Does the final quote suggest that Simms has officially replaced Carroll as the starting DM?

If so, it's about freaking time.

Didn't see the play where Gros took the shot to the head, but didn't Becks take one on the noggin during the NY-LA game, too? How come Becks didn't have a concussion and Gros did? Was it just pure dumb luck for Gros to have been hit in a specific spot on his head, or was it more his past concussive history?

Beckham's contract with the MLS doesn't allow him to get concussions

"Beckham's contract with the MLS doesn't allow him to get concussions"

also doesn't allow him to be fouled, apparently

I found Boswell's quote very telling. One of the key issues with MLS is that not enough starters league-wide are being pushed hard for their spot in the lineup. I think it's a positive for DCU that there is some healthy competition for a place on the field.

Once concussed always concussed. Just ask eski!

Boswell needed to be sat down for a game or two IMO...and good on Simms.

Saw Boswell on the Metro last night and, after reading the quote, it makes sense why he responded so well to my "Keep getting it done" comment.

Hope to see the Bozilla back on his game and going again real well tomorrow. I'll be there cheering real loud for him.

And I hope Gros keeps being smart about the concussions. I hope Goff is exploring about the headgear too ... That could be a big deal since the manufacturer is pushing for it to be mandatory and it didn't work in this case.

It's not just the fact that Josh is more likely to get a concussion because he had one before, but these 2 concussions (in the grand scheme of things) aren't that far apart in terms of time.

The cancer starts now. Tommy is killing guys attitudes and confidence by moves that don't make sense and with no dicussion. Boz is hoping and praying they don't pick up his option so he can be free and gone. He's gone anyway in 16 months. Dallas thought Vanney was the answer too until the coach got fired and the new guy unloaded him quick. Right now we have inexperience coupled with slow in the back and if it stays like that Weednesday it will be disaster. Bobby's not a great defender but he's the best we've got.

It's competition for playing time, plain and simple. The coaches didn't feel Bobby was playing well, so they tried other options. If Bobby returns to form in training, he'll get back on the field, but right now, it seems the coaches are happier with McTavish and Vanney. We'll see what they decide tomorrow.

"Beckham's contract with the MLS doesn't allow him to get concussions"

I guess Benny did not read that when he took Beck's down in LA.

Simm's has done pretty average at DM - Carroll is in a funk and needs to play through it. Simms lacks the vision for the crisp switch that Carroll has and has not really shown the supporting mf play that Carroll excels in playing.

Juan-John said, "Didn't see the play where Gros took the shot to the head."

If you recorded it, I think it appears on the Columbus corner kick at about 5:10 into the game. It's not clear from the camera angle whether he headed the ball or hit head-to-head with a Columbus player. They were both going up for it, and it's a long camera shot. However, that seems to be the last chance for it to happen before the announcers said he was down.

"He's gone anyway in 16 months."

why?

I read that Gros took a hit to his temple. Whether it was the ball or another player, doesn't matter: his headgear doesn't have much protection over the temples. This is horrible for the guy. Hope it's better than it sounds (cause it sounds awful).

Get well soon.

Bobby was 2006 MLS Defender of the Year and Bruce Arena has called Bobby "one of the best young center backs in America." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXlSFbRFqmk)

I think reports of his career death 'are greatly exaggerated.'

Simms has to be in the line up. He's seemingly the only guy we've got that can win the ball in the air at midfield.

Boswell's had a down year. He has no one but himself to blame. Maybe Soehn is sick of him missing those open nets when he's pushed up on offense.

I'm not by any means a big Bobby Boswell fan, but I hate to see Vanney in there.

"He's gone anyway in 16 months."

why?

Bobby is gone at the end of 2008, because that is when his MLS contract expires. He has refused a contract offer that would elevate his salary from $32,000 a year to $90,000 plus because he wants the flexibility to go to Europe on a free transfer. MLS players have noted how the league can be difficult in agreeing to transfer fees, so Bobby is forgoing some money now to reap a bigger payday in Europe come 2009.

Boswell would be smart not to take it personally, and I think he doesn't. It's a credit to United that we have 3 guys right now who are capable of starting at center back. My feeling is that we'll see a bit of a rotation with those 3 guys over the next several weeks until 2 of them can establish themselves as the solid starters. Should help keep them all fresh.

I was out of town this weekend and missed the Columbus game. Who takes the corner kicks on the right when Vanney and Burch are both in the lineup? Hoping it's the kid.

greg-

Yeah, it really looks like Soehn has killed Boswell's confidence, and he now has the wrong attitude. Putting the team first and putting in extra effort at practice are the hallmarks of ruined players.

