Mid week game, Texas. What could go wrong Houston Dynamo v Real Salt Lake BBVA Compass Stadium (6:30pm MT) REF: RICARDO SALAZAR AR1: Jeffrey Green AR2: Frank Anderson 4TH: Ismail Elfath
The weather isn't going to be god awful like it usually is when we play in Texas. It's not going to be ideal, by any means, but tolerable is the word I think that would best describe it. That said, I fully expect a loss here. Nicky is out with the national team so the Colonel will start in net. I also expect other rotation given the short rest and the game against Dallas on the horizon. The XI I would roll out: Colonel VanO Dunk Schuler Maund Schmidt KB Holness Sunny Plata Velazco Yura Bench: Lalo, Tony, Wingert, Luke, Rusnak, Savarino, Silva Yes, a 4-3-2-1 setup designed to clog the middle of the pitch and offer support defensively to the green outsidebacks. Between the two games, this is the one I think we have the (marginally low) better chance at getting a point. Play ugly midweek soccer and see if the group can do it. This setup also offers a ton off the bench. If we're down a goal at half, you can bring on a spark like Rusnak or Savarino. If you need energy you've got Luke. Yura and Silva will likely rotate. etc.
He just came back from injury. I'd rest him this game so as to avoid aggravating the back and plan for him to go the full 90 in Dallas.
Of the two teams in Texas, Houston would seem to be the easiest to beat, and with the weather forecast to be tolerable, I'd go with a full-strength line-up and see if RSL can steal a win.
The scheduling sucks. If we played Dallas tomorrow and Houston Saturday I'd say full rotate the squad tomorrow to have a chance Saturday. Asking all those guys to play on short rest down in Houston isn't a recipe for success. I'd still rather pack it in a bit here and hope to catch Houston on the counter. Expecting anything in Dallas is moronic
I suppose one thing that might wind up being good is that we could be a little more acclimated to the humidity by the time Sat rolls around. Would've been nice if these games were reversed. Either way, I expect the next two games to be losses, so any points we gain will be a positive.
We should have had Savarino tonight as the rule for friendlies is releasing players 48 hours in advance of the game. He is not called up for any WCQ for Venezuela, just their friendlies.
. . . we DO have Savarino, and this is clearly the one of the two Texas games we're going all-in to win. VanO Beltran Maund Schuler Schmidt Sunny Albert Beckerman Savarino Plata Yura
Whaaaaat the ********?? Plata gives up, nobody else closes in, then Yura turns away from the shot. Good god we're bad.
Our run of three worried me a bit, as it suggested the defense was fine. I have no idea what is on tap, but I hope the belief is not that the defense is fine.
I'm listening to the radio cast on the computer. Per Bill Riley it sounded like Alex was allowed to stroll into the box and fire an undefended shot.
Alex got the ball off a short corner, half jogs with it around Plata who inexplicably just stops defending and let's Alex take the ball into the 18 with zero defenders within 6-7 yards, Alex just lines up an easy far post finish with no pressure.
To be clear, the poor defense hasn't been all about players with a defensive label on their position. However, CB and fullback upgrades are mandatory for the near future.
When Sunny plays the ball more than five yards to his right or left, the chances for a steal and quick break the other way are high. Not just this game but every game. Saturday he didn't make those passes, but he's back at it today, and that sprint up the field a few minutes ago only to play the ball to his right where it was promptly stolen is an example of that.
Houston announcers talking about how much less intimidating and worrisome 2017 Yura is compared to 2007-09 Yura.