Right, just to briefly go back to the Vancouver Whitecaps game and reiterate. I thought we had a good opening thirty minutes, from that point we let ourselves down with a couple silly mistakes, kind of self-inflicted wounds from our own attacking half. Kind of having the ball in our own attacking half of play, and balls going backwards kind of turned into chances for Vancouver and if you give a really talented team like Vancouver, a two goal cushion, it's always going to be a tough day especially in their building. They're a very good team, they're very well coached. A tough team to breakdown. I thought on the day, we weren't sharp enough. You know, David Ousted makes a big save against Andrew Wenger. Andrew had a good look from close in and could probably do a little better with it but that's just the way things are going right now. Its difficult. So we'll watch the tape, and again try to take some positives from the game. Possession wise we were a little sharper with the ball. Still not good enough and now have to get back on track with a tough D.C. team coming into our building.
You know, it's been a real tough time. Obviously I've never been a part of something this difficult, and the losing part of things. I guess maybe at Villanova when I was playing there, but professionally this is the first time I've gone through a tough time like this. The only way to get it right, and fix it, is through the hard week, the hard work you put in training, and then obviously the ninety minutes that you get on the weekend to execute and get out of the hole.
Number one, was Ethan White fouled on the second goal? And number two, do you think that was a red card for Richie Marquez?
So I guess number one, you know, usually in those moments, the center-back gets the benefit of the doubt because it's going to lead to a breakaway. So if there's any ever any contact these are the referee blows the whistle there and, you know, no one Van cover would have complained in that in that spot. Maybe the forward complains. But when you slow down, you have the benefit of the stop and go with the rewind, he does a good job to put his foot in front of Ethan before it's contact there. Like I said usually you get the benefit of the doubt on that but the way it's going for us right now we're not going to get any breaks in that regard. On to the red card, I don't believe it's a red card on Marquez, its an aggressive foul. There's not a lot of contact on that. The big thing they like to say now is his studs were showing. My rebuttal to that is always, and I brought this up in the pro meetings at the beginning of the year, how can a player slide, physically slide, and make a tackle or any challenge, and I’m not talking about the Marquez one in particular, and not have his studs show. So it kind of irks me when you hear that's what was written in the report his studs were showing. It's physically impossible to leave your feet in soccer and not have your studs show. So, again, that's a gray area. I don't think it's a red card, I think it was a little harsh and I have some people that are on the disciplinary committee and warned not to challenge it because pro agrees that it was a red card so to challenge it would be futile. So we're not going to do that. And at this time, you know, we're going to prepare with the thought that unfortunately Marquez is not going to be part of the group, he’ll be suspended. Obviously he’ll serve that suspension, and it's a tough one because he's put together two good games and had some confidence as a young player. Again in a game where it wasn't our team's best, I thought he did a pretty decent job putting out fires up until the unfortunate decision that went against him. The refs have a split second to make a decision it's tough but I thought that was a harsh one. But again that's the way it's going.
What’s the plan for the back line without him?
Obviously Maurice Edu is comfortable as a center-back, he’s had some good games for us there this year. Him and Ethan like playing with each other. Steven Vitoria is coming back from injury. He's getting an M.R.I. right now because he still is having some pain behind his knee so we’ll hopefully get to the, you know, we've had scans on it already and initially there was a groin issue, and now there’s a hamstring you know. He’s got a little bit of pain behind his knee so we’re still trying to get to the bottom of that. He's still hopeful for the for the weekend. That would be a good, good thing to have but you know you have to prepare for the worst case which would be you know being a little bit thin in the back.
Is there any thought of moving maybe Sheanon inside?
He's done it before, he's comfortable doing it. You know it's not his preferred spot. But at the same time I think it is a spot he can come in and do a job as a center-back, you know, winning his battles in the air and being a guy that can pass out of the back, two of his strengths, so it's a possibility.
How much does the center-back positioning, how much does that depend on how healthy Vincent Nogueira is in the center of midfield with Edu?
Yeah it's a factor as well. You know it is good that Nogueira is coming back, he got a good you know thirty minutes of work in Vancouver and responded very well to that. Had the day off and looked good, I thought, in training today which is a positive step. I think he’ll obviously be a big part of our plans going into D.C. He is a key player for us and one that we're excited to get back.
How tough is it going to be without Fernando Aristeguieta?
Difficult. For those that don’t know, Aristeguieta got called in with Venezuela. I just texted with him and it sounds like their camp has been difficult in terms of the physical nature of the camp and how its almost like another pre-season for him. A lot of running and fitness that he’s going though. He says it’s a very good group so you know we'll see. Obviously you want him to have a chance to represent his country that's the ultimate goal for him right now but at the same time you want him back here. And getting in that rhythm that we talk about of training with the group, full weeks and then getting used to things here because he is he's a very very talented player. He's dangerous in the box but there's been moments where, because he's been battling different injuries and stuff, it hasn't been maybe as fluid as you like with some of his teammates. And again, it seems like we're starting to get guys back and you want them all on the field together but for one reason or another this year it's been it's been very disjointed in that regard, you know after the good pre-season I thought we had, after the Colorado game you could see how, for whatever different reasons that can come up, whether its international call ups, injuries, trouble on or off the field, and we haven't had the same group out there too often.
