First game against Portland on the 29th. Any stabs at starting XI? Anything else regarding this tourney...
Well first of all, its not a tourney. These are just a series of friendlies before the Arizona tourney starts (which the Rapids are not involved in).
Yeah well...oops. But I guess I'm just dyin' to see the team play so thought the Arizona games might garner some discussion or comments pre-travel. Maybe not.
Since these are friendlies then there should be basically unlimited substitutions right. Hopefully they are streamed. Although with it at 11am, I probably won't be able to watch. The other two games are Thurs. 31 at 6pm and Sat. at 11am.
Yep. This is why I did not bother to post a starting XI in my OP. Got to the midfield and thought..."Pretty sure most of these guys will play at some point", so I gave up. Even though they are friendlies, I do hope they are streamed.
Is anyone planning on being there in person and can report on what they see? I was hoping to go, but have to head to Florida (for work) instead. Very curious about all the new players....
I'm hoping to make it to one of these games. I'd like to go to all of them, but don't have time to drive(90 mins or so) to Tucson 3 times in a week or hang out there for 5 days.
MLS confirmed today that there will be an online stream for all of the Desert Friendlies. Like & follow the Cactus Pricks on FaceBook or Twitter
Well, everyone with a real shot. In the past the trips to AZ, Hawaii, etc. have been a time when trialists get dropped from camp.
Has camp been open long enough for them to have a view of who might get dropped? It still seems quite early, not sure if there has been enough time to truly make a determination. Almost like anyone not making the trip really had no chance anyway. I haven't seen many reports about who is doing well, etc. Is this normal, or am I just not paying attention to the right places?
Agree completely much too early to say who will make it and way too much faith in supplemental picks abilities, 2 at most will probably make it.
MLS is streaming the Desert Diamond Cup and NBC Sports will be showing the final. Wonder if they'll stream our games as well? http://www.soundersfc.com/news/articles/2013/01-january/busy-schedule-ahead.aspx
I'll try (this is what I think the lineup will look like, not necessarily what I want it to look like. Think the veterans get preference....) Cascio Akpan Rivero Labrocca Pablo Thomas Wallace Calderon Moor Wynee Pickens
I could go with that, except I am guessing we have another attacking mid in there. With Pablo, Thomas and LaBrocca, I see that as mostly a D-oriented midfield (I don't know LaBrocca well so I could be wrong about that). We might see Castrillon in place of LaBrocca or Pablo. Not sure Pablo would get the start given his absence last year....but.? I'd really like to see Hardbottle in action. For me he holds the biggest question mark. Seems to have some nice skill in video we've seen, but his size and lack of recent play are worrisome to me.
I'd like to see what we have in Harbottle and Calderon. I'm really curious to see what Eloundou can do but I'm assuming his FIFA transfer/work permit will take time.
Interesting! All surnames except Mastroeni and then you use his given name. I believe that this is common and generally implies a personal attachment to that individual. Likely this influences many choices & decisions. IMO, if Mastroeni is a 1st choice player this year we are in for lotsa disappointment!
Well, I don't know about Buffbollocks, but I typically write "Pablo" because it's easier to get out of the keyboard than "Mastr......". I think Pablo is headed for a much less impactful season than in the past as well. I say no start on Tuesday and some limited time in the second half: -Pickens 4 - Calderon, Wynne, Moor, Wallace/Klute 3- Thomas, LaBrocca, Hill/Castrillon 3- Akpan, Rivero, Cascio Starting XI is probably not so important with unlimited subs, so we will see a lot of moving about.
We play 3 games within 6 days. I imagine we will see a lot of players substituted on the offensive side, but we also need to make sure we don't risk injury to Moor, Wynne, and Calderon by leaving them on the field for all 270 minutes. Somebody else is going to get some time at CB. Do you give time to one of the guys on trial to see what they can provide or do you use it to start giving O'Neill or Sturgis time at CB? After thinking about this for a bit, I hope that one of these games (maybe the middle one) they don't even bother putting in the known quantities and start off a game with a lineup like this 6 subs: Griffiths, Castro, Romero, Pinho, Diaz