Time to get things started for real. We're on the road against a Galaxy trying to round into form early owing to their CCL campaign continuing on the 12th.
Hard to predict a starting lineup. I would think we see Sabo/Plata since we're pushing to have Sabo back for the opener. Midfield will likely be Morales, Ned, Gil, KB. Back four I'm guessing is Wingert, Salcedo, Borchers, Beltran. Rimando in goal. We'll have to see if there are any injuries before then, but that'd be my guess for starting 11.
How long is Schuler out? Salcedo has potential, but he still scares me. And does this new guy Plato have a chance of making an appearance?
Kinda difficult to predict the first couple of games every season. We can't really see our "form" in those pre-season friendlies. I don't know how the line-ups are shaping up, but it seems when we play against galaxy whoever wins was just in better form/more focused. How about having Mulholland feature? If he's ready for it he could give us a surprise element against LA.
I keep seeing people talk about Salcedo scaring them… do we not remember how well he played during the period while Schuler was out? He was solid, green, but solid. Borchers couldn't make mistakes and had to cover for him more than for Schuler, but it wasn't a 'game over' situation by a long shot.
Exactly. Everyone had nothing but praise for Schuler's performance in the playoffs, but he didn't exactly instill confidence at the beginning of last season. I think we've got a solid enough rotation that we should be fine.
Salcedo was awful against the top strikers last summer. And we play a team with two of the top strikers this weekend. He had a propensity to try for (and miss) kick-it-back-over-his-head clearances while facing his own goal last year, and did so again (leading to Torres's goal) last weekend. Still green, still not the inspiring choice against the likes of Keane and Donovan.
Well all I have to say is if we do not come out and score multiple goals and crush L.A. I will be on this thread earlier than everyone else to bitch, and scream for a D.P. Having said that! I am super ready to see some RSL soccer, crappy kits or not. Start Vela!
So you've completely blocked Salcedo's performance against Keane and co. from your mind? Keane abused Salcedo last year, horribly. Salcedo had some very rough performances overall and it was clear that he was not ready for the stage. Yes, he played well given his age and experience, but I think you're overblowing that a bit. He looked very rough in the preseason matches that I watched, in the second Chivas match he lost the plot over a 10-15 minute period which gave them their one goal and put them in a dangerous position minutes later with a free kick. He's got a ways to go. I think Schuler was limited more by his lack of fitness than anything else, once he got into game shape I thought he was our best defender (yes, better than Borcher's).
I think both Schuler and KWS are available, I just assume they were rested this last preseason game due to coming back from a long time off. I like Salcedo, and he's been pretty solid against weaker teams, but if we can avoid it he shouldn't be playing against good teams at this stage of his career. As was pointed out, he does seem to lose it throughout parts of a game, and at least with weaker teams, that's not as detrimental. I can certainly see him becoming a force in the next couple of years, and hope we wind up with a Schuler/Salcedo pairing in that time.
<grammar police mode on> Better than Borcher's what? Beard? </grammar police mode off> Sorry...sometimes I just can't resist.
Borcher's beard is great and it will lead us to glory. But yeah, please don't play Salcedo against LA. I'd think the only worse option would be Maund, but lately even he has been looking better.
I'm mostly willing to give salcedo a pass for mistakes because of his youth, but this is a game I'd really prefer he didn't feature in. Keane will take him to school, and we can't afford that. XI I'd like to see. Nicky Beltran, Schuler, borchers, wingert Gil, beckerman, Javi, Grabs Sabo, Plato (I know he's old, but so philosophical!) If Schuler can't go, slot in KWS, if KWS can't go put in Salcedo. Expecting a draw, hoping for a W. Unless beckerman screws it up