Though we were better last week, and really, the last two, I'm still not optimistic with Bob raving about Tchani's second half display. Really? I voted lose by 1. I don't think Duka, Vargas, and Mendes will be ready to go 90 after such a long layoff, so I'd expect Bob to trot out the same XI, with Meram for Finlay. Bob: --------------Andy G-------------- Miranda--Williams--Gehrig--Vukovic --------------DOR------------------ Tchani-----Mirosevic--------Gaven -----Meram--------Renteria-------- Bench: Lampson; Mendes, Francis; Duka, Anor; Vargas + Birchall or Grossman. Me, I like speed wide and craftiness inside, so I'd go like this: --------------Andy G------------- Miranda--Williams--Gehrig--Vukovic ---------------DOR-------------- Meram------Mirosevic-------Anor ---------Gaven---Renteria------- Bench: Lampson; Mendes, Francis; Tchani, Duka; Vargas + Birchall/Horton.
Just following up, per Jardy, Speas and James are also back to partial participation, and Balchan should be back tomorrow, though he had a small setback. Plus Finlay is symptom free. Marshall is not. Still, we may be closing in on having something like this: ---------------Andy G--------------- Miranda--James--Mendes--Vukovic ----------------DOR----------------- Gaven------Mirosevic---------Duka --------Renteria---Vargas---------- Bench: GK: Lampson; D: Williams, Francis D/M: Balchan, Gehrig; M: Birchall, Tchani, Anor M/F: Speas, Finaly, Meram With Marshall on the mend and Arrieta on the way in June. And hopefully Schonefeld mending. And that DP signing.
I like what I've seen over the last four games. Danny and Milo have started to develop a solid partnership in the middle. That has freed up Gaven to get into the attack more often. The two holes have been Tchani and Renteria who has missed 3-4 solid chances in this stretch. I'd say start Meram with Renteria, bring Vargas in for either one to give him game fitness for about a half-hour or so. Start Duka on the opposite wing and bring Meram back for him from the front line when you bring Vargas in, or, if we have a lead, bring Birchall in and move to a 4-5-1. Andy Miranda - Williams - Gehrig - Vukovic Gaven - Danny - Milo - Duka Renteria - Meram Vargas for Renteria, Birchall for Duka with Meram moving to the wing in a 4-5-1 I'm not putting down the other sub because we all know it'll be Francis for Vukovic at the 88 minute mark.
1-3. Ugly stuff. We don't play well on the west coast. We'll do fine for the first 30 minutes, lulling us to sleep so that we miss the goals and inevitable frustration. Oh, and we'll add 1 or 2 more injuries to add to the insult.
People really think Duka is going to start? I can't believe he has the fitness to start at this point. I'd like to see Anor start then get Duka 20-30 in the second half. It will probably work out that way it just won't be Anor it'll be Tchani which will drive me slightly insane.
Prepare for insanity. Tchani probably works hard enough in practice that it makes up for his utter shambolic displays on the pitch during match days.
Has RW ever changed the line up after a win when not forced to by injury? I'd expect the same 10 + likely Meram in for Finlay. I agree with everyone that Tchani has been useless. Especially on the wing. He quit on 2 plays last game, the one everyone has been talking about and a play earlier on where he was moving through the middle, stopped dead in his tracks outside the 18 as Renteria moved in from the right with the ball and fired a shot. Rebound came straight up the middle to the penalty spot, where Tony should have been. Anyway, I voted win by 1, more to try and be optimistic. If I say it, maybe I'll start to believe it and if I believe it maybe it will happen. Ha! Worried about Miranda getting toasted down the left. Strangely confident in our 2 center backs though. Williams has been a welcome surprise this season. Really happy for the guy that he's finally healthy and pissing clean so he can show what he has. I can see Mendes or James coming in for Gehrig at some point, but I think the only guy who sits Williams is Marshall. If Williams scores, we win.
From my original post: Andy Miranda - Williams - Gehrig - Vukovic Gaven - Danny - Milo - Duka Renteria - Meram With Birchall not traveling and Duka not game fit to play 45-60, start Anor on the left and move Gaven to the right instead of Tchani. Then bring on Duka for Anor at 60-65 along with Vargas for Renteria or Meram. The usual Francis for Vukovic 88th minute sub still stands.
I would start Vargas for The Little Ball of Hate, and sub Rent for Vargas late if we are down. Renteria has missed too many sitters lately.
I have Wondolousy starting and Josh Williams on my bench. ...I am also top 1000 in world on ESPN FC manager.
Looks like you might be right, I'll be happy to have Tchani off the wing if Duka starts but I'm still not sure if I'm sold on his fitness. If Duka starts I'm hoping we don't see him start to fade early in the second half.
Three inter-conference games in as many weeks! NERDGASM Anyhoo, San Jose has 6 points from 3 home inter-conference games (that's two wins and a loss). Their overall inter-conference goals record is 13 scored and 7 allowed, for a GPG of 2.17. On the other hand, we are 0-1-1 in away inter-conference games. However, we are undefeated in inter-conference away games this season in stadia seating under 15,000 fans, so there's that.
I would too but he's also not game fit and there are two games on the Left Coast. The last thing we need is for him to re-injure himself by forcing extra minutes from him. I'd say 30 off the bench, then maybe 30-45 at Seattle on the fake stuff.
Will that mean we're either winning or tied? I could live with that. This is a classic MLS trap game for San Jose. We will win.
With what it seems to take for us to dominate a game, this won't be bad as long as it doesn't go against us..
Two good things for us: -Bernardez was the anchor of their D early this year. He's a beast, and he's out. Hernandez and Opara are a capable pair, but they're still vulnerable. -Both Chavez and Salinas are out, which means Wondo and Lenhart's aerial service will be limited to Beitashour and Dawkins. Their only other option will be to play through on the ground with Moreno and/or Dawkins. We need someone with speed on the right to take advantage of Corrales' lack of speed and tendency to drift forward too much. This would be a good game to start Meram over there, which means we'll end up with Gaven on the right, and Duka on the left.