of what’s being exposed here?
Wilmington was just the unlucky one to get this draw. I assure you this could have happened to any of the other teams in USL or NASL. And that should be unacceptable!
Cal FC is now in the 3rd round of the US Open Cup. Their next opponent are the Portland Timbers.
Listen to me. Any MLS team should completely obliterate something like this! But when it comes to soccer in this country, we live in Bizarro World.
p.s. On the same note, the LA Blues (USL) lost last night 1-3 to PDL side Ventura County Fusion. That organization also needs to take a really close look at what they’re doing and start asking some tough questions.
the real reason the hammerheads lost to cal is that they are broke and could not afford the trip to portland in the next round ,so they conspired to forfeit the game,
the original schedule had Wilmington hosting Portland if they beat CFC but apparently this changed after the first schedule came out. why would they have not kept the match in Wilmington if they could not afford to travel to Portland?
I’ve been apart of shitty teams, but I have NEVER taken the field with the intention to lose a game. That’s another bullshit excuse to add the pile of thousands that US soccer coaches, players, and fans use to cover up real problems.
If I read my Twitter feed correctly yesterday… I think Cal FC had some players out with injury and another one missing due to travel problems (I am assuming men’s league soccer players don’t travel first class). THOSE are legit excuses… but they still won!!!!!! Hats off to those guys.
I’m becoming more and more stoked that I actually got to these guys play before anyone really knew who they were this Spring.
“We’re broken because of the people.” “If you want a quality product, you need quality people.”
You have to tear it all down and rebuild — militiant style.
Interesting read.
“Why the older youth coaches refuse to mentor the younger youth coaches”
http://therealyouthsoccer.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-older-youth-coaches-refuse-to.html
What a timely post!!! Oscar – everything in that article is currently happening at my local club.
The exposure (or implosion, or collapse, whatever you want to call it) that Wilmington suffered is happening throughout the sport at all levels. Those who were oppressed went and put together teams and now it’s the REVOLUTION, BABY!!!!
And I vote YES, the GM is culpable because this backassward way of thinking rolls from the top down. And NO, the corner office won’t be asking any questions, because they have never been the oppressed, only the oppressors. They don’t question anything, or answer anything they don’t want to. This is what happens when you believe yourself to be omnipotent….
And AMEN to the problem being the people. Faulty people build faulty processes that produce defective products!!!!
My profs used to say “garbage in equals garbage out (GIGO)”
And I got living proof in mi familia – Costa Rica is an awesome place to learn….
I heard Costa Rica is an awesome place to chill…and I can learn there too?
American coaches need to stop eating that Yankee Diet. Seek your knowledge from international coaches.
Just to nitpick – isn’t USL Pro “3rd tier” not 2? Thought NASL was 2nd tier?
Anyway, this is a wonderful story and I look forward to hearing about these guys getting pro contract opportunities. The problem is they either need to get those offers in Europe/South Am (if they have the appropriate passport) to make a decent wage or they are better off staying amateur soccer players while earning a living and retirement benefits 9-5.
Therein lies the major problem with professional soccer in North America. It isn’t specifically player selection as you say – it’s also the benefits financially that DO NOT come with signing pro contracts. Unless you have a good financial standing already, have well-off parents, or are extremely confident in not only earning a living but making well over 100,000/yr and are WISE with that 100,000/yr to set-aside a retirement or post-playing business you are screwed. Who’d want to become a pro in North America under the current financial circumstances? Not me, thanks. I make much more than the vast majority of pro soccer players in NA when my benefits are included and I am just a lowly public servant.
So while the coaches of these pro teams may be good ppl with good selection ability, maybe the players they are able to choose from is limited due to financial reasons. Go to one of the pro league combines (MLS, NASL, USL) and see what type of player attends that. Who is getting signed and who isn’t. Who is attending? etc….
It’s more than about player selection or style of play. It’s also about who is available.
IE, who is to say the best u23’s are able to play PDL? I doubt many! Most have to work….and not all can find work where good PDL teams/coaches are located.
NASL is kind of an offshoot of USL Pro, they are both considered 2nd tier. Herein lies another problem…there is no promotion/relegation in this country. MLS, USL, NASL, MPSL, USASA – they are all sanctioned by US Soccer, however, the only time they compete against each other is in the US Open Cup. Other than that, they are completely separate business entities. US Soccer says that MLS is the top tier league in the US, well, what if USL PRO and NASL teams beat USL teams every year in the open cup? Then that would say something. Without promotion/relegation the only way to break into the “big leagues” is through $$.
