September 18th, 2007 . 11:47 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

Workin’ on mysteries without any clues, Workin’ on our night moves. Tryin’ to make some front page drive-in news, Workin’ on our night moves. - Bob Seger

It’s been a while since I made it out to training.  Ok it seems like a while, really it’s just 11 days.  I took a little vacation.  It happens.

But FCD is back from New England and I’m back from New England.  Unfortunately my trip was better then theirs.

Evening session for the boys today, which makes the temperature more tolerable as it’s only in the low 90s.  It was in the low 40s at night in New England this weekend, at least where I was it was in the low 40s, one wonders if reverse temperature advantage works for the Revs.

News Notes and Observations

- Juan Toja participated in training, but as a non-contact neutral.  Morrow called him questionable for Thursday, I wouldn’t hold my breath for him to play.  Apparently the “aggravation” of his ankle injury pre-Toronto game was actually a new injury to the same ankle and not a aggravation of the same injury.  Anyway Morrow says the long term season is by far a bigger concern than this game on Thursday.

- Kenny Cooper also trained as a non-combatant.  You can see him shy away from contact still, but his touch looks good and he is able to run on it.  Clearly he’s no where near ready, but he’s making quick strides.  Morrow says he’s behind Toja in recovery.  The gaffer also says Cooper will train no-contact this week and then try to join in full speed next week if all goes well between now and then.

- Players seem to be calling Denilson, “Denny.”  It’s sorta a running joke to call some of the Latin players by “Americanized” names here.  Ricardinho is “Ricky” (or Rico), Arturo is “Artie,” Roberto Mina is “Bob,” etc.

- Speaking of Roberto Mina, he was out jogging with the trainers today and doing some other rehab type stuff.

- Really strong session by Alvarez today.  I asked him about the Olympic cycle coming up and he says he’s been contacted by Peter Nowak about a tentative U23 camp sometimes right after the MLS season.  Based on today I would predict a start Thursday.

- Abdus Ibrahim is training, I got a tiny look at him.  Nice potential, playing it very safe in training. Not trying to make himself look stupid by trying to look great.

Catching up with Steve Morrow

Blah, blah, the translations are a bit.

Give us a three game Denilson verdict?

I think there’s been a lot of good stuff.  I don’t think he’s 100% fit yet. I think we’ll see more and more as he gets near 100% fit.  I think we’ll also see more when he gets used to his teammates and they get used to him, and he gets used to the league and the style of play and how we play.  I think we’ve seen enough glimpses to know he’s going to be very good for us.

Buzz’s coach speak translator: So far, so good.

Does Serioux not being in lineup derail the pre-season plan?

I met the boys after the New England game and told them that defensively, we’ve worked on it in training the couple weeks it’s been our focus, where we need to get defensively better as a unit and not just looking at the back four or blaming the back four in any way. I think that’s the first thing, that we need to get defensively better as a unit, and a bit more focused into that side of our game.  But also I think we’ve had players missing and haven’t been able to have a settled back four and that’s kinda bothered me a little bit as well.  Either loss of form or suspensions, injuries, that we haven’t been able to keep a settled back four out there and that’s something I want to try and get going into the last part of the season.

Buzz’s coach speak translator: We are looking for the missing jigsaw piece and hope it’s just fallen under the sofa.

On Revs game being Ruiz’s top performance for a while.

I would agree with that, and I told him that game, and probably DC away, are probably the two games where I can look at him and say ‘that’s the real Carlos Ruiz’ and we need to see that every game from now until the end.  He worked very, very hard all game and defensively he worked hard form the front and put a lot of effort into leading the team as well. When he does that it’s no coincidence that he gets two goals you know.  Because he’s active and  alive and that’s what we need o see from him the rest of the season and he knows that and accepts that.

Buzz’s coach speak translator: Where’s that been all year?

On Sala health and mentality

In health there’s no issue with the injury.  I think the issue for Dario right now is, you know, he missed a few games and missed a little bit of playing time, lost a little bit of fitness and he’s slowly getting that back.  We’ve been through one or two tough games with him and he knows he’s gotta get back to his best right now.  And I think we’re seeing signs that he’s doing that and it needs to happen quickly.

Buzz’s coach speak translator: We can’t go through the desert on a horse with no name.

On Wallace first game

Going into the game I had no qualms about playing Wally at all.  I think he was in good form in training and showed a lot of maturity, a lot of confidence in practice. I thought he did well in the first half. In Boston he did all we asked him to do. He was strong defensively and kept it nice and simple. We he got the ball he didn’t give it away too much. The second half the occasion maybe got to him a little bit more. He gave the ball away once or twice and I think his confidence suffered a little bit, but that’s perfectly natural for young player as well and that’s what you’d expect.  I think he just needs playing time and needs to get better.  He’ll learn from the experience and get better.

Buzz’s coach speak translator: First half good, second.. not so much.

On a stable lineup for the stretch run.

I think that unless there’s a specific game where I can look at it, or look at the opposition, and say ‘you know if we make this little adjustment it might help us a little more,’ that would be the only way where I’d look to be changing things around.  But apart from that I want to try and get a settled team, a settled lineup, and a settled… I hate using the word system, but a settled way of playing going into this final stretch.

Buzz’s coach speak translator: Best 11 will be playing… as soon as they get healthy.

Training

After a fun and lighthearted warm up run by Pareja, the players did some crossing runs and one time shot drills that involved some ropes, hurdles, cones, and flags.  After that were some 8v8 games.  First with two small goals wide on each end while the keeper worked in a different location, followed by games with full goals.  While two teams played the third team either did some volleyball-soccer or core strength work.

Green: Moor Wallace Yi Wagenfuhr Ibrahim Alvarez Thompson Dello-Russo
Red: Ruiz McCarty Denilson Wagner Wileman Rhine Serioux Pitchkolan
Yellow: Oduro Goodson Jones Ricchetti Ricardinho Daniels Botero Gbandi
Neutrals: Cooper and Toja

Sandi Gbandi rotated in as an extra player.

Lineup Prediction

There wasn’t a ton to go on with the session today, but given the outcome in NE and some comments about the second half I think you will see a change or two.  Perhaps Alvarez returns and Thompson sits.  Keep in mind there is a game in LA on Sunday and a couple mixes might happen.  With Toja out it’s hard to predict what Morrow will do.

Hell after that NE game it’s shooting darts to pick a lineup.

Thought of the Day

I liked the blooding of Wallace with Toja missing against NE, that was a good replacement and the chance at a little PT for the young man.  I would like to see him get one or two more shots to start this season.  I would not throw him back out there right away, but maybe sneak him into a few games off the bench to keep him confident before sticking him back in as a starter somewhere.

You may ask why he doesn’t get a shot at left back.  The answer would be because Morrow thinks he is a midfielder.  That immense range and mobility make him an ideal linking type player for the system Morrow uses.  He’s a Toja or McCarty line two way player in potential.

It does make me wonder though how much confidence a MLS coach must have he will be around for many years to pick a player like Wallace.  Morrow must have supreme faith in his own coaching skills.  Not a bad thing I suppose.

Categories: Practice Observations.

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