4/3 Revs v Galaxy (pre-game)

Great names for some of the LA players.

This will be the Revs first real test of the season. It will be interesting to see if SN's having kept them playing relatively low level teams in oreseason has prepaired them for league plan. I trust his judgement and trust that our guys will be up to the task.

Since this match is in the HDC which is a full size field and the LA run and gun style this should be a real fitness test.

It will be interesting to see if Noonan or Kamler starts on the left wing---I'm betting Noonan.

Anyone think that SN will go with the more conservative road formation of a single striker? I don't.

Revs 3--LA 2

George

 

Only the ref can save them now.

Kirovski holds the title of the most over-rated player in the history of American soccer. Herzog will be hosting Sprockets by August. This is the year Galaxy misses the play-offs.

Revs 2-0

 

I think Noonan might replace Kamler on the outside.

Otherwise, I'm predicting a 3-1 win. 2 goals from Twellman and one from Moore. Cancela assisted by on two and Ralston assisting on the other.

 

Can't really disagree: if everyone is healthy then the Revs should probably go with:

GK: A.Brown
RB: Heaps
CB: Pierce
CB: Llamosa
LB: Franchino
RM: Ralston
DM: Joseph
AM: Cancela
LM: Kamler
FW: Twellman
FW: Moore

If Kamler's still not feeling 100% due to his Achilles strain, then I'd peg Noonan to take that spot. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Dempsey come on as a late sub (and dependent on circumstance) for either Cancela or Joseph. If Baker's healthy and the Revs need a boost late, I'd consider putting him in as a late sub for Ralston on the right wing - with his reported pace and crossing ability that could give Marshall fits late in the match.

The Galaxy could counter with:

GK: Hartman
RB: Suarez
CB: Califf
CB: Bo
LB: Marshall
RM: Victorine
CM: Hertzog
CM: Vagenas
LM: Cobi Jones
FW: Kirovski
FW: Ruiz

Sounds like Herzog's been a pretty good fit to this point, performing quite well in pre-season, while Ruiz, like Twellman, seems already up to speed in the scoring department; could there possibly be yet another scoring race between "Tn'T" and "The Little Fish?"

Interesting point to note: the Galaxy have played a much greater number of matches this pre-season than the Revs, double what the Revolution have played when all is said and done. That being said, the Galaxy have used these games as an opportunity for Sigi to check out any number of new players and trialists, so one wonders what cohesion the team has going into their match against the Revs.

Below is a list of the Galaxy's pre-season results to this point:

Galaxy 1, Syracuse Salty Dogs (A-League) 2
Galaxy 1, Fresno Fuego (PDL) 0
Galaxy 2, S.J. Earthquakes 1 (MLS)
Galaxy 4, UC Irvine 0 (NCAA)
Galaxy 1, OGC Nice 0 (French 1st Division)
Galaxy 2, St. Raphael 1 (French 4th Division)
Galaxy 0, AS Istres 2 (French 2nd Division)
Galaxy 9, Loyola Marymout 0 (NCAA)
Galaxy 0, UCLA 1 (NCAA)
Galaxy 3, U.C. Santa Barbara 0 (NCAA)
Galaxy 7, San Diego Gauchos 1 (PDL)

If the Galaxy supporters are delusional enough to assume that the Revolution entertain a strategy of "bunker and counter" then they're in for a long night. Then again, if they do get a good crowd for their home opener at the Home Depot Center, that could certainly play into their favor.

My best guess is a 2-2 draw to start things off, goals coming from Cancela (via a PK) and Twellman for the Revs, and 2 from Ruiz.

The Magpie

 

I wouldnt predict a win in this one, it is the opener and its not september yet. So Ill go witht 1-1.
Stevie better let the boys know its a 30 game season and the players DO NOT GET a 15 game vacation at some point in the season.

 

I couldn't agree with you more

I'm feeling like 2-0. JoeMax from Ralston. Shalrie off a corner kick. Califf and Twellman collide early and Danny leaves with a broken foot. And a sinus infection.

 

Ngwenya on for Kirovski at 60 minutes........sets one up and scores the second......Galaxy2;Revs 1. If Baker has pace he hid it well against Santa Clara. He is an accurate passer, however.

 

Went to the Galaxy - Wizards pre-season game last night. LA had a majority of their expected starters playing and I wasn't very impressed. KC held much of the possesion but lost 1-0 on a PK. Herzog looked quite a bit heavier than his listed 175 lbs. Was good on the ball but not very mobile. Other than a good run into the box that drew the PK, Kirovski didn't do much, Hartman was excellent in goal, and Ruiz went out injured in the 1st half. Will need to keep an eye on his status, he wasn't putting much weight on his leg while being helped back to the bench.

