Wizardscharter
01 Aug 2007, 05:09 AM
THU: New England 2.10 l 3.25 l 3.60 Kansas City
If you can't watch it live on the deuce Thursday night, record it. Change your plans if you have to. Game of the week and likely the Goal of the week comes from this one. Best 2 offenses and the worst 2 defenses tangle. If neutral, pray for KC to score early, you might see 9 goals.
To read the preview, NE hasn’t beaten KC at Gillete since 1999. Some of this knew this, but I don’t see how that streak makes the least difference – unless, of course, you believe in the law of averages, in which case, KC is seriously up against it. Anyway, NE and KC will have most of the rosters available. NE’s problem is another MLS game and a USOC game in between this game and next week’s game at KC. Likely NE will sit some guys and freely sub early as the game dictates. Advantage KC. We’ve seen this before and there doesn’t seem to be any reliable pattern tie-in to league results and USOC tilts on the weekend.
I like Eddie Johnston and crew to score at least 2 as the only D worse than KC happens to be NE. Also, NE will not normally hack away and KC normally beats teams with this stance. 4-3 KC was the score earlier this season in NE, BTW. Further, Brian Hall is the ref, so expect a well-called game regardless. Also in that vein, is KC has many guys on 4 yellows, which usually means that slight degree space for opponents. Adv, NE. Normally each team gets a lecture on the first hard one before Hall draws cards. We’ll see. My take is both teams favor the positive attacking game, so none of it should be an issue unless a blowout materializes.
I expect the OVER to happen, but maybe not 4-3 again. As this is a playoff caliber game basically for the today East Title, expect some feeling out early and tighter D from both sides so scoring will be later on. If KC is smart they will run NE into the ground with possession as NE gives up goals early and late in halves, but not many in the middle. If NE is smart, they hack it up at every opportunity and double the turnover machine Marinelli everywhere. KC thrives amidst chaos and loose balls. They clot visably in a stop/start game. NE is better with a plan and control, but the Achilles' is they want to play like KC does. When they inevitably do, they allow goals. KC can score more than anyone else and that is the danger. Sets favor NE.
NE has the equalizer in Twelllman who has made a career out of lighting up KC GK’s and separately Hartman, for that matter. KC’s D is poor overall and especially disorganized of late. One thing about KC is they generally don't make the same mistakes week to week, so I expect the level to increase defensively.
The computer says NE wins this 60% of the time. I dunno how, but that's what it says according to soccerway.com. NE, 1 loss in 8 home games, but KC was the team.
For me, this whole thing comes down to NE having separate attentions (USOC) and KC’s bench strength will be greater. The only results will be 2-2 or 3-2. I think, KC scores last and late to steal in what amounts to their home away from home, probably 3-2. The gorgeous road price on KC combined with NE’s likely roster almost demands a punt on KC. Wow.
KC@3.6
More on these later:
SAT: Chicago 2.38 l 3.20 l 2.90 Columbus Gut-CHI
SUN: New England 1.88 l 3.20 l 4.25 DC United Gut-NE
Toronto 2.29 l 3.25 l 3.25 Los Angeles Gut-LA
If you can't watch it live on the deuce Thursday night, record it. Change your plans if you have to. Game of the week and likely the Goal of the week comes from this one. Best 2 offenses and the worst 2 defenses tangle. If neutral, pray for KC to score early, you might see 9 goals.
To read the preview, NE hasn’t beaten KC at Gillete since 1999. Some of this knew this, but I don’t see how that streak makes the least difference – unless, of course, you believe in the law of averages, in which case, KC is seriously up against it. Anyway, NE and KC will have most of the rosters available. NE’s problem is another MLS game and a USOC game in between this game and next week’s game at KC. Likely NE will sit some guys and freely sub early as the game dictates. Advantage KC. We’ve seen this before and there doesn’t seem to be any reliable pattern tie-in to league results and USOC tilts on the weekend.
I like Eddie Johnston and crew to score at least 2 as the only D worse than KC happens to be NE. Also, NE will not normally hack away and KC normally beats teams with this stance. 4-3 KC was the score earlier this season in NE, BTW. Further, Brian Hall is the ref, so expect a well-called game regardless. Also in that vein, is KC has many guys on 4 yellows, which usually means that slight degree space for opponents. Adv, NE. Normally each team gets a lecture on the first hard one before Hall draws cards. We’ll see. My take is both teams favor the positive attacking game, so none of it should be an issue unless a blowout materializes.
I expect the OVER to happen, but maybe not 4-3 again. As this is a playoff caliber game basically for the today East Title, expect some feeling out early and tighter D from both sides so scoring will be later on. If KC is smart they will run NE into the ground with possession as NE gives up goals early and late in halves, but not many in the middle. If NE is smart, they hack it up at every opportunity and double the turnover machine Marinelli everywhere. KC thrives amidst chaos and loose balls. They clot visably in a stop/start game. NE is better with a plan and control, but the Achilles' is they want to play like KC does. When they inevitably do, they allow goals. KC can score more than anyone else and that is the danger. Sets favor NE.
NE has the equalizer in Twelllman who has made a career out of lighting up KC GK’s and separately Hartman, for that matter. KC’s D is poor overall and especially disorganized of late. One thing about KC is they generally don't make the same mistakes week to week, so I expect the level to increase defensively.
The computer says NE wins this 60% of the time. I dunno how, but that's what it says according to soccerway.com. NE, 1 loss in 8 home games, but KC was the team.
For me, this whole thing comes down to NE having separate attentions (USOC) and KC’s bench strength will be greater. The only results will be 2-2 or 3-2. I think, KC scores last and late to steal in what amounts to their home away from home, probably 3-2. The gorgeous road price on KC combined with NE’s likely roster almost demands a punt on KC. Wow.
KC@3.6
More on these later:
SAT: Chicago 2.38 l 3.20 l 2.90 Columbus Gut-CHI
SUN: New England 1.88 l 3.20 l 4.25 DC United Gut-NE
Toronto 2.29 l 3.25 l 3.25 Los Angeles Gut-LA