Chicago - San Jose MLS Cup 2003 (Sunday, 11/23) pregame/during-game thread [R]

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Chicago - San Jose MLS Cup 2003 (Sunday, 11/23) pregame thread

No one on this board saw me? How many of you are already in LA?? My stomach is already doing flip flops...question...do fans have to wear formal dress for the Awards Show tonight? I read in another post that they don't have to. My family is just to be safe...

 

Chicago - San Jose MLS Cup 2003 (Sunday, 11/23) pregame thread

Hey at least we have someone....

 

It's less than 24 hours to go until kickoff now, folks!

Thought I'd revisit the projected lineups for a point of greater discussion...

Dylan Hernandez's article in today's San Jose Mercury-News says that it's a matter of standard operating proceedure from Frank Yallop-- that is, he keeps the same starting eleven as he has with the wins of the last two weeks. The Quakes' lineup listed above has been amended to reflect just that.

From that article:

Yallop said he will stick with the offensive-minded lineup that has produced eight goals in the past two games, and will continue to use Jeff Agoos, normally a central defender, as a free-roaming left back.

The tactic has its drawbacks -- namely, that it often forces San Jose to defend with a three-man back line. The Earthquakes have allowed two goals in each of their three postseason games, nearly double their per-game average from the regular season. Given that this game will take place on the spacious field at the Home Depot Center, those openings can be exploited even more.

Yallop said he envisions an up-and-down game against the Fire, which scored 53 goals in 30 games during the regular season, second most in Major League Soccer. (The Earthquakes netted 45 goals.) He is not afraid to engage in such a battle, he said, largely because of the confidence his players now have in going forward.

Also, an article run Friday (there) on the Quakes' site gives a bit of a hint that the matchup pitting Agoos against Andy Williams may wind up being a key battle.

Earthquakes defender Jeff Agoos, who has been listed as questionable with a sprained right foot, completed a full practice with the club on Friday and is expected to play on Sunday. Agoos is likely to once again play on the left side of the field and aggressively push up into the offense. Agoos will be matched up against flamboyant Fire midfielder and Jamaican international Andy Williams.

“Jeff should match up well with Andy Williams,” Yallop said. “Williams is not really a right winger, he tucks into the middle of the field, very similar to the way Manny [Lagos] plays for us. Really they are almost like a mirror image of us. I think that Jeff is comfortable playing that position or any position for us.”

We're at a fever pitch now!! Can't wait...

 

Great attitude from Dwayne DeRosario...

DeRosario said he will most likely start the game on the bench, but he is chomping at the bit to get on the field: "I'm expecting that if I don't start, I can come on and do my best and, hopefully, I can repeat 2001."

And we all know what happened then.

 

Chicago - San Jose MLS Cup 2003 (Sunday, 11/23) pregame thread

Todays the Day!

FORZA QUAKES!

 

has anyone heard if the game finally sold out?

 

I don't know what it means but I just heard the music the Quakes play (played?) at the start of games this year being played in Green Bay on the Niners game.

 

Hmmmm.....

 

Less than 10 minutes!!

GO GUAKES!!

 

Amen to that!!

Had my pancake brekky, got the TV on in the bedroom... rarin' to go here.

WE BELIEVE!

 

I am so nervous....

I am so nervous I am going to poop.

 

The broadcast just came on over here, on ESPN International.

Don't know what you guys have on ABC over there, but we've got Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth on the call, at least for the pre-game.

 

Dialing in long distance frojm Hilo Hawaii here....

Just wanted to issue a "Go Quakes!" from the land of Ching.

 

Justice. Absolute justice.

 

The lineups, from MLSNET.com...

http://www.mlsnet.com/games/03/tracker.php?gamename=11232003_SJCHI&version=tracker&lang=eng

QUAKES -- Pat Onstad, Eddie Robinson, Troy Dayak, Craig Waibel, Jeff Agoos, Brian Mullan, Ronnie Ekelund, Richard Mulrooney, Manny Lagos, Landon Donovan, Jamil Walker.

Subs (from): Jon Conway, Ramiro Corrales, Dwayne De Rosario, Todd Dunivant, Rodrigo Faria, Roger Levesque, Chris Roner, Ian Russell, Josh Saunders.

FIRE -- Zach Thornton, Jim Curtin, Evan Whitfield, Carlos Bocanegra, Orlando Perez, Andy Williams, Chris Armas, Jesse Marsch, DaMarcus Beasley, Ante Razov, Damani Ralph.

Subs (from): Zach Thornton, Jim Curtin, Evan Whitfield, Carlos Bocanegra, Orlando Perez, Andy Williams, Chris Armas, Jesse Marsch, DaMarcus Beasley, Ante Razov, Damani Ralph.

 

Aloha, Dred! Enjoy...

Butterflies are building... let's get this thing kicked off already.

 

The game is on!

GO QUAKES!

WE BELIEVE! / Si se puede!!

And oh yeah.... NO RULES!

 

OMG Ekelund scores !!!!!!!!!!!!