Alright, we got an ugly, but good result this week. Time to build on that and get a solid win from our arch-nemisis. I'm worried about what our line-up will be. These are issues so far: -- Hejduk, Martino, and Cunny will be gone with the Nats for the next several games -- Oughton is ought with the Kiwi team -- Mais and Buddle are still recovering from injury, maybe Mais will be back this week -- Walsh has to sit from his Red Card this week That means we could be missing up to 1 defender, 2 mids, and 1 forward. We have McCarty, Akwari, Denton, and Torres that are floating about for spots right now. Out of these 4 we will make up our outside backs, I believe. We need a D-mid. If Mais isn't healthy, I'm going to say McCarty gets the nod here. We could play Paule as the A-mid and West on the right... ugh, I hate the sound of that. This is the last boarding call for the United Airlines flight from Dulles to Columbus, Mr. Washington, please come to the ticket counter. Time to call in the DPs!
You know it... And why not? It's our first match this season against these bastards. My major concern is getting a result and not having anybody injured by this group of EuroHacks. With our limited roster at the moment, it could be the worst thing to happen. Additional thoughts, who has a link to Arena's roster over the next few weeks. I'm curious to see who will be gone from DC next week.
How strict are MLS rules regarding the number of players on the pitch? Maybe we can talk DC into playing 10v10 or 9v9 ? Hmm, I'm not even sure if I can name 11 players who will be available next week. Lets see: Busch Akwari (???) Clark Dunseth Torres Mccarty Garcia Paule Denton West McBride Bench: Presthus. Period. Please tell me that I'm forgetting someone. Or better yet, please tell me that Mais will be back! Who else is eligible to play for us? Trevor Perea? Michael Ritch? Greg better take it easy on the guys in practice this week. The last thing we need is someone getting hurt.
As for DC, they're scheduled to be missing Stewart, Convey, and Nelsen. From DC's website, here's their lineup from last night: Nick Rimando, Galin Ivanov, Mike Petke, Brandon Prideaux, Ben Olsen (Jose Alegria 75), Marco Etcheverry, Dema Kovalenko, Ryan Nelsen, Bobby Convey, Ali Curtis, Eliseo Quintanilla (Alecko Eskandarian 62). Substitutes Not Used: Devin Barclay, Brian Carroll, Bryan Namoff, Hristo Stoitchkov, David Stokes, Doug Warren
I think that's what we are going to see as well. If Mais is ready - and I think we have to assume not - I bet we either plug him back in at d-mid and slide McCarty to right back (pushing Akwari to the bench), or sit Denton, flip Garcia to the left, and let Mais and Paule work out who plays wide right and who plays centrally. Walsh's suspension really hurts. I felt - even after watching MLS Wrap - that he was a bit hard done to get a yellow on that tackle. It was a little late, but his studs weren't showing.
Sounds like Buddle MIGHT be able to go a little on Saturday, judging from what Dwight said on the post game show last night, but that's not even close to a sure bet. Mais should be able to go for a few minutes as well, which will help. But we're going to be ridiculously thin regardless.
I'm too drunk right now to write anything except i hate dc. this is the biggest game of the season yet.
I hate DCFilth more. Walsh WAS a bit harshly treated, but he's an unknown rookie nobody and can't get away with anything. Hell, a guy like Hristo or CJ Brown or Jolley does worse stuff than that during warmups. Did I mention how much I hate The Filth? And Ray Hudson is a puffed up old drunken fraud who was cleaning swimming pools until he got a job with MLS. Rode some players on a hot streak once and is now being shown to be the piece of crap he always was. Starts in whining at the Refs during the National Anthem. I hate him too.
I hope Marco Dingleberry gets kicked in the balls and has to leave the game because of internal bleeding.
Makes him perfect for DC, doesn't it! He'll be First Assistant Secretary of the Department of Bureaus when his coaching days are over.
I'm sure he could have been paid more as Saddam's Information Minister. "The reports are a lie! DC is not winless, they have won every game they have ever played."
The filth will be on the 3rd game in 7 days. i don't know whether that is good or bad. I don't wanna see them get up a head of steam after beating Colorado on Wed since I think we are still vulnerable a bit with some injuries. However I would like to see them win and get a bit confident only to have three put by them at home in a loss.
My one concern with the DC game is that Ali Curtis is fast as crap as well as Quintanilla- Crew has an average to slow defense. That leaves us with one last hope for our defense- tackling, which makes me thing McCardme will be starting again. I just don't know who else to put back there... I guess we put in our very best posession midfield and hope to limit their forward's touches.
I guess I'll start the rampant speculation... assuming Buddle and Mais are a go... .......BMB.....Buddle Denton...Mais...Paule....West Torres....Clark...Dunseth...McCarty ...........Busch I know some people would rather start garcia, but personally I like him as an offensive sub off the bench at this point. And frankly he was awful this past Saturday. Paule starts as the attacking mid and Mais in the familiar dmid role. McCarty gets the start on the right side cause I don't think Akwari is ready yet. assuming neither Mais nor Buddle can go (though at this point I think its most likely Mais goes and Buddle doesn't) ..........BMB.....West... Denton....Paule (a)...McCarty (d)...Walsh Torres...Clark...Dunseth...Akwari ..........Busch I look at that lineup and it scares the hell outta me, two injuries and 4 callups and suddenly we just don't seem deep at all. Especially since the only offensive sub at that point with experience is Garcia, and we have about nothing to sub in defensively... Most Likely though I see Mais being back and Buddle only back as a late game sub so.... .................BMB......West..... Denton....Mais (d)...Paule (a).....Walsh Torres...Clark...Duseth....McCarty ......Busch All in all, in the next few weeks one thing I know is west has gotta step up his game, cause he'll be getting starts up top or on either wing nearly every game, I think. Wow.
True enough. I still would rather have him as an offensive weapon off the bench than to have him start.Especially given he's probably still recovering a bit and may miss some training time this week due to the pneumonia (god thats a hard word to spell).
Hopefully Buddle and Mais will be ready to go. If they are I'd much rather see this lineup: ----------Presthus---------- McCarty-Clark-Dunseth--Torres -----------Mais-------------- Paule-----Garcia--------Denton -------Buddle--McBride------ I say Presthus because it's about time he gets some minutes and he's always played really well against DC, not a knock on Busch game. I've always been a big "wait for West, I think he might have something to show" guy, but after his minutes last week, West is dead to me. He's horrible and I don't want to see him on the pitch anymore then I really need to. Also a little note to Denton. Can the Denton that played during the streatch run last year and about 5 good games this year, please show up at RFK. I like that Denten. That Denton is a good player, with a great upside. The one we are seeing now is compleate crap and dangerously close to becoming another West to me. I sure hope the DPs are ready to go because the Crew are going to need them. Traeger can help out in the RB spot late in games. Akwari can go RB or CB, he even has the speed and build to fill in at D-mid if pressed. Perea has played cen-mid roles for the Riverhwaks and has gotten some pretty good praise and a goal. His size makes him a question mark. Ritch can add depth to the forward position, but hasn't gotten many minutes with Syracuse although he has a goal after only playing 69' so far. Mack can play LM or forward.
That's the problem with watching half-drunk on TV. He did some very good things even on the right side. Mostly when he wasn't in camera range.