Practice Observations - Wednesday August 19, 2009

Here is what I saw at practice today:

• Very, very intense practice today. Players getting after it, and numerous hard, sliding tackles into their teammates.
• Kreis mentioned that at this time of the season goals become harder to come by as defenses tighten up. Also mentioned that the team will need to be very aggressive, especially on the road.
• Look for different attacking combinations and outside backs pushing forward more against New England.
• Will Johnson mentioned that the team needs to be more poised in front of goal. (note: how do you accomplish this aside from the continual finishing drills that they run in practice?)
• Will Johnson also discussed the Yura situation, and said that he feels that a "pre-contract" situation like the one Yura became involved in with Randers is almost always a bad situation for both sides, because both sides naturally get caught looking ahead.
• Did I mention that I like Nelson Gonzalez? Part Will Johnson, part Javier Morales, part Fabian Espindola. But young and raw.