Revs - Galaxy (Saturday, 5/10) pregame thread

[The Magpie]

Feel free to start discussing the rematch of MLS Cup...

... and also take of look at where the Revs will next play the Galaxy after Saturday's match:

http://www.lagalaxy.com/hdc20030430-6.jpg

Real simple game-plan for Saturday:

1. Quicker, better, more effective passing.

2. Increased movement of Rev players into open or supporting positions.

3. Disrupt Ruiz.

That's a start...

The Magpie

[onemorerevolution]

Wow, looks good.
A real soccer stadium.

[johnh00]

Originally posted by The Magpie
Feel free to start discussing the rematch of MLS Cup...

... and also take of look at where the Revs will next play the Galaxy after Saturday's match:

http://www.lagalaxy.com/hdc20030430-6.jpg

Real simple game-plan for Saturday:

1. Quicker, better, more effective passing.

2. Increased movement of Rev players into open or supporting positions.

3. Disrupt Ruiz.

That's a start...

The Magpie
#3: Mr. Ruiz, I'd like you to meet Mr. Pierce. You will be seeing alot of each other today...

[rkupp]

Originally posted by johnh00
#3: Mr. Ruiz, I'd like you to meet Mr. Pierce. You will be seeing alot of each other today...
Perhaps, but perhaps not. There are still 5 defenders for 4 spots and if I were coach, I'd have to decide between Llamosa's rust (which should wear off), Heaps' short-attention span (goal #2) or Pierce's predilection for passing to the opponent.

[Rodan]

Originally posted by rkupp
Perhaps, but perhaps not. There are still 5 defenders for 4 spots and if I were coach, I'd have to decide between Llamosa's rust (which should wear off), Heaps' short-attention span (goal #2) or Pierce's predilection for passing to the opponent.
I think you'd have to chalk up goal #1 to Llamosa's rust.

Pierce does little to help the offense, but he definitely tends to hinder the other team's ability to score. Neither of the other two did much in that regard on Saturday.

LA definitely looks more beatable this year - more beatable than either of the teams we've lost to so far.

I'd say, sit Cullen and Kamler, start Hernandez and Noonan. Here goes:

Brown
Pierce....Llamosa....Kante....Franchino
Joseph
Hernandez
Ralston....Noonan
TNT....Moore

Flame on...

[johnh00]

I'm guessing Kante starts on the bench. Someone is going to have to man mark Ruiz, and Pierce is probably the only one who could do it. I'm not saying he doesn't have problems, particularly with distribution, but who else is both fast and quick enough to stay with Ruiz? Joseph and Kante are probably fast enough, but Ruiz has a much quicker first step. Pierce will start, and hopefully he has enough sense to pass the ball to one of the wingbacks and not try to pass it up the middle.

Lee

[johnh00]

Originally posted by Rodan
I think you'd have to chalk up goal #1 to Llamosa's rust.

Pierce does little to help the offense, but he definitely tends to hinder the other team's ability to score. Neither of the other two did much in that regard on Saturday.

LA definitely looks more beatable this year - more beatable than either of the teams we've lost to so far.

I'd say, sit Cullen and Kamler, start Hernandez and Noonan. Here goes:

Brown
Pierce....Llamosa....Kante....Franchino
Joseph
Hernandez
Ralston....Noonan
TNT....Moore

Flame on...
I'm not sure Pierce will ever play much on the wing again. I think Joseph is probably the 2nd string right back at this point, although I could be reading it wrong. Nicol likes his outside backs to get up into the attack, and lets face it, Pierce is awful at that.

I also think Kamler will start on the wing if only because LA attacks so well down the wings, he'll want the better defender in there.

As I think about it, either Joseph or Kante will probably start, if not both. We need some big bodies to counter big red, Victorine, EZ and co. on set pieces. Heaps, Kante and Joseph are our three best aerial defenders, and we may need all of them out there:


Brown
Heaps Pierce Kante Franchino
Joseph Cullen
Ralston Kamler
Moore
Twellman

[johnh00]

Oh yeah, let me add that I think that by game time, DH will no longer be a member of the Revs. If he is, he may start instead of Cullen.

