Kansas City vs Chicago (Sat. July 29th, 7:00 PM CST) [R]

Besler and Zusi should be back, availability likely dependent on how much, if at all, they play tomorrow.

 

I'd say there is close to zero chance that Besler and Zusi don't both start on Saturday. They are both in prime fitness, and they will be needed against the Fire.

 

given what they said on the broadcast about why dwyer didn't start in salt lake, i'd presume the same will hold true for zusi and besler. vermes gave everyone on the team a few days off last week, but dwyer didn't get it because he was with the nats. as a result, he gave it to him when he got back. bes and zusi will likely get this weekend off.

 

Unless that reason was BS and the rumored trade was almost done...

 

Drills only. I highly doubt that he will play this week.

 

Hmmm, no Dwyer and no Gerso for Saturday's game. I sure hope the defense is up for this one because it looks like the offense is going to be a bit limp.

 

Golden rule: if given any chance, KC will find any unique way possible to lose to Chicago.

 

Not really sure it'll be unique this time, Chicago is playing well and we have a "makeshift" back line and a forward line that has scored a combined 4 goals this year.

 

C'mon buzz, look at it from a Chicago perspective. You couldn't ask for a better time to play us. Dom is gone into thin air with zero replacement. Gerso is suspended. Ike is hurt. Zusi and besler are in San Fran right now playing full 90 in a highly publicized scrimmage trying to gain a place for Russia.

This is, by definition, a unique situation.

Maybe not as unique as getting run by a crap fire team while playing a 3-5-3 with a rookie CB in the middle like we did in Chicago about four years ago, but still a unique bit of auspices nonetheless.

 

we've got no chance, so let's take it

 

Yeah, I've got lots of friends coming to this one, including some out of towners I never get to see. That means a fun tailgate. And that means a disappointing game.

 

Any news on Lobato? I feel like I haven't heard much of anything with all the Dom discussion.

 

would be nice if he could hit the ground running here with gerso out. i do not want to see saad out there.

 

He's here and I believe available, I'm not sure he starts though I think it'll be Blessing - Rubio - Salloi tonight.

 

Or

Or Medranda in there somewhere.

 

that too, could see Medranda instead of Salloi.

 

No we won't

 

why'd this game get moved up to 7? my parking pass says 7:30.

 

Ike is starting. Don't think I would do that if I were Peter Vermes.

 

Well that was exciting!

Dom who? Seriously though, the front three were fantastic tonight. So much speed. So many quick passes and one-touch movement of the ball. So many dangerous looks. If Salloi, Rubio, and Blessing can continue this upward arc (and that's forgetting that Gerso was out tonight!) then the offense may actually come alive.

I hope Opara really is all better, because dadgum he was amazing again tonight despite the weirdness on Chicago's 2nd goal. And another amazing save from the best GK in MLS.

Our depth is very very good. WAY better than in previous years. When we can sub on Medranda, Lobato, and EPB, that's championship-level depth.

SAS is a good player, no doubt. But Zusi is another level. He created the 2nd goal, and unleashed a rocket of a shot later that SAS probably would not have been able or willing to take. He is such a weapon from the right back spot.

The guys looked fantastic tonight. The two goals allowed were both fluky so I'm not worried about them. Now they get 8 days to rest up and get ready for Atlanta to come to town, and then the USOC semifinal on the 9th. Nice win!

 

Rubio didn't score any goals (should have had the one given to blessing) but he was really good with his movement and passing. I guarantee that Dom would never have made the slick little passes that Rubio slipped to the other forwards. They all seemed on the same attacking page tonight. Great all around performance by the team.