[patfan1]

Another big game coming up for the boys this weekend, as they head down to Houston.

The Revs have had their troubles with Houston in a certain game recently, but surprisingly, they’ve gotten good results in Houston every year since they stole their team from San Ho. The Revs are 2-0-1 in Houston, winning their last two games there (2-0 last year, and 1-0 the previous). Last year’s win in Houston by the Revs was the only home loss for the Dynamo, and the win in ’07 was one of only three for them at home.

The Revs head out on the road not having won a road game since the season opener this year (1-4-3 overall), and only RBNY has a lower PPG on the road in the Eastern Conference than our team does. We’ve been outscored 16-6 in the 8 road games, with 6 goals for RSL in one game skewing the numbers a bit. The Revs head for this game with an exactly mediocre 5-5-5 overall record.

On the other hand, Houston currently has the best record of any team in MLS, at 9-4-5. They’re 5-0-3 at home, outscoring opponents 11-3. While the Revs are averaging just over 1 goal per game (1.1), the Dynamo is on the closer to 2 goals per game side (1.8). The Revs are averaging 0.75 goals per game on the road.

The injury report will be huge for the Revs, to see where we stand in regards to who’s available. The Gold Cup semifinal featuring the US on Thursday night will also have an effect on who’s available, as if the US wins, Brian Ching and Stuart Holden will miss the Saturday match for Houston, while Jay Heaps would do the same for the Revs.

The oldest geezer, I mean keeper in the league has the best GAA with a 0.72 so far, having played every minute. Houston is playing tonight at Seattle in a USOC semifinal. People like to complain about fixture congestion here … we’ll see how much that affects Houston, as this will be their 8th game in 28 days.

[RevsWeyMA]

There are way too many variables at play to call this one with any specificity at this moment. I am leaning towards a USA win on Thursday night. If that is the case, then Holden and Ching are out, and that is definitely good for the Revs. However, that also means Heaps is not available, but I don't think the Revs worry as much about him not being available as the Dynamo do about not having Holden and Ching. Furthermore, the Revs defense was really solid in the second half last week, hopefully they can carry that into Houston.

Now, presuming Jankauskas is OK to play, and is teamed up with Ralston and Joseph, the Revs have a very good chance to win. Personally, I think having two huge guys (EJ and SJ) on the field who a) can hold the ball, a) win the ball in the air, and c) create chances in the box will be too much for Houston. Especially if Ralston is on his game and Dube continues to provide lightning quick runs into and around the box.

I keep coming back to our last away game in LA and the utter havoc that the Revs wreaked in the second half when EJ came in. They also did the same thing to Chicago in Superliga. Granted, they didn't convert, but they were pushing those teams up against the wall repeatedly. Add Shalrie to that mix, and I cannot help but feel good about our chances.

The only thing that could screw it up would be ***drum-roll please*** "The Wells Thompson Experience".

[Minutemanii]

Yeah, I just can't wait to see what things could be like with Rally, Shalrie and the Big Jank on the field all at once. They could create chaos for the creamsicles with creative passes, then holding the ball up top, with Dube and Nyassi being free to play the roll of theiving magpie with the ball with less resistance from the orange men.

[Soccer Doc]

Originally Posted by patfan1

Another big game coming up for the boys this weekend------The injury report will be huge for the Revs.

Thats the whole thing in a nutshell.
I'm not willing to venture a guess on this one till Friday.

[rkupp]

Originally Posted by patfan1

People like to complain about fixture congestion here … we’ll see how much that affects Houston, as this will be their 8th game in 28 days.

I think it's already having an affect on them.

Even if Heaps, Ching and Holden are available, I think it's unlikely they'd play - if they play significant minutes on Thursday. I'm more than happy to sacrifice Heaps if they have to give up Holden and Ching.

Temperature is likely to be in the high 80's - I'm not sure who that favors; certainly not fans of the "beautiful game".

Houston is a team that we match up pretty well with recently. I don't put much stock in the first meeting - The first goal was a horrible Reis blunder, which pretty much set the tone for the whole game.

[patfan1]

Originally Posted by rkupp

I think it's already having an affect on them.

Not only are they playing their 8th game in 28 days, tonight is their seventh straight road game in 24 days. They've played @ LA, @ Austin, @ KC, @ Charleston, @ Seattle, @ TFC, @ Seattle (tonight). Wow ... and their record in those games is 3-2-1 (0-1-1 in their last two going into tonight).

This is a team that's playing without DeRo this year, and Ching's only played in 10 games.

[firstshirt]

probably a good chance nyassi is sidelined for this game. Wells probably gets the start. Certainly would be nice for EJ to get some PT. Whats the latets on Badilla or Castro?

[Jon Martin]

Originally Posted by rkupp

I think it's already having an affect on them.

Even if Heaps, Ching and Holden are available, I think it's unlikely they'd play - if they play significant minutes on Thursday. I'm more than happy to sacrifice Heaps if they have to give up Holden and Ching.

Beat me to it. Ever game we play without Heaps directing the back line, the kids grow into the job. Tierney has been fine lately. If Osei and Barnes play as well as they can, the D will be OK.

I'm delighted that Holden won't be out there.

If people are healthy, I like our chances. If both SJ and EJ can play, we'll keep the ball much better in the middle, and the wings will have more room to operate.

Any Twellman sightings lately?

[Autogolazo]

Will be very curious to see where Houston plays Geoff Cameron.

I guess some of that depends on whether Holden's back or not.

Cameron is a beast on the backline and a non-stop runner at d-mid, but his passing decisions at a-mid are suspect, though he does have a great shot.

The farther up the field he plays, the better for us, I think.

[brahmafutbol]

Originally Posted by patfan1

Not only are they playing their 8th game in 28 days, tonight is their seventh straight road game in 24 days. They've played @ LA, @ Austin, @ KC, @ Charleston, @ Seattle, @ TFC, @ Seattle (tonight). Wow ... and their record in those games is 3-2-1 (0-1-1 in their last two going into tonight).

This is a team that's playing without DeRo this year, and Ching's only played in 10 games.

Yea it's been a long road trip, but a lot of us have seen them on the road. Austin was easy, a lot of us went, there was a big group of us in KC for the 4th and there were also quite a few that went to Seattle.

The record would have been better but Seattle was given a goal that Mike Chabala had actually cleared before crossing the goal line. Even most Seattle fans agree it wasn't a goal, which would have given us a tie there. But since we were without 5 starters and 8 or 9 players all together for the game, we were proud of how the guys played anyway. In fact, if you look at how many players haven't been on the trip, we consider the whole thing successful and will be very glad to see them get home again.

Last night on Glenn Davis' radio show, Glenn interviewed Shalrie Joseph. It's a good interview. The podcast is @ http://www.790kbme.com/cc-common/pod...glenndavis.xml The interview is near the beginning of the first hour.

If yall are lucky, the ref will give the Revs a water break like he gave Salt Lake halfway thru the first half in our last home game.