The one where we are the best of the worst

1: We went up against the worst team statistically and aesthetically in MLS and we couldn’t net a goal in the first half. It’s not good enough. I figured DC would come out with a little more after getting embarrassed by Philly again, but nonetheless, we should’ve scored in the first half. 

 

2: It’s cool to keep the opponent guessing in how we are going to score, but so often it looks like we are keeping ourselves guessing. We move the ball around well enough, we get it into the final third and then too often we’re missing the final key pass. For me, we just lack an attacking identity that the players feel comfortable and confident with. 

 

3: As far as individual performances go, I thought Brooks and Almada were outstanding. Two assists for Brooks and one from Almada. Thiago could hit a target that was ray shielded and only 3 meters wide. If we are to go on a run and if we are going to get hot in the post season it will be his passing quality that plays a major role. 

 

4: Can we be happy with this win and recognize that the level of performance against a bottom dweller is still not good enough to get us into the post season and then do anything once we are there? Yes I think so. Once again we could say the team showed grit and fight to come from behind, twice, to get the result. And once again we can say that we shouldn’t fall behind, much less fall behind at home, much less fall behind at home to DC. Nonetheless, our post season hopes are alive, now all we have to do is get a couple results against Philly and Portland away. No problem. 

 

5: The King has returned. Maybe. This was far and away the best version of Josef we’ve seen in a very long time. To be fair to him, Josef has looked a little better recently. He has in fact, prior to this match, had a goal and an assist. But in those matches he still didn’t look like the “old Josef”. Today, for 30 minutes, I thought he very much did. FWIW, I liked the no celebration after his goal. He knows it hasn’t been good enough. He knows he hasn’t been good enough. There is still time to set things right.