[retired_kcnoodle@cox.ne]

Sweet Smell of Success

EARLY SEASON GAMES
With a fresh season starting, Kansas City started off facing Stu's FC Dallas in a game which admittedly Dallas dominated. Kansas City was able to escape with a away draw. The next game was against Colorado Rapids the defending Champions. In what was a even game both teams go a goal. A draw against LA and a 2-0 victory of New England followed. I went away for a while and my team responded with our first loss of te season to Chicago 0-2. Then 2 1-0 wins in a row.

Then we faced off against DC United in our first test of the season, we answered it with flying colors beating DC United all be it at home 2-0, Then our second test came things were back and forth though out most of the game and then a catastrophe happened after a thrown in in the 60th minute that Brian Mullan messed up. Colorado was quick to take advantage and took the 3-2 lead. My team just gave up from there the final score was 4-2. " I yelled at the team after this game. I stressed the fact that we had to play 90 minutes. I was hoping to build up some momentum going into the 7 game road trip that we have coming up. This was not how I had planed" The next game was the last game Kansas City would be at home until next month. They whopped L.A. 4-1, When asked if th is changed his opinion Allen had this to say.

Song For the Road Trip They Might Be Giants - Istanbul

@ San Jose - "Al as usual was pessimistic about facing me. Unfortunate for him my team really did not need to go out on the field they did a good enough job of beating themselves. Joe Cannon messed up missing the ball leaving a wide open net for Brian Ching who was able to hit the back pretty easily. We went a man down after the referee (who was very card happy) kicked off Ngwenya. Unfortunately for Al Aubin who had just settled into the area came out and scored right out of the blocks at half time. Things would only get worse for Joe Cannon when he let in a own goal to make 3-1. Al was upset as usual after he faces me. You know Joe is a good keeper he just had one of those days."

We tied the Metrostars 0-0 and a 1-1 tie to Columbus, We then faced New England in the battle of the penalty kicks, we came out on top 2-1 all goals were scored by penalties.

@ Chicago - " You know I like Grom, I have great respect for him but my team just came out and played. Aubin especially is starting to get into the flow of the games. He got two goals today on the break always. This was also the time that I got to show off my newest signing the young limber and talented Roy Lassiter (said laughingly). Roy is someone that I felt I needed I looked at the team and we had really no one that the younger players could look up to. Grom did a decent job of managing my team just is performing well right now."

We ended the session with a draw against FC Dallas.

"The next two games well say a lot first of all we well end a so far very successful road trip against the Eastern Conference leaders DC United. They have not lost at home so far and I am going to make it a point not to escape with a draw but win the game. We can we have the talent we can win. Aubin and Ching well have to step up though. Then the game that we circled on our calendars we come back home we get L.C.P back from the world cup and we face Colorado. I have been stressing this game since we last face Colorado. This could be the start of the changing of the guard. We are fighting with Colorado right now and we feel we are ready to take first."

Song for next two games Nelly - #1

We added some players

Greg Allen " He is a project really this guy is straight out of the kickboxing dojo. He can kick the ball and make it flat if he wanted but we really need to harness this. My scout said that he might not be ready yet I think he will be pretty soon"

Andrew Schmetzer " Young goalkeeper he is our emergency incase that which can happen that we do not speak of does happen"

Roy Lassiter " A Veteran player who had the first ever MLS Golden Boot, I enjoyed watching him has a kid so I wanted to bring him into the system. This may be his last hurrah but hopefully it well be a good celebration."

[retired_hellokity111]

[retired_hellokity111]

Originally Posted by perpetua

.......


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[retired_hellokity111]

[retired_kcnoodle@cox.ne]

STILL A LOT TO LEARN

After being sacked for the second time, Lung admits that he still has a lot to learn, but he is learning it the right way.

"...I know the frustration that comes from every direction, I know fans are so anxious to see some result, I am here to apologize to the organization. But I hope people can still support me, I have learned a lot since joining the Relegation Fighters Manager Association, I have discovered a lot of things myself, and heard a lot of advice from other managers. I am quite confident fight now, it is just a matter of time when I get a few more pieces to the mix, then we are really compete with the others. I am glad that I have given another opportunity here to prove myself..."

"...My team as a whole is average I will say, but it is not enough to compete with the others. My back line has some solid players, but none of them can run, they have a lot of trouble when they face some pacy attack line. Up front, we don't have attackers who can be a threat every time down the field. In this league, every shot, every on target is so valuable, you will not get a lot of those, because most of the teams have a defensive mind set, you cannot shoot the ball well wide, or way over the bar, you need to try and capitalize on those chances your opponent gives you if you want to win games. DC and Colorado are very good on those, that is why they stand among the top in the league..."

"...I will try to finish this season strong and gain some momentum going into the 4th season..."

[retired_mallory08]

It's not called Spartan for nothing.....

SJ are still struggling to find top gear despite an All-Star roster. 6 players were called into the West's team that fell for the first time to the East, 3-zip.

Clark's side has started to settle and after a couple of roster issues Clark has welcomed a new reserve keeper, a reserve left back , a reserve centre half and a new creative midfielder to the squad. Gone are the last of the deadwood. Clark has the team he wanted. Unfortunately, Romanian international Filipescu, who was much needed at the back, had to be passed over in favour of the younger more versatile Zolton Boor. Clark may rue this decision but it was purely based on the age of the players, the DC being already 32 years old.

