Official DC United @ Fanta FC Pre-Match Thread

[Bootsy Collins]

http://www.k9magazine.com/pictures-of-dogs/d/464-1/Errmmm_+quite+simply+dog+wearing+Fanta+can+outfit__.jpg
Doesn't he look tough?


DC United @ Dinamo Houston

• Date & Time | Sunday, July 8 @ 8:30pm EDT
• Television | Comcast Sports Net and MLS Direct Kick
• Radio | 1160 AM - WMET
• PBP AIM Chatroom | BigSoccerDCU

Notes:

• Moreno, Olsen and Boswell will all be home from Copa America, but Tommy may decide to rest them for all or part of the match. Boswell played 90 minutes Thursday night against Colombia; Benny didn't play.
• Arguez will still be off with the U-20s.
• Kpene and Namoff's injury information online has not been updated since before the July 4 game.


Houston are also looking like they've turned their early-season swoon around. They absolutely destroyed the Metrodonkeys tonight, and looked fairly good doing it. They won't be missing their best players like KC was; and if none of Houston's players are as dangerous as EJ, they have more truly dangerous players than KC does (and theirs can finish). Our defense needs to play really, really well.

[SavannahFan]

I think what killed the DeadBulls tonight was their crisp passing, right to the nearest Dynamo player. I really hope DC can control the ball better than Jersey did.

[GrillMaster]

The boys had best bring their A game because the 06 MLS cup winners are playing the best ball right now -- even sans Davis. This new kid Holden opened some eyes last night! Awesome young playuh.

GM

[Sundevil9]

Goff has already reported that Moreno is out for this match.


GM is right, Houston has started clicking, unlike when they played here. Come out flat on the road again and they're going to down a handful of goals in a hurry.

[Pan-T Clause]

Well they damn sure stuck to the metrotards. I was watching the game and I was over-joyed watching the redbulls lose until I realized we were playing Houston on Sunday (my birthday) shameless plug.

[RayWhitney]

Yes, Houston looked great last night.

...but the Pink Cows looked like absolute, utter, and definitive crap. Once possession began to get away from them, they caved. Bruce gave those points to Houston at the start of the second half.

And two of those goals are directly attributable to shockingly poor goalkeeping--especially that first goal (and the one off the corner to the near post (left). Holy sweet mother of Christ, that was unbelievable bad 'keeping--injury notwithstanding.

On the one hand, let's not make Houston out to be AC Milan.

On the other hand, they are beatable, and I would be thrilled if we were to come out of Houston with a draw.

[Pan-T Clause]

I am not saying they are un-beatable. And AC Milan can kiss my @$$. I would be ok with a point but I think that if we can sure up some defensive woes we could actually beat them. but I don't think that Boswell is playing or Namoff. Like I put on my blog I would like to see a back line of Vanney on Left(provided he can keep up with the winger), Boswell and McT in the middle and Namoff on the right. I think that might work to our advantage.

[rugman]

This will be an extremely tough match to gain a point from. We are missing Boz and Namoff on the backline, Moreno and possibly Benny. With Erpfu gone our veteran backline player is Gros.
If they pressure the backline and we cough up the ball like the KC game it will be as ugly as last night for the Scum.
Our guys all need to step it up to the level of competition. Fanta strikers will not be taking the extra touch to allow McTavish to cover.
I hope our guys come out to play with fitness being a major factor.

Not expecting much. Hope the boys have what it takes to prove me wrong.

[nobletea]

I am not saying they are un-beatable. And AC Milan can kiss my @$$. I would be ok with a point but I think that if we can sure up some defensive woes we could actually beat them. but I don't think that Boswell is playing or Namoff. Like I put on my blog I would like to see a back line of Vanney on Left(provided he can keep up with the winger), Boswell and McT in the middle and Namoff on the right. I think that might work to our advantage.

I'm not all up to speed on Houston, but I assume that right winger would be Mulrooney, and if that's the case I'm willing to give Vanney a shot. But, I'd still prefer to see Gros or Olsen in front of him helping rather than Fred.

That also assumes Boz will play, which I believe to be doubtful, as well as Namoff, which nobody knows.

