Houston-Dallas: April 6 - Why aren't more people watching the MLS?

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Posted on Thursday 10th of April 2008 12:04:35 AM by John Holland
The Houston-FC Dallas clash last Sunday raised the question: Why the heck aren't more people watching the MLS?
The game was about as exciting a soccer game as you'll see, an incredibly North-South game, a game that produced goals, brilliant runs, and flair. The 3-3 draw made me yearn for the old days of MLS when ties weren't on the docket, but that's hardly important. What is important is that it was a supremely entertaining game that featured two of MLS's top sides.
I'm just going to make a few observations on this game, just things I noticed. I'd love to hear our faithful readers takes on the game as well - please email me at john@spotlightsoccer.com or post your thoughts on the forum.
A few things about the game in general really stood out.
First, the movement off the ball was superb by both teams. Players passed and then made creative runs - a facet that sometimes is missing from MLS games.
Second, the accuracy of long balls and through balls, particularly by Houston was staggering. Throughout the game 50-60 yard passes landed right on the money or hit a player in stride. It was very impressive.
Third, the marking by the defensive backs was lacking. That was ok for the viewer as it made for very wide-open soccer, but is definitely a weakness both teams might want to shore up.
Finally, the pace was fantastic. I mean, this game was FAST. Players were flying up and down the field faster than Luis Bueno chasing down a plate of cupcakes. The fact that this pace was sustained throughout speaks volumes about the conditioning and training of both teams.
Heroes of the game:
Houston:
A 5 way tie. Dwayne De Rosario, Richard Mulrooney, Corey Ashe, Franco Caraccio, and Brian Ching moved as a unit all through the game. Ashe is very dangerous making runs out of the back.
FC Dallas:
The two-goal scorer makes this easy. Kenny Cooper. His chip in the 35th minute was a thing of beauty. Cooper has much more pace and ball control than one might expect from him - and he seems to be improving each game. I think he deserves an audition with Bob Bradley - sooner rather than later.
Goats of the game:
Houston:
I feel bad about making this selection for Houston, but it has to be backup keeper Tony Caig. I mean, the poor guy probably never expects to play - he was probably up late in the hotel bar sipping on imported beer and wondering when he was ever going to play. Still, you have to make the most of your chance and Caig most emphatically did not. He was in a terrible position for Cooper's chip in the 35th minute and in the 45th minute he let in an easy save. Two shots that I believe Onstad would have saved - had Onstad not been on the bench trying to figure out what his name was after getting his clock cleaned in the 28th minute.
FC Dallas:
Easy, again. Dominic Oduro. What was this guy thinking? In the 80th minute he opted to shoot on a THREE ON ONE - ignoring his two wide open teammates 8 yards to his left. That would have put FC Dallas up 4-2 and would have been the nail in the coffin for Houston. So, ok, one mistake is forgivable, right? How about two mistakes? In the 89th minute, THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO. For some inexplicable reason Oduro chose to shoot again - ignoring his two EVEN MORE wide open teammates.
Specific things I noticed, first for Houston:
Everytime De Rosario gets an opening to take a clear shot, everyone watching on TV, the stands, and on the field (including the opposing keeper) thinks he's going to score with one of his patented 90 MPH blasts to the upper corners. In the 66th minute he wound up for a rocket - and you could tell by Sala's fumbling of the ball that he was surprised to have a chance to save it.
Houston completed about 70 percent of their long balls.
Corey Ashe is one dangerous dude. He's going to contribute this year.
Brian Ching is tall, but isn't 8 feet tall. Someone should tell his teammates. Short-range crosses were always about a foot too high.
Geoff Cameron's 90th minute goal was gorgeous - talk about clutch.
Ching and Mulrooney are in much better shape than last year.
Has Houston been working on backheel passes? They completed all of them.
Someone should tell Houston's defense that while NOT playing defense is fun, playing defense is more fun.
Specific things I noticed for FC Dallas:
Adrian Serioux might be bionic. His throw-ins looked more like free kicks.
Give Juan Toja ONE inch and he's past you, mullet flying the wind. He's got skills - particularly in close quarters.
Not only did Kenny Cooper put away two goals, but he passed well and held up the ball the whole game. He's improved his speed. Also, he's surprisingly graceful. Like, seriously graceful. Ballerina-esque.
FC Dallas forgot to field defenders. They would have helped. I think maybe they were being Good Samaritans and were off helping Pat Onstad remember his North American country of origin (think, Pat, think! Do you prefer burgers, tacos, or moose?).
Is anyone in the league more feisty (or look more like a hobbit) than Dax McCarty? He was EVERYWHERE. In the 73rd minute he saves a breakaway, in the 81st his half volley was a RIP.
Outside of one punt to Alvarez, Dario Sala is ATROCIOUS at distribution. He really just kicked the ball. To no one in particular. Over and over. And over.
Dallas managed to get outplayed, outpossessed, and outshot in the first half, yet hold a 2-1 edge at halftime. Why? Counterattacks. They have the most rapid counterattack in the MLS.
All told, a fantastic game - one in which I think Houston probably was the better side but which FC Dallas should have closed out. Can't wait till they play again.
What are your thoughts? Share them here!

