26 June 2008

Tidbits

Just a few things:

  • After the DCU v SJE match, the Washignton Freedom defeated the Richmond Kickers Destiny with 4 goals in the first half and one more in the second (Andrzejewski, Lindsey, Welsh, Andrzejewski, Jiminez). WPS (Women's Professional Soccer) is slated to begin next year. More specifically, from the WPS website,

    WPS is the highest level women’s professional soccer league in North America. Formed in September 2007 as the result of the efforts of the Women’s Soccer Initiative, Inc., WPS, which will begin play in April 2009 consists of seven teams across the country.

    The markets for the 2009 season are Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. More markets will be announced as they are added to the League.

  • On MLSNet.com, most of the league teams are linked across the top of the page by their location. For example, "Colorado", "New England", or "New York". But DC United only gets "DCU". I assume that this has nothing to do with a political statement about DC Statehood and is more a complement to the league's most successful club. Except what's up with "RSL" and "TOR"? Some consistency, please!
  • I feel like Burch's left foot is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. He has certainly been successful with it. But when I watch him on the ball, it seems that he literally cannot play the ball with his right foot. Whether he is crossing or touch passing or dribbling and whether he is under pressure or in space or standing still or racing up the side, he never plays the ball with his right. He'll contort his body or plays the ball into a less than optimal position. Even when a soft touch with his right would do, he uses his left. No matter how awkward or inappropriate. I hope it doesn't become a problem. Watch for it. I wish we could do something similar to what Trainer Mickey did for Rocky in Rocky 2 to get him to learn to fight with his right hand. But I'm not sure how that works with legs. We can't tie one of Burch's legs behind his back...
  • Congrats to Martinez for GOTW! That's three weeks in a row for United (Emilio, Simms, Martinez) and four weeks out of six (Gallardo). I'll go out on a limb and predict... um let's see... FRED wins it this week.
  • Matchday forecast for Sunday on weather.com is "slight chance of a thunderstorm" although the local weather guy this morning on the teevees made it sound like more than just a slight chance. Let's hope it doesn't turn out like the Houston match.
Update:
  • I went on the Volkswagen of America website to hunt for any DC United references. I was curious as to whether there was any reciprocity in DC United's favor. They aren't obvious, like on the homepage, but I found them here.

7 Comments:

At 26 June, 2008 12:31, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with you about Burch. Been thinking the same thing all season. This past game against SJ though, he played it once with his right, and it was a perfect, simple pass. I don't know why he's so tentative to use it; it's not like a brick.

 
At 26 June, 2008 12:37, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not to nitpick, but Burch's right foot isn't on its way to becoming a problem. It has been a problem, and a big one, for quite a while. His inability to use it for anything other than the shortest, simplest possession pass (and even that is dangerous when he's pressured) has come close to neutralizing his left foot now that MLS defenders are aware of the situation.

The most worrisome part is, I can't see much improvement from last year to this. Burch could be a very good MLS left back - although I think we are all recognizing he is miscast as an outright winger - with his decent-if-uninspired defensive play and good crosses. But if he can't learn to use both feet to maintain possession, then he'll be limited to a reserve role.

There's not a lot of time for it in the middle of the season, but he has three excellent teachers available in Jaime, Marcelo, and Fred. I'd be leveraging that opportunity every waking moment if I were him.

 
At 26 June, 2008 12:45, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Regarding the links on the top on the MLSnet website. The teams may be abbrevated for space purposes. I help design websites and I would have done the exact same thing. I would read in to it anymore the that.

 
At 26 June, 2008 12:49, Anonymous Anonymous said...

so...anyone see the post on Unprofessional Foul blasting Uniteds trials to get a stadium in dc...he has no idea what he is talking about...this makes me mad
http://unprofessionalfoul.blogspot.com/2008/06/team-set-me-up-dc-united-stadium-plans.html

 
At 26 June, 2008 12:54, Blogger Bob said...

kris, interesting point but I will continue to consider it a complement to United's ubiquitousness.

 
At 27 June, 2008 10:41, Blogger JCM said...

I was under the impression that Burch only had a left leg. This is fascinating that he has a right leg and simply chooses not to use it. What I used to chalk up as a man overcoming a handicap is now something so much less.

 
At 27 June, 2008 11:36, Blogger EdTheRed said...

Someone should tell the VW folks that 1996 - 2008 > 8 years.

 

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