FC Dallas - San Jose Earthquakes (Saturday, 7/2) pregame thread

Drum'r Boy couldn't agree more. Thanks for summing that up.

 

A very fair assesment. Valid concerns.

Except one thing. With home field advantage, I fear it will be very difficult for you to take us down in a one-game playoff. Because as I see it, either Real or Colorado is going to be four, and we'll most likely beat them. It would not surprise me to see you beat LA in your series, no matter who has "home field advantage." So if it is you and us in the conference final at The Hut.... I. Man. Uh. Whew. No real way to be nice about this - we're gonna' kill you. At that point, we will have Mark Wilson in and up to speed, and should have EJ and Ruiz back 100%.

I mean, really. We're the top of the league and we've played two thirds of our games *on the road.* And two thirds of our games without Richard Mulrooney, and almost a month without Ruiz and over a month (total) without EJ. When healthy, and at home.... It ain't gonna' be pretty, my friend.

And unlike the Rev, you can't play the expansion card because you've struggled against them whereas we haven't.

So first off, you'd better start on Saturday if you're going to catch us. And you had better do it by August 15 because when Wilson comes in, we will have basically a replacement for Mulrooney with an incredibly improved ROB (who basically raised his game when Richard went down - even *I* didn't think Ronnie had this in him), and still Ruiz and EJ up top.

I just . . . . just don't see it happening.

Oh, and in terms of being playoff tested - don't you think being tested by the injuries gives you an idea of what this team is made of? For all intents and purposes, our best XI at the start of the season was:

EJ-Ruiz-ROB
Richard-Talley
Simo
Wags-Vanney-Goodson-Rhine
Garlick

We lost Richard for the season, Talley for over a month, Wags for three weeks (then GBandi stepped up and has taken over), EJ basically since the end of May and Ruiz since June 12.

Now a good team, a strong team, can handle one or the other (injuries or road). But both?

Against Chivas, we played seven different players who had less than 5 games of MLS experience. Seven. For all intents and purposes, that was our d-mid, gk, central defensive leader and our reserve side out there (and no, ROB didn't play). Against a team you have yet to beat.

So forgive me if I hesitate to think that we have a strong team with a strong chance of being in the MLS Cup Final as long as we don't suffer too many more injuries - knock on wood - or lose focus.

 

All valid points but the Quakes have shown the ability to overcome huge odds in the playoffs before, remember the Galaxy game in 2003?

 

Yep. Different teams, my friend. I'm not saying it is impossible. But lightening like that striking twice?

No Donovan, no Mulrooney?
Against a better team? Yes, I think we're a better team than that LA side.

And didn't you have the HFA? Wasn't that in a two game set?

It will be interesting to see. I will have more faith in this possibility of yours if you show well tomorrow.

What I expect to see, though, is a relatively tight Dallas win, then LA and NE tying on Monday, and Clarke is the All-Star coach. (LA might win their game, but I will be surprised if NE wins.)

 

Would your team mind dressing a field player up in green and yellow and placing "DONOVAN" on the back with number 10? I think we'd always have a chance then.

 

If he doesn't count against our XI and we get to kick the crap out of him too, I'm sure we'd be willing to oblige ya'.

 

Moneypenny - have you lived in Northern California very long? We really don't like San Francisco being called "Frisco"......that's what SoCal people call it.

But, I like your confidence in making a bet about the game this weekend.

 

There is a good article about the Quakes on mlsnet.com.

Here is the link.
http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20050701&content_id=35262&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

 

heard that o'rourke is definitely getting the start in DeRo's absence.

I think we'll truly see the benefits of the reserve team. I feel much better about putting him in there because of it. I'm gonna love seeing his fire and passion back in the game. I hope Dallas packs extra band-aids and ice packs.

I love knuckles, but that is definitely gonna change our team. specifically, it's gonna put pressure on Chung and Mullan because we probably won't have as much offense built through the middle as we've had the past few games.It

 

And Chung and Barrett will have their hands full with O'Brien, so I'm thinking that it will come down to Mullan and Gray if we are gonna create much. Although after watching Clark run down the middle last game it might just be possible that he'll contribute to something too.

 

Hahahaha! Comparing a USOC to a MLS Cup? The Quakes have never fielded their strongest teams in USOC, I can't seriously think you'd compare the two.

On the comparison of schedules, I don't think expansion teams are going to be in the playoffs. Compare the rest of our schedules:

Quakes: 5-3-3 against non expansion teams
Dallas: 5-2-3 against non expansion teams

Doesn't look too different does it?

You were TIED 1-1 with Colorado with 5 minutes left in the game. That game was as close as our game until the final minutes.

And we played with "pretty much everyone"? Hello! We were without Brian Ching, Brad Davis, Craig Waibel, Troy Dayak, 4 starters from our opening day roster. And Brian Mullan was playing for the first time in a month and a half!

On the game tomorrow, as I've posted, I agree that Dallas should be favored, the team has played great.

