What: MLS 2014 Round 8 Who: D.C. United v. FC Dallas Where: RFK Stadium, DC When: April 26, 2014, 7:00 PM Why: For sporting reasons I just bought my ticket and want to talk about it. D.C.: 4 game unbeaten run, but threw away a 3rd straight win last week. Dallas: Won their last v. a solid, but Defoe-less Toronto. Good thing our DP striker is available... Projected line-up: ------------------Hamid--------------- Franklin---Boswell---Parke---Cristian ----------------Kitchen----------------- DeLeon----------------------Rolfe (or Neal if Rolfe is hurt) ------------Arnaud------------------- --------GAM----------Espindola------
Silva and Korb should be available, but I don't think either will start due to the team's success lately.
Why were Dallas called the Burn anyway? Was it one of those '90's sports marketing influenced names or was there some famous fire in Dallas the name commemorates?
It's what everyone would do to the city if any flammable vegetation actually grew there. IOW, who the hell knows
All the people who should know better keep saying Dallas is for real. I'm far from convinced. And after last season's embarrassing collapse (Shield leader at mid-season, missed out on the playoffs altogether), let's just say I'll need some convincing. They've been beating up on shitty/undermanned teams so far this season. This game could tell us a lot about them (and us).
I know they've been showing it like this in the pregame, but it never resembles a diamond in the run of play. I would call it a 4-4-1-1: Franklin----Boswell--Parke----Christian Deleon----Kitchen-----Arnaud----Rolfe -------------------Espindola ----------------------EJ
"... so far this season." he says. No, you're right, this game may be telling. I'm still of the opinion that DC are "okay," not "good" and have had some fortunate results. Winning this game could go a long way to convincing me otherwise. Even if you're right and the Burn are just a flash-in-the-pan, beating a team on a "hot streak" is an accomplishment.
I picked them for 2nd in the West. Last year's late season debacle is not really relevant since they have a new coach. I picked them 2nd on the basis of what Pareja got out of Colorado last year from what was a really crappy injury ridden roster. He took them to the playoffs on the backs of 2 rookies and a handful of castoffs. If he can do that in Colorado I had to believe he could do even better reuniting with his old pal Fernando Clavijo. Pareja already knew this roster since he was an assistant there and was largely responsible in scouting many of those players especially the Colombians Castillo and Benitez. He was able to bring Thomas with him from Colorado ... And I just knew he'd get the most out of Mauro Diaz because that's exactly the role Pareja played as a player.
Tactically if there is a healthy and more attacking option than Arnaud available ... I'd use them for this game. Dallas does play kamikaze soccer with their whole midfield attacking and fullbacks way up. They've given up plenty of goals. Especially at home I'd go at them and try to score and get the home crowd on your side. Trying to beat them by defending them is not very likely. They're comfortable playing against that ... Houston, Toronto and SKC tried ... If you don't attack them they'll just turn the screw and kill you on set pieces.
I'd go at them hard for the first 15. If they are cowering maybe another 10 minutes. Hopefully we get a goal out of it. Then drop back and counter, since that appears to be our game. Worst case we go to half 1-2. Then repeat the same for the next 15. At 60 minutes you know what sub's you need.
The 90's were a dark time for sports team names. Most of them were dated before the decade was over (e.g., Raptors)
I am looking for tix and surprised to find there is very little left available -- in the lower bowl, anyway. Anyone have thoughts on whether they will open the upper deck? I'd rather buy something up there than any of the available sections in the lower bowl.