Pre-game: Revs vs. LD Alajuelense

[The Magpie]

Some possible good news for the Revolution? Teletica Channel 7 TV in San Jose is reporting via their website that key Alajuelense midfielder Pablo Alexander Izaguirre will/may (I'm missing something in the translation I'm sure) miss the club's CONCACAF Champion's Cup matches against the Revs due to injury?:

http://www.teletica.com/archivo/td7/nac/2003/03/18/izaguirre.htm

The report says that Izaguirre injured his leg in last Saturday's match against Saprissa, and won't see any training for at least ten days. His injury was evaluated on Monday and the decision has been made to recover over the coming days.

Is my translation waaaay off?

The Magpie

[Autogolazo]

Yeah, says he's out the Wed. match against Herediano and the Rev matches. How many Argentines play in Central American leagues, anyway? Bizarre.

Now if only Fonseca and Bryce could suffer the same against Herediano.....

[soccertim]

Originally posted by Autogolazo
Yeah, says he's out the Wed. match against Herediano and the Rev matches. How many Argentines play in Central American leagues, anyway? Bizarre.

Now if only Fonseca and Bryce could suffer the same against Herediano.....

Isn't Herediano Sunsing's old (and current) team?

[keeppah]

Lineup guesses anyone?

I believe I saw a roster that didn't include Harris or Llamosa, so based on that here's my guess:

Twellman -------- Noonan
------- Moore --------

Griffiths - Hernandez - Ralston

Franchino - Kante - Pierce - Heaps

---------- Brown ----------


Regardless og who's available, I still see Moore as our "playmaker" although I doubt he'll drop deep into midfield. I think Hernandez will be defensive-minded, but given the freedom to move into the attack when the proper opportunity arises.

If Harris is available, I think he'd start up top and Noonan would slide to left midfield. I'm just not sold on Griffiths as a complement to Ralston.

I really wish we could get some more news from training camp though, because it's hard to gauge this team on anything but last year's performance and pure speculation (i.e. Noonan).

[The Magpie]

You know, I think Moore would do well to play behind the forwards. I know he has a history of being a scrapper in the defensive scrum that's usually blocking out players within the 18, but in hanging back he could find more space and he does have a good outside shot.

The Magpie

[Dan B]

I am going to assume that the list of players was incorrect, and that the entire team is down there.

Without any serious games under their belt, I guess we go with what we had at the end of last year (as much as possible).

------- Harris ---- Twellman ---
--------------- Moore --------------
Kamler ----------------- Ralston
------------ Hernandez -----------
Franchino --------------- Heaps
------ Llamosa -- Kante --------
--------------- Brown ---------------

I think that Pierce and Cullen are the odd men out barring injuries.

Bench:
Reis, Pierce, Cullen, Griffiths, Noonan

Others:
Downing, Joseph, Leonard, Westfield, Singer

It seems that all the other CONCACAF Champions games were a bit chippy. I predict that Hernandez is the first to get tossed via Red Card as he retaliates for cheap shots on Moore and Twellman.

Hopefully everyone is healthy when they return to start the season.

[rkupp]

How about:

------- Moore ---- Twellman ---
----------- Hernandez ---------
Kamler ----------------- Ralston
------------ Pierce ------------
Franchino --------------- Heaps
------ Llamosa -- Kante --------
--------------- Brown ----------

... putting Pierce back at his college position (from what I understand). A little less distribution, a little better marking/physical presence - might be a good way to go.

[Sean Donahue]

Originally posted by rkupp
How about:

------- Moore ---- Twellman ---
----------- Hernandez ---------
Kamler ----------------- Ralston
------------ Pierce ------------
Franchino --------------- Heaps
------ Llamosa -- Kante --------
--------------- Brown ----------

... putting Pierce back at his college position (from what I understand). A little less distribution, a little better marking/physical presence - might be a good way to go.

If they were going to play with a line-up like that I would take Cullen over Pierce.

[johnh00]

I've been trying to find out if this game will be broadcast over the Internet(radio), and haven't been able to find out much. Just sent out an e-mail to the alajuela webmaster to see if they know of anything. Hopefully I didn't accidently call him the offspring of a frog and a rooster with my poor Spanish, and he will respond. :D

Lee

[ManInBlack]

Originally posted by Dan B


I think that Pierce and Cullen are the odd men out barring injuries.



