Official: [2012 Matchday 2] Union v Colorado Rapids - March 18, 2012 p/d/p [R]

Wonder where Nowack is going to play Al?


Y'know Al....our BIG off season acquisition........

Al Location

 

I don't get it. Torres was not on the injury report last Friday, but did not travel with the team. He could not play on Monday night due to an ankle injury and isn't even on the injury report on Tuesday: http://www.mlssoccer.com/mls-injury-report? Something isn't right.

(FWIW, I study/analyze the injury reports for MLS fantasy purposes. For the most part, I find them to be generally accurate.)

 

I agree that Gomez and Carroll looked like they did not have defined roles on Monday, but I am not sure how much was due to Lopez' ineptitude. I recall seeing Lopez wandering into the DM position a couple times, but can not remember how often either Gomez or Carroll tried to cover the LB position. Plus I could hardly pick out who was whom except for Lopez with his hair.

To give a better analysis would require me to re-watch the game which isn't happening.

 

That's a pretty good idea. I'd move Mwanga/Martinez up for a 4-1-3-2, but that's a minor quibble. Put Gomez directly ahead of Carroll and see what happens.

 

But historically we DO have wide players who can effectively get down the wings - Daniel, Marfan, Williams and more but ONLY late in a game and ONLY when we're down a goal.

The rest of the time we play absolute scared, negative football - thumping the ball over the top and losing it etc...

 

Give Lopez another shot but have tartan ready if he start slipping again. Start Carroll and hope that macmath has learned some Spanish to scream direction to Lopez.

 

All I'm asking for is a 4-4-2 diamond.

MacMath; Lopez, Califf, Valdes, Williams; Daniel, Torres, Gomez, Marfan; Pajoy, Mwanga

Torres at the top of the triangle, Gomez starting the play from the back. No more negative football either please.

 

I just don't see either Carroll or Gomez being left out of the Starting XI, even though having them both in the lineup puts a severe hamstring on our offensive flexibility and creativeness. So I'd expect something along these lines:

[LINEUP-4-4-2]Pajoy, Mwanga, Torres, Gomez, Carroll, M. Farfan, de la Rocha, Valdes, Califf, Williams, MacMath[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

With Torres given the flexibility to cheat to the middle as Gomez and Carroll hang back and try not to step on each other. Though this formation would lend itself to Gabe in LB, since he's shown an inclination (maybe even overeagerness) to push up the left flank. If I had my druthers, it'd be:

[LINEUP-4-4-2]Pajoy, Mwanga, Free at Last, Torres(^), Gomez(v), M. Farfan, G. Farfan, Valdes, Califf, Williams, MacMath[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

 

[LINEUP-4-4-2]Mwanga, Pajoy, Daniel, Gomez, Carroll, M. Farfan,
Garfan, Califf, Valdes, Williams, MacMath[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

 

Everyone who is ready to leave the newcomers out of the lineup after the Portland game might want to think again.

That was their first MLS game.
Definitely their first time traveling three timezones west to play.
And probably their first time playing at 9:30 pm after such a trip.

All of those factors create havoc even with experienced MLS players.
We won't know what we have with these new guys until we see them @ PPL.

 

Wiser words were never spoken - (at least on BigSoccer)

 

Add onto that playing on a small, plastic pitch that the opposition has much greater comfort and familiarity. Might not look good now, but I agree that you have to give it a little more time to make a true assessment.

 

Not exactly a high bar you're setting, there

 

I do agree with you but it was 9:30 here therefore the kickoff time for them was 6:30. Otherwise I agree with your sentiments.

 

Define "newcomer".

Looking at game 1's lineup, I just "hokey-pokied" it.

You know......you leave the right ones (vets) in-you take the wrong ones (Not ready for prime time) out...........

I was worried about Martinez and McMath getting starts @ Portland due to their overall inexperience. Borne out. Have no choice in net, Putting Josue in that situation was inexcusable.

I just watched the Timbers game again. Final grade in on the new LB.

Rated as F- to the nth power of suck. Good news: it's not possible for me to grade you any worse. No thanks. Orlando fans told us in pre-season he was horrible-nobody wanted to believe it. Hair makes Gabe look good as a defender.

I want guys playing positions they have played well here before. Not interested in dropping home games to experiment or prove points.

Some youthful excitement what you want? OK.......Consider a shock move and bring Hoffman on in the 2nd half in favor of whichever striker fades/disappears first.

At least there's some hope the UCLA kid wouldn't be afraid to shoot.........

 

Big day for Philly sports on Sunday on NBC. Flyers-Penguins is the undercard to this game.

 

I just need to see some glimmer of hope from the Union on Sunday because after watching both US clubs crash out of the CCL in horrible fashion - added to the negativity running rampant here - this season is starting to feel like it's over before it has barely even started.

 

Lopez ..umm Hair, seems to have become the scapegoat thus far.
I hope he plays better. I'd like to think it was just a bad game .
It will be interesting to see how he performs against Colorado, at home and on grass.

 

I thought we learned last year that Caroll is much better when he plays DM by himself. In case you forgot, Sunday was another reminder. He was tripping over Gomez the whole time as they were both in the same space. This was when he wasn't coughing up the ball, of course.

Anybody know anything about the cRapids' offseason acquisitions? There's a new coach for them this year, but I haven't followed their roster turnover. I always look forward to seeing them playing their unique brand of thugball.

 

These are basically my exact thoughts, though I wouldn't be surprised to see Moartinez instead of Mwanga in the first formation. I don't expect Torres to start with him coming off injury (even if mild), so I think we'll be likely to see the top formation.

 

Actually Lopez had some nice passes forward in the Timbers game. Unfortunately, offensive prowess is the 5th most important talent for a left back. Number one is footspeed.

And speaking of speed, a certain Mr. Cummings loves to attack on the right side. If Lopez can not keep up with him - and he looked the slowest of any Union player Monday - it will be a long day for our guys.

 

glad to see Lopez at the meet and greet. was worried Novak gave him the David Myrie treatment