Sporting KC vs Houston 11/7 8pm p/i/p [R]

So we need to go all 2004 on the Dynamo Wednesday, there are no away goals. Win by 2 clear goals and its OT, win by 3 we win the series. Not exactly an easy concept. Houston can park the bus to avoid wasting a ton of energy since they'll be on their 3rd game in 8 days.

And park the bus they will. But I think Kinnear is a smart enough coach to know that he does not have to change a thing they are doing against SKC since it keeps working. He also knows that PV will have the guys come out with guns blazing. So, they will probably just put in the big rope-a-dope and wait for the right moment to hit us with the counter attack when we leave them an opening. Its either going to be the most exciting game of the season or just one big groaner...

One thing I'll appreciate is having the home-field reffing advantage. I'm not saying that the Jurisevic was bad or anything, but they definitely got a number of calls. Heck, Clark had committed (at least) 5 fouls before the 39th minute (at least one was played as an advantage) and not even a talking to - when his very first foul was card-worthy when he raked Roger's knee with his studs as Roger went by.

Tack on a number of occasions where they were being very.... physical in their defending of Sapong - dragging him back, wrapping up or even employing tactics more suited for the faded lines on their field.

And don't get me started on the field. Having a football game just prior to the match is one thing, but they intentionally make theirs as narrow as possible. Seems such a shame that they would do such a thing - but that's their prerogative, right? The field at LSP will be in much better condition and much more suited for the actual game.

From the looks of it on SportingKC.com, Cesar is out for this game - which is fine, b/c I didn't especially like his play in Houston... especially on the second goal as he could have gone with Bruin instead of doubling Carr. If PV thinks the kid can handle the pressure, I say put Uri in, as he showed against Toronto that he has some attacking instincts as well and that could be useful in our DM this game.

I also say play Peterson Joseph. He's a loose cannon and perhaps it backfires if he goes off and gets another red... but he has the vision to open up the field and it gives Zusi a chance to go back to the wing, which is weird b/c I never thought I'd ever want to take Zusi out of the midfield and put him out wide on purpose (as opposed to being forced to do so).

Depending on the circumstances, Jacob Peterson could replace his namesake and Nagamura could take Uri's spot late in the game. Peterson Joseph tends to fade a bit so he'll need replacing, and I'm assuming Nagamura can't do a full 90.

Chance Myers and Seth Sinovic have to have the game of their lives... I think that they can be the players that get behind the Houston defense on overlaps... take on players, get in the box and make defenders make mistakes.

The other thing we need is a bit more commitment to set pieces - we had a bunch of knock-downs in Houston which they got to first. Sure, we won't get to all of those, but we should've gotten to more than we did.

I know a bunch of people are all depressed, but I'm excited. I don't expect this team to go quietly... should be a battle. Even if we losing 4-0, I expect to see an attempt to pull off the Arsenal-esque scoreline of 7-5. Nothing is impossible, never say die.

If Houston parks the bus, I give KC even odds at worst. The Dynamo are weak when they play the prevent defense.

The USMNT "needs" Zusi? For a meaningless friendly? That's down right laughable.

Wow. You decided to join BigSoccer today just to say that?

It all comes down to whether we can score in the first half. If we can't score by halftime, we are screwed. We ALWAYS play better when we get a first half goal at home. I hope it comes in the first 5-10 minutes and really gets Houston back on their heals. Two goals by halftime would be amazing, but a comeback like 2004 would be awesome any way we can get it.

I really really really am not ready for the offseason yet. It's too damn early.

7 goals by the 60th would be incredible!!!!

I am 100% with you on this. This would make us a little more offensive minded, but the counter against us would leave us open to let in goals. I think it is worth it.

One glaring issue we had in the first leg is winning anything in the air. Which usually isn't a problem for us. If we can outjump Houston, that'll be a good start.

Which is why we'll see Olum in the midfield for Cesar.

Agree. The fact that the BBVA corner sticks were only a spit's distance from the post was only part of the width matter, imho. Wide players were playing on trampled sidelines of a tackle fball field, thus negating more width.

Of course, it didnt help that our entire roster* had seen BBVA's narrow track only once back in July. (Assist here goes to untimely weather for cancelling our practice session ahead of Sunday's game. I wish Houston the same fortune today in KC, though it doesn't look like that will happen).

*excludes wayward friendly with someone say, Joseph, playing there -- that only BK could recall.

