I know that Barklage and Meara resumed full training this week, but I would still give them this game off just to be safe. Ditto Conde. I'm not sure of the status of his injury. Also, if it ain't broke don't fix it. That was an excellent result against one of the best teams in the league last week. --------Henry-Cooper -------------Cahill Lindpere-------------LeToux --------------Dax Miller-Pearce-Statue-Lade -----------Gaudette
I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Barklage and Conde re enter the lineup. But we don't know how they look in training so we don't know for sure about their status. Portland is a bad team. Flat out terrible. If we want to be an elite team then this is a game we should win. Hopefully the great home form continues. Keep Marquez away from the starting lineup.
If they are 100% put them in. But both of them have a history of injuries so I'd prefer to play it safe since the boys got it done last week and also: However...any given Sunday... Could not agree more. Lindpere talked a week ago about how a lot of times Red Bull get a goal or two and then they just shut down rather that kill the game off. This matchup has that kind of feel to it. I'd love to see a solid 3-0 win. Been a while since that kind of result. 110%
Against almost any other team I'd say we should get Barklage and Conde back out on the field, but if that backline held Houston to a shut out then surely they can do the same against Portland. On a side note, Miller is surprisingly second on the team in assists so far this season with 6. He's still capable of some pretty amateurish defending, but at least this season his play going forward has an end product.
On another side note, most of his runs are "wrong place/wrong time", he constantly gives the ball away, and doesn't track back on defense nearly well enough. Assists from defenders are always nice, but I'd rather feel secure that my defenders can actually...defend.
I would like Barklage in the lineup but I'm not keen on rushing him, he's going to be vital for our playoff success. I want to see Miller out of the lineup period. He got burnt at the end of the game in Houston and it almost led to a goal.. He's a train wreck. Start Pearce at LB and get Conde in at CB. ------Henry--Cooper Lind---Cahill---Le Toux or Solli ----------Dax Pearce--Conde--Hulk--Lade or Bark -------Gaudette
IMO Conde and Hulk are too similar CB's that are going to get burned on the counter, which is pretty much the only game the Timbers play. On the other hand you have Miller. I guess it's pick your poison.
I'd like to see Barklage come back as soon as possible. I like Lade but Barklage has been a rock at rb. Hopefully he gets healthy soon.
Barklage, if healthy, has to be playing...he is part of the reason the Bulls have played well this season... Meara too.
I think Miller is the weak link on the defense, most of the time when he's in the starting 11 we have had some lousy defensive performances. Conde is aggressive which I like and I wouldn't actually mind seeing Marquez play, you would think he would play with some kind of fire at this point.. But if Barklage is good i'd like to see a Lade-Pearce-Hulk-Barklage backline.
If Marquez is healthy, I think he will start or at the very minimum get more time off the bench because he has been away for so long. I think we will Pearce-Conde-Hulk-Barklage. I hope Backe plays Lade in midfield. We'll see, there are a lot of options.
I'm really hoping that Henry can finally connect and get at least 2 this game. He was on fire at the start even with an inconsistent back line and we all saw where that brought us. He's been pretty frustrated the past few games so a nice shellacking of the Portland net via him would be great to see. Also I can't wait to see how Cahill plays in this game. So far, it's my opinion that he's been excellent for us and is a great addition, he literally scored that goal for Holgersson.
Only thing Cahill really needs to improve at this point is his communication and spacing with McCarty. He's tended to drop back a little too far in his first two games, but really if that's the worst complaint I can come up with then I'll take it. His defensive workrate has been great and his ability to make runs into the box has been exactly what we all expected.
This: ---------------Henry-----Cooper--------------- ----Lindpere--------Cahill----------Solli/Sam--- -----------------------Dax-------------------- Lade-------Pearce-------Holgersson-----Barklage --------------------- Meara --------------------
Yes. I don't know if the want to throw Sam in there right away after just being signed so I would expect Solli to go. I would like to see Lade in there but I think we will see Miller. Coming off the bench is a good role for Lade too because he brings a lot in the sub role.
Sam has been with the team for awhile. I would like to see him play. Want to see what he is going to do. I would rather see Lade play LB and have Miller not play.
That's the big question. They announced the signing today but who knows when they actually submitted the paperwork?
Wish granted. He's out for three more weeks http://twitter.com/RafaMarquezMX/status/236205276829716480 "Afortunadamente no es grave pero estaré fuera 3 semanas seguiré trabajando fuerte como siempre lo hice para seguir disfrutando del fútbol" Rough translation: Unfortunately it isn't serious but I'll be out for three weeks and continue working hard to enjoy soccer/football
Now we have a bunch of ifs....Because we have to many people for the same position and unfortunately they aren't the best on that either.... Portland is one of the wackiest team on the league, so is a room for well trusted experiment, play Barka, and Meara..... Sam, I don't know if he has his visa just yet and the transfers paperers, so who knows, but if he is ready to go, that will be other good experiment too....Because after this game we have ahead KC and DC and is better to know what the hell we have on hand before going to that fire.... But if they aren't ready I will like to see: Gaudette, Borrajo and Le Toux for them and Lade instead of Miller: Meara Borrajo....Perace....Conde....Lade McCarty Le Toux......Cahill......Lindpere Cooper....Henry But Marquez is around and Backe will not sit a millionaire DP and will play him for sure as a CB with Holgerslush or Pearce and depend which one of this he pick of Pearce or Holgerslush as CB partner of Rafa, Lade or Lindpere will be out of a job and the same thing will happen with Tainio, he is ready to play and Backe will sit McCarty for him....There you go: BACKE FORMATION Meara Solli....Holgerslush....Marquez....Pearce Tainio Le Toux......Cahill......lade Cooper....Henry
I can guarantee you that Solli will not be starting at RB. Backe would start either Lade or Barklage there before Solli. The rest is possible. If Marquez is healthy and that is a big if, I would start him, but I think it is still best to play him off the bench this week.
The supposition was taking that Barka maybe isn't ready, but if Barka is ready Backe have not choice that play him and in that case will sit Le Toux and play Solli as RW, but he will look for a place to insert Solli and Tainio with out import him for who and the result of the game.... And lade as RB is a no, no, he will be playing Lade as a RB when the opposite team have a player like Shea, Kandji or something similar at that, just to go and bother this player to the extreme that they can't do damage, but Lade position isn't RB, maybe RW but nothing else in that side...
If Barklage is unavailable, why wouldn't Backe just use the same backline as last week with Lade at RB and Miller at LB? Or if Conde is healthy to start, with Pearce at LB and Miller on the bench?