I agree with your rankings except I think Alvarez, Saragosa and Rocha should be bumped up to a 7.

That being said, I have no problem with FCD games on the road being a bore. It’s not our responsibility to entertain the crowd on the road, just get 3 points.

This being a very young league it is the responsibility of EVERY team in MLS to entertain, home or awy.

Question from a person still trying to learn the finer points of soccer, especially for a position such as Davino’s: You thought he had a good game — I thought so,too. Yet, there are people (on the Blog to be specific) that would argue that he did NOT have a good game because he kept knocking the ball over the endline and giving up corners . . . sooooo, was it (or maybe how was it) good defending if he gave up so many corners? To me, it looked like he did a really good job of cutting off the attacking player, usually,so I didn’t care if it ended up being a corner. The player never got a shot on goal. Last season, that would not have been the case, I think . . .

Thanks!

Thats why it is a good play. I would much rather have a corner than a shot on goal. I personally think corners are overrated.

I’m guessing that the writers and people who read this site maybe have better soccer knowledge than those that read the Blog.

HutchTX – Anyone who says that Davino did the wrong thing by knocking the ball out, no matter for throw ins or corners, just flat-out doesn’t know what they are talking about. In none of those situations was he in a position to risk losing possession of the ball.

Everyone of those times he made the right call, and it would have been a lessor experienced player that would have attempted something stupid like trying to turn and escape the pressuring attacker.

I’ll match my soccer playing and coaching resume against your anyday.

ANY player that plays a “soft” ball out for a corner as often as Davino is doing something wrong.

Many times he didn’t even try to turn and play down the line.

Tell us the last time you saw one player give up the number of CK’s that DD did in this game.

Once again FCD wastes $$$ on an over the hill foreign “talent”.

I played defender most of my life, and it is always best to play the ball out then giving up a shot. Most of the time Davino was in postion to break up a pass that would have lead to a shot which all he could have done was play it out. With Dax I would rather see in out wide than in the middle right now beacuse of his size. When he adds a little bulk to him then he goes to the middle but until then he needs to be out wide.

Other than one bad touch vs. Chivas in the home opener Davino has been very solid. Calm, excellent distribution out of the back, he has made some 20 – 30 yard passes (on the ground) through traffic that sprung good attacks.

Giving up a corner or throw-in is no big deal. A good defender know when to knock it out vs. settle and pass and Davino does this very well. I only watched the last game once but I can’t recall one time where he just knocked it out when he could have settled the ball and started a new possession for FCD.

Corners are more dangerous than throw-ins obviously (or they are equal if Serioux takes the throw!!!!) but even then it is best to get the ball out so your team can re-set on D vs. trying to do to much and giving up a shot on goal or a walk-in goal.

Davino has been excellent to date, he never should have been so criticized for the one bad touch vs. Chivas. Last season FCD did not have a clean-sheet until June, it is April 24 and we have TWO, back-to-back. Davino is organizing things on the back-line very well and also has been a good captain to date.

P.S. – I understand the ladies are fond of Davino regardless of his skills.

How many games have opponents won v. Chivas at the HDC in the past two years?

It isn’t just FCD that has struggled to beat Chivas in Cali.

It could also be the case that Davino is still getting accustomed to the speed of mls. If that’s the case then it makes sense to be more conservative with the ball in the defensive end and just play it out. Time will tell, but until we show we can’t defend corners, I’d much rather see the ball played out than a shot on goal.

I like what Duilio has done, even though he’s given up corners. the difference is that corners offer set piece chances that teams have practiced and set up based on tape and creativity and the skill of the taker of the corner kick. the offense can set screens and picks on defenders and with players like Beckham, Blanco, Guevara, Robert, etc in the league that have teh skill to put the ball in a precise spot, the CK becomes more dangerous. the more opportunities for a CK, then more dangerous it becomes.

Anyone who thinks Dax is better on the wing should be shot (exagerration). While maybe its what the team needs right now (I disagree, especially with Marcelo Can’t Connect a Pass Saragosa is in there), playing him on the wing renders his playmaking, vision, and possession-keeping ability almost completely futile.

Maybe Sir Alex should put Scholes on the wing until he gets some bulk to him…

Thanks for the input, guys!! Most of you have confirmed what I thought. And while I may still be learning the finer points of the game, I have a fairly analytical mind and am not just your typical “soccer mom.” So I’ll go with my instinct here and your good explanations. I’ve only watched the game once (it’s on tape, though), but if my memory serves me, those corners came about because Davino basically shut down the opposing player. Last year, I think that would have not happened (as well or so often), and the player would have taken a shot on goal. Thanks again, guys!

Oh, and GO FCD!!!