Interesting match. Portland looks much improved this season. It will be interesting to see how RSL reacts after the loss. Also some interesting lineup decisions with 3 games in 8 days and this one on turf. [LINEUP-4-4-2]Espy, Sabo, Gil, Morales, KB, Grabavoy, Wingert, Olave, Schuler, Beltran, Nicky[/LINEUP-4-4-2] Bench: Reynish, Velasquez, Borchers, Steele, Paulo Jr, Bonfigli, Alvarez I think ideally the team would rest Olave on turf, but I don't know that they'll risk Borchers first game back on turf. I could see it going either way there. I'm convinced Sabo will start this one. Less convinced about Morales, but I think ideally you'd have him start two of these three matches. The only question is whether or not they think his fitness will allow.
I agree with everything you said. If RSL is concerned about Morales' fitness (I would be), then I think he plays this Saturday and next with a break mid-week. With him being questionable as far as 90-minute fitness is concerned, no way do you play him twice on 3 days rest. I have a hard time seeing RSL getting a result in this one...
I'd rotate Borchers for Olave With 3 games in 8 days and the first being on turf, we need to make a CB rotation. Olave's knees need (that was weird) to be saved for the rest of the season. If we get a point out of this one I'll be happy.
I wanted to give some rep to kirsoccer for finally starting this thread, but apparently I must spread it around a little first. I have high hopes for this match. I guess that's a byproduct of winning as often as RSL does, but having said that, turf doesn't often seem to be a good place for us, and the lineup will once again be less than ideal. I can see a draw, but wouldn't be surprised with no result either. I have a hard time thinking a win, but stranger things have happened... Chivas at Rio Tinto comes to mind for some odd reason.
Hmm. I'm no Travellor/Canyonvue when it comes to looking at matchups (thinking only RSL can beat RSL), but to look at these pregame boards I often come away with the impression that we are the most pessimistic supporters of a "good squad" in the league. Anyway, we all have different viewpoints. Given this matchup, I'll be happy with a win but not upset if we play well and come away with a tie. I certainly don't have a hard time seeing us playing well and getting a result at Portland. They have a good, young squad of talented players and a great home field advantage but I believe that RSL will be fired up and ready for this one. Put me down for 2-1 RSL.
Excited to be able to watch this match in HD. ABC4 - 3, 2.2 - nil By the way, is it just me, or did several more games get moved from CW30 to the mothership?
That's funny...in my years here I've been called "a Kool-Aid drinker", "an RSL apologist", and (my personal favorite) "front office butt-boy." I guess now I've made it onto the other side of the coin. Reminds me of a joke I heard when Utah was in the Mountain West: The University of Utah is the only school in the world where you can be called a Molly Mormon by Wyoming fans one week, then called a godless heathen by BYU fans the next. Damned if I do, damned if I don't...
I'll be happy with a tie. This is a tough place to play and to come out with the full 3 points would do wonders for the confidence of this team.(Especially after our last game) But its probably not worth throwing our all at it, especially this early in the season. And with the new Portland lineup we'll have to control the possession and tempo of this match to stand a chance. If RSL isn't on the ball mentally at the beginning of the match we're toast. Silly mistakes will cost us greatly here. ...Go Team!
RSL circa 2008-present on turf = pretty bad. Our possession style on that rug of a pitch is going to get ruined. I'm not sure if I want Javi to start or not. He didn't add a spark at all in the last two games and really seems out of shape. I understand the "best way to get in shape is to play" argument, but that should be for guys past 75% conditioning. He doesn't look past 60, from what I've seen. Sabo up top, though, is a must from the get go. Paulo looked alright against New York, but we still lacked a target guy to release pressure. Portland is going to cram the midfield and try to play quick counters on us. We need a guy up top to relieve this pressure and build possession through.
We need to live in the past & make up points. RSL 37 (in a row) Potland 0 I can see the canyon from here and the view is great! (OK you inspired me).
Jamison told me in preseason that his knee feels better than the last couple of years, however, it's likely still fragile. So what's better Nat's quad or Jamison's knee on turf? It's probably a toss up. The other question is whether Nat's ready to go 90 yet or not. I don't know the answer to this, but you don't typically put a center back in with the idea of subbing them out after 60. If Nat starts in this one, then that's a good sign of where he's at fitness-wise.
FYI, Portland will be wearing their retro third kit this Saturday. Enjoy! On a personal note I do have a place for RSL among all my soccer allegiances. I saw home match in that first season and witnessed the acrimonious stadium search. I also remember the first time I saw a RSL kit.
I'm excited to check out Jen-Weld and the Timbers Army. Leaving on Friday for the long drive to Portland. 2-1 RSL!
Last week was a disappointing result, much of it I believe due to a certain amount of over confidence and lack of focus, this week I think we will see a team that spent the week getting its ass chewed of by it's head coach. I see a much more focused and disaplined team getting a 2-1 result.
I know right? That jersey is awesome. I'm with IBIK on this one. I wouldn't be at all surprised to lose this one, and will be super content with a draw. I'm not sure Kreis's got the coaching wherewithal to adjust to what looks like a very good Portland team, in a very difficult place to play (crowd, surface, field dimension) after a home loss, and missing some key players. But hey, prove me wrong, Jason. Prove me wrong.
It's a very long season which will have all kinds of ups and downs. Which team will show up in Portland? The team the fought back and beat LA and then dominated New York or the team that let a blown call get into their heads, much like last year, and couldn't finish a couple great chances. Hmmmmmm I'll go with... Team 1! I see an RSL team that goes to work and takes care of business and gets a win. This game win, or lose, I find very interesting and a possible indicator or which direction the team will take early on in the season.
Don't think I have ever seen a less discussed pre game thread than this one. Have you all gone to Portland? Will be interesting to see how Jason plays this one? Gut tells me we will see Espindola and Sabo up top, and Morales starting in the midfield.
i'm playing my cards tight to my chest..... actually, because i took a week off of work (last week) to fly home and see my parents/go to my annual RSL game, i now have twice as much work to do this week. quite frankly this week has FLOWN by, i havent even had time to add my .02 for this game. maybe tomorrow.... and like i said in the away games thread, if you are coming to PDX this weekend, bring rain gear. it's going to be cold, wet and windy. as for lineups, i think olave gets the rest, borchers starts with schuler in the middle. sabo and javi both get the start, but both gil and tian will come on in the second half. this game is going to be fast, the field will be wet, there will be wind, its a narrow and short turf field. i expect quite a bit of disjointed play. i have no idea what the score will be, every time i keep my expectations in check RSL goes wild and every time i expect RSL to go wild, they suck balls. im thinking a relatively low scoring affair, like 1-0 or maybe 1-1.