The game did have a horrible offside non-call on the first Chivas goal, but in all honesty should be blamed on the assistant and not the ref (Mike Kuhn has all the evidence, and the video is clear also).

Although we are not mathematically eliminated, only a complete debacle by the teams in front of us and a sudden resurgence of our team would get us through. (OK, not going to happen). This brings up the point of what we should do with these last 2 home games. Keep the mediocrity and try to bust the slump some of the players are in (hey, one more week might do the trick, right?), or use the friendly venue to give some others a shot.

I personally think Zusi did an OK job on Saturday, not any worse than Arnaud (OK, here come all the comments from the ones with the Arnaud blinders). I’d love to see Zoltan in for Wolff, who again got a bloody nose and who is in the scoring drought part of his up and down season. Will this happen? No, because the coach is also wearing his own blinders hoping that all these players he has been partly responsible for bringing in and giving to Curt Onalfo to use (and now having to use himself) will somehow magically show us all their talent. It just seems that it’s his last ditch effort to justify what he has done.

That actually is kind of sad since when the season comes to a close and the cutting needs to start most of the players leaving will be those who never got that chance. Yes, Yes, some have said that those reserve games have shown us who is good and who isn’t. For me that’s a bunch of crap. Players play to the level around them and playing college teams might be good exercise but the only ones really getting the learning are the…(wait for it…) college teams. And judging some of those players on the one or two games they get to play in with no regularity is actually meaningless. Like someone mentioned in another post, the best goals I’ve seen from the Reserves came from players who aren’t starters and I’ve seen a couple of college players make a few of the starters look foolish. Should we go ahead and sign the kid that was able to dribble through Jimmy Conrad? Giving so much credit to these reserve games to judge quality is absurd; unless we actually play teams that are better than us; KC Brass, UMKC, etc, not the case. Two word: Ryan Pore, need I say more?

In my book you judge these players when they are asked to play at that higher level. If players aren’t given that chance at the higher level they don’t get the chance to succeed. Case and point Ricardo Clark for example who I’ve never seen as a great player IN HOUSTON, but when asked to step up with the USNT, at a different level, he has shown that quality that makes him a good mid with a foot in Europe at the end of the season. The same goes for other players who although have a normal or good level in the MLS but seem to step up when asked to do more. I’m not saying we have superstars on our bench, but I do think we have some serviceable ones who might be able to step up and do an OK job when they get on the field filling in for a starter if it’s not their first time in a meaningful game.

So we lose against that “punk” Montero (that one’s for Coach Onalfo), or against DC; so what? there’s nothing on the line. Pride? Really?

I’ll take losing with a new lineup now, than over losing again like we did against Santos, where Jimmy Conrad got hurt and the guy that came in had few or no minutes and got schooled by the Mexican forwards.

I believe in moral victories but beating Seattle and DC would not even be that (that is, if we actually were able to muster the offensive power to do so).

Oh well, I’m sure Peter Vermes has though about the good of the team next year and setting up the next guy for success instead of trying to justify his job and escape failure. The more he coaches the less the blame scale tips against Onalfo and his time coaching with the hand he was dealt. He’s not blameless but he’s sure as hell not the only one to blame.

Since we didn’t see any KC goals last weekend I leave you with a few of my favorite ones. Enjoy.

Part Three: Forwards

Scott Sealy: Target man from Trinidad & Tobago. Second leading scorer last season behind EJ and should be the starter up front against United. Should benefit from the arrival of Trujillo and Lopez, as they will push him to either improve even more or to be relegated to the bench.

Ivan Trujillo: New arrival from Colombia (got that wrong earlier), signed from La Equidad. Impressive already during the preseason, scoring 4 goals in just 5 appearances. I predict that he’ll start up from along Sealy opening day against DC United. Just a hunch.

Ryan Pore: A back up to either forward position/attacking midfield. Appeared in 17 games last season and has seen a great deal of action this preseason. Gives the team depth, although is probably the fourth or fifth choice up top now that Lopez and Trujillo are there. Will fight hard to claim his playing time.

Eloy Colambano: Also can play attacking midfield. Saw limited action with the first team last season as he was signed in August 2007. Probably the first off the bench/could be a potential starter.

Claudio Lopez: Not much to add here. El Piojo is the Wizards DP. That means the pressure is on for him to perform or, well, be labeled a bust. A two time World Cup veteran, at 33 the big question is, did he come here to retire or did he come here to inspire? My prediction? Scores 10 goals and leads a deep playoff run. Not quite the scoring pace of Juan Pablo or Emilio, but he’ll put in his fair share.

Bottom Line: The forwards are deep. No doubt about that. Barring injuries, they are one of the stronger units in the league. That is, if Lopez and Trujillo bring results. Throw in Arnaud and it makes for a solid bunch. Coach Onfalo must be licking his chops, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already forgotten Eddie Johnson. If Trujillo’s form in preseason transfers over to the big time, let that be a warning to the rest of the league.