View from the Blues, Volume 22: Blues May Not Be Ready for Postseason Play

If Charlie Naimo's Los Angeles Blues think they are ready to contend for a USL PRO title this year, they have another thing coming.

The Blues, fresh off a weekend split with Antigua Barracuda FC, wanted to start the following week on the winning track.

Unfortunately, it was not to be, as they were consigned to a 1-1 draw with the Barracudas at the Stadium by the Sea. Peter Byers scored in the 23rd minute to offset an eighth-minute strike from Elvis Thomas.

“It’s frustrating,” Los Angeles defender Carlos Borja told LABluesProSoccer.com's Gunnar Berndt. “Everybody was confident and already thinking about our chances of winning the championship. Then, instead of moving forward and getting more wins, we concede a loss that’s part unlucky and part our own fault.

"After going down early, we came back to tie it and fought hard, but then we gave up another goal and it just threw us off. I think some of us tuned out after Antigua’s second goal.”

“Again, it comes down to finishing plays off,” said forward Israel Sesay. “We kept the ball well, but we weren’t able to put it in the back of the net. I have a lot of respect for Antigua, but we should beat them at home.

"When other teams bunker down, we still have a hard time breaking through. We just didn’t have that killer ball, that ball that can penetrate the defense and break them down. We can’t afford to give away points like that.”

“There have been a few times throughout the season where things didn’t go our way and we bounced back, so I don’t think we fear adversity or lack of character,” assistant manager Shayon Jalayer remarked. “The real problem is that we still haven’t found solutions for an opponent that’s committed to just sitting back against us.

"It’s one thing to be patient in a buildup, but I don’t think we were playing with the urgency we need. Maybe at times we need to take the flair out of our game and be a little but more blue-collar by just starting to throw balls in the box.”

Things went from bad to worse for the Blues, who were swept by the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday, 2-1.  Byers scored in the 61st minute for Los Angeles.

Then things got completely out of hand as they lost the season series against Antigua to the tune of 3-0 at the Sticky Wicket Stadium in St. John's.

There is a good possibility that the Blues's postseason will be cut shorter than they would have hoped for. Inexcusable performances on the road have plagued Naimo's side, and they have no one to blame but themselves for their deplorable efforts.

Up next for the Blues may be more pain on the way—in the form of the Richmond Kickers.

Game 1 of the two-game home stand is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 12 at Titan Stadium on the campus of California State University, Fullerton. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET.

Game 2 of the home series, which doubles as the regular season finale, is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET at Norco College in Norco, Calif.