You’re right, on paper 3rd Tier.
Question.
Are NASL teams superior to USL teams?
And thank you for the rest of your contribution. That’s a topic that needs to be addressed and frankly one that needs to be debunked.
If you are genuinely after the truth, your logic is betraying you. First it is logic based on presumption. Consequently, you’re not using the right axioms, and hence your conclusions are not general.
In the context of this post, I know the Cal FC players (known them for over 5 years). Actually, I have no problem saying I know this age group better than anyone in the country.
Anyways, these guys have also been known by US Soccer AND these guys want to play professionally in this country no matter what! They’ll play for peanuts. They’ll never trade a 9-5 for the opportunity.
This is the case for all players with REAL quality.
Your axiom is applicable only to a certain culture. The very culture that does not produce quality. The real quality does not think like you do.
ThiKu –
I am truly depressed after reading your post…it upsets me on so many different levels I don’t know where to start (and I’m sure there are those reading who hope that I’m not going where I’m getting ready to go) – there are people out there right now taking bullets for our sorry asses for a lot less than what MLS players make – and they do it because they love their country. If you have a player who loves the game that much, and there are many of them out there, they will play for free shoes and Gatorade! For the REAL players, it’s about the honor of representing the sport and the team…the problem is the lack of honor at the decision making levels.
I’m getting off my soapbox now cause I gotta go rally some troops.
You can’t seriously be comparing soldiers to soccer players can you? Don’t even attempt to compare the two. Also keep in mind those soldiers are receiving benefits (medical, retirement, post-military training in a trade etc). You insult the soldiers by making that comparison. (ps-go look up what Ron MacLean said on Hockey Night in Canada a few weeks ago and the huge flack he got – and he was referring to millionaires). Give yer head a shake.
Playing “for the love” of the game doesn’t mean a lot when you have a family, want a family, or have aspirations for a career after age 30 – not everyone wants to or can become a coach and continue in soccer post-playing. All nice and wonderful to play for peanuts until age 30 or so…if you have something to fall back on and have no family to support in the meantime let alone plan for in your post-playing days.
I could have forged myself a pro career but where would my family be now? Struggling financially (I was never going to make a top Euro league!) and no benefits or retirement built-up along the way.
Love for the game is not bigger than the love for your family or the generations to come in your family.
When playing – spill blood, sweat, and tears. But when not … family-first.
Now I am going to go rally my own troops to speak out against your nonsense comparison. 🙂
Do you really think these guys have families and full time jobs right now if they are playing for this men’s league team and playing for peanuts? (literally, free peanuts on cross country flights) How can they take the time away from work and family to compete for such a low level team? Hmmmmmmm………..
I bet these Cal FC guys would piss themselves if they got offered a low-level contract with MLS. That’s still much more than what they’re making now working part time jobs and playing on this team. For a lot of players… soccer comes before EVERYTHING else! If they don’t have a family yet… it’s easy to make and keep soccer the first priority for as long as they need and/or want to.
The problem is these players weren’t the proper financial situation to begin with. They’ve always been stuck in the bottom tier hoping to catch a break and get out. These players are born and raised in poverty. They didn’t have the money to play on teams where scouts were watching in premier youth leagues and premier tournaments. They didn’t have the money to go to college or pay for ID camps.
A $50,000 contract to these guys… that’s like a fucking jackpot. Sad, but true.
John is dead on.
Many fall in that case John, but not all.
For instance, lots of ‘real’ quality players play in the top tiers throughout their youth (they are ‘scholarshiped’). And many of them are actually identified by US Soccer. The problem is they are ultimately not selected. Marvel Wynne’s or Jack McBean’s are selected instead of Gabriel Milito’s, or Dani Alves’.
What about Jack Daniels and Jim Beam? Who selects them?
The people that choose Jack and Jim are the ones who are frustrated beyond belief with all this crap! Or was it cheaper whiskey than those, Gary? 🙂
Totally agree, though. Some players do get to those levels. I know a few who were sponsored by local markets or by other families on their teams. I think the mens league here even dropped some coin to send some kids down to Chiva USA’s Sueno MLS thing a few years back. One of those was one of my old high school players. He made it to the final 5 I think. He ended up getting partial rides to CSULA, then junior college, and now he’s at CSU Monterey Bay. (who is going to see them there?)
