Chicago - San Jose (Saturday, 5/10) pregame/during-game thread [R]

Chicago - San Jose (Saturday, 5/10) pregame thread

Geez, Goodsie...waste no time! The Flogging in Foxboro just ended.

I will definitely participate in this thread but, for the moment, I need to bask in the glory of this latest victory (and regain objectivity.)

GO QUAKES!!!

 

Chicago - San Jose (Saturday, 5/10) pregame thread

Shouldn't it be Da-scuss?

 

Chicago - San Jose (Saturday, 5/10) pregame thread

I got 'Da Quakes! Sheventy-two to tree.
But, Brian ChaChing will be contained to under fifty-five points.

Oh, dis aint basketball?
Ok.
'Da Quakes Sheventy-tree, zip.



Yallop vs. God in golf, who do you got?
How bout, 'Da One Legged Goose vs. Taylor Twellman, and Carlos Ruiz.




Daaaaa 'Quakes

 

Funny.

 

Let's see, on Chicago.

Who we're up against: Faria and Razov as he is back from suspension I believe.

This probably means that Sarachan will change from a 1 striker to 2 up top formation. I think, on the small field we may have a little trouble shutting down all the space because of how the ball bounces on the turf.

If Goos and Dayak can keep Razov and Faria from getting chances, there's a good chance of Razov getting flustered, and Faria disappearing all together.

In the centre of the park we need to watch Beasley and Williams. I don't like to think of DaMarcus being 'watched' by Corrales so much, so we'll need to rough him up before he can get into the final third making runs and creating space for Willaims to find their forwards.

Armas will undoubtedly be in charge of 'nudging' Donovan s he progresses toward goal, but realistically, if we saty off the wings until reaching the 18 and play through the middle, we will control the pace of the game and take the Fire faithful out of the match.

Now, the back 3 or is it 4, we'll know on game day. We can expect Boca to be on Donovan like a cheap suit, so then it's going to come dow to how much space he can create for the likes of Lagos, Mullan, and Ching. (Don't forget Corrales also can score).

If Curtain is the man on Ching, and considering they're both not the fastest of players, Ching will need to find ways of letting Donovan draw both central defenders to give him shots.

On headers I expect us to lose in percentage, so we can't rely on crosses to score, we need quick combination, one-touch passing in and around the penalty box, using the Chicago defense as a screen so that we can take hard, fast, low shots that have a better chance of beating Thorton.

The wingers need to cut inside and have a go at goal or dish it off and make penetrating runs for us to really give Chicago fits.

Bottom line: There are only 2 possible outcomes for the match.

Quakes 1-0 Chicago Lagos (Donovan, Dunivant)

or

Quakes 1-1 Chicago Beasley (Williams)

 

I haven't gotten to see Chicago play yet this season. I'm hoping that our guys are comfortable on the small pitch and the weirdness of the bogus turf doesn't through them too much.

Chicago has allow three goals in three matches. I say they give up two more against the Mighty San Jose EarthQuakes!!

Quakes 2 - 1 Fire
Goals by Ching - Donovan, Mullan with at least one assist.
Faria for Chicago

GO QUAKES!!

- Mark

 

I'm most worried about that horrible pitch in Chicago. Otherwise, Chicago still looks to be a work in progress. Fire 1-2 Quakes.

 

Main priority: getting out of the FieldTurf/NextTurf diarrhea of a pitch without injury. When it comes to playing in Chicago, wins or losses are almost secondary.

Having said that, this is also a winnable game. The field is similar to Spartan in terms of dimendsions and we all now how well the Quakes play in Spartan. The back line should be able to shut down the Fire due to the tight confines. Waibel and Dunivant will have to be able to pay it out of the corner often and ably, keeping the Quakes out of trouble.

Hopefully Donovan with his speed can slip through the Fire's back line, maybe off a Ching header flick on, to steal a goal and the Quakes ride it to victory.

Also, Mulrooney needs to disrupt the Fire's midfield like he always does (he may be the best in the league at this, the more I watch him).

Prediction? 1-0 Quakes, Donovan in '57 (Ching).

 

We have to remember that Donovan/Mulronney will be joinging the team on Friday in Chicago after the NATs duty on Thursday.

With Donovan almost certain to start on Thursday (and probably be the one of the main target for Mexicans), it'd be interesting to see if Donovan can put in full 90 minutes.

It'd be a tough game with a thin bench, and a couple of tired players returning from the NATs duty....

 

Excellent point.

Off the top of my head, Beasley is the only player with a similar situation for the Fire.

 

Armas got called in also.

Did you see in Jeff Bradley's interview with Bruce Arena that Arena wants to get a look at Corrales?

tony

 

Bocanegra will start for the nats, too

 

and Armas

 

I don't think Armas will be starting, but might be a sub. Similar to what happened again Venezula with Earnie.

May 10th will be a great game. (Hopefully!)

 

no guaranty whatsoever Armas will get the starting nod v. Mexico. in fact i'd be highly surprised. heck, he's only payed 3 MLS games since his injury; i don't think ths qualifies him as being ready for a tough friendly v Mexico. meanwhile Pablo's been playing well ever since (more or less) last summer.

even Mulrooney might play ahead of Armas. i think Bruce just wanted to call Armas into camp for his confidence and to acknowledge he is still part of his plans.

having said that, i could be totally wrong. if Armas does go the full 90 or close to it, i don't expect him to play on saturday as coming off an injury such as his, i don't think that would be a good idea and sarachan's smart enough to recognize it.

 

o. i see firegirl beat me to it.

and in much fewer words!!

 

Chicago - San Jose (Saturday, 5/10) pregame thread

Da 'Quakess Ninety-seven to zip.

 

It'll be an interesting game. Chicago has a great upside, but I think the Quakes can edge it.

Chicago will have tired 'veterans' in Beasley, Bocanegra and possibly Armas. Williams, Faria and Razov however will be fully fit and itching to go, but the supporting cast will have inexperience (although there is plenty of talent).

The Quakes will have Donovan tired, and possibly Mulrooney. The backline will be completely intact and rested, with Agoos fully focused on marshalling the defense.

The Quakes don't have the depth, but they certainly have a well working starting 11 with good experience. We might see the introduction of Alvarez and Roner into the match due Donovan and Mulrooney possibly being tired.

Despite the lack of experience, the Fire have shown character. They scored three goals after being down 2-0 to win against DC(?).

No matter what. It's going to be an entertaining game.

 

Re: Chicago - San Jose (Saturday, 5/10) pregame thread

Now if only we had Ditka....

Fire 279: 3 Quakes

 

Re: Re: Chicago - San Jose (Saturday, 5/10) pregame thread

...and Kovalenko? I told you a better name for the Chicago team would have been "The Giancanas."

 

Quakes 1-0

Another clean sheet for the "D"

 

I don't have a good feeling about this match. The field turf crap gives Chicago a real advantage, our squad hasn't had the displeasure of playing on it yet so they won't be able to adjust to the awkward ball movement. The Fire match up well with us and at their home will do better. Final:
Quakes-0
Fire-2
Or at best:
Quakes-1
Fire-1

 

Chicago - San Jose (Saturday, 5/10) pregame thread

I think if we keep our shape defensively they'll have a tough time breaking us down. Mullen v. Beasley will be a key match-up if Beaz is on the left. I expect a 0-0 or one goal game.

Unless of course the Quakes are inspired by my presence at Cardinal stadium, sporting Earthquakes blue. Then we'll win 5-0.