I'm a little less optimistic, we have been on a roll, they are like a cornered animal with the coaches job on the line. It's not gonna be as easy as everyone is predicticting i think, especially with the defensive woes we have. i think we will give up a goal or two, but will score a few too Quakes 3 Crew 2 on another stoppage time goal (Cerritos, Gray, and someone from the bench for the winner maybe nash, Buddle, Ridriguez)
I hope you don't mean that Buddle or Mario Rodriguez is going to score the winner for the Crew? Maybe you're expecting them to give us an own goal?
hell no, i know I'm pessimistic but not that pessimistic. three for da quakes two for the crew, last time i looked nash, gray and cerritos were playing for us, and no way is gray gonna score an own goal just cos hes at center half :gulp:
Firstly - Losgatosfan - please accept me belated gratitude for the practice update, I usedta go to them while livin' in that neck'o'thewoods - and loved watching Frankie and ironically Brian Quinn administer them; Lothar + Laurie - did not care for. Definitely - the practice opens up a lot of possibilities for the game. Secondly - I'd be a LOT more concerned mit the feet, ankles and thighs of my D, as opposed to 3 points in C-bus. Questions : a/ Does second vs. third place in the group REALLY means anything in the playoffs? In 2003 and 2004 it seemingly did - yet, I'm not convinced. b/ Am I the only one who has conceded the Divsion to "Eklund for Life"'s avatar? Just 'cause I'd rather have a healthy team come the playoffs, and a team mit Joey in the net can upset anyone?
The top team has won 4 out of 9 MLS cups (La 2002, KC 2000, DC 99, Dc 97) The 4th place team (overall) has won twice (Quakes tied for 4th in 2001, DC 99) The Third place team overall has won twice (DC 96, Chicago 96) 2nd place team overall won once (Quakes 2003) So definately if you're in a 2nd/3rd place playoff in your division there is hope
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Stop doing this! Stop! Stop! For the love of Almightly Ra, Stop!
Even though it is always tough to win in somebody else's place, I'm not overly worried this week because Cbus is nearly as shorthanded as we are. Watching their games in recent weeks, they've said that the biggest problem the Crew has had is lack of service from the midfield. They had placed a great deal of that burden on Martino (though Elliot and Rodriguez do their fair share w/ Mario carrying the ball forward more than delivering passes.) This week, Martino is out w/ a red card suspension. Even with a patchwork defense, I believe our Quakes are enough of a team to mark the forwards and not let Rodriguez get many touches...when he does, don't let him run free. After that, it's just a matter of holding the ball and patiently waiting for chances. I like the Quake in this one....2-0.
Andrulis' job has "been on the line" (at least with the fans) for a couple months now and the team hasn't really been playing any better. I think until there's real pressure from the FO for him to either step things up or be out of a job, nothing's really going to change. I don't really expect the Quakes to roll big over the Crew, but I expect nothing less than a win. I say 2-0 with goals from Moreno and Chung.
So getting back to our chances this weekend . . . the Crewless have been neither good, nor lucky this season. Our defense could be a little bit shakey, but our offense should have no problem with their defense. I'm going to predict a 2 -1 Quakes victory. I expect our guys to dominate. The Crewless just don't have what it takes right now. GO QUAKES!! - Mark
Crew-3......Quakes-3 Buddle 12 Martino 20 Mullan 31 Moreno 45 Buddle 67 Nash 79 Buddle will exploit Cochrane with two header goals and many more close calls.
Has there been any news as to what our back line is going to be with both Califf and ERob out ??? Personally, I would just play with three in the back ... - Onstad - -Gray - Chochrane - Barrett- -O'Rourke - Rico- -Mullan - Chung - Russell -Cerritos- Moreno-
I imagine it'll be something like this: ---Onstad--- Aloisi---Gray---Cochrane---Barrett Mullan---Clark---O'Rourke---Chung Cerritos---Moreno However if Cochrane is hurt and can't play, slip Aloisi into his spot and play Hart at RB. Subs: Nash, Russell, possibly Wondolowski
[rain on parade] May I remind everyone that the last time this board was so optimistic about winning we tied Chivas 3-3? [/rain on parade] I am not so confident. I mean, we have something like seven or eight starters missing (counts: Waibel, Dayak, Ching, Davis, DeRo, E'Ro, Califf, ?Cochrane?). We are essentially throwing our reserve team defense at an MLS team, and we are missing our two primary assist guys (Davis, DeRo) and our best finisher (Ching). I don't get where the confidence comes from. That said, I do see us as having a solid chance. I have a lot of faith in Dom's abilities as a coach (heck, he spent all last year practicing how to shuffle a line-up when facing injuries), and I think we will see a decent performance with solid team defense. I do worry, however, about our offensive production. The way I see it, every game has a certain number of lucky bounces, calls, je ne sais quoi. I think this game will come down to ONE moment of luck. If it falls our way, then we will win, if not, we will tie -- or lose. Prediction: 0-0
You sure have a lot more confidence in Crew's offense than anyone over on Crew boards.. And yes, Martino is out due to red card. Usually that's a good thing for the opposing club, but in Martino's case; I think it favors Crew.
So - Hejduk, Glenn, Martino, Szetela are out. Still a team fielding Buddle, Elliott, Henderson unt Marshall (set pieces) should be scoring sumpm. Methinks - C-bus players are fed up w. de Coach - or morale simply at all time low. Now, I always liked Jonny Walker (der shpieler, when it comes to scotch nuttn kin beat Edradour) since his Chilean days fin FSE, and he got sumpm to prove - a la "please keep Busch on de bench next year, I'm not a rent-a-keep" ; so dat boychik will be standing on his head and C-bus can do woise den deir current 2 center D's altho' suspeniosn is looming over Fraser. Dom has eloquently pointed out towards service cutoff to Buddle - that'd be O'Rourke - IMHO; if dat actually materializes - it's either 0 - 0; or 1 - 0 Quakes on an outside de box angle screened shot by Mullan or Ronnie. Well - this year - it could be an own goal by Marshall.
just found this little tid-bit of info... -Just check out San Jose's incredible 62 game run over the past five years when it has scored first. The Earthquakes own a 52-3-7 record during that time. This season alone they are already 5-0-3 when scoring first. let's hope we score first!
Yes, I posted this after yesterday's practice earlier in this thread (p3) Projected starters (based on 11 v 11 at Wednesday practice): Onstad Hart - Gray - Cochrane - Barrett Mullan - O'Rourke - Clark - Chung Moreno - Cerritos The only question is whether or not Cochrane will be able to go; he participated fully in practice yesterday, so you'd think he would be able to. But Dom is taking both Aloisi and Goldthwaite as possible subs, along with Cochrane and Robinson, for defense, and it will be a game day decision on who dresses (looks like it will be one defensive sub, along with Conway, Nash, Wondolowski, and Russell). If Cochrane can't go, then it would probably be Aloisi in the middle in his place.