I hope you're right, but on draws 7/7 (Houston 2 SOG, 0 corners), and on 9/13 (Houston 3 SOG, 2 corners) effectively parked it. Perhaps an * on the July match, as it was 183 degrees. Anyways, I may be confusing Houston's playing style here; or maybe we have different definitions? Not trying to denegrate. Whatever it is, it works.

I'm the point of an asterisk, yes!

Actually I'm not aware of Haiti playing any friendlies at BBVA.

Then we do this. #blowUpTheBus

PV on 810 WHB radio -- first thing he talks about how the referee didn't control the game from the start Sunday. Then its how referees allow stuff "outside the lines" in playoffs that they don't necessarily call in the regular season.

I really dislike this from PV. Its tues and he's criticizing officiating. (Not to mention the fact that SKC play physical all year long, and Houston merely returned the favor Sunday....)

PV: Nagamura "wont be ready" and Cesar is "very very questionable."

Just heard that interview, too. Made me a little sick. It's like he was going down the full list of possible excuses...the officiating, the field size, the field condition.

I'm sure they were all factors to a degree. But a good coach and a good team need to make in-game adjustments to compensate. This is where Vermes doesn't always seem up to snuff IMHO.

At least gameplanning for Livestrong should have fewer X factors.

Well, they didn't look terribly comfortable in Chicago while up two... I do think that the July match was one where neither team really wanted to risk heat stroke - I mean, that was the game everyone was thinking back to Conrad's incident, yes? Because for some ungodly reason they decided to put the game at 6:00 as well, right?

Nagamura isn't going to be ready per Vermes and Cesar more than likely out.

Perhaps he doesn't need to be saying it outloud and in public, but I don't think he is wrong either. I rewatched the game in a more controlled environment (not at a party like the first time) and did a good deal of rewinding and reviewing plays. There were numerous times where the go-to defensive tactic on Sapong was to grab, hold, tackle, push, etc. I'm not naive either - I realize it's a physical game and this stuff goes on and yes, we do it too... but it's not acceptable to grab and hold a player every time you get wrong-side of them.

Perhaps I'm blinded by fandom, but I really don't get the impression that PV goes and tells his players that they're going to go out there and foul the other team over and over. Obviously there are situations where you're trying to break up a fast break where this is not the case, but everyone does that and everyone should expect to get called and given a yellow for it. But I get the impression that the tactic is to go out, win the ball while not being afraid of fouling them... to play without that extra margin and yes, we may be called for a lot of fouls because we're not necessarily trying to make sure we don't cross the line into a 'foul'... but I really don't think that he actively wants the players to consciously foul our opponents.

I distinctly got the impression that Houston was coached to foul our guys. Like they were told "if a KC player is going to get by you, make sure you're outside of the box and you prevent him from doing so by any means necessary". Which is really a very valid tactic and I don't bemoan Houston for doing it (much ), but when someone fouls someone then something needs to be called.

Anyway, again - not blaming the result on the refs, but I did think that Jurisevic was overly lax in fouls called (going both ways, even - number of no-calls that should've gone against us as well). I don't want to see someone come in and throw cards around like candy on Halloweeen, and if I had the choice I'd take the same type of officiating again, but given the option I would want a bit more to be called.

Brace yourself, a solution looking for a problem, is coming:

The Houston Chronicle says, "there’s no need for MLS fans to be subjected to racist taunts from Kansas City fans."
http://blog.chron.com/soccer/2012/11/hope-k-c-fans-stay-classy-avoid-racist-taunts/

EDIT: sheesh.
EDIT II: Ortiz says MLS investigated SKC last year, and vows to be vigilant against us this year.

So where's the article from the Chronicle about the traveling KC fans have flag poles, beer, and other shit thrown against their bus as they were trying to leave Sunday...

That classic spanish slur was pretty audible on TV during goal kicks....no complaints about that?

NBC did a good job censoring the non stop FCK KANSAS and FCK Kamara chants coming from the SGs.



And we have being doing P*TO on opposing goalkeepers for years. I don't encourage that kind of behavior but its the same thing as the YSA chant. But we can save that for another thread.

If that happened, please accept my personal apology. I've been to your house a few times and have always been treated well, even when we beat you. Myself and others I traveled were welcomed prior to and after the games at your tailgates and in the supporters bar.

With the exception of the beer shower I got at the last game (which was a result of exuberance over your tying goal) my experience in KC has always been great.

I feel like beer showers are usually expecting the spectator sport experience.