Official DC United vs. Kansas PRE Match Thread

[Knave]

So it's going up a little early ... sue me. I couldn't wait ...

Here we go again! The tradition continues! Whether that's a winning or a losing tradition, well, we'll just have to see ... :rolleyes:

Here's the scoop on our first match.

DC United vs. Kansas
Saturday, April 12, 8:00 EST • Live on FSW & CSN

I know. It's Kansas City and it's not even in Kansas but that's what Ray calls the Missouri Azzurri so that's what I'm calling them too. :)

If you're not familiar with how we run official match threads on this board please review the FAQ stuck at the top of this board before posting.

As always ... No Flames, No Trolls

Begin!

[greatscott]

Oh lord save us.

Alright, my attacking lineup is as shown..

Quaranta and Alecko with Earnie playing attacking midfield..
I dont know why I want alecko to play but give him earnie supplying some passes in shooting range and I think it could be explosive.

[Jose L. Couso]

I hope Ray puts Convey on Klein to neutralize him.

If KC is overconfident, DC may be able to pull off the upset.

It should be fun watching DC United play again.

I hope Santino pulls one off in Kansas like he did last year.

I am pumped-up for the season-opener.

D.C.UNITED!

[Funkfoot]

I predict 2-1 for the bad guys, unless Stoichkov is allowed to play (any word on that yet?), in which case 2-2.

I also predict obnoxious whizzing trolls.

[greatscott]

I think contrary.. put in stoichkov and it will be 3-1 to the wizards..

[Lowecifer]

Oh no, I don't think I can take the frustration for another season.

Come on boys, get a result.

[greatscott]

Originally posted by Lowecifer


Come on boys, get a result.
as long as that result is better than last year...

[JAnderson14]

What, no wizardscharter yet? Isn't his sole purpose in life to troll the DC board?

With Reyes out hurt, I guess we're all hoping for Prideaux to be fit. He looked comfortable jogging during the Richmond game. Looking at how KC handed us a lesson in the preseason, and Dallas as well, I'd say a back four is safer than a back three. Besides the fact that a Prideaux-Nelsen-Petke back three hasn't been tried yet (as far as I know), it's a simpler system. With our injuries we have a week to get a system in place for the defense and a back four is just simpler. Plus, with Namoff the likely 4th man, his role will be less complicated out on the right than it would be otherwise.

On the other hand, I still think he'd be our best destroyer with Nelsen in the back. We don't have much of a choice though, because our other defenders are rookies. Our hand is pretty much forced in defense right now.

So, the question is one or two up top. If we play Etch (and we will), we'll be better off with 5 in midfield. Problem is, we don't have a striker who can play on his own. Actually, our best bet for that role is Ali Curtis. He's the only forward we have that's strong enough to be alone up there and take all the abuse. And, truth be told, with his speed we might even be able to exploit it. I'm not saying we should start him, but if we do play a 451 I'd wonder if anyone would do a better job.

If we play a 442, I'm not sure how we'll manage. Convey and Olsen are sure bets on the wings, but what about defensive midfield? With Namoff in the back, Chino not showing that well in Richmond, and Kovalenko unproven there, we've got a lot of options but none that gives confidence. Especially with one of them backing up Etcheverry. I'd say Kovalenko is the best bet simply because of his speed and work rate, though he's got to keep the bad tackling in check.

I have to say, KC is not the ideal opening day opponent. They're fit, they've got their system in place and they're doing well right now. With the speed they have up front and Preki in midfield, one mistake could easily cost us a goal. Then again, last year I thought we were in trouble against LA and we did very well, even after damned dirty Ruiz dove to get Convey sent off. A performance like that, minus being down a man, could be enough to get us a point. Hey, I can hope, right?

Take your pick:

--------- Rimando
-- Namoff Nelsen Petke Prideaux
Olsen Kovalenko Etcheverry Convey
------- Stewart Quaranta

or

--------- Rimando
Namoff Nelsen Petke Prideaux
----- Kovalenko Alegria
---Olsen Etcheverry Convey
---------- Stewart

[Cweedchop]

Jason, I just don't think Brandon is going to be fit enough to play.. He's been out at least 4 weeks now and to hope to have him play is optimistic at best..

I do agree with you however that we have to put 5 players in midfield, and you know what that means.. The dreaded 4-5-1 road formula that garnered us a grand total of 2 points last season (both 0-0 draws at Chicago)...

I think David Stokes will get the call because basically he is the only defender we have left to fill the 4 back scheme.. I'm hoping for the 3-5-2 but I doubt we'll see it on the road against a team that thrashed us a few weeks back...

Therefore, in the interest of fair play, I'm proposing 3 seperate lineups:

3-5-2


Rimando
Petke - Nelsen - Namoff
Alegria - Kovalenko
Olsen - Etch - Convey
Tino - Stewart


4-4-2


Petke - Stokes - Nelsen - Namoff
Olsen - Kovalenko - Etch - Convey
Tino - Stewart


4-5-1 (pray to God this doesn't come to fruition)

Petke - Stokes - Nelsen - Namoff
Alegria - Kovalenko
Olsen - Etch - Convey
Stewart


3-1 Wizards with Stewart scoring for United

[Nogra Rover]

Play a 433:

Rimando
Petke Nelsen Stokes Prideaux (or Namoff)
Kovalenko Etch Olsen
Stewart Q1 Convey

Stewart, an excellent A Mid can also defend, as can Convey. They can act as a 451 when defending. Olsen and Dema are very good two - way players. You have to play with what you have, and we injuries.

