Expansion Teams 2nd Half History

I see us picking up more points in the second half, even though we have a lot of road games this half. I think the team is really starting to gel and is already making for some better play. All three goals in the last MLS game were the result of the team having a better sense of itself:

1. The set piece we’ve all been waiting for was a thing of beauty but I think in earlier games Montero isn’t there or Jaqua doesn’t time his run just right to free himself, or another of a billion little things that weren’t working previously went right on that play.



2. The second goal depended hugely on the familiarity of those players with one another. After Jaqua sends him the ball, Montero knows where Jaqua is going and puts it in his path. He can do it without hesitation because he and Jaqua understand each other now. In the past, Montero might have hesitated on that ball and been stripped but not now.


3. Goal three was an awesome team goal. Le Toux clears to Ljungberg, then takes off down the field. Ljungberg sees that Le Toux has gotten into a good position and sends him the ball. Le Toux makes a move, then sees Montero available in the area. Montero knows Jaqua is rushing in, and just barely slows the ball down so Jaqua can first time it. All four players worked together to score on a beautiful counterattack.

If they can stay healthy, I think this kind of improved play will result in what would have been losses in the first half of the season become draws or better, and what were draws in the first half become wins.

Hmmm. Tried to do a numbered list there in the middle, but I guess it got stripped out.

I agree with CarlosT. The team seems ready to put a run of victories together. I am interested to see how much better they get on the end of Zakuani’s runs and crosses. If they have better positioning, then those runs could be deadly.

Interesting. I suspect, as Carlos noted, that it’s about players getting to know each other. When we started the loss/draw trend it was mostly about good opportunities ending in miscues with Montero and Ljunberg even running into each other. As that’s adjusted we’ve seen those miscues turn to goals.
Second half schedule is a little tougher… especially that three game road stretch… but this is a very dangerous team. I see them at least holding on PPM and probably gaining a bit.
They have to keep finding the net… a lot. This isn’t a 1-0 win kinda team.