everybody in a Revolution shirt knew it was coming, for they've seen it repeatedly in practice -- to create some shooting space. He then finished with authority.
Technically, he isn't a 2008 "newcomer." Nyassi signed with the Revs late last year but made just one appearance, and that for just nine minutes. So, we'll stretch a little here, since it's safe to say that most MLS fans wouldn't know Nyassi if he shared a cab with them.
The young New England sparkplug's fine performance highlighted a weekend of strong MLS debuts. Here are some others:
Speaking of newcomers in Kansas City: CommunityAmerica Ballpark had its MLS coming out party, and it looks like it's going to be a fun place. Some odd camera angles aside, CAB looks great and sounds lively. The Cauldron was rocking and I love where they have it positioned, in a corner behind one goal, but angled by the baseball park layout so that it really "hangs" over one end of the field.
We'll have to wait a bit to assess two other high-profile MLS newbies: Marcelo Gallardo will presumably have better nights for United, once the full cast gathers around their new Argentine playmaker. Tom Soehn chose to limit some starters' minutes with the midweek CONCACAF Champions' Cup nearby.
In Dallas, former Mexican international Duilio Davino took the captain's armband for his new team. But he had returned to practice only last Thursday following a minor injury, so his occasionally tentative passing and mistake at the end (leading to the late Chivas USA equalizer) can be overlooked for now.
TACTICAL CORNERWhen it comes to the LA Galaxy and their new formation, at some point, it just comes down to geometry.
A straight line is a simpler shape than a triangle.
Ruud Gullit wants his team to play in the Dutch version of the 4-3-3. Obviously, KNVB used this to fantastic success, matching skillful, versatile players with the attack-minded system and hanging tough through the 1970s and '80s and '90s with larger countries.
But for a midfielder who hasn't spent his life learning the nuance and vagaries of the assignments, it's got to be a tough system to learn.
In the back, the four-man line becomes a three-man line quickly in the transition as one outside back moves forward with speed and the others move quickly to provide cover. In the middle, the holding midfielder and two other centrally at the head of the "V" have various responsibilities. And those might be vastly different from a traditional holding midfielder, and vastly different from a traditional wide midfielder.
The center forward has myriad responsibilities, too. I've heard Marco van Basten talk about the labyrinth of duties of a center forward in the Dutch 4-3-3.
Obviously the Galaxy is struggling to understand the system. Gullit replaced both of his advanced central midfielders at halftime Saturday, apparently unhappy with what Ely Allen and Peter Vagenas were producing. Gullit had some of the same trouble in the preseason, unable to get certain players to grasp the role. That's why he experimented with people like Mike Randolph, a rookie outside fullback last year, at the position.
The results weren't pretty Saturday. Feisty Colorado Rapids flanker Colin Clark stationed himself smartly in the passing channels between David Beckham and the overly static Galaxy central midfield core, limiting the English superstar's opportunities to produce.
One bit of hope: Landon Donovan was clearly not at his best, probably weary from the long week, which included two long-haul flights and a match in the U.S. shirt against Poland. Once Donovan gets his legs back, perhaps the entire enterprise will look different -- and more effective.
Steve Davis is a freelance writer who has covered Major League Soccer since its inception. Steve can be reached at BigTexSoccer@yahoo.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
