PBP: NY Red Bulls vs. Chivas Wed-May 23, 2012 at 7:00PM at Red Bull Arena[R]

Well the Bulls are on top of the Eastern Conference and with another win on Wed. vs the Goats means they will be on top of the league too with 28 points and 6 wins in a row. Hoping Rafa (aka Crapa) sits again. We play better without him and I am also hoping Titi and Conde play. If Conde plays move Pearce out to the left and bench Roy Miller. Hans has to keep Lade in. His passing is really good and he is tenacious as hell on D. Barklage also has to stay in the starting line up. His D and corners have been awesome!

Hopefully we ease Henry and Conde back in minutes wise so no relapses. Is this too much to ask for?

This what I would like to see:

Meara
Barklage Hulk Conde Pearce
Dane Dax Lindy Lade
Coop Titi

This is what we will probably see:

Meara
Barklage Hulk Conde Pearce
Dane Dax Crapa Lindy
Coop Titi

I agree with that. I hope Rafa can stay out though. I would love to see that first lineup you posted. We want to ease guys in but we need more from our attacking game especially at home so I think we should start Henry and depending on the score maybe take him out after 60 and bring Ballouchy in so as not to risk it with him. We need to push forward some more and create some offense not just try to get something on the counter attacks because that doesn't last forever. I hope Henry can embarrass Califf.

Chivas is actually a much better on the road than at home although they did beat LA at home in a very very sloppy game. It seems like they have some young talent but they haven't put it together yet and there are some holes on that team. But they also have probably one of the leagues best gk's in Dan Kennedy who is having a great season. Winnable game overall and I hope the streak continues.

It will also be great to see JPA back in RBA. It's not only Agudelo's return. It's his first game back here since leaving. Hope he gets a very nice ovation.

So much for Agudelo's return to the Red Bulls - he has been called up to the national team so he'll miss Wednesday's match.

Good for us I guess. Takes away an attacking option for Chivas.

Unfortunately you don't sit a 4.6 million dollars man....If Backe have the balls to do it, the first line-up will be my line-up....But,
If Backe like I presume that he will play "Crapa" (I like that) so, I will prefer to see Richard on the bench and McCarty instead at RW, using Lade at LW....
Richards beside the accidentally goal last game, he has been playing garbage and never ever he is in his place, always roaming at the wrong places but never at the RW where he suppose to be....And we need a RW....

Meara
Barklage Hulk Conde Pearce
Dax Crapa Lindy Lade
Coop Titi

I have to say, this would be a preferred lineup for me as well. I do have to say I fully give Miller credit for his role in the game winning goal. Funny thing, after years of depending on Roy only on the left, we now have quite a bit of depth there now. I do like Lade more in the midfield than in defense. He gets burned, and it isn't quite as bad when it happens up field and he has time to run back.

Lade has been wonderful in the left midfielder role, tenaciously hounding and pressing his opponent. He's been pretty solid offensively, too, and plays the role of pest rather well. He helps our defense out a lot by pressing and helping to neutralize opposing right wingers and mids, probably one of the deepest positions in MLS in terms of quality.
I agree that this team plays much better defensively when Marquez is on the bench and Dax playing the destroyer role is a big part of that. I'm fine with Marquez further up the field, but please God don't play him in front of the back four anymore. He provides no cover and his effort level is simply atrocious.
I really hope Rodgers can rejoin the team. He would make me feel much better about our attacking depth.

Hans make a tough decision? Thought you made it clear he is not allowed to do such a thing?

Hopefully Backe doesn't start Henry. We shouldn't risk him especially with the way we have been playing lately, I wouldn't mind seeing him come on as a late game sub though. If we won't to
contend for the Supporters Shield we are going to need him healthy and not reaggravating injuries.

Play with the 4-5-1 that has been working so well. Lets give Rafa one final start and see if he wants to actually be here..


-Miller in for Lade or Conde(if he's tired)
-Ballouchy in for Marquez(if Marquez is being lazy)
-Henry as a late game sub for either Cooper or Dane(if he's fit)
-If Henry isn't ready put in Ruthven to protect the lead in the late stages

We should win. Home, no agudelo for Chivas and we have all the momentum. I expect this to be Danes coming out party for the 2012 season..
Dane assists Cooper and Pearce scores on a set piece
2-0 Red Bulls

Conde is not starting according to www.mlssoccer.com. Henry status is still tbd since they couldn't train today due to rain. With Marquez likely to start, it probably means either Lade or Miller to bench. My hunch is Miller starts.

Doh, my math was wrong, Marquez on for Palsson obviously, so both Lade and Miller start.

Oh well

I like that line-up even though Rafa is in there... I prefer Crapa to Blue Cheese!

I really don't want to see a 4-5-1 at home. But if Henry is not ready, I'm ok with moving Dane as second striker with Cooper.

Kenny Dane
Conner Joel Medhi
Dax
Roy Heath Markus Brandon
Ryan

Rafa

Yes, that is Rafa warming up behind the goal line, getting ready to come in after 90 (Backe has promised he'd play.)

I'm not sure how the depth chart has been altered by the 5 game winning streak. Where players like Lade and Barklage fit in once everyone is back healthy is a mystery to me.

With so many contributors still nursing knocks, it's premature to be giddy, but I can't help but be excited about the potential depth this team could have. Especially since we have allocation money to go after a couple more attackers.

I guess my point is that I mostly don't care who starts any given game at this point. I care more that players will be able to be rotated and rested, and Backe will actually hopefully have subs he trusts to use.

I'm actually cautiously optimistic that we won't have to throw the U.S. Open Cup this year.

When Rafa play the line up get fu*ck up and everything is in a disarray, that this game I really think that we will lose this game.....

Now, no question that Rafa and Conde will play, and they will start the game too, so the line-up for wednesday will be:
...........................Meara
Barklage....Holgersson....Conde....Pearce
................Rafa.......McCarty
Richards.............Lindpere...............Lade
.........................Cooper

I wonder if swedish hulk statue will sit with conde back in the lineup? he has been inconsistent at best--some games he's shined (when the other team took it slow) in other games he's been bad. in general he has a hard time dealing with opponent's speed.

Seems to me the Statue will never sit as he is noiw our Captain. Miller or Pearce will sit vefore the Statue.

The Hulk is better option in the backline than Miller unless we start Lade at LB and Pearce at CB which I am okay with.

Why you think Backe has pointing that Lade will be a phenomenal LW, because if he play Lade as a CB have to play Pearce at CB with Conde and you Hulk will be out of job as is Miller right now.....