On the prospects for playoffs, we're not even halfway through the season, and the long hot summer can do strange things to a club. Counting your team into the MLS Cup now is just a tad premature. Yes, you'll have back Johnson and others. But we've been at least as impacted as you by injuries and Nat Team callups, so I don't agree that you've had to deal with anything more than we have.

Let's get ready to rumble!!!!!

 

Haha. Your a [******* ********].
1st round exit (as usual), coming right up.

 

For reals, the Stars are weak. The Sharks would tear them up.
I think their whole team is still scared of Owen Nolan.

 

just making sure: but nolan was traded to Toronto, right?

while dallas may suck at many things, their hockey team has a cup and yours does not. however, my avalanche have two. so bollocks on both of teams!

 

Sorry Ringo, you do not list the Avs on your "official list of teams" on your BS profile....so I'm afraid you are forbidden from calling them "my avanalanche"

 

Yea Nolan is a Maple Leaf now. He hasn't done much since the Sharks traded him.

 

Nobody has done much in the past year.

 

It's a shame that the Quakes and some other teams don't take the USOC seriously. Cup competitions are awesome and this is the oldest soccer contest in the US. It'd be nice if it turned into the "FA Cup" of the US, with all the thrills of giantkilling etc. Would also be nice if they could increase the prize money, whicj would probably be the best way to get more interest from teams. Right now the team in each lower league that goes the furthest gets $10k and the winner gets $100k which isn't much. If they increased the prize money to say $500k, and allowed the winner to apply it over and above their salary cap the following season I betcha we'd see some teams take more interest.

 

I never called them "my avanalanche"
I called them "my avalanche"

 

First, they wouldn't apply the money to the cap next year. Take the Quakes as an example. Say they won the Open Cup last year ... you're telling me that money would be better spent on Moreno and Cerritos instead of rewarding Mulrooney and Donovan who actually won the darn thing? the money should go to the players who won it.

Second, just write out a $400,000 check and they'll get right on it. I mean, the money's gotta come from somewhere and it's not like they're beating sponsors off with a stick.

 

If the list of Quakes traveling was correct, then it would seem that the plan to drop Cerritos into AM and insert Nash up front might have some validity--given that there was no mention of Russell traveling.

IMO, there have been some good points raised on the shape this game will take...namely:

The Quakes shouldn't hope to shut Dallas out but I don't think it is myopic to believe that the SJ defense will virtually shut them down. Since Califf's arrival, the back 4 have been WAY more settled. To me, that was never more evident than the composure they displayed on Wednesday vs. Colorado. Everytime the Crapids would start to make noise, the defense would calmly step in and snuff out the attack.

Dallas should not expect to dominate SJ just because they have been "winning with less against good teams." That same mantra befits the Quakes--perhaps moreso than FCD. Note...the Quakes played a very disorganized season opener at home against NE, who has emerged as the elite team in the league this season (sorry, FCD but they are a bit stronger.) SJ also held Dallas to a scoreless tie and has played even with the Galaxatives. SJ has handled some of the league's top teams while still figuring out their game. Even after our disasterous start to the season, here we are still in 2nd place despite many key injuries and untimely defensive misadventures early on.

To me, it would seem that the Quakes have enough firepower up front to score and, as stated, the defense has been virtually impenetrable over the last 6 weeks. The absence of DeRo and Davis is the biggest deal. Possession and service to the forwards will be the key. If Chung has a good game and Mullan regains a bit more of his usual form, I give SJ a good chance of winning this game. If SJ allows O'Brien to control the midfield, it'll be a long night.

I'm not worried about Mina being hot lately because he has yet to face a defense this good. The absence of EJ and Ruiz will be significant...that places a helluva lot of burden on Ronnie O.

Quakes 1, FCD 1.

 

I don't think anyone has stooped to name calling just yet. Congratulations on being the first dirtbag to do so.

I'll take 1 Stanley Cup to none, thank you very much. How many finals have you made? Oh, is that zero? Huh.

 

Don't think so...if you check out Kinnear's conversation, he talks about using O'Rourke, Wondolowski and Hart in the midfield but no mention of Cerritos. He also says he might slide Chung over to the middle, or he might put O'Rourke in.

Would expect Nash to come off the bench at forward for either Cerritos or Moreno in the second half.

Your other points are right on, though. The Quakes could definitely shut down Dallas, and make it very difficult for them to score. And Mullan and Chung might be able to work together to create some dangerous opportunities.

I predict the Quakes squeak out a win, 1-0. Moreno will score, assist from Mullan.

 

Agreed, sportsfan-quakes. I admit, I have not read DK's conversation this week, so I was not aware of his considerations for the midfield but I do like the idea of Nash coming off the bench....mostly because we don't have any other forwards to sub in right now. Besides, I think Chung is very capable of doing the AMid thing. He's done it in the past (pre-Quakes) and would be an experienced, calm quarterback out there. Then, we don't have to mess with the chemistry that Cerritos/Moreno have developed.

Just hope Mullan has a solid game this week. I have a feeling his contribution from the midfield will have a great deal to do with the outcome.

My XI:

Onstad

Gray, Califf, Robinson, Barrett

Mullan, O'Rourke, Chung, Clark

Cerritos, Moreno