Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R]

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

Disappointed that I can't be there for this game but still can't wait!

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

The Union site is listing the game as at 4:00 PM, but the league site has it TBD. Any insight? Would the Union have reason to know it will be at 4 pm even though the league is still saying the times of the two conference final first legs have not yet been set?

I'd be able to get a bigger group together if it was an evening game (say 7pm), but it seems that to be assured tickets we have to make purchasing decisions now thinking it will be at 4pm, but not being completely sure.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

If the team is saying 4PM, I would assume that they have good reason to do so?

Very excited for our first ever home playoff game!

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

Ives and Tannenwald both say 4 PM, so I believe it. Bring on Houston- a team that has never beaten the U!

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

While they do say it's 4pm, tehy also note that

Chester, Pa. (October 23, 2011) – After finishing the regular season in third place in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia Union earned a bye through the Wild Card round and will host their first-ever MLS Cup Playoff game against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday, October 30 at PPL Park. Kickoff is tentatively set for 4:00 p.m. EST (subject to change).

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

I'm excited for this and it might get me out of, or at least shorten, a trip I didn't want to make.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

multi goal win sunday is a musr

now, let's get our PK list in lime

who'll be out there after 120 minutes

le toux, garfan and marfan, mwanga gets subbed on in 2nd half

assuming u have win sunday, adu off tyhe bench, and he's the 5th pk

i like our chaces there

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

Honestly, we can't be cocky. Thats what got us a 1-1 draw against Toronto.

The U need to get a 2-0 win here.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

Those are some young guys there. Don't know how the lineups will shake out, but I'd like to see Pauny take a kick. I'd trust Naka, too, but unfortunately not for anything else besides the kick.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

Hopefully we bury them by a comfortable margin on Sunday and keep it tight the following Thursday so it won't come to that. 120+ minutes before a conference final would be brutal.

LeToux, Mwanga, M/Garfan, Paun, and Naka should all be able to sink the PK's. McInerney, Mapp, Adu, and Torres are question marks for me. Everybody else is a crapshoot.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

I just wanted to welcome y'all to your first post-season shindig! May the better team win (hopefully us). Enjoy it you've earned it!

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUH3JQjcweM"]Shit Just Got Real HD - YouTube[/ame]

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

Just got an email, and it said the game time may change to 5pm depending on the WC games. I understand why NY winning may have to change the time to 5pm - as that would mean 3 games on Sunday instead of 2 (that would mean SKC would play the winner of Colorado v Columbus, which would have to be Sunday instead of Saturday) - however, what difference does the actual Colorado v Columbus match result make?

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

More good news. I don't care about one hour later, but 9 pm would have been pretty rough.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

I'll do my best to make the easiest analogy I can for you.

Cameron attacking mid ---> defender
=
Le Toux midfielder ----> forward

It may not seem like a lot, but a small change can make a world of difference.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

Given our past record against Houston I am encouraged about the match-up. One thing that does worry me though is their size. Our offense has been muscled out of a few games this year, and we do tend to give up the odd goal on set pieces. Not a great recipe for playoff soccer. It will be interesting to see how the game is refereed. Let's hope speed wins this one.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

As much as I want to be cocky about this matchup, I simply can't be. The Creamsickles are one of the few teams that actually looked good down the stretch. We are going to need to play very disciplined football. We need to keep our shape, and use our speed on the wings. I'd like to see us in a modified 4-1-4-1, with the standard back 5 we know of. Put Marfan on one side with Mapp on the other. Leave Paunstar in the middle as our AM, and use Adu as a second AM, but more effectively as a false 9. Let Freddy be the guy who looks to make the runs into the box, either drawing defenders to clear room for LT9, or finishing when the double teams come Seba's way. Torres can sub for Adu or Mapp. When we need to switch tactics, bring in Mwanga for a traditional 4-4-2.

If we play sound tactical football, limiting errors and lapses, and getting good marking and pressure from our fullbacks, we should be able to get a good result on Sunday.

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

clean slate now, I'm not worried about what has happened in past results or regular season form, the boys gotta step up and pull the upset

River End I need you all to get on the same page and bring it on Sunday, crowd noise (even from TRE) in the past couple home games have been real disappointing

 

Re: Official: [2011 Eastern Conf Semifinal Leg 1] Union v Houston Dynamo - October 30, 2011 p/d/p [R

I do not like this match-up. The Dynamo are big, aggressive and counter-punch well via set pieces off of Davis' service. They follow Kinnear's thugball plan to a T.

We will lose a static game of dueling goalie punts. The U need to keep the ball on the ground, play quickly and try to run circles around them.