Or, part 1 of what could be called the Must-Not-Lose series, concluding 5/24 vs. San Jose at ‘Nova. Both games are the middle of each team’s 3-match season series. A loss at Uniondale this weekend and/or vs. the ‘Rays the following one and the Charge will have already lost the season series to those teams. It will loom large, if there is a tie for either the second or the final playoff spot at the end, since head-to-head is the first tiebreaker. Even if you come from ahead and only tie this Saturday or next, it’s at least something, and this team needs any lifeline it can grab onto right now. The problem that I see is the defensive and midfield breakdowns show no sign of abatement. If the Charge play - and are coached - the way the past 2 Saturdays have gone down, they will lose. Bottom line: if ever there was a carpe’ diem moment in the Charge’s season, Saturday has to be the beginning of it.
One of the problems is that the Power are playing well. Let's hope they will have some players out. Not for long but just for this Saturday. Let's hope that our defense will frustrate Christie. Remember she had trouble getting good shots on goal in the first couple of games. And she would blast it over like in the Spirit match. The Power do not have one midfielder general like a Riise or Smith but have two excellent forwards in Tiff and Christie. They do some good shooting midfielders in Janss and Davey. Their defense is the part that is weakest now. If we can somehow build up a strong attack in this game with the good playmaking capabilities of Makinen and Melanie then we have a chance but we have to get good shots. And I would start Trina alongside Pichon. Arrington still has a way to go but her main asset, her speed, will be better used reaching through balls from the midfield or from Benny and Heather into space in the second half. "The game also marked the first time in 17 tries that the Power were able to erase a half-time deficit to pick up the win and ended an eight-game losing streak at Mitchel Athletic Complex." Do not underestimate that. Sure, the lack of crowd. But who knows? It may go up and let's hope there will be a large Charge contigent there to watch the game.
Okay. No Mitts. Maybe use just the three in the back then. Tietjen, McVeigh(maybe Tullock) and Benson.
It should be interesting to see who plays for the Power. Looks like Lauren Orlandos and Cheryl Salisbury may both be back defensively for the Power. But, they will miss Pearce on the right flank. If Orlandos and/or Salisbury do play, this will move Shannon Boxx back to defensive mid and will allow Joey Peters to play as an attacking mid, which she did against Boston and had a goal and hit the post on another shot. It will also be interesting who Coach Sermanni puts up top with Christie Welsh. I would expect that player to be Tammy Pearman. I guess I'll have to wait and see.
The one point is Mitts has been called into the 24 player camp. The final 18 roster is still up in the air, so we don't quite know who the final 18 are. Millbrett and Pearce, I would think are final 18. I assume Lorrie Fair is, if her calf is healed. Mitts is 50-50. Oddly, Fair is probably Mitts back-up at right back. After that, I assume it's KAryn HAll, or even possibly Erin Misaki . The advance weather calls for continually cool, wet weather, another dreary day in the park. as dcajedi and g4m will attest prior to PHL-NY, I said my crystal ball saw goals and lots of goals. This time I think we see a far tighter game. I think Solo gets a shot, more because a change is needed to shake things up. Moore has been left out to dry too many times this year. And Maso do Moya would be my forward to pair with Pichon. That'd be the extent of changes I'd make. Ideally, I'd like to have Arrington and Scasna be available as subs off the bench... we'll, see the match decide in the last 10-15 minutes... this time let's do a switcheroo and have the charge netting the last 2 goals. This sequence of NY-SJ-Carolina is critical. Play good soccer and good thinks will result.
all i gotta say from watching the boston game is watch out for the NY reserves, especally davey who came off the bench and hit the game winner. Also with millbrett out welsh will be isolated, she is like fotop was in 2001, dont give her a pass she wont score a goal. charge need to expose the tendency of the power to play service before shot, i think if they do that and worry more about forwards and not about goals from the midfield, they will do fine with no millbret there to take em out. I would definatly play solo especally with no millbrett. good team to start against and we need a shakeup bad. id put tullock at CD and play mcveigh as the holding mid. i know its an offensive waste of talent but mcveigh needs a game where she can excel to get some confidence in her, then try to go back to the CD expirment. i think the charge win, the power are traditionally lost without millbrett.
