Well, here goes... Ash Ish rightly pointed out in the season thread, there are legitimate doubts on this game actually happening. The MSP area has had plenty happening and some of that will come to a head with the expected Chauvin ruling this week. Assuming we somehow get a soccer game, I think Freddy goes with the LAG preseason lineup with the 61' subs and GK rotation. Meaning: Rubin Rusnak Kreilach Julio Luiz Ruiz Toia Glad Silva Herrera Putna Bench: Ochoa, Holt, Brody, Besler, Chang, Meram, Dougy It's not a terrible lineup, but I struggle to see where it beats a talented Minnesota team. Especially with our terrible history at Minnesota. I had a really hard time making out the bench, too, as I just don't know who Freddy see's as the depth in some spots. Does Morgan go above Brody? Powder? Portillo vs Besler? is Jeizon below Chang and Meram and Dougy? I'm predicting a 2-0 loss if we play. Minnesota looked good against Seattle until the golazo, then it all fell apart.
I'm really excited for this game. Mostly because it means MSP is calm and finding some peace in justice now. I have no idea what is going to happen but my increasing anticipation for an exciting opener is most likely to lead to a 0-0 draw.
Haha. I am indeed a bit of a lurker. It's been a wild year. Left job in July. Found another for next July. Homeschooling two teenagers. Moved from Thailand to US. Getting ready to move to Singapore in July. Didn't get Covid (yet?). Read lots of books. I'm actually really looking forward to the normalcy of RSL, even if they struggle. I may even get to some games before I leave the country again in July.
Minnesota just got spanked 4-0 by the Sounders. I see this game going one of two ways: 1) Their coach is dumb enough to try a high press, again, for 90 minutes in the first matches of the season 2) They are pissed from their first match and we're in trouble. Let's hope the former.
MUFC was ranked 5th in power rankings to start season, but dropped after drubbing by SEA. RSL now ranked dead last in power rankings. Clearly a chance for RSL to break through the Wonderwall in Minn, right? https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/power-rankings-cf-montreal-prove-doubters-wrong-in-week-1
They weren't the Minnesota pundits expected largely because they've done nothing to replace Molino. However, Reynoso is a player and will make things happen. Seattle looked incredibly impressive, in my book, and should be talked about on that side more than the poor performance from Minn. This is MLS, though, so who knows. Maybe we go there and win 7-0 and Freddy uses all 5 subs before stoppage time.
RSL last in the power rankings.... It feels like RSL has history of often falling to "trap" games against lower ranked teams that should be easy wins. Can they flip the script and make RSL the early season MLS trap? Minnesota will likely be fired up after their last performance. That fire could turn to frustration and flustered failure if RSL gets an early goal or even keeps them from scoring in the first half. Or it can turn into an RSL drubbing. Hoping for the former.
Despite all our issues, this is not the worst MLS team. RSL might be one of the worst-run franchises, but the talent/effort has earned enough points to be 30th/40th percentile.
Okay, excitement is starting to build at Casa Ismtije, so much so that I just want the lineups to be posted to social media. Refresh, refresh, refresh . . .
Okay, so . . . Ochoa Herrera Glad Silva Toia Everton Ruiz Julio Kreilach Rusnak Rubin Bench: MacMath; Holt, Morgan, Brody; Besler, Meram, Chang, Portillo; Douglas
Two mild surprises for me: Ochoa starting at first of season - interested to see how he does with first few challenges Rusnak named captain over Kreilach Neither are earth shattering, but mildly surprising. Unfortunately not surprising, but Jeizon not in 18 again. Bust? Injury?
It's a gameday 20 man roster still (it's a Covid-era change I hope stays, along with the five subs), so it's even more noteworthy. Putna is #3, then?
Really unclear how Anderson Julio didn't get a shot off there. Well-timed run from him and sweet little ball from Ruiz.
Pretty poor defense on that one - how you end up with a Loon that open with four defenders central is a mystery - but Lod put it wide.
Looks like a first game of the year - two or three hmmms amidst a sea of Yikes. Loons will probably continue to overload right by running backs and midfielders into exchanges against RSL’s Toia/Silva left side.
That was as exciting a breakaway as we've had in years. Five on three. The Minnesota defense could have cleared it with more authority, but our numbers meant any ball that was deflected was likely to drop to one of our players.