Pre-Match Thread:: DC United @ Toronto FC:: May 21 08

[JeremyEritrea]

xNJI1G-DB_0
Eh?

DC United @ Toronto FC

When: 7:30 PM kickoff
TV: CSN (http://comcastsportsnet.tv/pages/tv_listings?showdate=1211353200), DK (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIF.jsp?assetId=1800013), MLSLIVE.tv (http://web.mlsnet.com/products/)
Radio: 1050 AM (http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=249) (Eng), SRN
Riz is: 33 weeks pregnant.

Team Notes

DC United

OUT: MF Ben Olsen (ankle surgery); MF Jeff Carroll (toe surgery); DF Jeff Curtin (groin strain);
QUESTIONABLE: MF Devon McTavish (mid-foot sprain); MF Fred (hamstring strain); MF Marcelo Gallardo (groin strain);
PROBABLE: MF Domenic Mediate (hamstring strain); FW Luciano Emilio (quadriceps strain)

Toronto FC

No injuries reported


Weather
http://i.imwx.com/web/common/wxicons/45/11.gif
Showers. High of 52°, low of 43°.

[writered21]

The only bright spot here is that after a game that ended the way Saturday's did, I'd much rather have a game right away rather than think about the last one for 7-10 days.

Not sure I like playing the same team twice in a row, but whatever.

[onefineesq]

Well, these 2 games have the potential to clear up some issues and further muddy some other waters at the same time. 2 straight losses, and Soehn is w/o a doubt gone. A couple of wins against an improved Toronto, and people are calling it a comeback. I don't have a good feeling about this game. There is no word that Fred is ready to come back. Peralta is still helping is bedridden mother. Our other possible defender (McTavish) is still not ready. Emilio is not in the right frame of mind, and the team is down on itself. Add to that fact that they are on the road, where they are 0-4 with a total of 1 goal, and a tie would be a MASSIVE result.

[traversunitedfan]

------------Wells------------
Namoff-Peralta-Martinez-Burch
-----------Simms------------
McTavish----------------Fred
-----------Gallardo-----------
-----Moreno------Doe-------

Subs - Quaranta, Emilio, Mediate, Kirk, Dyachenko, Stratford, Niell

United win 3-2
Goals by Gallardo, Fred, and Doe. Guevara, and Robert.

I would hope Fred and McTavish are ready to go.

Carvallo should get the start at home in my opinion.

[The Grump]

I predict that i will drink many beers to pad a celebration or drown my sorrow.

[traversunitedfan]

I predict that i will drink many beers to pad a celebration or drown my sorrow.
Seems like a fair prediction.

[joehill]

per steve goff

D.C. United player update: Devon McTavish (foot) and Fred (hamstring) are both listed as probable for Wednesday's match at Toronto, Gonzalo Peralta, whose pregnant wife is on bed rest, trained today and may very well travel with the team, and Bryan Namoff, who was banged up Saturday, is fine and expected to play.

i'd like to see:

-------Wells/Carvallo----------
Namoff-Peralta-Martinez-Burch
-----------Simms------------
McTavish-----------------Doe
-----------Gallardo-----------
---------Fred----------------
------------------Tino-------

not sure who to put out on the left wing, but we need some attacking teeth and we've never let fred play in his natural position. if he's back it's time to put him up there. not sure that tino is best suited as a striker but i think doe would do better on the left wing then he, and it's clear that emilio needs more time on the bench.

i think it's time to give carvallo another shot but i'm not sure if another game on turf is the best time to do that.

[traversunitedfan]

per steve goff



i'd like to see:

-------Wells/Carvallo----------
Namoff-Peralta-Martinez-Burch
-----------Simms------------
McTavish-----------------Doe
-----------Gallardo-----------
---------Fred----------------
------------------Tino-------

not sure who to put out on the left wing, but we need some attacking teeth and we've never let fred play in his natural position. if he's back it's time to put him up there. not sure that tino is best suited as a striker but i think doe would do better on the left wing then he, and it's clear that emilio needs more time on the bench.

i think it's time to give carvallo another shot but i'm not sure if another game on turf is the best time to do that.

Why do you have Doe at mid and Fred up front? I think fred does fine on the left. Thats a problem we are having....playing people out op position.

[Troy G]

The only bright spot here is that after a game that ended the way Saturday's did, I'd much rather have a game right away rather than think about the last one for 7-10 days.

Not sure I like playing the same team twice in a row, but whatever.

I feel the same way...I couldn't believe how quiet Finn's got. It was down right depressing. No better way to turn things around than to beat on a Canadian squad.

[joehill]

Why do you have Doe at mid and Fred up front? I think fred does fine on the left. Thats a problem we are having....playing people out op position.

yeah, and fred's natural position is in the center, not out on the wing. that's why he spends half his time drifting inside anyways, and what he played in australia.

also, doe spent some time at NYRB on the left last year, from what i remember.

if we could get a forward with some movement and creativity (note: jaime has the creativity but not the movement) then we could actually make use of gallardo's passing.