Anita Rapp will be back from Norway for the Power. The 0-4 Charge will have to watch for her coming out of the midfield.
Right. Rapp will be back. She is the closest thing to a midfield general that the Power have. A good passer. I was quite impressed with the offensive moves by Pearce in the two games that I saw her. She will be missed on Saturday. So I guess Welsh won't be called up then. Tiff will. Welsh and Pearman upfront. Salisbury may not play. Pichon has been listed as probable. Both of these teams are started to look like the walking wounded. So a backline of Tietjen, Tullock, and Benson then? Should be interesting. If Fair doesn't make it, I would add her as well.
I would think it's Mitts who is more likely NOT to make the final 18. Since Pichon attacks mostly on the left she can exploit Pearce's absence. I don't know if Krikorian will go 4-5-1 or even any other formation... I still don't think making drastic changes is going to happen... Solo and Maso do Moya would be changes I would make. Maso do Moya offers a more complementary style player to Pichon... and Solo, because Moore just needs to sit a game or two, and then we reevaluate. I see censorship is being used within our domain
I'm without a clue- what censorship? I thought Rapp looked weak the last time I saw her. I think we're due for a win. I'm thinking 2-0 Charge.
The 'crybabies cry' thread which I closed for about 90 seconds or so, then reopened. We're cornering the market on cheese and whine of late... Paul
Looking forward to Saturday, if Solo is 100% healthy, she might play. Changes need to be made. Not that Melissa's playing that badly. Despite 4 consecutive losses to start the season, Mark has done little tinkering with the field players. No good reason for him to change his mind now, is there?
You must have me confused with the must-not-lose guy... We're really stretching the limits of visiting teams' fans patience (and it's not just here, it's the PTH boards on WUSA.com, too). I'll say again; even if the Welsh goal was a handball, and was proven so, it still doesn't take away from the fact we were unable to maintain a lead *four times* in a game. Same thing with the Abby/McV/Mitts/Moore foursome; even if you take out the penalty kick, it's 3-1 and not 4-1. Still a clubbing. It's about picking and choosing the battles you know you can win, in which the game truly turned on a dime. That's all I'm saying. Paul
Updated injury report out... Orlandos and Salisbury are, sadly for us, probable. So no matter if Millie is not there, better to keep it on the ground, attack-wise or else those two will just flick any crosses or corners out of harm's way. Mean, perhaps, but I hope Heather doesn't get picked for Saturday's England game. We need her here... Edit: Ref: Sandra Hunt. Assistants: Christopher Price, Martha Sinclair. 4th Guy: Steve Karaduzovic. Remember, Sandra, if a player plows into a goalie, a yellow card is probably warranted Paul (yeah, still bitter )
More errors at WUSA.com It said in the team notes that Melanie "Hoffmann has now registered an assist in three consecutive matches..." Incorrect. A point in three consecutive games. Also if anybody has taken the quiz they should have noted that one of the questions has an incorrect answer. It asks how many game-winning goals did Julie Foudy score in 2002? Well, they said "0" but we remember one. Maybe more but for sure one. Non-errors to note now from the website just corrections: May 3 - New York at Philadelphia Philadelphia's Melanie Hoffmann (Primary) and Heather Mitts (Secondary) were both credited with assists on Deliah Arrington's goal in the 54th minute: Arrington 1 (Hoffmann 1, Mitts 1), 54' May 10 - Philadelphia at Washington Abby Wambach's third goal was scored in the 95+'. That's ridiculous. 95th minute! May 10 - Philadelphia at Washington Washington's Kelly Golebiowski (Primary) and Laura Schott (Secondary) have been awarded assists on Abby Wambach's goal in the 95+': Wambach 4 (Golebiowski 1, Schott 1), 95+'. Schott's cross was excellent. It's a good thing they noted that. Also here's the weather report for Uniondale on Saturday: "Rain during the morning...possibly heavy at times... Tapering to scattered showers during the afternoon. Breezy. Highs in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 80 percent." Not bad as long as it's not raining at game time. It's always breezy. Let's bring a good size contigent. The Power could use some more fans in the seats and we want to be there when the Charge win! And finally, the injury report: NEW YORK POWER: OUT - D Sara Whalen (R ACL tear); D Kristy Whelchel (R ACL tear); QUESTIONABLE - GK Saskia Webber (Calf Strain - R); PROBABLE - D Lauren Orlandos (Hamstring Strains); D Cheryl Salisbury (Calf Strain - R);. PHILADELPHIA CHARGE: OUT - F Kelly Smith (R meniscus tear); M Pavlina Scasna (L foot tendonitis). Mitts, Fair, Pearce and Milbrett are out for the NT. We should have made a request to change this match to Sunday. Two of the other games are on Sunday. According to the article today at WUSA.com, Orlandos and Salisbury are probably going to play but not the full 90. "The all-time series between the Charge and Power is tied 3-3-1…All seven games have been either decided by a single goal, or within a single goal in the last 10 minutes…The Power’s current three-game winning streak and the Charge’s current five-game losing streak both represent franchise highs. " That single goal thing is quite amazing.
