DC United vs LAFC Pre-Match Analysis

Send us Fan MailTwenty-one shots. Nobody had taken more than fourteen against Vancouver all season, and we did it at BC Place without Baribo and without Munteanu. We went ahead, came from behind twice, and still took just one point. Sensei Nono and Hosei Kijima showed up to a fight, 1976-style, against a top MLS side in the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Send us Fan Mail(Fahhh) Why did we have to lose that game against Charlotte? It doesn't feel right. Well, it doesn't, because in many areas that was our best performance of the season and we still lost. This is a therapy session for DCU supporters, and a bit of praise for finally having a system that isn't the 4-4-2 and that works.

Send us Fan MailWe're back facing Charlotte FC, but this time at Audi Field, and Charlotte is not the same team away as they are at home. Since two set pieces killed the game for us last time, I review how well they've been doing in that area since we last faced them. Finally, I look at which formation and midfielders should start, based purely on the numbers.

Send us Fan MailThe podcast will return on Sep 19th.  

Send us Fan MailDC United drew 0–0 with LAFC, and Saturday's 4-3-3 did more for our midfield in one match than the 4-4-2 has in twenty — Servania posted his first positive receiving figure of the season, Peltola his best in twenty games. We check all three pre-match predictions, unpack why Son Heung-Min was somehow the best mover and the worst finisher on the pitch. 

Send us Fan MailThe LAFC arriving at Audi Field have one of the best defensive records in the league, but some of the statistics get interesting when they face a direct playing style. We look at where their left side hurts us, why Son is four goals short of expectation, and some of the areas DCU can exploit.

Send us Fan MailDC United created nearly twice Charlotte's open-play expected goals, put seventeen shots up, and lost 3–1 to two set pieces in two minutes. Let's stay positive and review the game completely bias. 

Send us Fan MailDC United host the New England Revolution at Audi Field on tonight, and the data says the Revs' fourth-place table position is running well ahead of their actual performance. I break down the event data for the Revs and make four predictions you can hold me to.

Send us Fan MailWe graded our own pre-match calls against the data: two misses, one flip, and a defensive line swing that decided the match. Montreal's high line generated a recovery every 8 minutes in average and posted the best shot-quality conversion any team has managed against us all season — while DC United survived on Sean Johnson and a decent 7.9-rated debut from Kimito Nono with assist. 

Send us Fan MailMontreal have taken two points from twelve since the World Cup break and scored twice in four matches. We dig into event data to flag interesting points on CF Montreal defensive leakiness and predictions for the game vs DC United. Short and consice pod, enjoy!