vs Date|Time: Saturday July 30, 2011 | 4:30pm PST Venue: Empire Field | Vancouver, BC Forecast: Partly cloudy, 22C TV Broadcast: League Position & Form [Last 5 League]: Vancouver: 2-10-9, 15 pts, -9 GD [LLLLD] Los Angeles: 11-2-9, 42 pts, +12 GD [WDDWW] Last Meeting: N/A [First Ever League Meeting]
It's funny: putting together this gameday post I see Los Angeles towering over us in the Western Conference...and yet I am strangely optimistic about this match. LA appears to be without Beckham and Donovan; our recent on-field form (not the actual results, but form) has been very promising (except for our backline); Jarju is getting fit and appears to be a great fit with the squad...and we're due. I know "we're due" is the rallying cry of the mediocre, but it does seem like this is a game we can pull off. I certainly hope I'm right. I haven't celebrated in a while. =)
Heh. You didn't notice my location. You'd have to come to Kamloops to collect. And I'm a student. The only drink I can afford to buy you is Koolaid. =)
Beckham will not play on Saturday due to accumulation of cautions (yellow cards). Donovan is questionable (injury).
that freakin crazy. i thought players only not play the next game when they get a red card. this is freaking stupid because i was looking forward to see a challenging game, not a easy win !!! (Im going to the game,woooooooohoooooooooo)
Have you lost your mind??? What the Whitecaps need most right now is an easy win! If they could get an easy win, they might be able to put together a run that could get them into the playoffs. At any rate, I *do* think we will win, but I don't think it will be easy. So you will get your wish.
Any guesses on the starting line up is going to be? In the 24 Chiumento made it sound like he will be starting behind Hassli and Jarju, which should make for some exciting offense. Curious if it will hurt us defensively however, I am guessing Rochat will be back, are we still without Demerit? Jarju-Hassli Salinas-Chiumento-Koffi-Camilo Harvey-Rochat-Boxall-Leathers Cannon pretty solid line up going forward at least.
If It's --------------Jarju----------Hassli------------- Salinas------------Davide--------------Camilo --------------------Koffie---------------------- Harvey-----Rochat-----Boxall--------Leathers We're in tough, I just don't see the ability to defend a team with the attacking options LAG have, even sans Bex and Landycakes... I'm just a keyboard football genius, but I'd prefer: -----------------Hassli-------------------- -----------------Jarju--------------------- Salinas-----------------------------Camilo ------------Vagenas----Koffie------------- Harvey----Rochat-----Boxall-------Leathers with Jarju making deeper runs into midfield to collect the ball and distribute it... we will need to be absorbing and countering, not all out attacking, but certainly not inviting attack either. LAG scores for fun and has a formidable defense, only allowing 16 goals against in 22 matches. They're unbeaten in their last 5 at least...
I saw the caps scrimmage at swangard yesterday and Soehn tried out 2 lineups, a 4-4-2 and a 4-5-1 which also looked like a 4-3-3 at times. 1st lineup: -----------Hassli---Jarju------------ -------------Chiumiento----------- Camilo---------------------Salinas --------------Koffie---------------- Harvey---Rochat--Boxall---Leathers 2nd lineup: ---------------Hasli-------------- ----Chiumiento--------Jarju------ Camilo-------Koffie------Vagenas Harvey---Rochat--Boxall---Leathers
While I think I respect that both of those lineups look to be very attack oriented and I like that... I feel like both of those lineups leave us VERY exposed up our left flank, Harvey is a bit of an enforcer, and nothing gets by him easily Dede and Camilo are not a very stern test for many in this league as far as tackling teeth and ability. The only way the caps can pull off formations like this is to play a strong possession game, retain the ball, and play a high pressure strong closing down defensive style, which exhausts players rapidly. The positive is that there are subs, the negative is that ALL the attack minded eggs in Soehn's baskets are on the starting XI in both those lineups... and you're only allowed to make 3 subs.
You are putting Vagenas in your preferred starting lineup. What do you see in him that I can not see?
Lesser of 2 evils... he can at least defend, something Koffie cannot be expected to do by himself in the centre of the park If I were king for a day I'd be playing Morfaw...but I'm not.
I heard a rumour on another site that after the disappointing loss Joe Cannon swung by Oscars and bought a round for everyone in the bar - anyone able to confirm?
err thread I meant - I just haven't heard anything in the media about this, and still think its an awesome act.
I don't think this is anything our local hockey loving media would bother writing about. They are much more concerned with Kesler's hip and not a class act by another sport's professional. This one may stay a "secret" between Whitecaps supporters for a while.
Dammit. I was right about LA being due for a fall...it just came in Portland and not in Vancouver. Bastardo.