Lee

[BIGGERSoccer]

If J Moore is healthy try him @outside left. He has some speed. Kamler has shown thus far that he does'nt have the legs to get up & down on the wing. No threat offensively either! Noonan is a striker & only has a right foot. What is SN thinking?
Let's try something different! GO REVS!!!

[Rodan]

Originally posted by johnh00


Brown
Heaps Pierce Kante Franchino
Joseph Cullen
Ralston Kamler
Moore
Twellman

No offense Lee, but ain't that the same group (except for Kante) that just got their asses handed to them on Saturday.


Oh yeah, let me add that I think that by game time, DH will no longer be a member of the Revs. If he is, he may start instead of Cullen.

Know something we don't know, or just speculating?

[rkupp]

Originally posted by johnh00
As I think about it, either Joseph or Kante will probably start, if not both.
My prediction: barring injury/suspension/off-field issues, Joseph NEVER sees the bench again (it's scary to think what the Revs would look like if he hadn't come back to sign with the team).

Kante/Llamosa are the top central defense pairing. Llamosa showed a lot of rust, but it was his first game of the season after all. His intelligence, paired with Kante's poise and athleticism are the backbone of the team.

Pierce/Franchino/Heaps on the field together are too many hacks who can mark (most of the time), but don't know what to do with the balls they win.

[johnh00]

Originally posted by Rodan
No offense Lee, but ain't that the same group (except for Kante) that just got their asses handed to them on Saturday.
...
Know something we don't know, or just speculating?

Yes, yes it is. You have no idea how depressing that is to me. ;)

Honestly, I think it's about our best lineup. We can tweak it, but none of the changes seem to me to be without their own pitfalls. Perhaps we could move Joseph to right back and start Hernandez. Maybe we could move Joseph up top and put Joe-Max into midfield. Or we can start Noonan or Harris up top and move Moore back into midfield with Joseph.

Anything else seems like some like it might make matters worse. I have just never been a big fan of Rusty at right back unless we are completely bunkered in and I'm not sure if Noonan is ready for primetime in the midfield. Lastly, I think Nicol won't want to shake things up too much. We're only 4 games into the season, and we're still middle of the pack. Another performance(not the loss, but the way we lost) like Saturday's might change his mind, though.

The biggest thing for the Revs is not to fall behind. When that happens, they are done. And not because of the lack of a creator, but because of the lack of a strong target in the box. The other team packs it in their defensive third and we can't get the ball in a goo position.

My DH comment should best be called informed speculation. As has been hinted at, heck even openly discussed, on these boards, there has been interest from a couple of teams in DH. Based on what I've heard from a few places, I'm thinking he's gone by the end of the month at the latest. I think it will be sooner, rather then later, though, with Colorado being the most likely destination. The Ronnie O'Brien situation may mix things up a bit and cause a bit of a delay. I guess we'll have to see.

Lee

[soccertim]

Originally posted by Rodan
No offense Lee, but ain't that the same group (except for Kante) that just got their asses handed to them on Saturday.


It's also the exact same group that dismantled Dallas, isn't it? If we aren't going to trade DH, I'd probably start him over Leo. If I didn't start Noonan, I'd bring him in at halftime for whoever is accomplishing the least out of Kamler and DH/Leo, unless we're playing markedly better than last week.

[NFLPatriot]

With Adin in Houston this week and another game coming up in KC on Wednesday, I still think there is a chance we will see Matt Reis in net against his old team Saturday.

Add in the Chicago game on the 17th and it's 4 games in 10 days for Brown.

[Soccer Doc]

I would sit Cullen in favor of Hernandez. Cullen ran a lot but his last ball was terrable. Pairing Joseph and Hernandez in the middle give us two players that can distribute as well as defend. No matter what, we will see Joseph start. This kid will be an all-star in the next 12 months.