anxiously awaiting...

The US-Mexico soccer game tonight. Just a friendly, you say? Never! This soccer rivalry has developed into something special in a short time. Each game is exciting, unexpected, and generally somewhat violent.

Both rosters are real eye-openers... But my prediction is 3-2 US.

An American Soccer Fan's Musings on Mexico - by Brian Fobi

See http://spotlightsoccer.com/index.php?action=article&id=12 for original article and discussion of this article.

An American Soccer Fan's Musings on Mexico

Posted on Monday 04th of February 2008 12:10:15 AM by Brian Fobi

As a sporting rivalry, the United States vs. Mexico soccer rivalry is highly unusual in a number of ways. There is an enormous asymmetry in terms of the histories, pedigrees and breadth of fan devotion, and in many ways the rivalry feeds off of the deeply ambivalent nature of the larger geopolitical environment in which the matchup takes place.
This causes fans to lose a sense of objectivity about the strengths of the respective squads, and many debates in online forums rapidly degenerate into silly jingoistic tirades. Can, then, an American soccer fan offer an honest assessment of the strengths of the two sides? I shall try.
Mexico is better. Ugh… just saying is a disgusting thing for an American soccer fan. Mexico is better. As odious as the sentence feels to say and sounds to hear, it is as true as it is disappointing. Now, I know all the head-to-head statistics that show how dominant the Untied States has been away from Azteca, and by any reasonable examination of the situation, even the most diehard fan of the Tricolores would have to admit that Mexico can’t beat the United States. Odd as it sounds, though, it doesn’t actually mean that the United States is better.
In boxing, trainers and journalists talk about styles making fights, and this is certainly true of soccer as well. For reasons either stylistic or psychological, the United States has Mexico’s number. That said, it is also certainly true that Mexico has fared better against top international competition than has the United States.
To get at the root of my point, imagine a thought experiment. Suppose that you took the top seven teams in the world; for the sake of argument, let us say that they are Italy, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, Portugal, and Germany. Suppose further that you could select either the United States or Mexico to play in this round-robin tournament. Which team would do better? Even as an American fan, I think it is obvious that Mexico would likely do better. They have played Brazil and Argentina extremely well of late, even managing to pull out some high profile wins. In any case, none of those teams would outclass Mexico in the way that, say, the Czech Republic did to the United States in 2006.
It is completely understandable to want to tear down your rival, and to dismiss them out of hand as being of less quality. Doing so, though, both diminishes the victories that you earn against them and also precludes you from trying to learn something from them. Irrespective of the dominance that Team USA has had against Mexico of late, who would argue against the notion that the USA could learn something from the way in which Mexico insists on playing with style, attack mindedness and flow. Similarly, for what’s worth, Mexico could also learn a great deal from the United States about how to play with grit and determination when confronted with a more talented opponent.
So, the United States and Mexico will gear up to play again, and both sides will likely both overstate the importance of the match while, oddly, also understating the quality of their opponent. This is an unfortunate mistake because both sides have some quality players, a bright future, and real reasons to respect each other, even if they don’t always like each other.

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