Originally Posted by
Auzzy
We got back from Montreal last night, only had a chance to read the last 3-4 pages of posts.
Obviously Beitashour, Hagglund & others on defense had problems; also Irwin on the 3rd goal. But if you let Montreal run straight at your 3-man defense with little protection, it will go wrong more often than not.
Just one example: check the highlights, and watch Bradley as each Impact goal starts to develop. In each case, he's close to the developing play at first, and in each case he reacts late, and then jogs. Like Oldtimer said, sometimes we get Good Bradley and sometimes Bad Bradley. Tuesday night was mostly bad Bradley. He looked much better in the other playoff games so far, shutting down so many plays in the middle. Where does that come from? Since two of the Impact goals were early in the game, I can't believe it was a stamina/fatigue issue. He just seemed (like on other Bad days) to be out of it, not intense, not looking around or aware in advance of the developing danger, and then jogging rather than sprinting. Post Klinsmann hangover?
Even on the 3rd goal by Oyongo: maybe Bradley is in the wrong position to really tackle, or doesn't want to go in hard & earn his 2nd yellow. However he didn't need to. If he had just run full speed with Oyongo instead of jogging behind him, he could have rushed Oyongo, perhaps pressured him to one side, and reduced the available time & options for passing, dribbling, or shooting. That would also have made it much easier for Moore, instead of Moore having to face Oyongo running at him full speed in a totally open field, with every option available.
In the previous playoff games, when a player was coming up the middle, there were usually two TFC players to confront him. Often a midfielder plus a defender. One challenges; the other ready to mop it up if the attacker gets past.
Not trying to assign all the blame to Bradley; the defenders & Irwin all had their own problems. But I expect the most from Bradley, he's the captain & the midfield engine, he as among the most big-game experience. It makes all the difference if he rises to the occasion & leads by example, or not.
Of course, Cooper was also partially to blame, as was Osorio. I didn't feel they pressed or challenged as much as in the past games. And in the 3-5-2, the play & positioning of Beitashour and Morrow have to be balanced by all the midfielders, with the latter ready to cover back when the wingers/wing backs are forward.
I hope this all gets corrected by next week.