Pre-match: Crew at Philly 8/29/12

I really hope we don't see Julius James on the field. I love the guy, but he has been BAD this year. I'd rather see Gehrig out there than him. With that said, I fully expect James to be out on the field and be the reason we concede at least 1 goal.

What to do with our front 6 remains a mystery. Birchall is sure to start, but outside of that........who knows. Will Meram be back? Will we keep plugging Eddie away until his legs fall off? With the injury worries of Duka/Mirosevic/O'Rourke, can we afford to put them on the field again? How much can Arrieta/Higuain still have in them right now? Can we afford to be without either?

 

Who needs a rest? Gaven, Williams, Marshall, Duka?

 

I will be at the match. I lived in Philly for 25 years and went to High School, College (U of Penn) and Law School (Temple) there. Getting a chance to see my family in over a year. Was at the match with the supporters two years ago (Lenhart scored twice). Love the stadium but Chester is a real dump.

Looking for the Crew to probably rest Williams and Vuk, to be in there and fully expecting Arrieta and Higuarin to start. Higuarin hasn't even gone a full 90 and this is a match where they can bag all three points with Philly being in such disarray, especially on the offense. Have a feeling the Crew will go for the quick strike and then possess the rest of the way.

 

Based on the recent performances of our offense and defense, I say win by 2, 14-12, Higuain with the extra points.

 

Well, we've played 4 games in 11 days, this will be 5 in 14.

Of the field players, Miranda, Marshall, Mendes, Williams, Gaven, and Arrieta have started all 4 previous games. Miranda got 11 minutes off against TFC, and Mendes was injured last week. The rest have gone 90 four times. So, if we are looking for rest candidates, Miranda, Marshall, Williams, Gaven, and Arreita head the list.

I'd think Birchall will be back for certain. Mirosevic had his best game in a Crew uniform last week, but is just returning from injury. As is O'Rourke. I'd leave Miro in, and push Danny O to RB to give Miranda a rest. I'd also start Vuk at LB and push Williams inside, but I don't think Robert will.

Some will depend on how fit Mendes and Andy G are. If both are 100%, then they'll start. I didn't think James was that bad, and I'd prefer him over Gehrig any day.

My XI:
---Lampson (Hammer if healthy)---
O'Rourke--Marshall--Williams---Vukovic
---------Mirsosevic----Birchall------
Renteria--------Higuain-------Duka
-----------------Arrieta----------------

Bench: Hammer (Lampson); Miranda, James (Mendes if healthy); Tchani, Grossman, Gaven, Speas.

My guess at Robert's:

-------Lampson/Hammer------
Miranda--Marshall--James--Williams
-------------O'Rourke------------
Birchall-----Mirosevic------Duka
--------Higuain---Arrieta--------

Bench: Hammer/Lampson; Mendes, Vukovic; Tchani, Grossman, Gaven; Renteria.

 

And if by start again you mean get a hat trick I agree.

 

Domo Arietta. Domo.

 

These are two very different teams then the ones that met in April. We started Finlay, Francis, Schoenfeld and Vargas last time. They had Nowak which was like an anchor.
It looks like Michael Farfan will be out due to yellow card accumulation. If I was going to take a gamble, this is the game I would rest people.
Lampson
Gehrig - Marshall - James - Vukovic
Birchall - Grossman
Renteria - Higuain - Duka
Arrieta (this guy never looks tired)
Bench - Gruenebaum, Williams, Mirosevic, Gaven, Speas, Miranda, Tchani

 

That game was absolutely dreadful, but thanks for our first win of the season.

After a performance bump that lasted several games on account of the coaching change, the Union has returned to being absolutely inept offensively. I would expect your coach, especially with those tired legs, to look to score an early goal and then pack it in for the rest of the game. Maybe the Crew finds a second goal off the counter or a set piece.

 

I would leave Marshall, Williams, Miranda, Mendes , Gaven and Arrieta home. Making them travel and not starting them is almost as bad as having them play. Give them a week off to be ready for Saturday.

 

Per Jardy on Twitter, Hammer is good to go but Mendes is out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring issue

 

No surprise there.

 

Glad to hear Andy is alright. Nothing wrong with what Lampson did at all on Saturday, but Andy has been one of a kind this season.

 

Seems like us and Philly are getting punished via schedule. It's the same as going deep in Open Cup and getting into the CCL without any of the benefits.

 

I would leave Gaven and Miranda home. With Mendes out I'm not sure we can rest Marshal. I think Williams and Arrieta will be fine.

 

Besides, you want to rotate a player or two for rest at a time, not take a whole game off.

 

My head says 1-0 loss. RW is going to play guys who are obviously tired, we're going to try and bunker forever, and we're going to eventually give one up. Hopefully Josh gets moved back into the middle with Marshall and Vuko is good to go on the left. I think that makes our defense 50% better.

I'm curious to see if Arrieta can keep up his current pace. His style of play demands constant hard work to compensate for his lack of size, and if he starts to tire, he's going to be a lot less valuable.

To everyone saying we should leave Gaven at home, you're crazy. Crying infants are his only weakness.

 

This is a good opportunity to rest Andy. Mental mistakes lead to physical mistakes and physical mistakes lead to goals. Dude has never played this many first team games before in a season, and the rest would do him well.

I don't know much about Philly from an offense standpoint, but I'd be tempted to leave Marshall home as well to rest. Getting Vukovic back would be awesome right now, but he hasn't played in a month. He's not ready to go 90 min the way he plays. I'd want to bring him on in the second half regardless of the score.

We are plenty deep at MF, so we can rotate them and bring them along. I'd probably run Higuain and Renteria out there with Vargas and Arrietta as sub options.

 

Me too. He's been doing wonders as the captain of my fantasy team.

 

Running guys into the ground is not smart. I'd rest Gaven, Williams, Miranda, and maybe even Marshall. Somehow, I think Arreita is still OK to go. I'd give the back line a rest, and play with some defensive cover.

-------------Hammer------------
Gehrig--O'Rourke--James--Vukovic
--------Mirosevic---Birchall------
Renteria------Higuain------Duka
---------------Arrieta-------------

Bench: Lampson; Williams, Marshall; Tchani, Grossman; Gaven, +1 (Meram, Speas, Findlay).

I want everyone raring to go for the six pointer at home with Montreal. I think we can beat them with our second team defense.

 

I don't think anyone has taught Higuain or Arrieta the word Bunker yet.

 

I like this lineup, just what I was thinking. But if not starting the guys who have played a ton in the last 4 games, I think you have to leave them in Columbus.

I can't see a guy used to starting being happy to travel and then sit. It doesn't really get them the rest we all think they need either.

 

Blow Out Comb