He was a taller guy, like 6’1” or so. Played CM his entire life. Beautiful footwork and distribution all through his younger years. At CSULA, the coach tried turning him into a center back. It didn’t work out as planned. He left after year and came home to play the junior college. Spent a year here, then moved to CSUMB.
I watched CSUMB play against Cal FC and walked out because I was disgusted with what the CSUMB coach had done with him, again! CSUMB coach stuck him at forward and had everyone else on the team kick it to him so he could run and chase it down. I only lasted 15 minutes before leaving. And if I am not mistaken… that coach holds a high level USSF license and has had a lengthy college coaching career. He sees a big guy with decent touch and speed… BOOM! That’s his forward.
I know people are talking about finding little Iniesta’s and Xavi’s for central midfield, but just because a kid is over 6 feet tall doesn’t mean he HAS to play center striker or center defender! Coaches can’t identify the right talent and utilize it correctly.
I’m predicting he will come back CSUMB and be a mens league all star the rest of his life. He’s been through 3 horrible college systems in the past 3 years. Just another great player sacrificed to boneheads who run the show. Poor kid.
**Side note** two kids from my high school (Righetti) and college (Allan Hancock) in Santa Maria, CA made top 10 in the Sueno MLS back to back years.
**Another side note** We’ve never had one player on an ODP, US youth, or regional team. SCOUTS, WHERE YOU AT???
I think I need Jose Cuervo and Don Julio on my team tonight!!!
Cacique with an Imperial chaser for me!!!
Sorry buddy but most all those players are D1 players. There is also a national player on the team. The just don’t play your topical soccer like Americans do kick ball and run they actually play have heart and passion.
“Unless you have a good financial standing already, have well-off parents, or are extremely confident in not only earning a living but making well over 100,000/yr and are WISE with that 100,000/yr to set-aside a retirement or post-playing business you are screwed. Who’d want to become a pro in North America under the current financial circumstances? Not me, thanks.”
that’s what you wrote. I am comparing soldiers to soccer players in one aspect, that they are both groups of people who sacrificed monetary gain in order to do something that to them is very meaningful. My point is that there are many people out there who love their work, or the products of their work, more than they love money. For that matter you could say soldiers, nurses, teachers, policeman, fireman, professional soccer players, all do too much for too little pay. They are doing what they love even though it is not the most lucrative gig.
And having a family has NOTHING to do with how much money you have. Having a family means you support one another in the pursuit of their dreams regardless of the sacrifice. Yes, I said the word “sacrifice”, a concept lost on a lot of folks nowadays, even a dirty word to some groups of people.
There are members of my family who were raised on rice and beans and little else and they are the strongest family I know. And when you come from a futbol family, you take up change, you have a bake sale, you do whatever to make sure that the team makes it to the next tourney. I hope that my child’s future spouse doesn’t judge his ability to be a family man by the size of his wallet. He’s a baller – take it or leave it.
We call our kids troops all the time and my Colonel neighbor is never offended!
^ok.
re: $=family. Agreed! Just saying if your family is on one-income (paltry pro-soccer, for example) and you have kids and what not – it takes serious considerations to put aside 10(ish) years of serious earning potential to play pro-soccer and maybe come out the end with nothing more than some memories. Just think about all the retirement package money being missed out on from age 19-31, for example, if trying to go pro and making next to nothing. Many examples of people realizing it isn’t worth it and dropping out of playing careers to refocus on things such as soccer academies, coaching, or university education etc. It’s a tough call in North America to make. If single, go for it.
I understand your point and I know many people who when faced with the decision have chosen to play it safe. I just don’t think that “playing it safe” is an option for some players. Hunger can’t be taught – but we must learn to recognize it and appreciate it within the sport.
On the topic of pro-player combines.
I’ve been to those too.
For now I’ll share 2 things:
1) The “best” players at those combines ultimately aren’t the ones selected. The reason? Coaches in this country want and need Brek Shea’s, not Iniesta’s. That’s it. There is no other reason.
2) Excluding MLS. The other combines usually charge players for attending!!!!! Yet another filter which excludes real quality. Hint: Real quality predominantly comes from those of lower socio-economic status.
I’ve heard a few horror stories about a youth academy team in Southern California. My question is, do these academy teams have to worry about being relagated if they put a poor quality team on the field or are the current clubs insulated from having to produce anything because they are already a member of the Academy?
Is there no accountability?