Paul Gardner and his like be damned: I say we go for the ugliest defensive-minded soccer we can muster, under the circumstances. That means Pierce starts on my team:

Brown
Pierce Llamosa Kante Franchino
Ralston Heaps Hernandez Kamler
TT Moore

[Soccer Doc]

As we've seen in the past SN is not above going with a 4-5-1.

A Midfield of Ralston and Kamler on the flank and Cullen, Hernandez and Moore in front of a back line of Heaps, Llamosa, Kante and Franchino isn't going to give up many goals.

[REV-OKe]

Originally posted by Soccer Doc
As we've seen in the past SN is not above going with a 4-5-1.

A Midfield of Ralston and Kamler on the flank and Cullen, Hernandez and Moore in front of a back line of Heaps, Llamosa, Kante and Franchino isn't going to give up many goals.

this is my bet.

[socdoc]

My guess is that Cullen and Hernadez will play as last year with JMM in a withdrawn striker/forward midfield role and Twellman up front alone. Nicol will choose to defend and counter as he did last year. Hernandez will not be trusted (for good reason) to anchor the defensive midfield by himself. Nicol will hope to frustrate the Costa Ricans and catch them in a counter by Ralston, Moore, and Twellman. Most of the game will be in the Rev's end. The defense, two central midfielders, and probably Kamler will not try to get forward. It will be an ugly, conservative and physical game which the Rev's will win or tie unless they are forced to play a man down (which is very likely).

[soccerfan]

interesting, some media outlets have no idea the Revs are playing both games away
quote:
The Revolution plays Alajuelense Sunday in Costa Rica and March 26 in Foxboro, Mass.

just above MLS Notes
http://www.nj.com/metrostars/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/104797271964650.xml

[johnh00]

I just heard back from the webmaster of the alajuela.com site. Here's the text of his reply:

Yo me imagino que sí. En la página en http://www.alajuela.com siga el "vínculo enlaces y más" y de ahí vaya a "Radio y TV de Costa Rica". Los partidos de Alajuelense son transmitidos en CR por Canal 6. Por radio transmiten Radio Monumental, Radio Reloj y (en www.columbia.co.cr) Radio Columbia.

Jack Wilson
alajuela.com

If my Spanish isn't failing me, he is saying that the games are transmitted on 3 radio stations in Costa Rica. Two of the stations, Radio Monumental and Radio Reloj, are available through links here (http://www.cablevirtual.com/radio_broadcast.asp). A third station, Radio Columbia, is available here (www.columbia.co.cr).

Looks like plenty of options for those of us who can speak Spanish to follow the game. Perhaps a chat room or PbP thread where translations for people that can't? I'll volunteer, but someone who is fluent in Spanish could probably do a better job. If they talk as fast as the Guatemala stations, I'll have a tough time listening, translating and typing with my poor Spanish. ;)

Lee

[goussoccer]

The lineup question seems to revolve around whether Harris plays upfront with Hernandez as dmid or Moore plays up front with Cullen or Pierce as d-mid.

If Nicol is consistent he will play the more defensive oriented line-up and take Harris out and put Cullen or Pierce at d-mid. My selection there would depend on my assessment of the need for additional speed in the back. If I need it, I go with Pierce, if I don't I go with Cullen.

Then, if we want to push for more offense, you take out Cullen/Pierce, push Hernandez and Moore back one spot and put in Harris.

The good news is that Nicol has a couple of legitimate players/starters on the bench that gives him the ability to play tactics without giving up quality. (At least too much quality.)

[SoccerHead]

I want to go one record as saying:

Revs win 2-1 surprise them with 2 goals on counters.


Revs Tie 1-1 real ugly defensive Bunkered down scheme.


SoccerHead

[revfan11]

Could someone please state the time of the game? Thanks

[goussoccer]

Take heart from Celtic's performance today where they took a 2-0 victory on Liverpool's pitch to win their UEFA cup quartfinal....after losing 2-1 at home no less in the first leg.

[keeppah]

Originally posted by SoccerHead
I want to go one record as saying:

Revs win 2-1 surprise them with 2 goals on counters.

Revs Tie 1-1 real ugly defensive Bunkered down scheme.

SoccerHead

Hell, I say the Revs win both games and play the next round in front of a raucous 143 fans ;)

Kidding aside, I don't see how a predicition is possible when so little is known about the Revs training. If we were in midseason form, I think it would be close. Hopefully Mr. Brown can put in one of his blinding performances and Moore or Twellman take advantage of a couple opportunities.