Is there a time frame for him to return, whether he makes it or whether he doesn’t?
Yes. So they’ll pick the roster by May 23rd, which was when he was told he would have the idea of the thirty man or, excuse me, not that thirty men. When they cut down to the number that they're going to put it that I don't speak for their coach in terms of how many alternative he names or that kind of thing but we’ll know within the next eight to ten days. If there is a situation where, and we voiced this with Fernando before he left, and he wants to be here with Philadelphia obviously too, so if he gets the feeling or has a discussion with the coach that it's probably an unlikely scenario where he makes the team, he’ll get back get back as soon as possible.
Do you have a time frame with the Zach Pfeffer, Gedion Zelalem thing?
Yes. Zach will be with us against D.C. That's one hundred percent cleared with Tab Ramos. It has been communicated, which is very good, obviously you can see them in the midfield and Zach’s playing up and been having a good season. Can you do more? Absolutely. In the games, so I'm going to keep challenging him, he’s a young player so I’m to keep pushing him. The decision with Zelalem, I think they've moved it back a couple days I think we'll know within the next two days of the exact, whether Zach physically going or Zelalem if they can get the paperwork done.
Just to get back to the Rais Mbolhi thing, its sounds like that was an ultimatum that was given to him, that he’s not going to play for the team and that he’s just going to train on the side or what not. My question I guess pertains the timeline of him return to the team and training on Tuesday. You said he came back on Monday, was there a specific reason why he was brought back or did that come from you or somebody else?
Yeah that was the initial plan and that one was you know the move is going to be for the summer. That was the plan and that was what we thought had been communicated. You know, unfortunately that changed. He was at training and we had another, a further discussion with him and that he wouldn't be in the plans and that we'd be look to move in the summer. He agreed to that and said that he wanted to continue to train and I just said that it would be a separate time for the team. So that's what we're set up now. You know that all of it's geared to a move to the summer. In July.
So you were not going to plan to play him?
No.
Why would he be called back?
He wasn’t called.
How is John McCarthy doing right now and what’s the plan with Brian Sylvestre?
John has a concussion, so he has to go through the protocol, and all that goes along with that. I think that you know he'll be, it'll be close, you know, for the for the weekend. Without training fully that week, we might use him as a back up, that way we wouldn’t have to have the pool keeper involved. We’re currently trying to work something out with extending the Brian Sylvestre loan, that's kind of something that we're looking to do.
I thought that Sylvestre actually had a good game despite the score line. He was one of the first few bright spots in the game. So again, you know, we'll have a couple things to juggle. There’s different rules in the league that we have to deal with as well and find the best solution to get two goalkeepers in.
Have you had updated talks with Jay Sugarman or Nick Sakiewicz about the search for a sporting director and general manager?
I know it's something that I think the club would like to do obviously. So again that's true, they’ll have some discussions on that and what we’ll do what's best for the club moving forward.
Has Andre Blake had his surgery yet?
Yes. So the same exact surgery as the last time it's going to be a similar recovery. It wasn't as minor as they had hoped. When they go in and they kinda get a clearer picture. So, looks like six weeks, you know and obviously like we talked about before, it's not just you know six weeks hit and all of a sudden perfect and himself again. You know because you have all the downtime and have not seen live action and he’ll have to get his legs under him again but, you know, again, it's a devastating one for him, it's tough for the team but you know it's something that hopefully he can grow from and understand that things, even though it might not seem like it, good things do happen for a reason, I'm a big believer in that, and hopefully he’ll bounce back and be better than ever.
You’re in the process of resigning Brian. How unusual of a process is that for you guys? Are there contingencies if Carolina needs him back?
Yeah, there's always a way to get a deal done with the club. We're still in the early process of, first, you know, seeing where John’s at concussion wise, and what that's going to look like, and the timeline there. Blake won't be available. Then you have to have certain hardship you have to claim the league and what kind of relief and what leniency they’ll give you in that regard. So, you know Brian is a good option for us. I think is a very good young goalkeeper. He can do a job and obcioulsy he gives the size and the presence in there. He kicks well and fits in with our group, those are kind of the biggest things for me. He was the guy who's very familiar with the group so when he walked in the Vancouver game, he knew everybody. You know, knew guy strengths and weaknesses and it was pretty seamless.
Are you surprised to see D.C. United play as well as they are?