Read more.
http://therealyouthsoccer.blogspot.com/2011/11/who-is-to-blame-for-washington-dc.html
So, in five years, no DC United player has fully come through the system from U-14 to play professionally, but, most importantly, there is no DC United Academy player currently representing any US Youth Nationals teams at U-18 and under.
To be honest, I believe that the Academies were implemented to provide ex-professional players with jobs, yet just because they may have been a good player in Major League Soccer, it doesn’t mean that they can develop players to play professionally in the United States and beyond.
Players in the Washington, DC region aren’t being nurtured in the Academy program because there is no coach or trainer in the Academy capable of developing players.
They aren’t developers because they aren’t told that is what their job must be, therefore, they can’t teach the other coaches in their “Academies” how to be developers for the younger ages.
Thiku, Well said, I think this is the major problem. I Don’t think alot of guys that can actually play the game want to screw around and play basically for free in our current soccer environment. I have a 13 year old son that’s got potential to be a great soccer player. We have talked about his future and decisions that must be made along the way if by the time he graduates high school, his not a professional, chances are he will never make any money in the sport to support his family, so a college degree will take priority. I love the game, and so does my son, but we have no faith on our soccer system…
Cool story, hope it continues.
It appears that Cal FC will face the winner of MLS Seattle Sounders v. NASL Atlanta Silverbacks. Interestingly, Atlanta earned a home match through a 2nd round Open Cup victory over NPSL Georgia Revolution this week… Then opted to sell the home field advantage to the Sounders. What?
http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/pro/news/Third+Round-Cup-Venue-Changes
If CalFC opens a paypal donation account, I’m in for $20!
If we called it a “creative project” we could start them a Kickstarter account. Or maybe one of those other microcapital sites. It’s an idea – to truly change things we gotta think outside the box. I’m thinking of doing it as a fundraiser for one of our teams.
I wouldn’t get too carried away with Cal FC success. The team would definitely hold its own in the 2nd or 3rd tiers, but thats hardly surprising when a number of these amateur players have previously been on the books of MLS teams. Every long serving Wilmington Hammerheads fan as well as the coach agree that is the worst Hammerheads performance from any Hammerheads team. That covers a lot of games in the last 14 years. The Hammerheads had 16 fit players two of them goalkeepers. At at home had to play with a lone striker who couldn’t hold a ball up, he’s better playing off someone else. No excuse’s though, we were well beaten by the better team.
I think you made the point and don’t see it right in front of you. You said some of these guys WERE on the books of MLS teams. For one reason or another their clubs deemed them not worth keeping, and others were disregarded entirely, Players that obviously have some true quality, at least some of them must anyways if they have beaten the defending PDL champs and a USL Pro team back to back, both in away games, and both comfortable results. Guys that are paid to do something other than soccer and have been passed on missed cut or whatever the case may be should not be doing this especially a whole group of them thrown together in little to no time. Obviously something is seriously wrong in what is deemed a quality soccer player in this country.
Sorry to tell you buddy but most of this players are D1 one players !
Gary,
A system is reflection of those who run it. A chicken and egg dilemma. Do we change the system or the people? If people don’t understand the system, results will be bad. Opposite also true. Need both a good system and good people.
Barcelona is benchmark of soccer development. Put a goofy coach and staff into Barcelona, and you got crap! More than people and a system — passion, desire, and understanding of the whole also key.
Yes, but not quite sure of chicken and egg.
People are the architects of systems.
ok – who wants kids imitating this guy?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/brek-shea-gets-three-match-ban-kicking-ball-020420804.html
I almost spit drink on my monitor when I read the comment “Good thing Rivaldo wasn’t the assistant official”. Hilarious!
Well done boys keep up the good work !!!!!!!
So with the current disaster of an MLS season, who would you guys pick to solve the people problem and be the new coach at Galaxy? Really Galaxy should be able to implement your ideas better than anyone in MLS. Fair amount of money, could recruit great up and coming kids to fill in gaps. A good coach should be able to play attractive soccer and win. So who would you guys nominate for the job?
It is worth noting that the other California team, PSA Elite that got hyped in the previous article got demolished by the Carolina Railhawks 6-0.
Actually, PSA Elite did not get hyped whatsoever!
Quite the contrary.
OK. Hyped was maybe a poor choice of words. I did notice today how many MLS teams got bumped from the tourney in the past 24 hours though. The reserve squad “excuse” doesn’t even hold up as MLS has a three week break for international matches right now. There will always be a few upsets but to your point the results this week clearly demonstrate the poor quality of coaches at the top flight in USA.