Come on. We've won 3 in a row in MLS without giving up a goal, and the sky is still falling?

Bobf-

I feel like calling Simms average is a bit harsh. No, he can't really swing the point of attack, but honestly, Carroll hasn't been able to do that all season either. The difference is that Carroll keeps trying to do so and giving the ball away, while Simms knows he can't do it and plays the simple pass. Until Carroll can start hitting those passes consistently, I'll take us keeping the ball with Simms laying it off to someone nearby.

Simms is also winning the ball in the air, pressuring the opposing playmaker much more effectively, and is flat out fighting harder. He's been quite good since he got into the lineup.

***

This concussion thing for Gros is really bad news. With the number he's had, you start to wonder not just about his season, but his career. Here's hoping he can come back from this one.

Wouldn't you rather have a wide defender take it rather than pull a central defender way out of position?

Wouldn't you rather have a wide defender take it rather than pull a central defender way out of position?

Shatz-

It's still Vanney. He did hit a couple of decent ones, but the runs weren't there. Still, I think we'd all like to see them be consistently dangerous.

With Boswell out of the lineup, Burch is actually our biggest player. We're already a very small team, so I can see why Soehn would be loathe to have Burch anywhere but in the box on corners.

If Boswell form keeps dropping like it has this year, I wouldn't worry about European takers for his services as a centerback.

By European standards Boswell is not that big or fast. That means he has to show a superior understanding of the game, superior technical skills or an ability to constantly make the right decisions. His poor form this year undermines hopes that he can offer these traits to teams over the pond.

"We need guys to win balls in the middle of the field, and not just the 50-50s, but sometimes the 40-60s."

But why not the 30-70s, Tom? Won't somebody think of the 30-70s?

"Simms lacks the vision for the crisp switch that Carroll has and has not really shown the supporting mf play that Carroll excels in playing."

Helping out the attack is at best the third priority of a defensive midfielder.

1) Stifle the opposing attack
2) Win 50/50 balls
3) Support the offense when necessary

Simms can't light a candle to Carroll on #3, but has always been better at #1 and #2 IMO. As long as he can get the ball to Gomez or Fred with simple passes (which hasn't been a problem from what I can tell), play-making skills aren't really necessary.

Lets hope this means Simms gets the next start.

"3) Support the offense when necessary

Simms can't light a candle to Carroll on #3,"

You might want to watch the last couple of matches and re-evaluate. Simms has created some great opportunities w/ long through balls.

Good comments from everyone so far. I hope this doesn't come across as "the sky is falling" because clearly it's "caeruleum firma" in D.C. I'm just curious why our outstanding players from past years are slumping so much this year. Olsen, Boswell, Namoff, and Carroll had recent USMNT callups, Gomez MVP last year, Jaime called up for peru. Boswell and Namoff have been good this year, but not great. Olsen is hot and cold. Gomez is invisible. Jamie has been good, just not as a goal-scorer.

Emilio, Fred, Simms, Burch, McTavish, and Kpene have picked up a lot of the slack, but where are the people who've been with the team and should be providing the leadership? Thoughts?

It's pretty apparent that Simms is better playing the lone DM in a diamond-mid 4-4-2, whereas Carrol is better at DM in the 3-5-2.

If United successfully signs Veron this winter, I wouldn't be surprised to see the return of the 3-5-2, and subsequently trading either Simms or Carrol for a true box-to-box winger.

This would leave the remaining DM (either Simms or Carrol) at DM, Veron at Holding Mid, Fred at CAM, Olsen on one wing and whomever we'd acquire on the other.

Where's Gomito in all this? Right now, I don't see Gomez re-signing with the team, he hasn't exactly earned the raise he was gunning for by holding out in previous contract talks. He'll have to catch fire pretty soon to earn that consideration, and Fred is the better long-term option at CAM.
Hopefully I'm wrong, and signing Veron will spur Gomez to stick around for another year or 2. If Gomez sticks around, I'd like to see Fred become the #1 Withdrawn forward up top with Emilio, and Jaime become a super-sub.

"It's pretty apparent that Simms is better playing the lone DM in a diamond-mid 4-4-2, whereas Carrol is better at DM in the 3-5-2."

100 percent agreed -- I made a similar comment recently about how Carroll plays much better in a system with two DMs. Simms seems to model his game more like Claude Makelele, whereas Carroll plays more like Andrea Pirlo. And my understanding from having watched Milan/Italy is that Pirlo is usually paired up with another DM (e.g., Gattuso). Just as Carroll was paired with Olsen in prior years.