I'll check it out tomorrow; I work right in the shadow of Independence Hall, so hopefully the 7th consecutive weekend of rain and wind will subside enough for me to take a stroll over there. I donut know why, but I feel optimistic about this game. Some personal stuff in my life has turned around for the better at work, and the VCR will be in overdrive tomorrow as uber-hottie actress Eliza Dushku (remember her from the movie Bring It On and moreso as Faith from 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'?) will be on Carson Daly's late night show, and 'hosting' UPN's Friday night movie. Sunshine is breaking through the clouds of my personal life, and maybe Saturday will be likewise for the Charge. I think they know in their collective heart of hearts that the opportunities to turn this season around are growing shorter, and these next two weeks could very well be their Alamo if they lose at Uniondale and at 'Nova. I think they have too much pride to let that happen. They know that they're 9 points out of the final playoff spot, and the Power hold sway over the tiebreaker for the moment. The words of Gene Krantz, the NASA flight operations director at the time of Apollo 13 ring true as much now as they did then. Failure is not an option. Paul
Where is everyone? What are the predictions for tomorrow? What lineup are we guessing he's using? Earlier I said 2-0 charge, but now I'm thinking more like 3-1. don't know why.
The boycott of this message board continues...and it's really, REALLY getting old. That's not for those who have continued to post here in spite of it (g4m, for example is pretty busy with college being over and a new job, and congrats to him for quite a nice position). It's for those who are ticked off at me for one reason or another who have taken their proverbial ball and gone home. The Power board has more activity than we've had. To those who have continued to post, I do thank you. Your opinions are welcomed and appreciated. Didn't see the flag on the Constitution Center construction crane today. Mitts made the cut for Birmingham; Fair didn't. It was just announced at the SoccerAmerica website. Maybe her calf is still not 100%; in light of this, don't expect her to play at Mitchell Athletic Complex, then. So here's my lineup: Solo (just to see how she does this one time) Tullock, Borisjuk, Tietjen-Prozzo, Benson Makinen (with the utmost reluctance), Hoffmann, Monroe, Misaki Maso de Moya, Pichon Save Arrington for the second half. In spite of the fact that I think he will put McVeigh on the field again, I see this game as seminal as the San Antonio-LA game last night. The Spurs had to win or else they would pretty much have been toast, and burnt at that. These next two weeks will be a Defining Moment for our team, and I think the way they lost will motivate them to exact payback on the Power. Paul
That's a decent lineup despite it being a 4-4-2. Trina next to Pichon should be good. Tullock playing in Mitts' position will have to do for this game.
What about Fair? She's not listed as injured. I think the best position for her is defender. Leave tullock outside left, Misaki outside right, Hoffman and someone else in the middle. Borisjuk is pathetic and doesn't play defense.
Would you rather have McVeigh? Can Lorrie make it back in time with the terrible weather that's been hitting the east as it has for just about every weekend for the past 2 months? It depends on whether or not her calf injury is healed. Losing Heather is another tough break for a team which has had its share for the remainder of the decade, and it's only 5 weeks into the season. This is where the 16+2 rule sucks big-time. You can't activate Hall or Kruze, and there's been no mention of putting them on the reserve roster. Paul
I'm definitely not a McVeigh fan, but she's better than Borisjuk. Fair is not playing with the N T and isn't listed as injured so I'm guessing she'll play. Maybe not. Why can't you activate Hall or Kruze?