I sure hope Timbers step up tomorrow night. Though I have my concerns.
It strikes me at how many mediocre foreign players we bring in for MLS and any of the other pro leagues. It seems like we have plenty of eager talent in the USA. Develop what we have rather then hire all those players in other countries who can’t’t make it in a real soccer country. Oh wait that is the problem we continue to FAIL at developing our own talent. And we continue to under-utilize the talent we do bring in from elsewhere. As much as I was bitter when Rossi abandoned the USMNT for Italy, I can no longer blame him for his choice. The USA would have ruined him.
I’m so pleased you changed your position on Rossi!
In fact, I have a longstanding litmus test on that very topic:
Whoever has an issue with Rossi’s decision is actually a member of the school of soccer ignorance.
Sad to see players with potential like Nagbe and Agudelo being ruined by the MLS and our system.
Please don’t say that – Canada is desperate to get Jonathan De Guzman and Junior Hoilett back. JDG2 (as we call him) is desperate to rep Holland (which he did for Olympics once), and Junior is uncertain. Similar to Rossi choosing Italy and it being the right “footballing” choice.
^haha, this is how many of the Canadian MLS fans feel about all the “average” Americans on the teams. Prime example: Greg Klazura (drafted, already 22 I think?) is getting more playing time than Russell Teibert (Canadian, two-time Canada youth POY, u17, u20, u23 international) and still only 20. It’s a HUGE shame, and it makes no sense to any Whitecaps fans. I haven’t heard a single fan try to justify the decision-making on the part of Coach Rennie there. Some also lament the signing of Floyd Franks (not sure he’s American though) when we have a very very bright technical central midfielder, age 18, (also a Canada youth player of the year, u23 and lower international already) who can’t see any playing time. (Thorrington, Watson, Koffie, Jun all keep him out though – which makes sense as they are pretty good MF’s). But even so, Alderson should be playing!
At least Canadians and Americans are from somewhere within the MLS market. As much as I love Jake Gleason you can’t tell me we had to go all the way to New Zealand to find a quality young goalkeeper. I thought keepers was the ONE thing the USA could develop.
You can catch the Cal FC versus Portland Timbers game live here:
http://www.portlandtimbers.com/sites/portland/files/TimbersvCalFC.html
0-0 at the half, unfortunately it’s probably a matter of time until Portland wins this thing. Cal FC just isn’t fit enough to cover the ground that is needed and the Timbers being a pro team can run all day long. However, it is sad that the better and more intricate soccer is clearly being played by Cal FC. I think there are better players on Cal FC, especially in the midfield, Cruz, the 2 Barrera’s, Menjivar, and Gonzalez can all really play. They put possession spells together that are far better than anything Portland has had, and an adult league team definitely should not play better soccer than an MLS team. Again Portland will probably win, but only due to their fitness and regular training, I strongly believe Cal FC has more quality. Ridiculous!
You are 100% correct with the entire assessment.
Full Time: Cal FC-USASA (1) over Portland Timbers-MLS (0). HOLY SHIT!!!!!
Wow. Well then…. certainly embarrassing for this loss. I think it was even on home turf too with some 1st string players
Gary, thanks for the link. I’ll be checking out the horror. Too busy watching the USMNT get crushed last night by boys.
The last thing I am is a fan of the USMNT (being Canadian and all) but I gotta defend them here. Brazil ran out Pato, Neymar, Marcelo, Sandro etc etc. They did not field “boys.” Yes they might have had some youngsters – for example that was their GK’s first cap. BUT, to call the Brazil team boys is insulting to the Brazil team and the USMNT losing to them. Excellent Brazilian team. And yes the USA lost 4-1, but the reality is Brazil was flattered in that USA could and should have scored 3 or so as themselves. Yes, Brazil could have scored a few more, but USA was pretty good value in the final third. Middle and defensive thirds, well let’s not discuss that here! 🙂
I call the U23 team boys. Not insulting to me. Where was the U23 USMNT? At home playing with their PlayStation vs Canada 🙂
They may be “young men” but definitely not “boys.” Don’t kid yerself they were all professionals – not least of which the ones that I named being world class players, far superior to anything USA could field. Canada and USA u23 are definitely “boys” compared to the Brazilian team in soccer terms!
haha, Canada was playing Ft. Lauderdale Strikers when USA played Brazil…I have no clue how they did! 🙂
Klinsmann is losing it.
http://m.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/05/31/klinsmann-furious-ref-calls-wants-us-become-nastier
“We’ve got to step on their toes more and get them more frustrated,” Klinsmann went on after the Brazil loss.