If they rest Mulrooney and use, I dunno, someone young and fast... Cory Ashe? Vanney should stay in the middle.

Clearly looks like Emillio and Addlery up top, unless Dyachenko has done something amazing recently.

Fred on either wing, hopefully Olsen since he's rested on the other wing, BC holding, and Gomez at the top of midfield.

For the backline, no idea, too many variables. But the more I think about it the more I think Gros might even match up better with Mulrooney than Vanney.

I'm looking for a happy 1 point.

[Pan-T Clause]

I don't believe Boz will play but I was just saying I think that line-up would be our best shot at a decent defense. The other factors with resting from Copa are obviously key.

[RayWhitney]

I just realized that it is a night game.

Temperature in the mid-eighties, chances of thunderstorms.

For some reason I thought this was going to be a repeat of the KC conditions--scorching heat.

Should not prove to be an obstacle. Don't know why NJ made the conditions look so bad last night...

:rolleyes:

[BigKris]

Meh, Boswell has played once during a period of time in which his United teammates have played three times. He can damn well get his cookies out there on the field and play. Olsen played twice during that time and played his usual, physically demanding style, plus he's older, so I'm on the fence about him. Assuming we get Boz back I think we can hold things together in the back.

The key will be to maintain possession - if we let Houston hold the ball and attack our backline at will, we'll see the same organizational problems we had in KC, but this time it'll cost us.

[Sundevil9]

Meh, Boswell has played once during a period of time in which his United teammates have played three times. He can damn well get his cookies out there on the field and play. Olsen played twice during that time and played his usual, physically demanding style, plus he's older, so I'm on the fence about him. Assuming we get Boz back I think we can hold things together in the back.



Except that Boswell played yesterday. He's traveling today. He meets Greg Vanney tomorrow. It'll all depend on how 'fresh' he is getting off the plane.

[BigKris]

Except that Boswell played yesterday. He's traveling today. He meets Greg Vanney tomorrow. It'll all depend on how 'fresh' he is getting off the plane.

I vote that Boswell's new BFF Greg should pick him up from the airport.

[GUTuna]

This is definitely a big match. After our joint month-long period of mourning after the CCC, Houston and DC have returned to being the class of the league.

Given the US-Colombia match, we should have Olsen ready for Sunday, while Boswell and Clark will probably sit.

Honestly, I think there's a decent chance we get steamrolled in this match. We've looked pretty disinterested on the road this season and Houston's attacking players won't let us off the hook like KC did.

My biggest question is with Boswell likely on the bench, who is going to deal with Ching?

One of the keys in the victory over Houston was a very high midfield work-rate which kept possession away from their dangerous wings. We're going to need that level of effort again. If you watched the Thursday night match, RBNY showed what old and slow will get you in Houston.

[John_Harkes_6]

Honestly, I think there's a decent chance we get steamrolled in this match. We've looked pretty disinterested on the road this season and Houston's attacking players won't let us off the hook like KC did.


Exactly - we haven't exactly looked good on the road all year. I expect a loss this weekend followed by us beating FC D next week.

[badgoalie85]

Given the US-Colombia match, we should have Olsen ready for Sunday, while Boswell and Clark will probably sit.

I think this is too big of a match and houston's attack is too dangerous right now to sit boswell. We'll need him (and maybe namoff too) if we don't want to get run over.

Additon: on the other hand, we could look at this as almost a given loss and let boz have a rest, i just don't think we should look at any match that way.

[Big Roy]

Honestly, I think there's a decent chance we get steamrolled in this match. We've looked pretty disinterested on the road this season and Houston's attacking players won't let us off the hook like KC did.



Yup! If we can keep it together in back, don't make stupid turnovers and switch fields earlier and more effectively I think we might keep things even and steal a point. If we don't, we're going to get killed.

[badgoalie85]

don't you wanna! (wanna fanta?)

[badgoalie85]

Exactly - we haven't exactly looked good on the road all year. I expect a loss this weekend followed by us beating FC D next week.

well, since luciano is going to score 4 goals against them, i'm sure we'll at least get a draw :p