RSL v. DC Oct.5 [R]

[I_Believe_In_Kreis]

Originally Posted by Super Phil

As far as Tarley back-tracking: How much is your center striker supposed to back-track?

However far it takes to get separation. Watch the great strikers of the world like Henry, Rooney, Ronaldo, etc. and see how far they come back for the ball. Even Donovan when he plays fw will come back into the midfield if necessary - that's why he always seems to have so much space.

While he didn't score, he definitely put pressure on DC's defense.

No he didn't. Every time he touched the ball Namoff was right on him pushing him off the ball or getting a foot on it. DC's defense was pressuring HIM, not the other way around. And when you just stand there waiting for the ball you're an easy mark - only one defender has to think about you, and even then he doesn't have to think too hard.

His job is to score goals

Not as much as you'd think. In RSL's system (a modified version of NE's system) the forwards score dirty goals but their first responsibility is to distribute to midfield runners who are usually not well marked. That's why they play with their backs to the goal. That's why Kreis leads the team in assists. But Tarley plays more of a high school type forward (send it long, chase it down, score off the dribble) and seems to be suited to a high school system. Sadly our defense makes high school mistakes regarding the long ball which is why Tarley has made a career off of one game against RSL.

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

Sadly our defense makes high school mistakes regarding the long ball which is why Tarley has made a career off of one game against RSL.

Didn't he do well against the CRapids, though, too?

[Rover]

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

However far it takes to get separation. Watch the great strikers of the world like Henry, Rooney, Ronaldo, etc. and see how far they come back for the ball. Even Donovan when he plays fw will come back into the midfield if necessary - that's why he always seems to have so much space.



No he didn't. Every time he touched the ball Namoff was right on him pushing him off the ball or getting a foot on it. DC's defense was pressuring HIM, not the other way around. And when you just stand there waiting for the ball you're an easy mark - only one defender has to think about you, and even then he doesn't have to think too hard.



Not as much as you'd think. In RSL's system (a modified version of NE's system) the forwards score dirty goals but their first responsibility is to distribute to midfield runners who are usually not well marked. That's why they play with their backs to the goal. That's why Kreis leads the team in assists. But Tarley plays more of a high school type forward (send it long, chase it down, score off the dribble) and seems to be suited to a high school system. Sadly our defense makes high school mistakes regarding the long ball which is why Tarley has made a career off of one game against RSL.

Well said. From what I've seen, Tarley has a long way to go to be an effective forward in MLS.

He could start by working on trapping the ball cleanly. Big and fast means nothing if you can't control the ball when it's served to you.

[montgjules]

Perhaps some of the Tarley concern has to do with team chemistry. Perhaps he'll get better as he trains more and gets more accustomed to the team's style. That might even be a good thing.

[Rover]

Originally Posted by montgjules

Perhaps some of the Tarley concern has to do with team chemistry. Perhaps he'll get better as he trains more and gets more accustomed to the team's style. That might even be a good thing.

I'd like to think so, but the fact remains that he has brickfoot in a bad way and that's tough to cure. Strikers are born, not made. DC United had an athletic, tall, aggressive, and fast young striker who came out of college with a lot of promise. He'd work hard all game, get himself in position to score, and brick it just about every time. Because we disdained DC, my family was fond of saying that we never felt safer than when this player had the ball in front of our goal.

He tried, the coaches tried. Nothing worked. Eventually he was traded, and his new coach saw what no one else did. Move him to wing defense, and let him loose on all those strikers who played the position he could never quite master.

And now Chris Albright is an All Star and USMNT defender with a good shot at a spot in Germany. Who'd a thunk it?

From what I've seen, Tarley has talent, but nobody gets away with English long ball anymore. His game is not suited to ball control and precise passing. Against highly organized and aggressive MLS defenses, he'll continue to struggle. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've played, coached, and watched this game for a long time and he's a classic case of the youth dump-and-run forward who meets his match against better competition.

[Scholesy]

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

Not as much as you'd think. In RSL's system (a modified version of NE's system) the forwards score dirty goals but their first responsibility is to distribute to midfield runners who are usually not well marked. That's why they play with their backs to the goal. That's why Kreis leads the team in assists. But Tarley plays more of a high school type forward (send it long, chase it down, score off the dribble) and seems to be suited to a high school system. Sadly our defense makes high school mistakes regarding the long ball which is why Tarley has made a career off of one game against RSL.

I would have to say I agree with some of that but I disagree with you saying that 'their first responsibility is to distribute to midfield runners', first and foremost the striker is there to score, take the shot, just score, secondarily if he can't he passes off to a midfielder to shoot.

[rslfutbolfan]

Just thought I would post my two fav pics from the game last night... enjoy






PS...and yes it was me with the hot dogs. 😉

[HibaIssa]

Boooo to the first pic!!

I would have to say that is one of my least favorite 😉


It is a great pic though.

[rslfutbolfan]

Well...yea, I didnt mean the outcome of the first pic was my favorite, but at least I caught the players AND the ball in the same pic. LOL

[montgjules]

Oh yeah, I think you should definitely get that first one enlarged to an 8x10 and frame it really nicely for DJ's Christmas present. He'd appreciate that a LOT. :P