VS Game: Sporting Kansas City vs FC Dallas Date: Sunday, March 25th Time: 6:00 PM [CST] Location: Livestrong Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kansas Weather Forecast: Clear; H 75; L 55 Competition: Major League Soccer TV: Fox Sports Southwest [Local]; Galavision [Out of Market] Radio: Univision 1270 AM (??) Last Result for Opponent: Spanked NE 3-0 at home. Who's got the injury report? Despite winning in Kansas the last 2 seasons, we all know this will be a tough test in front of a packed house. No Brek and I assume no Ferreira (but who knows at this point?). Would be great to see Castillo back for this one as any more messing with our midfield could get uglier than last weekend. Discuss.
This from Soccer America Daily for what its worth: FC DALLAS -- OUT: MF Fabian Castillo (L knee); FW Scott Sealy (R knee); DOUBTFUL: MF David Ferreira (R ankle)
I haven't seen KC yet this year, but it seems to me that we probably hit a wall here. It seems like our available personnel and our coach's mindset all point towards us playing a pretty conservative (dare I say cynical?) game. 50-50 chance of either a hard-fought but horrible to watch 0-0 tie or they find a crack in the armor and then open us up for 2 or 3 goals. But I just don't see us with consistent scoring chances.
Carlos Rodriguez will be gone. This is a perfect game to get HG's and younger players minutes, even if they lose. It's early in the season and there are holes to fill. Leyva should start again and maybe we will finally see Wiedeman. Might as well get Luna in the game at some point as well.
If we get out of it with no new injuries and put together a couple of good possession sequences instead of just desperately defending for 90 minutes, it will feel like a win. Well, maybe not quite a win, but it will ease the pain of the almost inevitable loss. On the other hand, is it time for the first upset of the season? No, no it is not. 2-0 SKC.
lets rest blas for this one since we wont be trying to score without all of our olympic guys gone and no faith in the youngsters. we could try a 4-6-0 formation and, if we get down a goal, consider swapping the CAM (prob villar) with matt hedges so he can play as a lone striker. or we could pull out villar and replace him with seitz and ask the ref if we can have two players use their hands in the box so we only lose by 1 or 2 goals. ps - if AW doesnt play, he should be asking for a trade.
I agree I thought AW was one of the bright spots of the preseason and at least deserved some minutes in the last match. Surely he would be getting minutes somewhere else in the league.
Hmmmmmmmmmm. Tricky.........must rearrage the deck chairs. --------Perez------- --------Villar-------- Benitez-Jacobson-DH-Wiedeman Loyd--Pertuz--John--Ihemelu--- --------Hartman------------- After Schellas pulled Leyva in the first half last weekend, I can't see him getting the start. I can see him pushing Benitez to the midfield (he's a defensive liability anyway). Now we can at least have our 4 best defenders out there...................Loyd's played LB for the USMNT. (Chile friendly I believe) Subs will be Warshaw, Leyva, and one of Perea/Luna.
I like that lineup, could Perea play in Villar's role? Not start in place of him but just in general.
Is Perea is game shape? The impression I get from the usual sources is that he not yet ready for prime time. Perhaps I have mis interpreted the articles.... ....I'm sure someone will correct me.
No, he isn't in MLS game shape yet (his last competitive game in Peru was mid January I believe) but he did play 90 minutes in the reserve match on Tuesday, so he can't be too far off. Not that there is a place for him unless they go to a straight 4-4-2. He doesn't sound like he is meant to play the CAM role in the 4-5-1.
No, Perea's game is pretty similar to Blas'...I don't think they would combine well at all, though Perea should be able to sub in for Blas without a huge drop off whenever he is unavailable.
It seems he always has some "nagging" this or "lingering" that. I thought injuries is why he didn't stay in SJ.
Jews for Jesus, Benitez back in midfield? Well, this could be an ugly game or we could pull off a big surprise. You just never know with this team. I just hope Leyva gets 90 to give Blas those crosses. NEED GOALS!
A few more things on the game. 3 Questions on Sporting KC Behind Enemy Lines: Sporting KC Bryan Leyva hoping to make the most of his starting chance
Coach's comment about playing it safe in the DMN really pissed me off. I appreciate his honesty, I guess, but keep the playing it safe shit to yourselves and in the locker room. How about something along the lines of "we are confident with our defense and some of the younger guys are really anxious to show that they can play a part in the attack, so we will just have to see how things turn out" or some such. Lie to me. I am trying to get motivated for a game, and "playing it safe" just isn't all that motivating.
according to the FXSW broadcast, new formation 4-2-3-1 like the USNT-U23's play. Pertuz at wide left, Loyd at wide right Ugo and GJ in the middle w/ Hernandez and Jacobson holding w/ Leya on the right attackin mid, Villar Central, Benitez wide left and Blas up top. Interesting. We will see.
Game getting way too chippy. Typical Abbie game. KC are a bunch of hacks and know that Blas and Villar are our irreplaceable players. Count the amount of vicious hacks they have and will continue to suffer. More good set piece strikes are the antidote to the Hacker's League.