I think this is a winable match for the Revs and after a second poor showing at home will come out loaded for bear.
Revs 2--LA 1

I think the issue of DH and his place with the Revs is far more complicated than appears on the surface and the outcome quite unpredictable. I believe that SN has the strength of character and leadership skills to get Danny-Boy in line and unless he can significantly improve the team by trading or unloading Hernandez we will continue to see him in a Rev kit. I believe the central issue to Hernandez staying or going rests on just what the Revs are contemplating to fill the "Phantom" AMF slot. If they need to free up bundle of Cap space (another 100K) to bring an expensive (200K) player then we may just trade him for a low pick just to get rid of his salary. If we can sign a good AMF for 100K then we may keep him for depth. If someone offers to trade something streight up that SN likes and feels is an upgrade Danny is gone. My guess: He's gone one way or another.

George

[Bill Duggan]

It is very important for the fans to give Ruiz a tough time. So make sure we boo him everytime he touches trhe ball.
My ideal lineup.
Twellman Harris
Kamler Moore Cullen Ralston
Franchino Kante Pierce Heaps
Brown

I think this would be the best combination for us. Carlos Llamossa is still terrrible and is disrupting the teams rhythm. Harris need to be in the lineup and Kamler is far more contributive than Noonan(although Noonan has had a decent start).

[rkupp]

My lineup, although I doubt Nicol would change things much:



-------------- Brown (unless he plays tonight, then Reis) ----------

Pierce ----- Kante/Llamosa ---- Franchino

Ralston ----- Joseph/Hernandez ---- Noonan

-------------- Twellman/Moore ---------

[RevKraft]

Originally posted by rkupp
My lineup, although I doubt Nicol would change things much:



-------------- Brown (unless he plays tonight, then Reis) ----------

Pierce ----- Kante/Llamosa ---- Franchino

Ralston ----- Joseph/Hernandez ---- Noonan

-------------- Twellman/Moore ---------

This is THE LINEUP, but I think SN has some soft spot for Heaps and won't sit him. Maybe he's babysitting his kids, or teaching them to jump. Who know why he continues to play. IMO he's been the weakest link all year. This is Rusty's spot, wher he can use the sidelines to help with his lack of speed. I'd like to see Noonan too, as Leo and Kamler have been invisible. DH did add a spark last week in a flat match. I also said earlier this week, that Joey appeared to be hurt last week. Lots up pulling up and short kicks. I heard he didn't practice most of last week and didn't play in the Brown U match. He usually adds more to the offense and did make one run last week.

[johnh00]

Originally posted by RevKraft
This is THE LINEUP, but I think SN has some soft spot for Heaps and won't sit him. Maybe he's babysitting his kids, or teaching them to jump. Who know why he continues to play. IMO he's been the weakest link all year. This is Rusty's spot, wher he can use the sidelines to help with his lack of speed. I'd like to see Noonan too, as Leo and Kamler have been invisible. DH did add a spark last week in a flat match. I also said earlier this week, that Joey appeared to be hurt last week. Lots up pulling up and short kicks. I heard he didn't practice most of last week and didn't play in the Brown U match. He usually adds more to the offense and did make one run last week.

Umm... Pierce is much faster then Llamosa and Kante. Does this mean we should move one of them to the outside? ;)

Nicol's system calls for guys on the outside that are better on the ball, and have some speed, as he likes them to contribute offensively with overlapping runs. I'm not a huge Heaps fan, but he clearly fits that model better then Pierce. He's faster, and much better with the ball. Not that he's good, but if you've ever seen Pierce try to run with the ball or hit a cross, you know what I mean.

Pierce is a great marking back, and I think he should be starting, but in the center, not on the wing. If you want to sit Heaps, move Joseph to right back.

Lee

[Scoschee]

Yes, please make sure you guys BOO Ruiz because, after all he is a professional and will probably go crying to Sigi to take him because of the mean fans in NE.
I would have to imagine that if 61,000 booing him last year didn't affect him since he scored the winner (remember MLS Cup 2002), then I would think the 40 or so louts in the Fort booing Ruiz will get to him then.

Uh huh.
Last week on national tv, you guys managed to create the atmosphere of a cemetary, try to do a little better this week.