5/4/13 :: Union : SSFC -- KICK 13:00

[jbraaten]

Also notice Traore sporting the captain arm-band after Mauro leaves the pitch. Well deserved.

[StrikingMidfield]

Traore is a huge talent. He's constantly saving our defense. EJ is also showing his worth and that we're a FAR better team with him on the pitch. Well earned point.

[jbraaten]

Finally Yedlin's reputation gets a bruise. It was a stupid tackle and the card was deserved, but this was coming sometime... A [starting] rookie RB who makes insane runs up (and down) the pitch with full intensity. The kid gives it 110%, and with that effort comes frustration and the attempt to pull some "spectacular" out of a stupid decision. Add that to his youth and bam. Red card.

He'll learn from his brief moment of stupidity and come back in the same form, but with a more-experienced thought process in the heat of frustration.

Top players in the match:
Traore - without a doubt our man of the match. Damn good sign
Rosales - so redeeming to see some periods of his old form
EJ - it was nice to have a starting striker again. His head causes the defense problems (in many ways)
Evans - nothing spectacular, but the guy has poise and can pass efficiently. We needed that with Caskey & Carrasco on the pitch

[JerrarDAtkinson]

Was Joseph simply being rested or does he have a problem? Didn't hear.

[Llarian]

I read hamstring for Joseph somewhere, forgot where.

[juanvaldes]

What a shit show.

Traore saved our asses and is the unsung off season signing that is paying off huge.
Rosales almost looked like his old self again.
Never thought I'd say this but I really missed Joseph (and Ozzy of course) in midfield.

[RatCity]

Word was oba, shalrie, zakuani, and alonso did not travel. In case people didn't know.

[cethe]

i just hope ozzie & shalrie meet up for KC

[ericgi]

Worst game of Caskey's career, to be sure. Probably the only reason he lasted as long as he did was because we were up 1-0 and Martinez doesn't exactly instill confidence in doing defensive duties. That said, I'd have rather have him in there than Caskey giving the ball away in our own end or getting caught in possession every single time.

Wish we could not wait until halftime to try and sort out why our outside backs were tucking in way too far. Once Philly got the awful start out of their system and started opening us up out wide with diagonal switching balls, it was a miracle we hadn't conceded at least twice in the final 20 minutes of the half. Shouldn't have taken a genius to figure it out (hell even I had figured it out before the teams went off at halftime and Sigi finally mentioned it to the TV... well gee thanks captain obvious!) and get an adjustment made... not like it's a rocket science adjustment to make.

[JerrarDAtkinson]

Worst game of Caskey's career, to be sure. Probably the only reason he lasted as long as he did was because we were up 1-0 and Martinez doesn't exactly instill confidence in doing defensive duties. That said, I'd have rather have him in there than Caskey giving the ball away in our own end or getting caught in possession every single time.

Wish we could not wait until halftime to try and sort out why our outside backs were tucking in way too far. Once Philly got the awful start out of their system and started opening us up out wide with diagonal switching balls, it was a miracle we hadn't conceded at least twice in the final 20 minutes of the half. Shouldn't have taken a genius to figure it out (hell even I had figured it out before the teams went off at halftime and Sigi finally mentioned it to the TV... well gee thanks captain obvious!) and get an adjustment made... not like it's a rocket science adjustment to make.

it wasn't just along the back. we were very narrow in midfield too. It wasn't a matter of having the fullbacks play wider, because that would have left massive channels between the fullbacks and center backs. it was a matter of Evan and Carrasco keeping shape. As soon as our press broke down, (ie, when Philly began keeping the ball), we should have reverted our shape to contain their midfield and attempt to retain possession, rather than chase the ball around and force it forward once we won it.

It was actually well spotted by Philly and they exploited it perfectly. Farfan kept tucking in and finding the space just in from of Traore and Hurtado, who were occupied by McInerny and Casey, and Yedlin didn't know whether to follow him or not. When he followed him, it left the entire left side open for their left back to attack because Rosales was so narrow trying to help Carrasco and Evans win the ball back. If he didn't follow him, he got the ball in that dangerous pocket. On the other side Cruz just stuck to the sideline, happy to wait for the ball because he had no need to defend. Zak would have made a big difference.