@ Date|Time:Saturday, May 26, 20124:30P EDT Venue:BMO FieldToronto, OT Gametime Forecast:Clouds & Sun w/ Possible ThunderstormsTemp 74º TV Broadcast:The Comcast Network Current League Standings MLS Injury ReportMLS Disciplinary Summary Last Meeting:October 15, 2011PPL Park | Chester, PAPhiladelphia 1 - 1 Toronto FC Game RecapGame Highlights
I'm going to say we squeak out a win but only because TFC is so spectacularly awful. 2-1 with goals from Pajoy and Martinez.
It all depends. It is possible that we will be without MacMath, Harrison, Valdes and Gomez. If so, TFC may get its first points of the year. On the positive side, TFC plays on Wednesday night in the Canadian Championship and they're going to play their best players (insert joke here) and go all out.
I'm sure TFC is already going to be very motivated by their string of losses, but in addition to that they will no doubt want some payback for the 6-goal smackdown they took on our last trip to BMO.
I'm going on the assumption that the knocks on Gomez and Harrison will play a part in this week's lineup. I think Valdes can play with some stitches no problem, but Chase got beat to hell and Gomez's knee (?) could be pretty bad. Let's assume Gabe is healthy, and not about to get shipped out, so he's back as LB. Gaddis moves back over to RB. Adu is back. Martinez gets 60+ minutes to show what he's capable of. Okugo gets the start; Carroll stops playing in a more forward CM position and stays in front of the backline where he's best (or maybe play with Herdling as CAM in lieu of Okugo).
I agree with most of this. I believe that Gomez was going to be unavailable anyway due to international duty with Panama. If MacMath and Harrison both can't go, anyone know who the MLS pool goalkeeper currently is? How about Nick Noble on Harrisburg? He started the year with LAG and was waived just prior to the season.
Seeing as TFC's Defense is a sieve, I'd like to see this lineup on Saturday: All out assault on TFC's Defense, put them on their heals early and keep them there. Hopefully grab two early goals and then bring in Okugo and M. Farfan around 55-60 mins to see the game out and hold possession. Adu should really have a field day against TFC, and maybe Mwanga can have a flashback to last season against TFC and remember what being aggressive is..........
Move A Mwanga is becoming more and more of a lost cause in my opinion..... Move Adu to the middle and start Farfan on the right.... otherwise I like this lineup. The idea of having both Marfan and Adu to cut up TFC defenders is too appealing not to have the entire game.
No Lopez for Saturday's game: http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/05/lópez-called-costa-rica-world-cup-qualifying
Because we are so much better? So in the Battle for the Basement, I could see us losing 2-1. Sorry, we are not that good and have some injuries. The wheels on Piotr's bus are falling off.
The fact that players like Lopez get international call-ups is the reason why I stopped paying attention to USMNT forums, where folks evaluate players only on the basis of international games.
the thing is, its not a knock on you but this is probably the best line up available and that's bad. not much we can do but support and wait for July or a certain person to be fired.
Have you seen Toronto's defending? It's comically bad. In the opening minutes of their home game against Chicago a while back, their GK rolled the ball out to Frings who was easily dispossessed by Oduro for a goal. See 1:08 below. That is bush league stuff right there. Although I think at this point it would actually be better if we lost to Toronto because it may make it more likely that Nowak would be fired.
We do have Chris Knopka, who had a pretty good 45 minutes against Shalke 04 in the friendly... Pool goalkeeper may be signed as a backup.
If a player puts in a good performance during a meaningless friendly, and not many people are there to see it, does it count?