Rank and File: Union vs. Colorado Rapids
Plus some thoughts on Chris Seitz's potential with the Union.
Rank and File: Union vs. Colorado Rapids
Jonathan Tannenwald
For once, we have a full week between Union games. At the moment, there isn't too much news on the field to pass the time with, which from Peter Nowak's perspective is probably just fine.
I wonder what tweaks to the lineup and formation we'll see Sunday in Washington. I am sure that many of you will suggest that a change in goal should be the first of them. I still have yet to be convinced that Brad Knighton is so much better than Chris Seitz, and I don't think installing Knighton right now is going to magically produce shutouts for the rest of the year.
My opinion on the goalkeeping situation is much more in line with the one expressed by Kerith Gabriel in last Friday's Daily News. Way back at the Expansion Draft, two of the best goalkeepers in MLS history were on the table: Kevin Hartman and Pat Onstad. I called for Onstad in my mock draft.
Instead, the Union took a gamble on youth. They picked Knighton in the expansion draft and traded for Seitz soon thereafter.
Things could have been different, but they are what they are. Bash me as much as you like, but you might want to consider one other thing before firing off your comments: the rise of U.S. national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
I have to give credit to Sons of Ben president Bryan James, because he thought of this first. Guzan, now 25, had a terrible rookie season at Chivas USA in 2005. Then he missed much of 2006 due to injury. But in 2007, Guzan came back and was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Halfway through the 2008 season he signed for Aston Villa in the English Premier League. This summer, he backed up Tim Howard at the World Cup.
Yes, the Union's struggles have been difficult to stomach. But given Seitz's clear improvement over the course of this season, I would not use his past performance to make any kind of prediction about future results.
With that in mind, here are your player ratings from Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids.
Goalkeeper
Chris Seitz: 4.28
- "Seitz was good - I have fewer & fewer worries about him as the season goes on." (Osager)
- "The natives are growing extremely restless, and the performances from this guy are getting harder to defend. My worry is how much longer the guys in front of Seitz are going to keep playing for him." (Dan Gontkof)
Defenders
Juan Diego González Alzate: 5.30
- "Played with confidence, showing the steadiness we were looking for. Much better game and gives hope for future." (Chris Lane)
- "Thought this was his best game since he got here." (Alex Seldin)
Danny Califf: 5.09
- "We are two central defenders away from being a good team: we have two good strikers, more than enough midfielders, serviceable outside backs, and an increasingly steady goalkeeper. I hope to see two new center backs on the team next season (yes I'm already sort of thinking about next season, sorry)." (Osager)
Jordan Harvey: 5.18
Michael Orozco Fiscal: 5.64
- "Was steady on the wing defensively and showed a fair bit of creativity going forward. Impressive game." (Chris Lane)
Midfielders
Eduardo Coudet: 5.00
- "Unlike previous games, where he looked confident and competent, Coudet looked old and tired against Colorado." (Nathan M.)
- "What a great addition to the squad, his hard tackling and calming presence on the ball is something that was missing earlier in the season." (Dan Gontkof)
Fred: 5.45
- "Fred's match was above average for him, especially the first half, but he faded in the second half." (Osager)
Sebastien Le Toux: 6.73
- "Seemed out of it for most of the game, looking for space & the ball. But his hard work and skill, as it almost always is, was the difference, with a beautifully touched assist." (Chris Lane)
- "Much more effective as a striker. Game changed completely when he moved up top." (Alex Seldin)
I very much agree with this, despite Le Toux's statement Saturday that he feels more comfortable with Moreno up top because of their chemistry. For me, though, if Le Toux is as good with Mwanga as he is now, I would think things can only get better.
Justin Mapp: 5.18
- "Mapp just seemed too invisible for this match. He needs to be more aggressive. If Nowak can't cure him of this, no one can." (Ethan Gomberg)
Stefani Miglioranzi: 5.27
- "Very rusty. Jacobson or Okugo would have done a better job." (Alex Seldin)
- "Another solid game, but too much lateral passing from him and Coudet, could use some creativity." (Jeff P.)
He's not at full health, which I'm sure is part of it.