 

Herzog will have a tough time keeping up with Shalrie and Pepe. He's over the hill. He's not mobile enough to get into position to find the passing lanes before our mids shut them down. I think JMM and TnT will have an advantage over the Gals' (Yes, I just called them Gals) central D. Bo likely won't be at 100% and Orange Traffic Cone is, well, um, an orange traffic cone. In all seriousness, though, Fish and Jovan worry me a little. I know Kiro hasn't done jack on the National Team, but I think he could turn out to be a very solid MLS player. He shows rare flashes of brilliance on the higher stage. Maybe playing at this level will bring more consistency to his game. We all know what Ruiz is capable of doing. Llamosa and Rusty will have their hands full with him, but I think our midfield will be able to keep some pressure off the back line.

My prediction: Revs 2, LA 1
Goals: Twellman 1, assist from Cancela
Cancela 1 (PK), Twellman hacked in the box.
Ruiz 1.

 

He was playing on a sprained ankle.

 

I would agree. No Ruiz on the field would be a huge boost for the Revs.

I can't wait to see what Kirovski looks like.

 

gonna say a 1-1 tie, goals by Kirovski and Cancela. IF Kamler or Baker can't go then Noonan and Dempsey see time on the left side.

 

1:1
Ruiz, Twellman
Let the scoring race begin.

 

no one will miss OT.

 

I will

 

I have my MFLS Prediction at 3-2, is it a sure thing about JMM starting up front? I do not know how he did in pre-season, but I think Noonan and CBrown should be considered.

 

I won't miss overtime in the first half of the season, but I will miss it at the end of the season. It sure made the playoff race exciting. See below for explanation and analysis.

As for the LA Game, I think we'll score at least 2 goals, but I haven't convinced myself we'll allow 1 or fewer. So a hopeful, 2-1 Revs.

(Off Topic) Overtime Analysis follows:

DC won't miss overtime, that's for sure. They lost 5 times last year in OT. The Metrostars were the biggest beneficiary of the extra sessions, netting 5 pts. We netted 3 points (2 W, 1 L) and both wins were huge during our stretch run (CLB and DC). In fact the Eastern Conference would have looked much different if we ignore overtime.

Standings 2003
Eastern Conference

Chicago------53
New England--45
MetroStars---42
DC United----39
Columbus-----38

Standings 2003, OT is Tie
Eastern Conference

Chicago------51
DC United----44
New England--42
Columbus-----39
MetroStars---37

DC jumps from 4th to 2nd. Metrostars drop from 3rd to 5th. We drop down 1 place and Columbus moves into the final playoff spot. The order of finish in the Western Conference would not have changed.

Also, of interest is that the distribution of ties settled in OT is heavily weighted to the end of the season. 6 of the 40 games tied after regulation before Sept 20 were decided in OT. 6 of the 13 games tied after regulation after Set 20 were decided in OT. (4 of these settled games were between Eastern Conf playoff contenders, CLB-DC-MET-NE). Is it the urgency of playoff races, or the cooling of temperatures that make the extra 10 minutes effective? I think it's playoff urgency. Breakdown by month.

Apr - 8 Ties, 1 Settled
May - 8 Ties, 0 Settled
Jun - 6 Ties, 1 Settled
Jul - 8 Ties, 2 Settled
Aug - 8 Ties, 2 Settled
Sep - 6 Ties, 3 Settled

 

4 goals in 6 games, Twellman had 7.

 

So who will be traveling with the team?
Llamosa and baker are injured?
Has anyone gotten a update on Josephs status?

I'm guessing starters and bench:

TnT, JMM
Noonan. Pepe, Ralston. Joseph
Joey, Kante, Rusty, Heaps
Brown

Bench: Reis, Leonard. Kamler. Dempsey

If Joseph is out them Dempsey starts and Chris Brown travels

George

 

FYI, Adrian Healey joins Amy Brooks and Bill Abette on WBOS, (92.9FM), tomorrow morning around 8:45 for a look at the 2004 season ahead.

 

Me too. If I love 90 minutes of a good game, I love 90+ even more.

If they didn't like the fact that a team that tied for 90 minutes could come out with nothing (I agree), then they should do what the NHL does - give both teams a point and let them throw out all the stops to get the gravy.

Analysis of how teams did last season based on this year's rules has little value. Clearly coaches would have used different strategies had they had different rules. Bradley, for example, would have had his kids turn up the heat sooner had there been no overtime.

Another factor, is that it will be much more tempting for coaches to bunker down and play for a tie on the road == boring soccer.

Even with all the criticism that today's NHL hockey gets, the overtime is a big success - it is non-stop end-to-end action because teams have nothing to lose (although playing 5v5 helps a lot too by opening up the ice - would NEVER advocate that for MLS).

My prediction is that ties will feel even more hollow this year than last.