No, I mean, Ben Olsen is a really really good young coach. He's a great motivator, he gets a lot out of his guys. You know, I’ve had a lot of discussions with him in the past, you know, dating back to when I was the interim coach. He's seen a lot, you know, in this league as a player and then as a coach. They had a tough season where they only had three victories, so I can now pick his brain and learn a lot from him and the things that he did during that time that were good, nd the things that are bad and how you can learn from it. Again, I think we have similar mindset about the game, but he has been playing very well, they’re are a dangerous team. You know Chris Rolfe’s a player, an old teammate of mine, that when he's playing well and is confident like he’s as dangerous attacking as anyone in the league. Fabian Espindola is coming back from the suspension now, a little bit of a knock and injury. A very dangerous forward to give them a real dynamic up front that's a lot to handle. And then you know the guys that he's getting a lot of now, Nick DeLeon and Chris Pontius are a real force offensively with a get going. And they have sprinkled in, the acquired veterans. He's done it with a lot of good American players have won in the league, the Bobby Boswells, the Davy Arnauds, and then you know, the goalkeeper too, Bill Hmaid, that rock in the back that’s doing really well for them. They are a team that, you know, if you look at the way that they've been built, they're not a team that spends the ten million dollars or five million dollars on a player, so he's done it in a really impressive way. And Ben is a guy that I looked up to as a player, watching his old DelCo teams when we were, when Chris and I were younger than him. Watching them they were unbelievable. And now as a coach he’s doing a great job too. So, credit to them, it's going to be a tough game.
Do you have any other keepers working with you this week?
In right now it's just the academy, the academy goalkeepers. And the one is Logan Keys, just helping us out.
What is McCarthy’s general fitness level and how much has he been able to work over the last two weeks?
Not much. You know, when you have a head injury they pretty much down, to the extreme of you know not being in a room like this where there's a lot of bright lights and things like that so, minimal. Today was the first day he was allowed to warm up with the team so again that they follow pretty strict protocol. Day by day one, where you know you take baby steps and he will be re-evaluated mid-week, maybe Thursday and then you know going into the game on Sunday, it'll be probably we’ll know Saturday exactly his status.
Would you possibly again have to apply for a pool keeper?
Yeah that's a possibility. We would have to maybe do that.
As a coach who prides himself on his defense, to have given up 21 goals this year, just can you point to any problem areas, and really how to fix this issue going forward?
Yeah. I think, as a team, we've been poor defensively. Something that I’m not happy with, with myself, with the team. A lot we can work on. Defending starts the forwards and goes to the midfield and then to the back four it and to the goalkeeper so it's a team issue. You know, early on we gave up too many goals on restarts. We’ve kind of fixed that a bit. Now we've kind of, if you go back and really break down all the goals, which is again, way too many, they’re .individual mistakes. I think we have bodies behind the ball in most cases, we have numbers up in the box in most cases, it's just a matter of, you know, just to go to the Vancouver game, Ethan has a free header and you know nine times out of ten you just had that forward, for whatever reason the things that I think Richie is open behind him and he heads it backwards and it leads to the scramble and eventually breakaway. Chaco plays the ball backwards, that we're in possession in the field, can he just play forward and get us out of a spot where he didn't even have any pressure on him. Instead he chose to play back to center-back to wasn't expecting it and it's just an individual. It's a blunder to be honest. A lot of the mistakes have been self-inflicted, silly and something we have to fix and that we're going to work a lot in training to try to fix it and correct it and do a lot of you know back four work but also midfield and we want to press with the frontline.
Are there any positives that you’re able to build on with this team? I mean it seems like there’s so many negatives that we’re harping upon, what are some of the positives that you see?
We're trying to find positives. It's always difficult when you're losing because you know winning, winning can sometimes mask a lot of deficiencies too. There are teams, that go on runs, of wins that tend to mask things. Right now, everything is going wrong for us, that's not a secret. So, you know, you're under the microscope a lot more and that's myself and the players
Positives that I've looked at are some of our young players performances, you know, right now we’re the fourth youngest team I believe in the league, and then if you go to the right the lineups we’re fielding and the guys who are playing some of the minutes. you know look to Zach Pfeffer’s performance, twenty year old kid. Eric Ayuk Mbu has done well for an eighteen year old kid, to get the experience that he is. Richie Marquez stepped up. But at the same time, we're not getting results so you don't get…they don't get the credit maybe that they deserve because you don't see the three points coming up so that is something that I've tried to stay positive with and watch guys, the young guys in particular grow, if you're trying to grab a positive outlook on what's been a very difficult year
Is C.J still out until the first of June?
Yes, it's not really in our hands unfortunately. Right now he's taking tests out there, that will let us know the timeline. We haven't got a specific date of when he'll be back so it's kind of in their hands and not really up to the Union in that regard. It's a league and the company that they work with out there.
The MLS transfer window technically closed yesterday, I take it this is the team that you guys are going to go with until at least July.
Till July, yes. There’ll be some changes, we know we need to improve. We know we need to get better and certain spots, like any team right now I'd say you're always looking to upgrade. Now there still is the possibility you can still move on free agents and in league trades are now frozen so that is one thing that won’t change. There won’t be any trades, the deadline passed, without a lot of significant movement. There's always discussions that are going on with us and different teams, you know, it's usually the teams that are struggling that are in the discussion. This was no different. A lot of things went back and forth but nothing ever came of it and we thought it was something we wanted to act on. So again you know I still believe we have quality, we have to get everyone healthy and on the field the same time and we do know we have to upgrade and improve some spots in this in the summer that will happen.