With most of the squad now back from injury the team has started to improve their results, though nothing to yet justify their early season billing as favourites for the Cup. "I may yet eat those words" said a more humble Clark.

EJ is still out of sorts and a transfer in the summer seems inevitable. He has been fined 2 weeks wages on 5 occassions now, injured 5 times and scored 3 times. He's still on the list and still doubting Clark in public, even though we all know his fued was with previous gaffer Stu II. "At least he's started hitting the net" said a contemplative Clark. In truth, goal scoring has long been an issue for SJ, with probably 90% of their goals coming from strikers over the last three years....the support play has simply not been there, despite several classy attack-minded players in the line up - Dempsey, Adu, Ederson, Ramierz, Klein and Ralston.

The team has reverted to their preferred 4-4-2 formation and the line up will remain settled as Al seeks the consistency from his team that has yet to transpire in three rollercoaster seasons.

This season there has been little to cheer. Eddie Pope and Clint Dempsey continue to perform, but other stalwarts have really let the side down. Former Rock, Joe Cannon, has been on the receiving end of some terrible goals of late - including knocking one into his own net, and letting in a 25 yard backpass. His return to form will be essential if the Quakes are to get into the playoffs, let alone make an impression there.

So far, Brazillian Ederson has not wielded the creative influence Clark had hoped. "He's young, he's got time on his side, but I may help him out on the creativity side by dropping Zoltan Boor in there to help try and generate some magic.' In 20 games, Ederson has one goal and not a single assist.

As always, a couple of players are letting this side down. "I know we've had changes, injuries and World Cup call-ups, but that's all behind us now and I'd like to see the team make real headway in the next 5-10 games. Hopefully, we'll hit form at the right time. Ihonestly don't see us catching KC, let alone the Rapids, at this point I will be desparately trying to avoid getting Greg in the playoffs. First, we have to get in there. LA, though disappointing, have a good squad and a very solid manager in charge in Tom. Dallas are much improved this term and are nobody's fool. It's going to be tight'.

The results in the last five games see only a single defeat, but a W1 D3 L1 record isn't going to get anyone excited. "In honesty, we dropped some points this session. I don't think we could have expected victory against the Fire, even at home, but a draw with Dallas and the Metrostars is really 4pts we could really have used." The lone victory was chalked up against AssMan powered NE, 2-0. Again, SJ only managed 5 goals in the 4 games....despite regularly playing flowing attacking football, with as many as 6 forwards on the pitch at a time.

"We're 2/3 way through the season. I think we can see where the quality really is. Cream rises to the top and all that.... We've 2 Powerhouses in this league, 2 Top sides, 4 average teams and 2 that seem to struggle. Now Dallas, who would have been in the last group earlier in the season are probably now with the 4 other average teams. It's going to take a big upset to stop this one going by the book."

With several unhappy players in the camp, mainly due to 'underperforming', there have been certain voices calling for a change. The board remains satisfied, but I think all know it would only take a couple of bad results, or the expected early playoff departure to see a regeime change in Southern Cali. "I said I'd live or die by this season. We're not dead yet, we're not on life support....but the best analogy I can give is that we're sleeping with a dirty woman, and sooner or latter she's gonna give us the clap."

WTF?!

[retired_kcnoodle@cox.ne]

The Presence of Quality Players

Despite all the struggles that Metros have been facing these past 3 years of their rebuilding process, they finally get some quality players who can help them move to the next level. Lung has 2 players on his squad that was selected to the all-star game, this is the first time his players was chosen to the mid-season festival since he took over two and a half seasons ago.

Both Leonardo Gonzalez and Jean-Phillipe Peguero are a vital part of the team, it is just about surrounding them with some solid pieces to make this team into a competitive team in the East. Beside Gonzalez and Peguero; Vanden Borre, last year all-star, will be a key component also; Tao, will be an all-star for years in the future, so Metros have the potential to be a good team in the future. The rest of the squad is average, but it is not enough to compete is every single game. For the defenders, they don't have the speed to guide pacy attacking lines; up front, they don't have creative strikers to break down opponent's defense.

After the reitrement of Ronald de Boer and Havutcu Tayfur, the Metros now have 2 SI slot open. Scouts of the team have been searching intensively in South America and Scandinavia hoping to find some talents who can help the team.

[retired_hellokity111]

United Earn Qualification to Playoffs

With 9 more matches to go in the regular season, United have already secured a playoff spot, partially due to yet another poor season by the MetroStars.

United have also broken the MLS winning streak set by the Colorado Rapids last season, after beating Kansas City, New England and Columbus by scores of 3-0, 2-0 and 5-0 respectively. The 10 game winning streak was ended by a loss to the Rapids in Colorado, thanks to two Zizi Roberts goals against the run of play.

United bounced back quickly to beat LA at home and gain their 15th in of the season.

United have also announced that U.S. national Greg Gomez would be joining the team in the summer from Belgian club Antwerp. The 21 year old spent the second half of the season with the Belgian club playing in 16 matches and recoding 6 assists. He should be a welcome addition to the United team and will hopefully attract the attention of the USMNT.

This is D.C.'s second European signing this summer as Eric Anderson was brough in from Werder Bremen after the US national failed to settle in Germany.

United were also well represented in the triumphant East All Star team, contributing man of the match, goalkeeper Nick Rimando, Carlos Fernando Figueroa, Piero Alva, Dema Kovalenko, Mike Petke and Jeremiah White.

[retired_hellokity111]

[retired_hellokity111]