What members of the squad will be missing for the April 19th RFK match? I know several players will be missing due to national team duty on some level or another, but not sure who they are. I guess Convey, Quaranta, and Eskandarian are among those who will be missing? ----------Rimando------------- --Reyes----Ivanov----Petke--- ----------Nelsen--------------- Olsen----Alegria-------Kovalenko -----------Etcheverry--------- --Stoichkov------Stewart------- Is my guess if the three listed above, and only those three are missing
I would modify that to be Curtis or Q2 starting over Hristo, since he is more attuned to being a late game sub.
Re: Re: Home Opener Lineup I was thinking that, but given Ray's love of Hristo and Ali's super sub status, maybe it would be Q2, but I can forsee a big Bulgarian turnout at our opener.
............Rimando Reyes.....Ivanov......Petke ....Etcheverry...Nelsen Olsen........Q2.........Kovalenko ...Stoitchkov...Stewart I think Bryan is right about using Hristo in the home opener, and who could blame Hudson for this when the attacking depth is away at a tournament. It will be early in the season, so I imagine Hristo will be pretty fit. If he lasts a half, that’s fine, bring in Ali at the half.
I see our opening day lineup like this -------Rimando Reyes Ivanov Petke -------Nelsen Olsen Etch Convey -------Kovalenko ----Stewart Alecko
I'd love to see Stoich in the starting lineup on opening day, but I have a feeling the marketing dept. is going to try and make sure it's Q2 instead. Understandable. Would love to see some more experimenting with Q1 in midfield - if I had to, I'd wager that's where he'll end up eventually.
Convey will be away with the U-20s. I'd put Kovalenko in Convey's position, Stewart in Kovalenko and Q2 in Stewarts. Sachin
I'm going to try something a little different. --------------------Rimando---------------------- ---------Petke------Ivanov--------Prideaux------- -------------Reyes----------Nelsen-------------- ----Olsen-----------------------------Kovalenko-- ---------------------Etcheverry------------------ ------------Stewart------------Stoichkov-------- With two holding mids, this would allow Dema and Olsen to attack more. And you'd probably also see Etch dropping back further and Reyes and Nellie taking turns making runs up to support or into the box. The only sub I know for sure would likely be made is Curits/Alecko for Stoichkov sometime in the second half.
I think most people are missing the fact that in a 352, Etcheverry plays very deep. As such putting him just behind the forwards is a mistake. Because of this fact, putting Etcheverry along side twin d-mids makes for a very defensive team, one that would only score on a mistake by the opposing defense. I don't think Hudson will go that route especially since we are talking about a game at home, not away. Another consideration: -Will Stoichkov be in game shape? We won't know that until the season starts but at any rate, Hristo is too old to go the whole game. Possibly he'll start, but more likely he'll sub in. So the lineup, with notes on why and possible alternatives, line by line: Defense ------------Rimando Reyes------Ivanov-----Petke ------------Nelsen I think this will be our base defense, without knowing more about Ivanov. Prideaux is definitely the odd man out here and with Stokes around, trade bait for sure. Very possibly this defense will often look like Ivanov and Petke being the back two guys with Nelsen being a forward sweeper-type and Reyes doing his "roving destroyer" thing. A lot will depend on those four communicating well. Offensive midfield: Olsen------Etcheverry-----Alegria ------------Kovalenko Like the defense, a lot will depend on these four guys communicating well with each other because all four can switch positions and Ray will want that to happen. Still there will be tendencies going on: Again, Etch plays deep and is in many ways the link between defense and offense. Kovalenko by all accounts works best in the center of the field, not on the wing. If he played on the wing it would be at right wing, Olsen's slot and that's just not gonna happen. Left wing is a real unknown with Convey out. I put Alegria as the default here because he's played the position last year, unlike anyone else on the team. There are other possibilities though: Q2- The problem here is his speed. That's a huge problem on the wing. Chino is slow; Elisio is glacial. I can imagine Q2 in the midfield but at central midfield with lots of cover behind him. Stewart- Earnie is a possibility to play in various midfield spots if Hudson feels that his other forwards can do the job. I don't think that will be true this early in the season, at least to start, but I can imagine that later in the season, particularly with injuries we may see Earnie at various midfield spots. Woodstock- Exactly how good is our rookie? None of us knows of course but noises from Hudson make it seem like he could be a serious contender for serious PT in midfield and with Convey out and no obvious replacement, Ray might throw the kid in. Forwards: -------Earnie-----Eski Earnie is a given unless circumstances make him go to the midfield. It's also about time for us ffans to realize that Hudson is serious in his compliments of Escandarian and that Eski will be contending for a starting spot. Since Q1 is not available then Eski starts. Right now neither Curtis or Q2 are viable contenders to start; they need to hope that they make the team really. Thus the only other possible starter at forward is Hristo and with this logic, along with the possibility of Stewart in the midfield, Hristo might partner with Eski in this game. I do put this possibility at <35% though.
Actually, both Tino and Bobby should be suited up at RFK for the opener.. The U-20 WC tournament ends on April 16th, 3 days before the home opener.. It all depends on how the USA does on whether they are ready to play for the home opener.. If the USA bombs out in pool play, they should both be back for the season opener in KC on the 12th as well.. So, with that being said, this is what the lineups will look like with/without the duo.. With Tino and Bobby: ---------------------- Rimando ------------------ Reyes -------------- Ivanov -------------- Petke --------------------- Nelsen --------------------- Olsen --------------- Etch --------------- Convey -------------------- Kovalenko ------------------- -------------- Stewart ------ Tino/Esky ---------- Without Tino and Bobby: --------------------- Rimando ------------------- Petke -------------- Ivanov ------------ Prideaux -------------------- Nelsen ---------------------- Reyes -------------- Etch --------------- Olsen ------------------ Kovalenko -------------------- ------------- Stewart ----- Esky ----------------- A couple of factors here.. If Esky starts the opener in KC and bags a goal and generally plays well, look for him to start even if Tino is available.... Look for Prideaux to step in at left back, moving Petke to right back and pushing Reyes up to right mid and Benny over to left mid.. Don't look for Hristo to start any matches this season unless we lose Stewart, Esky, Tino and Q2 to injuries or suspension.. Hristo is a 30 minute man at most from now on...
Another nugget here.... With our newfound depth in defense, the midfield "problem" with Convey being out is a no brainer in my book.. Simply push Reyes up to right midfield and switch Ben over to the left.. No need for the twin glaciers Q2 and Chino to play the flank.. In fact, if either Kovalenko or Etcheverry miss time during the season, fully expect Hudson to deploy the Reyes/Olsen wing midfield with Convey pushing inside to fill in for either Marco or Dema, depending on who is out....