[JAnderson14]

Originally posted by Cweedchop
Jason, I just don't think Brandon is going to be fit enough to play.. He's been out at least 4 weeks now and to hope to have him play is optimistic at best..

I do agree with you however that we have to put 5 players in midfield, and you know what that means.. The dreaded 4-5-1 road formula that garnered us a grand total of 2 points last season (both 0-0 draws at Chicago)...

I think David Stokes will get the call because basically he is the only defender we have left to fill the 4 back scheme.. I'm hoping for the 3-5-2 but I doubt we'll see it on the road against a team that thrashed us a few weeks back...

Therefore, in the interest of fair play, I'm proposing 3 seperate lineups:
I know someone at the game tried asking him, but I wasn't close enough to hear what Prideaux had to say. I know Stokes has a lot of potential...maybe he could be used as strictly a marker on Wolff? Give him the simplest job possible, since being ready for MLS play is going to be enough of a challenge for him.

I think the 451 failed last year because of the players we had. I don't think it's the best option for us because of the type of forwards we have, but this year's group will do a better job of it at least. Last year's team was beyond being saved by formations.

If we play a 352, I'd like to see this (though I know we won't):

------------ Rimando
----- Stokes Nelsen Petke
Olsen Kovalenko Namoff Convey
----------- Etcheverry
------- Quaranta Stewart

Here, we'd have our best defensive midfielder available in Namoff, and Stokes would be able to focus entirely on marking one man. With Olsen in front of him, he won't need to contribute to the attack. Actually, this doesn't sound too bad at all considering what we've got. No one's playing a position that's foreign to them.

[JAnderson14]

Well, the new Goff article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59289-2003Apr8.html) changes things.

-Ivanov is 3 weeks away from returning
-Prideaux is "a few weeks" away as well.
-Hudson mentions using Olsen or Convey as an outside back.
-Hudson also wants to start Quintanilla.

I'm guessing with this info we'll see something like this:

------------ Rimando
- Namoff Nelsen Petke Convey
Olsen Kovalenko Etcheverry Quintanilla
------ Quaranta Stewart

That's not too bad either. Quintanilla did do rather well in Richmond.

[mellon002]

Originally posted by JAnderson14

I'm guessing with this info we'll see something like this:

------------ Rimando
- Namoff Nelsen Petke Convey
Olsen Kovalenko Etcheverry Quintanilla
------ Quaranta Stewart


If that's the case pray that Stewart is huge in this game. That back line just doesn't look the same without Pope.

[GoDC]

Ray just posted that Jason has it pretty much right but it will be 3 in the back with Convey moving up to the left midfield and switch Q2 and Earnie!!

Has anyone ever seen Jason and Ray together?? ;)

[Diablo10]

I to think the bad guys win this one at 2-0. I just don't see the chemistry as of yet. With Reyes out, this just adds to the misery! Although I am holding out hope, I believe it will be a very slow start this season. My question is? Will Ray last the whole year if we tank the first month or so? Believe me, I bleed black and red, but I just see us having a good year. Hope I'm wrong!!!

[TheFarSide]

------------ Rimando
- Olsen Nelsen Petke
Namoff
Kovalenko Stewart Etcheverry Convey
------ Quaranta Quintanilla


I'd like to see something like this with Kovalenko and Convey covering allot of ground to keep up with KC wingers. Olsen and Kovalenko could overlap and control the right side with Stewart helping out in coverage.

If we get a lead take out one of the forwards and put Stokes in beside Namoff.

If we are behind in the second half put in Stoitchkov for Etch and Curtis for Quintanilla.


If we win it will be 1-0 , if we lose it could be a blow-out like it was in preseason. KC has a great defense, Klein and Wolff are fast and good, and Preki can punish a young defense - darn his cut back moves


-The Far Side

[detter7]

I'm baaaaaaaaack!

Well, I'm not going to give a line-up, because I don't know how this new team has been playing together. I mean, we lost Eddie, that was a big part of our defense. But we've gained Ernie, who is a a great leader in the midfield and he can control the pace of the game. I'll hold until I see the shape we're in.

I think we can pull this one out, though. In the 2001's opener, we beat KC, then the defending MLS champs. We're going to be pumped for this game.

1-0, DC with the goal coming from....uh, Stewart?

[Detective40oz]

If we play a forward line of Quaranta/Stewart we wont score. Stewart is not a back to the goal forward and Quaranta can't hold the ball to save his life. If we move Stewart back to attacking mid or right mid and let Alecko and Curtis have a shot I think we can see some good things. Get Q2 on the field and let Marco sit...if all this happens we can squeak out a 2-1 win.....but lets not forget our record on the road these past 2 years pretty horrible..will this be the year we turn it around..we do have new away jerseys....;)

Oh yes, who on defense is going to neutralize Klien now that Reyes is gone, and who on our backline can keep up with Wolff?

[entropy]

5-1 to the KC Gizzards. Welcome to another craptacular season courtesy of DC Urinated.

[EdTheRed]

Originally posted by entropy
5-1 to the KC Gizzards. Welcome to another craptacular season courtesy of DC Urinated.

Aside from "D'oh", Craptacular might be the best contribution the Simpsons has made to the English language.

I don't see this one as a 5-1 thrashing - I'm thinking more along the lines of the "inevitable heartbreaker"-type of loss, like the opener in LA last season. Say 2-1 KC, with the winner coming in the 93rd minute (after the 4th official signals two minutes of stoppage time).