Toluca

This balancing thing of trying to get some young guys in there or some fresh guys, we’re going to have to really rethink and really make sure however we move forward we have to commit [to that]. Like I said I thought Santino [Quaranta] really added some life, some energy but in all, whoever’s on the field – the amount of work we do and the amount of effort we put through has to be standard. And the soccer might not be the best but the amount of work we do and the amount of effort we put forward has to be better. And collectively as a team I think we’re having often three guys, and its different guys, [putting in the effort] and we have to do that collectively as a team otherwise you’re going to continue going down the stretch with the same results. – Tom Soehn after the Toluca – United game

That’s after United ran out a starting lineup with 5 non-regular starters….and that’s if you consider McTavish a regular.  In recent years it was apparent that the team ran some players into the ground (see Jamie Moreno after trying to carry the team on his back at  the end of any of the last 3 years).  So it became a focus point to ‘manage minutes’ this season.  Moreno, Olsen, and Gomez have obviously had their total number of minutes highly scrutinized.  Add Fred and Emilio to that mix.  Add Wallace, Pontius, Quaranta. and Jacovic, too.  What that last group is all under 25? 

Earlier this year, United lived off of it’s depth.  Players came into games and made the case that they deserve playing time.  Pontius, Wallace, Wicks, and (the out for the season) Barklage fit into this category.  But that was then this is now.  In fact, at times, it’s been kind of hard to identify 11 players that deserve to be on the field.

What has the team done?  Has it over-reacted to fatigue issues by resting players at the expense of wins and results?  If you don’t make it out of CONCACAF Champions League Group play and the MLS Playoffs, whats really been gained?  They’ll be better rested for the Holidays?  It’s important to not lose focus on what really matters, success on the field.

Chicago

All the talks of closed door team meetings and post-game sound-bites may actually mean something.  While United didn’t put together it’s most technically superior performance, the team showed a lot of heart, they played for each other and did it over a 90 game.  They’ve had issues with coming out flat and then coming out on fire at the half, or coming out solid and then coasted to the end of the game.  Against the Fire the team produced fairly consistently.

United tried their hand once again at playing in a 4-4-2 formation.  This time with newcomer Julius James (think he’s never heard a Dr J joke before) playing central defense along with Jankovic.  With Burch and Namoff in their customary wide positions.  The midfield was a different look as Christian Gomez played in central midfield (along with Clyde Simms) but Ben Olsen went back to his old haunt on the right side of midfield.  One had to wonder how his legs (and ankles) could take the work in that position.  Tino and Emilio started up top.

Interesting that in a more conservative formation, it was a defender who scores.  Bryan Namoff got on the end of a Christian Gomez free kick and put United up in the 11th minute.  Sometime afterwards, United messed around with the formation, bringing in Olsen to the middle, sliding Tino back and pushing Gomez up top.

The formation changes worked, as well as substitutes in Jamie Moreno (for Gomez), Pontius (Tino), and Wallace (Fred).  The Moreno sub in particular helped to regain balance for United, because Chicago was starting to gain some traction.  Fred got a knock and limped off the field.  Hopefully, it’s nothing serious, and the last several games have been very good for him (and he was one of very few bright spots against Toluca).

Heading into the 88th minute or so, you’ve got to wonder if Chicago wasn’t putting up enough of a fight, because United started pushing themselves around.  Josh Wicks (who’s been channeling Mike Ammann of late…..Ammann was the GK during the dark years at took great offense at, well, ever touching the ball, and yelled a stream of profanity at defenders at such an occurence) after a Chicago free kick went on a discussional-tirade at Marc Burch (for some unknown reason), in this Wicks apparently got within Burch’s ‘personal space’ so Marc pushed him off……..in the neck.  More pushes and shoves followed, broken up by the other 9 guys in black.  The discussion continued after the next play (after Wick demolished James).  Here’s a key thing though.  Ben Olsen dropped back to central defense to get Wicks to settle down.  And Burch isn’t the first defender that Wicks has gone way out of his way to give a lecture to.  There was an incident against LA when Wicks launched after Namoff (Namoff, however just kept moving out of the area).  In some cases an overabundance of intensity is good, but Wicks and the defense need to get on the same page to ensure that nothing gets out of hand.

This is about as good of a result that United can bring to get some momentum into the Open Cup Final, and into the next phase of the 2009 campaign.

Fox Soccer Channel

While it’s good to be able to see such a great array of soccer games on TV, at times, FSC can be one of the worst enemies of the game.  Insane, homers, inaccurate, inattentive are all things you can use to describe an FSC announcer.  And then there’s Christian Miles.  In the attempt to keep this Nest Liner family friendly, we’ll just leave it at that.

But what the Hell was up with their "6 in 60" halftime segment?  For those that haven’t seen it, a FSC lackey and his camera man track down one player from each team (presumably before the game) and ask some cheesy questions.  Like the ones you’d see on the Today show, or from Katie Couric.  Real fluff stuff.  During FSC’s Chicago game, they had the Fire’s Jon Busch, and Tino Quaranta.  They were asked about "Who’s the worst singer on the team?" "Who tells the worst jokes?"…..and it ended up with "What’s your favorite adult beverage?".  Uh, Tino’s a recovering substance abuser.  And it’s very public (check out his page on DCUnited.com and it’s right freakin’ there).  In fact, Max Bretos made mention of his absense from MLS (though it made it seem like Tino was out for the entire 2007 season…..but it’s Max  Bretos and facts are just supperfelous).

A little bit of research, kids.  That’s all we ask.