Random Thoughts From a Weekend Away: The USL Marches On
And what is wrong with the Rowdies?
I'm about to do the impossible and try to link four teams in one go here. If you need further proof about how damning the El Paso Locomotive 3-2 loss was to Oakland Roots, I present to you Detroit City FC 3 Oakland Roots 1 where Detroit City is making me choke on my words from my preseason predictions.
Here's the thing, Detroit City made the Oakland Roots look like Oakland Athletics. The game was over as a contest inside 30 minutes. Even as I question the Olympic diving qualities of the awarded penalty (my view should have been a yellow for simulation), Oakland had no fight to them until they were 3-0 down and that is always a recipe for disaster.
So Tampa Bay, can you explain what the hell that was Saturday night? Or better yet, to ask the question Rowdies TV asked when Jordan Farr decided he wanted to roam around the world and come back 1-0 down, 'What just happened?'
The performance was embarrassing. No spin from Robbie Nelson, or anyone else in that organization for that matter, is going to change my mind. The Rowdies thought they could walk through Jahmali Waite, that second chances would see 1 v 4 or 5 magically part like it was District 5 versus the Hawks? The only chance I actually felt sorry for was Danny Crisostomo’s chance minutes into the second half go off the wrong side of the post.
I can't call shots from anywhere into an empty net a worldie. Was it an accurate shot placed on target taking advantage of the fact Jordan Farr pulled himself out of goal for no valid reason? Yes. So basically Javier Nevarez did his job. I will credit Nevarez for this, looking up and getting a bigger field of vision before making up his mind.
The equalizer was the kind of goal El Paso gives up with regularity, and yet it was one of the rare times Tampa tried it. The other time in the final 25 minutes of game action we saw it, minute 87 when Hilton picked Manuel Arteaga again. It was only quick reflexes from Waite that prevented it from being a game winner.
Here's my concern with the Rowdies right now, they are privately blaming things on injuries and 'we'll be better when everyone is back'. Serious question Rowdies, when was the last time your team was 100% fit? Hell, last season you couldn't even put together a full bench for most of the last third of the season. I will never trust you to stay fit, or for more than a game or two max. Nick Moon is likely weeks away, Dennis still needs a few more weeks before he's 90 minutes fit, Leo Fernandes will never be fully fit in his career again.
It time to face hard facts, it maybe time for a new team of doctors and physios because you can't sustain for the long haul. I thought the added time off and trouncing of Miami FC was your get right performance. Instead you just took advantage of a worse team than this.
My other concern is the Rowdies ceiling is looking more and more likely by the week to be fifth in the Eastern Conference. Charleston Battery and Louisville City are the class of the conference right now and I don't expect that to change. Detroit City is making third place their own, and one of either Rhode Island, Hartford Athletic or Pittsburgh Riverhounds is going to leap over this side and stay there.
El Paso knows they got away with one here tonight. The Rowdies maybe the only opponents to try and nursery rhyme their way to a win against them all season.
Which brings us to Tampa Bay's next opponent, Chaos United oops New Mexico United. Saturday was the second consecutive league game where they won it 3-2, both with goals to start second half stoppage time. Quietly New Mexico United is 3rd in the Western Conference ahead of the likes of San Antonio FC and Orange County SC.
This is a side that just doesn't quit, and I get the sense they all love playing for each other. Greg Hurst has that look right now that scares me in a goal scorer. The chip over Jake McGuire was spectacular.
Tampa Bay is facing in my eye a must win against New Mexico United. I don't think they can (which means they win 10-0 and shove this piece down my throat post match). It's also a must watch considering Tampa might finally have to play with something I haven't seen from them in too long, urgency.
Other thoughts from my time away.
1: I should have packed a tablet. I don't get how people watch things on their phones with such frequency. Yet here I was yesterday glued to my phone sipping cocktails and watching games.
2: Saturday showed some of the learning opportunities Brandon Burke still has with Hartford Athletic. Namely when the weather changes you have to have a plan b. Once the wind started howling San Antonio just waited for the mistakes.
3: Memphis 901 FC might be the most mentally frail side in the USL Championship. It's been a long time, if ever, since I've seen a team collapse on themselves the second they give up a goal. It may have started with giving up the late goal to Sacramento.
Since that goal Memphis have: dominant first half against Orange County before a three minute boat racing in the second, early lead at Loudoun United before giving up the equalizer before halftime and finally losing with 20 to go, a perfect start against Monterey Bay before not adding a second and seeing it all undone in another 3 minute stretch. You knew it was coming to the second Marlon Santos missed in first half stoppage time.
4: I clocked Trevor Amann's header crossing the line in 14.1 seconds. The giveaway from Orange County, wasteful. Not bothering to defend Rodrigo Lopez or Amann, unforgivable. Seriously this game was over in 15 seconds. Orange County was effectively given the one punch KO...or header in this case.
Furthermore, can anyone in the USL explain to their international audience why this game wasn't available on YouTube, like all your other games are? Also, can the USL explain whatever dumb logic applied in approving the season schedule that has this any in-conference matchups completed within the first 8 weeks of the season. No one in conference should be playing their second game against a side in conference until they have played everyone first.
5: Let's get all the congratulations out of the way to close:
5a. Well done Rhode Island FC picking up your first professional victory against Las Vegas Lights FC. The law firm of Turnbull, Dikwa and Fuson showed their full potential here. And Rhode Island did something they have yet to do this year, withstand the opposition deluge. I'm also sure a card is being sent to Alba for putting his open header off the far post.
5b: Congrats to Colorado Springs Switchbacks for getting your first point of the season...I guess? Indy Eleven look as far off their potential as Colorado Springs and you still let them work their way into the match. That's before Wahab Ackwei was an idiot and thought trying to break Jack Blake's leg. At least they held on in those 'interesting' conditions (both on and off the pitch).
5c: Congrats to Pittsburgh Riverhounds in picking up their first win of the season, oh and also remembering how to score goals. They were still sliced open way too much for Bob Lilley's liking, but as we know with a Lilley side, once they start to get goals it might be hard to stop them because the one thing Lilley is above all else is, a teacher.
Brilliant writing, Jonathan! It was inspired to "ink four teams in one" !
I'll have to hope Rowdies stay in this form until after Legion plays them back-to-back.
Trying to being objective, Hartford looks like the most likely leaper of the ones you've listed. While I think RI has the pieces, I'm not sure they have it quite together yet, despite this most recent game. Although it's hard to ignore that result on top of their Open Cup result.
On the other hand, I'm still a long way from buying in on Pittsburgh. I agree that Lilley will pull them out of the basement, but they're in a hole.
On one more hand, Legion is tied with Rowdies on points. I do think it's a mistake to dismiss them out of hand. Soehn is also a good teacher, and they have some young padawans out there.