Roger Torres: 5.81
- "Looked sharp and aggressive. Seems like one of the few guys willing to try an early pass." (Alex Seldin)
- "Torres got beat around, perhaps its time for a high protein diet." (Ethan Gomberg)
Forwards
Jack McInerney: 4.83
- "McInerney's not improving in his current role as a late sub, and I think he should be loaned somewhere he'll get more playing time." (Osager)
Alejandro Moreno: 5.36
- "Unless we are going to play a more aggressive, direct style, I don't see the point of him being on the field." (Alex Seldin)
Danny Mwanga: 7.36
- "He gets better ever game in terms of not wasting chances and doing something useful with the ball when he gets it at his feet. Looks like he is the real deal." (Chris Lane)
- "This kid is going to be scary good when it all clicks for him, but he is getting there." (Dan Gontkof)
To close the post, a complete change of subject. Those of you who follow the English Premier League have probably heard of Match of the Day, the BBC's famous EPL highlights show. The introduction montage for the new season has been posted on YouTube, and it is absolutely stellar. Check it out:
Buy Union tickets 
On Seitz I'm more inclined to take the long view. He's been rubbish 40% of the time, very mediocre 30% of the time, and heinously awful 30% of the time. That ain't cuttin' it. I imagine Nowak has been hoping experience would bring noted improvements, and while there's been progress, Seitz's perhaps insurmountable limitations have been on real display this year, as noted in several posts above: bad instincts, repeatedly poor positioning, and failure to protect the box. Lack of fitness is evident as well, but that can be cured. And yes, Seitz has been tarred by defensive lapses that were not his fault. Let's face it, our playoff hopes are pretty much nil, so I would let Seitz play out the rest of the year and then assess whether the shortcomings are truly insurmountable. If they are, something needs to be done before next year.— Oreland827- Scrapple nailed it. Even Casey Keller, who is like 55, is in better shape than Seitz. Honestly, I feel bad ripping on the guy, but Seitz has been BRUTAL all season. I'm amazed by the number of apologists out there defending him. I have a feeling the people who vote in the poll are members of Seitz' family and possibly Peter Novak and Seitz himself. Seitz could allow 6 goals, and he'd get a score no lower than 4.— Leron
- "We say Seitz has USMNT potential because he has played with multiple US Youth National teams. He was/is in line to succeed with the Nats when he fully matures." Yikes. That's not saying much about our Youth National program... I keep hearing how he's the future of American goalkeeping, but the bottom line is that he is not a natural player. He is not instinctive and if you don't have instinct by the time you are 23, you will *never* have them. Coming out and punching the ball is not a skill to develop after you reach the pros. Were you guys at the last home game? Did you see him punch the ball straight up in the air? How does a professional keeper make a play like that? Can't blame that on the defense... or dropping the ball at the feet of an opposing forward... TWICE. Or sitting on the goal line when the ball is being crossed right in front of you. Plus he's freaking FAT... how fat is he going to be when he's grown into his man muscles? What's he going to weigh, 260 lbs? Are we going to have a Jeremiah Trotter size keeper?
- Seitz has to stay the starters because the broadcasters on Telefutura need to practice saying.. "GOL, GOL,GOL, GOL, GOL, GALLASSO, GOLASSO, GOL, GOL, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL, ( fill in the name of any player on another team) GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"— drbob1
- Think Seitz is a perfect fit in the Union defense -- slow-footed -- out of position a lot -- he fits right in
- "...followed by moments of Rich Kotite." Thanks for bringing a smile to my face, ChefJim. :)— Zherog
Seitzy has been the worst keeper in MLS this season. True. I'm not ready to call him the worst keeper in the world. Truth be told, the backline has been shoddy at times, and at least a third of our goals conceded have been the fault of the backline leaving Seitzy hanging out to dry. If our backline had played like a cohesive unit, Seitzy's GAA would be around 1, and he would have at least 3 clean sheets. That's the kind of GK we are looking for, and as both he and the backline get more experience as a team, our overall defense will become what everyone thought it would be at the start of the season.- It's hard to take the Union seriously when they trot out the worst goalkeeper in the world game after game.— Leron
- We say Seitz has USMNT potential because he has played with multiple US Youth National teams. He was/is in line to succeed with the Nats when he fully matures.— phillysports33
- Old news but why did they get rid of Brian Perk and why at the time they did?— Mon
- Honestly, why do people keep saying that Seitz has "USMNT potential"? What have we seen from him that would remotely indicate that potential? We're not talking about a "poor rookie season", here. We're talking about a keeper who appears to have no natural instinct for the position. He's uncomfortable in the box and displays no feel for when to come out aggressively (although it's clear that he's being pushed to be more aggressive...). Combine that with the fact that his change of direction is suspect because of his sheer mass, and I just don't see where the potential lies. He is only an inch taller than Tim Howard, but he outweighs Howard by 40 lbs! Forty friggin' pounds! We don't need a linebacker with zero feel for the game playing keeper.
- We're well ahead of the standard expansion team curve, and the Union will be a quality club going into 2011 and beyond. Part of the reason for the frustration is that this club shows flashes of brillance, followed by moments of Rich Kotite.
- Seitz is awful. His positioning is that of a middle school keeper. Nice job not getting Hartman.— prominal88
- Like Harptattoo, I am also less positive about Harvey's play at the moment than seems to be reflected here. My concerns, however, are about his tendency to hold on to the ball too long and poor defensive positioning. (The positioning, at least, improved in the two games last week.)— mbaird
- Thanks, Jonathan. That was my guess, but it didn't hurt to make sure. :)— Zherog
- Harvey continues to impress (Sarcasm) with his backwards passing. I do not think he had more than 2 touches that had an attacking posture. Somebody please find an instant cure for broken bones and get Salinas back NOW!!! Jack Mc needs to see more time than 5 minutes to be productive. Peter, please put Moreno on the bench and allow Jack to get his feet wet in this league!!!! I have played the game a long time and anyone else who has can attest that you can't even figure out the speed of the game for the first 5 minutes. I still love this team for all of it's short comings. Cmon' the U!
- Yes, Zherog. The ratings are on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the worst and 10 being the best.
- Can somebody explain the numbers after the names? It's clear that higher is better. But other than that...— Zherog
- Seitz is at times baffling and at other times brilliant. It's pretty clear to me that if we can stomach his learning curve, we have a keeper who has USMNT potential.— Yanksin4
- Sit Moreno. Start Jack McInerney!— Sportsphan
- I don't think Fred and Moreno should be on the field together unless we have a late lead to protect. They should play a 4-2-3-1, or at least experiment with it.— nyoungstein
- You should stop asking these people for their opinions. The continually give good grades to below average performances.— subsonickharma
- Its expansion year #1. We need to let Seitz take his knocks now, and be better for it in the future.— soccerwonk
- Miglioranzi is a "steady presence," which is analyst-speak for "unspectacular, boring, and of average ability." You'd never know he plays every game if it wasn't for his funny name. See Scalabrine, Brian.— billchuck
Reach Jonathan at jtannenwald@phillynews.com or 215-854-2330.