[bigredfutbol]

i think it's time to give carvallo another shot but i'm not sure if another game on turf is the best time to do that.

Considering his one start was on turf a/FSL, I think your uncertainty is well-founded.

[NattyBo]

I'd be thrilled with 4 points here, but I think 3 or even 1 may be more realistic. Toronto hasn't lost in 5 at home.

[United fury]

my prefered line-up( with an interesting twist)

-----------Wells------------
------McTavish/Peralta------
Namoff---------------Burch
---------Martinez----------

--Fred----Gallardo----Cordeiro
----------Moreno-----------
-----Quaranta---Doe----
Let the backline have a front(Martinez) and back(Mctavish or Peralta) sweeper.

Play Fred wide right and maybe he can utilize his effectiveness on the wing. Play Cordeiro wide left and give him another chance.

Let Moreno be the connector from the midfield to the offense and Martinez from the defense to the midfield. Might make the play move smoother. Another option is to put Kirk on the right wing, move Fred to where Jaime is, and move Jaime up to Quaranta's position.

You know, I say these things every game but it doesn't seem to make a d$mn bit of difference at all who United puts out their right now.

Just pressure United's midfield and they will cough up the ball every time.

Right now I say 2-1 Toronto but the play will improve a little bit.

3-1 United on Saturday.:rolleyes:

[BBBulldog]

A couple of wins against an improved Toronto, and people are calling it a best DC team ever.


FYP :D

[writered21]

To debut shortly:

"Is this the best 2-6 team in MLS history?"

Coming soon to a BigSoccer forum near you!!! You'll buy the whole seat but you'll only need the eddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddge.

[DCSharksFC]

say mcT and fred are still out for wednesday:

---------wells---------
--------martinez--------
mediate---namoff---burch
--------simms----------
cordeiro--gallardo--kirk-
--------quaranta-------
---------doe------------

lets give kirk a shot, and move Q behind doe for moreno, and give mediate some room to maneuver, namoff moving centrally gives more room for simms and gallardo, but quaranta can now play centrally to link up between the midfield and the forward, doe

if mcT and fred are back

---------wells---------
namoff--mcT-martinez-burch
--------simms----------
cordeiro--gallardo--doe-
--------fred-------------
---------quaranta-------

doe had some time on the wing, so lets give him a shot there, and cordeiro did ok in the last game, give him some more time to get a shot,

overall, one trouble spot is who to partner with martinez in the back, peralta has been bad, and mediate was questionable, the other trouble spot has been the midfield and forwards, moving fred or quaranta into the middle gives gallardo a chance to play his preferred position which is a much deeper role than what gomez used to play, doe showed in the last game he's got some bite and some creativity, so either on the wing or up top should be another chance, cordeiro, well, we don't have much in the way of options, so lets give him another

[Lucky Strike]

Lol on the video. However I've never actually met any Canadian with that accent which seems to get used a lot. Bah, I'm not offended. Looking forward to the match(es) and good luck. By the way, what's the deal on Emilio? He's a ghost to start the season and they give him a raise? What exactly is going on there? That story seems pretty strange.

[United fury]

Lol on the video. However I've never actually met any Canadian with that accent which seems to get used a lot. Bah, I'm not offended. Looking forward to the match(es) and good luck. By the way, what's the deal on Emilio? He's a ghost to start the season and they give him a raise? What exactly is going on there? That story seems pretty strange. No only did they give him a raise, they apparently made him United's second DP. Don't know the specifics though.

[nobletea]

The only bright spot here is that after a game that ended the way Saturday's did, I'd much rather have a game right away rather than read absurdly negative over the top uninformed bitching about the last one for 7-10 days on Big Soccer.


FYP

my prefered line-up( with an interesting twist)

-----------Wells------------
------McTavish/Peralta------
Namoff---------------Burch
---------Martinez----------

--Fred----Gallardo----Cordeiro
----------Moreno-----------
-----Quaranta---Doe----
Let the backline have a front(Martinez) and back(Mctavish or Peralta) sweeper.

Play Fred wide right and maybe he can utilize his effectiveness on the wing. Play Cordeiro wide left and give him another chance.


I can sign onto these ideas. However, I'm not sure McT has the gonzos to step out and play the way you're describing. I think he's more a flat back kinda guy. I think Martinez and Peralta already naturally compliment each other in this way.

I would love to see Fred on the right just ONCE. Are you kidding me? He's been here this long and we haven't once played him at probably his most suitable position a single time? With the state of things now, it can't possibly hurt.

You omit Simms though, which I'm not ready to go with. TFC is strongest up the middle.

I'd like to see any combination of Santino/Moreno and Doe/Emilio as the forwards. Preferably, Moreno-Doe to start.

[AMERICANS SC]

Tommy may be the first one out the door, but there are a few players who will be easily dismissed during the summer transfer window. Rod is at the very top of that list, followed closely by Niell, Burch and Emilio.

Quite frankly, they should not allow anyone back from Canada if they don't at least get a point.