(I am obviously not suggesting that either are remotely comparable in talent to Makelele or Pirlo, just similar in approaches to playing DM)

The words ankle, surgery, and Olsen still don't sit well with me after all these years.

A little off topic, but according to the ticket rep I just talked to, they're already over 20k for tomorrow's game with NYRB. Usually to get 20k total for a mid-week game would be amazing, let alone 20k before walkup!

I imagine the increased ticket numbers are a combination of
1) Newbies who saw the LA game coming back for more
2) Added excitement due to playoff race and NYRB being rivals
3) General increased interest in MLS due to all the Beckham exposure
4) Season ticket holders being able to get significant discounts for this game ($26 tix for $15 - I'm bringing 18 co-workers as a result!).

Any thoughts on one particular factor being the primary driver?

Tommy is a new coach that inherited someone else's choices and someone else's culture. I don't know how good of a head coach that he will turn out to be, but I admire that he is working to make the team his own. As far as how good or bad that will be, we will see. At this point I would give him a "mixed" review, but overall pretty good for a first year head coach.

Leesburg, I didn't know Jaime was Peruvian.

Chris, another smaller factor may be that it's the end of the summer and students want to attend a United game before the semester begins. That, and we haven't had a home game in awhile it feels like.

Yep to the last comment. I have been in London all summer, and I'm going back to school soon, so want to catch a home game now when I can. I was planning on just buying tickets at the gate - is that still a good option or should I buy before the game?

RE: Simms vs. Carroll

I beleive Simms set up Gros' goal a few games ago versus NE, so that right there is more offensive production than Carroll has given DC lately. I also agree that Simms has played better defensively this year. Hooray Clyde!

From Goff's article in the WP... "Gros said after Saturday's game that he has had between 15 and 20 concussions since high school. Most have been Grade I, or mild, but the fact that contact with the ball is triggering problems has alarmed the club."

Anyway you cut it, this guy should hang up his boots before the cockoo clock strikes 12! I'd be very sad to see him go, as I truly believe he was Rookie of the Year in 2004. "El Marino," as the guys on Telefutura call him, would be sorely missed in our midfield!

I can't believe Soehn would bench his most physical center back against Altidore, just to prove a point. That would be foolish and suicide.

I can't believe Soehn would bench his most physical center back against Altidore, just to prove a point. That would be foolish and suicide.

If DCU is trying to send a message to Boswell about his play by benching him, why did they wait until the trading deadline was over? Seems that the team could have gotten some value in exchange for him while he was still in the starting line-up and was actually playing pretty well. Yeah, he missed some scoring opportunities, but his job is defense, and the defense was really starting to perform well. And it was McTavish, not Boswell, who underperformed against LA in the Superliga semis. Surely Soehn doesn't think Vanney is a better option. This sounds like a message, and since they have chosen to bench rather than trade him, it sounds like punishment for not resigning his contract. Sucks for him, if you ask me.

Wow. I think many people are overreacting to Boswell not playing one game. Trade him while he was still starting in order to get some value? I don't think DC wants to trade him, especially since Vanney won't be around much longer, and honestly I don't see Boswell playing in Europe anytime soon. My guess is that Soehn just wanted to show Bobby that his spot isn't a birthright. IMO Boswell will respond, start tomorrow, and play well versus NY.

My bad UVA to RFK. Co-worker just got back from the Incan trail and I had Peru on the brain. It happens at the end of a long day.

Not to kick him while he's down, but does anyone have a count on how many times Gros has broken his wrist(s)?

Free Bobby Boswell.

Chris - the primary driver for high attendance tonight is all of the people like me who bought 5-game ticket packages, to guarantee tickets for the Becks Circus and the MLS Cup Final. Tonight's game is the second game in one of the packages (Option 1 or 2?) after the L.A. game. I usually go to five or six games per year, but almost never on weekdays. However, given who we're playing and the playoff race, I'm glad I bought the Option that includes tonight's game. Gotta see Altidore again before he goes overseas (but hopefully he won't score tonight).

Free the reserve game!

Re Boswell, folks are way overreacting. Just remember what Goff wrote on Saturday when this starting lineup change was announced -- Soehn sees the congested schedule and wants to start managing minutes. While I agree that Boz is better than Vanney, Vanney is servicable enough that he can fill in for Bobby a game here and there. That he played very well on Saturday and Bobby may be in a small funk may lead to Vanney getting another start, but I wouldn't read too much into it.

As for Carroll, he should be benched permanently in favor of Simms.