It's Wednesday and there's no pre-match thread yet. Have you all gone CRAZY!? Who - Houston @ DC United What - Eastern Conference Final - Leg 2 - AKA Last match before MLS Cup When - This Sunday 11/18 Where - Lot 8 - and then RFK. Why - Because Benny made it happen LETS DO THIS
We have an uphill battle, but that could pretty much describe the entire season. Najar is still out. Hopefully Pontius and Saragosa will be good to go
I'm not even gonna guess at what Ben should or would do, I'm just gonna believe, then armchair playmaker after the final whistle. It's just easier, AND I don't wanna give that Houston coach any of my brilliant tactical insights that he might not have already thought of, him being a head coach and me being all IT guy. But hey, Dom, we're going with a 5-3-2, and 3/4 of our starters are out. You might as well start the scrubs to give them some playoff experience...BEFORE YOU'RE TROUNCED OUT SUNDAY. In an entirely unrelated note, what's with Alexi Lalas' porn 'stache?
@BrianStraus: Sunday's MLS referees: Baldomero Toledo in Washington DC & Mark Geiger in Seattle, according to @PROreferees ******** YOU. Either option is a crime.
That means Stott will likely get the MLS Cup match. So, yeah...Short end of the stick no matter what.
they still make lawn darts, right? Javelins? I have heard a lot of folks talking about DeRo starting - I am not a fan of this idea at all. I am in favor of starting two forwards. Neither of which should be Pajoy (unless you plan 100% to remove him at halftime for DeRo). I would also love to see Woolard left and Korb right.
It's a better look for a soccer pundit who has been wrong about everything all year, especially when it comes to DC United. He predicted that our team would miss the playoffs before the season. He predicted that our team would miss the playoffs after DeRo got hurt. He predicted that United would lose to the Fire and host the knockout round. He predicted that United would lose to the Red Bulls before the playoffs. He predicted that United would lose to the Red Bulls after the first leg. He predicted that United has no chance after this past Sunday (though he finally did ackowledge that if any of the remaining teams could get it done it would be United since "Ben Olsen has them believing in themselves," rather than them being, you know, good.). I pumped my fist in celebration after each of his predictions of DC United's impending doom.
My gut says that Pontius, Saragosa and MacDonald are all out for Sunday. I also wouldn't be surprised to see DeRosario start. The logic being that if Olsen starts him, then he can manage his minutes. If Olsen brings DeRosario in later, there's no telling how long he would have to play.
I agree with this. The worst thing that could happen would be to sub in DeRo then have to sub him out if we have any subs left in OT because he's gassed. I'd rather start him. We all know he lights up against his former teams. Also I think Pajoy has improved and is as good a player as there is in the league with his back to the goal. After that - he is um, not so good. But with De Ro in for him to play off of I think we will be a much better team. Especially if we add another striker. If DeRo starts, so does Santos. I'm guessing that Pontius is out. Groins don't heal in a week. But I think Seragosa and McD will be in.
This should not be unexpected. After being very active in a very large ref organization, I have watched how (and scheduled) refs. It is very apparent at an early stage of a career if a ref has the temperment to be successful at higher levels. Once you get to certain level all refs know the rules but even refs have brain farts where they forget for second. The higher up you progress the less farts ... My take on Toledo, like the other refs is that they truly are unbiased in how they apply the rules in a match. But just like everyone they have their biases and Toledo's is "let em play" in the first 30 minutes; mayhem accepted. After that show cards only as the game progresses. Houston's physical play will not be punished; advantage Houston from the scheduling.
that should be in the Game 1 Post-Match thread. Or a new thread called Why I want to light MLSHQ on Fire: 2012 version or something
I think it belongs posted on the wall in the locker room. Hopefully it pisses them off even more than it does me.
I think the league should line up all the referees that have been written up for making horrible goal- and game-changing calls on United this past year and let Andy Najar throw soccer balls at their heads like it's ********ing DodgeBall.