Saturday, June 2 • Kickoff: 7:30 PM • Lockhart Stadium Biggest match of the year so far. A chance to A) beat the hated Rowdies B) move up in the standings C) give ourselves a shot in the "Coastal Cup" and D) get off this crummy run of form. Andy Herron is back, dunno if he's ready to start yet, but I imagine he'll see some action. Hopefully Mark Anderson keeps up his habit of scoring an outstanding goal every game. Tailgate starts at 3PM, this one's gonna be HUGE! BE THERE! ....unless you're a flag-stomping d-bag from Tampa, then we can do without you
According to the WC, there is a 90% to 100% chance of rain in SoFL today. It drops to 60% for most of tomorrow. By 6PM it is 50%. By 8PM it is 40%. It looks like another damp evening at Lockhart.....
Earlier in the week the forecast was looking much better for Saturday. We could really use a break for once, man..... Anyone got any kind of a sense out there based on talking to the team and such what kind of a crowd we are expecting if we do get decent weather? People were talking about 8,000 last year for the first Tampa matchup before the monsoon. Considering the drop off this year, which I contend is almost completely due to the total lack of advertising, can we expect more than 5,000 even for what should be our biggest draw of the year??? As for the game itself, it is huge. The Strikers need a win desperately, no matter who the opponent is or how much we fans hate them. They've been reeling of late, no wins at all in May. They need to get some confidence back desperately. I assume the USOC game doesn't count for Stahl's totally bogus red card suspension. I also haven't heard that Lance will be back for this game either, so my lineup prediction is going to take those two assumptions into account: Glaeser Blake - Stewart - Shanosky - Lorenz Morales - Restrepo - Gebor - Motagalvan Herron - Anderson This lineup also assumes Andy is ready to start of course as well. I still cannot for the life of me understand why Morales continues to play. Even his two goals against Fresno were bogus. The first one Restrepo had broken in on the keeper alone and could have easily scored himself, but unselfishly passed off to Morales for the easy goal, and the second was a terrible giveaway right to him alone at the top of the box that even I could have scored with that much time and space alone. He was one of the bgigest culprits in the turnover fest that was the San Jose game. Here is the lineup I'd actually like to see in this game: Glaeser Blake - Stewart - Shanosky - Orozco Ramos - Anderson - Gebor - Lorenz Hassan - Herron Let Anderson take over the attacking MF role. I love Gebor's strength on the ball and hustle. He has impressed me more in his time this year than just about any other newcomer outside of Anderson. Lorenz played better at left MF than left back I think, Coach just doesn't seem to have confidence in anyone else being there but him til Lance comes back. Our defense hasn't been that bad the last few games outside of a few stupid and lazy passes that the other team made us pay for. Overall they've had good shape and played strong, especially against San Jose. Considering they were under siege the entire game due to constant turnovers in MF they held up well. I think this game is a good excuse to "rest" Restrepo and Morales and see what a little different lineup could do.
Lance is back so he's in for sure. Should help the defense as well as the attack down the sidelines immensely.
Awesome!!! Ok, so here's what I'm going with: Glaeser Blake - Stewart - Shanosky - Laing Motagalvan - Restrepo - Gebor - Lorenz Herron - Anderson Having Lance back makes a huge difference, both in the back, and in MF I think with Lorenz being able to move back up there. It probably also forces either Morales or Restrepo to the bench as Coach can't have three attacking style MF's on at once. I think Gebor and Motagalvan cover the defensive and holding duties while Restrepo tries to be playmaker as always and Lorenz can now interchange with Lance on the left wing where they have been dynamic together. I suddenly like our chances for a win much better. And I'd like them even more if he tried sliding Anderson back to the playmaking MF role and put Hassan with Herron up front. If nothing else it would make for our best attacking combination. Can't wait for tomorrow night. Please rain, stay away and let's have a nice big crowd to show those Tampa clowns what a real derby crowd is supposed to look like!!!
Herron and Hassan up front with Anderson as attacking mid would be a nice combo. Now if Walter can stop trying to be a 1 man show & the D would tighten up we would be in business. Go Strikers!!!
3-1 FtL. Strikers rallied from 1-0 halftime deficit off of an Abe PK, Anderson trick shot and Restrepo deke out of Attanella. Away to Edmonton Eyesore field next...........