the same old story

Image via Wikipediato be honest, we didn't play a bad game (at least in the second half). what we did was let toronto take advantage of three ugly mistakes - and not capitalize on any of our own chances.

we came into this game against the last-ranked team in the east - a team we've already played twice, and beat the last encounter. we also came into this game having lost 2 games in a row after a season-changing august and early september. what had changed? why this sudden slump? could we turn it around after giving up 8 goals in the last two games?

the answer, sadly, turned out to be no. though we looked better than we had the previous two games. we ended up losing 3-1 to toronto fc on a series of botched plays.

• the first came on a misplayed header by cichero at the 40 yard line. everyone keeps saying that he shouldn't have headed it back to his keeper so softly from that far out. agreed. however, after watching the replays, i don't think he was intentionally playing the ball backwards. i think he got turned around while running backwards to get to the ball and it came off his head awkwardly. i'm not trying to get him off the hook here - the play still sucked all the way around and he let the defender beat him to the ball and chip it over conway.
  
• cichero (after coming off a very bad week in the colorado loss where he got benched) was involved in the second goal as well, though indirectly. as shep messing pointed out, there was no need for him to be the dummy guy on the free kick - a role that had him on the wrong end of the field when marvell wynne broke free on a counterattack and slotted the ball to a wide-open barrett for the go-ahead goal. god, i wish we wouldn't have traded wynne.
  
• cichero also was involved in the third goal, since he failed to mark his man at the far post and gave him a clean look at a straight-in header.
  

it might seem like i'm picking on cichero here. i am. the player who came in full of confidence and who created a strong backline is now making mental mistakes, looking outplayed, and has lost his swagger.

and what about the rest of the team? well, we continued to ignore our midfield for most of the game. we've got to start linking up through the middle of the field boys. it wasn't until the middle of the second half where i felt we started possessing the ball regularly, which is what you need to create plays and build-up. we've been giving the ball up too easily, and not playing with the same fire we were in august.

this is the playoff chase right now guys. we seemed to have turned our season around with some great football and inspired play. but apparently we can't keep that consistency up.

we've got three games left - one against real salt lake in their new stadium, one against the league-leading crew, and the final against osorio's former team, the fire. think any of these games are going to be easy, especially since only one of them is at home for us?

the new york red bulls need to play better soccer. i know we've got players in and out for international duty, but that' s life. we need to remember the concept of team play and get everyone involved - especially our midfield - and keep possession of the ball as we move forward. and pay attention - our little mental lapses are burning away our season.

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