Metroscum squeaked out a tie at home against the Revolution today. Time for the Fire to start welcoming Bob back to Soldier Field! One quick question how does the midweek Nats game affect this match. Fire has armas and Damarcus going. Metroscum have Jonny Walker, Pope .. anyone else?
Re: League Game 5 :: Metrostars; 1 May 7:30p [R] Nope. (plus a bunch of extra characters to please the BigSoccer gods)
Re: League Game 5 :: Metrostars; 1 May 7:30p [R] You sure you don't have to have lunch with your Uncle in Canada between doing homework with your girlfriend and running a track meet?
Re: League Game 5 :: Metrostars; 1 May 7:30p [R] The Scum's draw means that a Fire win this weekend will push us into first place in the division. Not a bad spot to be in for a team that has scored one league goal so far. Any word on Razov's satus? Can we count on Andy Williams to have his usual game against the Metros? Who does Jamaica have this week?
League Game 5 :: Metrostars; 1 May 7:30p [R] I remember a time when these threads wouldn't start popping up 'til around wednesday.
Re: League Game 5 :: Metrostars; 1 May 7:30p [R] Chicago Fire v. New Jersey Metrostars Preview: Coming off a win against D.C. United, in which they secured a vital three points, the Chicago Fire will be looking to move into first place in the Eastern Conference with a win over the New Jersey Metrostars. The match-up will prove Chicago's most difficult of the season. While the Metrostars momentum was dampened by a draw with New England this past weekend, head coach Bob Bradley will be looking to take three points from his former team. Chicago Fire Starting Eleven I expect we'll see a line-up similiar to the one that defeated D.C. United this past weekend. If Ante Razov is healthy, he'll likely replace Nate Jacqua up top. This is a projected line-up: ------Damani Ralph--------------------------Ante Razov----- DaMarcus Beasley---Chris Armas---Andy Williams---Justin Mapp C.J. Brown------Kelly Gray-------Jim Curtin------Evan Whitfield -------------------------Henry Ring-------------------------- New Jersey Metrostars Starting Eleven Coach Bradley will probably throw out the same line-up he fielded on Sunday against New England, but with one or two potential changes. This is a projected line-up: Sergio Galvan Rey/John Wolyniec-----Fabian Taylor/John Wolyniec Eddie Gaven-----Mark Lisi-------Amado Guevara-----Joselito Vaca Craig Ziadie--------Jeff Parke--------Eddie Pope-------Chris Leitch -------------------------Johnny Walker------------------------- The Key Matchups Chris Armas v. Amado Guevara: If Armas can maintain possession in the midfield and limit Guevara's touches, Chicago will have a much better chance of winning the game. It's necessary that Armas limit Amado's time on the ball, because he can absolutely punish opposing teams with deft passing skill and a fine touch. DaMarcus Beasley v. Joselito Vaca: Vaca had a great game today, tearing down the right side of midfield. The Metrostars can absolutely terrorize teams on the wings, but Beasley's solid defense should minimize Vaca's impact on the game. Justin Mapp v. Eddie Gaven: Two great young players facing off against one another. It should be an interesting match to watch. Mapp has looked solid defensively this season, and should put Gaven's skill to the test. Chicago Forwards v. New Jersey Defense: The New Jersey defense have been solid this year, but can be exploited on the wings, and it will be a real test for "Mr. Irrelevant" Jeff Parke. New Jersey Forwards v. Chicago Defense: Chicago has had a solid defense this year, despite the departures of Thornton and Bocanegra. Regardless, the New Jersey forwards are speedy, crafty, and skillful, and will be an absolute handful for Curtin and company. Taylor possesses the speed and raw skill, Galvan Rey the flair, and Wolyniec the nose for goal; they should certainly be a fearsome match. Chicago's Keys to Winning Maintain possession. Armas must be prepared to win balls and distribute from the back of the midfield. Beasley, Mapp, Williams, and maybe Jacqua will need to improve their passing and touches. Chicago isn't a counter-attacking team, but a possession team. To beat New Jersey, the Fire will have to beat them at their own game. Maintaining solid defense. Chicago has been good so far through four games, but they'll need to absorb more attacks on Saturday than they probably will have all season. Ante Razov. Razov is yet to recover from MLS Cup 2003, he needs to turn in a good performance, if Chicago is going to win. If he doesn't show up, it'll be a long day for Chicago and I wouldn't suspect anything more than a draw. New Jersey is for real. One more comment about New Jersey New Jersey is a hungry team. The key to their success (and I believe the success of LA and D.C. so far this season) has been their highly competitive roster. They have eighteen players fighting for eleven spots week in and week out. No other team in the league is as deep as New Jersey is, and they'll be fighting for playing time all week. The best way to beat the Metrostars is to attack, attack, attack. If you force them into the counter they'll make a mistake, as they did against D.C. a week ago. However, if you let them control possession (like D.C. did in the second half, or as the Revs did today) you'll be lucky to come away with a point. It's going to be a serious challenge, but Dave's boys may just be up to it.
Not to hijack this thread, but I'm moving into Chicago in the fall. I used to post under a different name but I figured since I'm going to Chicago in the fall I'd register under a new name to go along with the change of scenery.
Hope it works out for him. Good game preview there, and let's get in a home win by beating the snot out of those AC Milan wannabes...
Is Whitfield supposed to be back too? I'd say that given New York's strong midfield play, we'd probably stay with the 3-5-2. ------ Ralph ----- Razov Beasley --- Williams --- Mapp ------ Armas ---- Pause -- Brown - Curtin - Whitfield ------------Ring If Razov and Whitfield aren't ready, we probably see the exact same lineup as we used against DCU. In the past, I have been a big Kelly Gray supporter, but he is just making too many mistakes in the back. Also, I have to say that I have been very down on CJ Brown the last couple of years and he has been awesome this year. Maybe he was just carrying too many niggling injuries and he is now finally fully healthy again.
Re: League Game 5 :: Metrostars; 1 May 7:30p [R] bastard. oddly enough though, my attendance hinges on my getting back from a meet in palatine on time. i swear to god, once track ends i'll be there all the time, no questions asked.
Metros are toast. They are due for a lose. Armas and Ralph both bag goals for the good guys. Fire win this one....2-0. Go FIRE!!!
Evidently Ralph was waiting around for his contract extension before he started to score. I expect him to score at least one more against the bad guys. I sure could use a Dipsy goal to improve my fantasy league as well : - ) How can we help but beat them? 3-0 Fire, 2 unassisted by Ralph, and Mapp finally puts one in, assisted by Dipsy.
Some things I noticed: Walker has let in 27 goals total (playoffs, everything..) 13 have been scored by rookies (usually Ralph or Noonan). Ralph scored in every game against the MetroStars last season (5 including USOC) and Razov had the other 4 goals. MetroStars had five scorers against Chicago last season, all with one goal (Wolyniec, Jolley, Clark, LeBlanc, and Guevara). Jolley and LeBlanc are no longer with NY/NJ. After a so-so performance by Bradley's new forwards last Sunday, I would count on seeing Wolyniec in the in starting XI...probably with Fabian Taylor.
I thought the two forwards played pretty well for Scum last week. Adin Brown came up big. Probably even bigger then Henry did last week. We will still crush them but their lineup shouldn't be taken lightly.