Well, Klinsmann has one player who knows all about stepping on toes — the German-born and -raised Jermaine Jones, who tried to maim Neymar in the second half with a two-footed flying tackle while the Brazilian was near the sideline at midfield and not even in need of being tackled.
Jones, you may recall, was made captain by Klinsmann in January while serving an eight-week suspension from his German club Schalke 04 – for stomping on the toe of Marco Reus. Everybody knew Reus entered the game with a broken toe, and Jones went after it.
Jones, after he returned from suspension, received eight yellow cards in 10 Bundesliga games. He got one on Wednesday, perhaps pleasing Klinsmann, with a foul that could have easily injured one of the world’s greatest young stars.
It’s unnecessary to explain why the U.S. national team coach should not be advocating “nasty” play and “hurting” people. Many great teams have succeeded without that attitude and it’s simply not the way we want the USA to play the game.
Cal FC 1 v Portland Timbers 0 in overtime….. This was one hell of a game for so many reasons. I’ll post a few specific notes on the game tomorow. But for now, let me say I have been a critic of US coaches nearly my whole life and I had no idea how poor our player selection was until tonight.
I’m simply going to open a new post where everyone can talk about this historic mark in US Soccer.
I was hoping you you get that new post up and running now. i have a lot of thoughts after attending the game live. I can tell you there are plenty of us Timbers fans who are not accepting any excuses for today’s result. Just pull up the #RCTID hashtag on Twitter and see what is being said. Plenty of unhappy fans.
And for the record that WAS our starting XI on the pitch at kick-off. Makes it even more embarrassing.
Will publish in 10 minutes!
That was a heck of a game. Portland dominated for 119 minutes but Cal FC gets one good break to put it away. The Timbers deserve all the criticism they are going to get from this one, 40 shots and no goals to show for it is simply pathetic. Cal FC won because Wynalda out managed and coached Gavin and Spencer.
The Timbers players (well most of them, Jewsbury does not belong in the MLS) were clearly better but are being used improperly. Nagbe is the most dynamic player when he has the ball at his feet but he is wasted as an attacking mid when the team NEVER plays the ball through the midfield. He was standing at the top of the box all night and only touched the ball on rebounds.
The Timbers’ style of play simply does not work either. Crosses were going into the box all night but Cal FC was getting to them first because they would have 5 guys in the box while Portland only had 2. Spencer is known for saying, “We need to get better service into the box.” Well the service was there and still no one was getting onto the ends of those balls.
Portland’s possession was some of the best I’ve seen from them but the end result was still the same, eventually the ball is forced into a position where the only option is to dribble past two defenders and then there is the turnover. Cal FC had trouble maintaining possession against Chara and Mosquera and changed from a possessing style to playing off the break in order to create chances.
If you were to let Wynalda manage the Timbers for a week and put Spencer as head of Cal FC we would probably be talking about a 6-0 win for the Timbers instead of a 0-1 loss. Spencer is cramming square pegs into misshapen holes that no peg will fit into. I believe the Timbers roster is full of quality but I want Wynalda in there to manage the team properly.
Brian your analysis of Spencer is spot on. Spencer is passionate about soccer but passion does not equal an ability to coach.
re: Jewsbury – he’s the captain!??!
ps-who else thinks Boyd was being trash-talked before the PK? (which is OK, they are men). I say this b/c he was chatting with something of a cocky expression and some Cal player behind was having a great chuckle about the whole thing.
Excellent game. Timbers did try to keep the ball down but simply ran out of patience. Many times they could have cycled and tried another approach but resigned themselves to trying crosses.
Alhanssa (sic) was quite good in the CM I thought, and certainly had a great chance to win the game through the right-centre channel in the 18, missing a shot low across goal by inches. I personally thought he was Timbers best player – reminded me of Koffie @ Whitecaps.
I agree with many things in this article, especially about having quality people in the right places. The one thing I have to say is that there are unorganized clubs that are run the wrong way around the whole world, not just the U.S. Also, I don’t necessarily agree that an MLS should obliterate a situation like this. Although, I understand the statement I don’t agree with it.