Trimester Season Review

By: Dave Martinez | June 6th, 2008

Its official! The season is now 1/3rd the way over! How has the team stacked up through 10? Glad you asked . . .

SO FAR – A .500 SEASON

When we were doing our preseason preview, I predicted the Bulls to be 1 game above the .500 mark for the season. A third of the way in, that is exactly where they sit. I even qualified my prediction by stating that, without any solid signings, this average would perpetuate throughout the season – and I continue to stand by that.

Now, more than ever, three quality signings are needed to shore up this teams deficiencies and make it competitive. And those signings must be for every section of the pitch. “El Tin” Delgado is riding the bench for Libertadores Finalist Quito. He may be a forward option. Jorge Rojas of Venezuela would be an excellent midfield addition. A Chris Innes would complete our backline, which is in desperate need of a helper for Parke. Hell, with Jozy gone, why not make a run at Brian McBride (so long as he doesnt cost us DP cash . . . )!

The fact remains, if this team does not add key pieces during this summer window, they will continue to flounder and float above and below the .500 mark.

JUAN CARLOS OSORIO

So what have we learned about Juan Carlos Osorio thus far? Well, alot. Here is the skinny:

THE GOOD – Osorio faced alot of injuries early on in the season, so his coaching prowess would be immediately needed to right the ship. Throughout the season, the Bulls have had Echeverry, Angel, Altidore, Dane Richards, Hunter Freeman, Eric Brunner, Dave Van Den Bergh, Seth Stammler, Dave Roth, Jeff Parke and Luke Sassano at some point or another, injured, unavailable, red carded – you name it, its happened.

Through the worst of situations, he kept the teams head above water, immediately differentiating himself from his predecessor Bruce Arena. Osorio is a defensive tactician who does not accept the occasional “brain farts” in the backline that leads to goals. A good example of this is with Chris Leitch – after turning his back to a shot on the wall that lead to a set piece goal for New England, Osorio tore Leitch apart in front of his teammates and made a simple point – he will not accept such gaffes on his team. That type of intensity has made players like Leitch and Goldthwaite better and important, where last year under Arena, they were everyones favorite goats. The team also seems to be in constant form on the field – rarely breaking formation or looking lost in their assignments. Bottom line? He has proven that his coaching techniques and tactics makes the most of the pieces he has to deal with. A lessor coach would have lost the season with all those injuries compiling so early in the season.

THE BAD – His player management has been superb. But acquisitions continue to be a sour point. The Bulls have trotted out trialist after trialist to their camp in hopes of a gem signing, and nothing has been accomplished. Lider Marmol is in Chicago. Wilman Conde is as well. Chris Innes went back to Scotland. Our top draft pick Eric Brunner skipped town. Guillermo Imhoff rode off into the sunset. Matt Kassell turned down an RBNY developmental deal after being in our system for years. Jose De Jesus Mendoza – meh. Thats 0 for 7, and clearly not good enough. With our key acquisitions this season being Andrew Boyens and Big Cat Thornton, one would have to question where this team will be able to maneuver as the season progresses.

THE UGLY – 4-5-1. The dreaded formation. It seems to have become the teams formation of choice, home and away. My theory is that this system, created to keep games close and either produce a tie or a counter attack goal for wins, will be in place until some new pieces arrive via the summer window. If no new pieces arrive, then its 4-5-1 all year long.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

10 games into the season, and barring a ridiculous red card, Jeff Parke has been the glue to our make shift back line. Who in their right mind would have believed last season that a Chris Leitch, Kevin Goldthwaite, Jeff Parke and Hunter Freeman line up would be enough to stifle many attacks (sans Chicago of course)? Credit Osorio for the coaching aspect, but credit Jeff Parke for being their backfield general. He has taken a vocal leadership role, and is constantly looking over out for his defensive partners (just look at Andrew Boyens against Chivas). Without Jeff Parke manning the back line, the team would most likely be in a far worse state of affairs.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

Mike Magee or Claudio Reyna fit this category like a glove. Unlike many Reyna retractors, I feel that his presence in the line up stabilizes our midfield. Just look at the mess it has been without him the past two games. But, his injuries have again become more frequent, and it is to that extent that Reyna has cost us. As an attacking mid in our system, he has needed time to gel with his forward counterparts, but these nagging, oft-occurring injuries keep the cogs of the offensive engine on neutral.

Mike Magee should be reaping the benefits of an injured Reyna, but given the chance, he has produced very little. Magee is one of my personal favorites on the team, but he hasn’t been able to make that impact. Of course, we are talking about a person who has not seen regular pitch action in over two years, so expectations need to be curbed a bit. But this is the opportunity to cement a spot for himself in the starting 11, and he is letting it slip away.

ROOKIE OF THE TRIMESTER

Danleigh Borman. Yes he can frustrate the hell out of fans with his crosses, that seem to have a mind of their own. But who can take 2 goals away from him? Or a very cool celebratory dance to boot? Come on now.

He is also very youthful, exuberant, and not afraid to make a mistake, which is supremely important for a rookie to be. Though the frustrations may outweigh the good so far, we may be seeing a Dane Richardsesque transformation in Bormans play moving on into the season.

KEY WIN

v. Chivas USA – After two straight losses to Chicago and Houston, the Bulls faced an early “make or break, define the season” type game against Chivas. In between the snoring and dreaming, Angel came out of nowhere with a header to seal the deal, and guarantee a win. A loss would have left the Bulls under .500.

KEY LOSS

V. Chicago Fire – The most anticipated match of this trimester, what with the well chronicled 2008 rivalry between the teams, turned out to be the biggest massacre the team has suffered in nearly 8 years. Osorio was out of the game with a red card. Van Den Bergh suffered the same fate. And the Bulls fell hard 5-1, the lone goal coming in the waning minutes by a determined Jozy Altidore.

OVERALL GRADE : C

I will give the coaching of the team an A, the management of player personnel and acquisition a D, and the players themselves, a B-. Osorio has done the best he can with his pieces, and has even adjusted his style (3-5-2) to better suit his players (4-5-1). Its up to some creative scouting and management to bring this team success moving forward.