Pre-match: MiB Matchday 3 - Crew vs Atlanta 8:30pm ESPN 2

I see no need to rotate for rotation's sake. If Nagbe or anyone else says they can go at least 60 and feel good, start them.

 

Lose by two, bitches. This is Adam f*cking Jahn we're talking about. And JJ Williams! Surely if anyone knows how to beat the Crew defense it's these two wonder-strikers!

 

Just like Amro Tarek knew exactly how to stop the Crew attack. I'm with you!

 

While info is, as we know, hard to come by, JJ the Wonder Striker came on in stoppage time and promptly took a savage attempt to destroy someones knee earning him the easiest red Ive seen in a long time. It was punk, stupid and unprofessional as hell.

It was literally his first appearance for the Utd, and quite possibly the last.

So I gotta think hes out.

 

Well, then, shit. Next man up! Gallagher, Jon, I'm looking at, no no I'm looking for, you!

 

I would imagine Josh Williams and Aboubacar Keita could handle the likes of *checks notes* ...Adam Jahn

 

Its a shame that Vito wont be in there. One angry look from him and your boy there would poop his pants.

 

Mommy, Mommy!

 

That's a screw job from MLS if we can't possibly play a third place team, even if we win all 3 group matches and have the best goal differential in the field.

 

My gut says to roll out the full lineup for the first half or up to 60 minutes. If they can score the first goal again or at least get Atlanta's starters tired, then sub out Zardes, Zelarayan, Nagbe, and Mensah and have them fresh for the knockout round. All of them have replacements capable of preserving a lead and matching up with Atlanta's winded starters. They're also all better than what Atlanta has available to sub in. I'd like to get all 3 points, but at a minimum they need to get 1. If Room can't go, I'd prefer Lampson in goal just based on him having more starting experience.

I'm still of the opinion that our first knockout round opponent will be a very favorable matchup regardless of how Group D shakes out. Minnesota, SKC and RSL have all looked very beatable. Our path to the final from there also looks to be pretty nice. The Quakes won Group B which could put Seattle on the opposite side of the bracket. If that holds true, then TFC, Sounders, Timbers and LAFC will all be playing each other to get to the final, while our toughest matchup before the final would likely be tonight's loser (Philly or Orlando) in the semis.

 

I still like Adam Jahn but I want his team to lose tomorrow.

 

You absolutely start Nagbe , what’s the word on Room ? And the other injured players thst we haven’t seen yet ? Francis and or Valenzuela would be nice to have back on the pitch especially Milton.

a week to rest for the semi final if it’s the 28th is still more than enough.

 

I thought 16 teams advanced (e.g. it's a round of 16, then a quarter final, then a semifinal) - was I wrong in my thinking?

 

You are correct. Top 2 in each group + the 4 best 3rd place teams.

 

It is a bracket. It is predetermined before play begins. Not re-seeded after every round.

 

Here's the bracket for knockouts. We're the presumptive Group E winner. Tomorrow will determine final standings for Group C and thus who plays Philly on our side of the bracket. If the goal is to have the easiest path to the final, we'd want TFC to draw or beat the Revs and DCU to lose to Montreal. That would ensure both Toronto and Seattle are in the opposite side of the bracket.

 

Group D winners & Group A winners (Orlando) have the easiest paths, on paper, as they get runners-up, not group winners, in the R16.

Still, I am not scared of Minny (sans Opara) RSL, or SKC.

San Jose is tough & legit good. We will need all our horses for that one. They are a unique team in terms of their man marking.

In terms of tomorrow, if Nagbe was just cramps, I play him for 55-60. He & Artur & Zelarayan have not played much together. I have no problem building sone chemistry. Especially with a full week off until the next game.

 

Without going too far off topic, I'd somewhat disagree on the first part. Not all the groups are equal nor have they all played out as I believe Garber intended. I'm fairly certain that Garber set up this bracket under the assumption that the Sounders would win their group. Instead, that game of B2 vs F2 (Orlando's quarterfinal opponent) could very well be Seattle vs LAFC.

You may be right in my underestimating San Jose. They can score goals in bunches. Crew haven't yet seen a team that can do that in this tournament, and they won't tomorrow either. The Quakes also seemed to contain Seattle offensively, although part of me thinks that could be attributable to greater familiarity. Regardless, I like how we sit currently. You'd have to love our chances if TFC, LAFC, Seattle, Portland and Orlando are all playing each other before they get to us.

 

My comment on the easiest path 'on paper' was meant to mean regardless of how things play out group to group.

In other words, without knowing who finishes where, which group winner would you want to be? Answer: A or D (no group winner in QF).

Which one would you least want to be? Answer: E or F (no chance of playing a 3rd place team in the 16s).

Yeah, if a powerhouse team finishes 2nd/3rd in a group, or if lots of the heavies end up on one side of the bracket, then that changes the calculation. As you point out, we could be in pretty decent shape once things shake out.

 

Hotlanta has 2 guys sitting out with Red Cards. Josef is rehabbing. Any other notable players missing?

 

We're gonna win today
And we're gonna cause a scene