City vs. Burn future [R] Potential starting lineup lifted form the KC board: Meola Zotinca-Thomas-Conrad-Garcia Zavagnin-Gutierrez Klein-(Walsh or Gomez) Wolff-Arnaud Some discussion whether it would be Diego Walsh or Francisco Gomez running the show for them, offensively. Wow. That's a some defense. I think Thomas and Burciaga led the Olympic Qualifying tournament in cards and PKs given up. For a reference on Zotinica, see what he did to get Hejdude tossed last weekend. Garcia is a hack. Conrad is 'just' phsical. If the ref doesn't control this one early, our attackers are going to have to keep their cool. Zavagning and Gutierrez are effective Dmids. Klein will cause us problems, but if we can contain him, I predict a Dallas victory.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] At least you didn't say "Kansas vs Burn". Garcia is no "hack". Smart pain in the ass defender who does anything and everything the referees allow, yes. Hack, no.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] ooo look at me shaking in my boots, if we don't win this we need to take a hard look at the consitency of the team. If we can shut down Chicago, and come away with Soldier Field with a 2-0 victory, theres no reason to tie or lose to this KC team in Big D. My goal is for us to go at least 4 games undefeated...
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] I agree 247, the way we played the last two games, this game should be a shoe in. SAturday can't come quick enough!
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] Man, after last year, I don't think that any game will be a "shoo-in." If we win, it'll be a 1-0 or 2-1 score. The Wizards under Bob Gansler don't roll over that easily. But if I were a betting man, I'd bet on a draw.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] This is MLS where anybody but the MetroStars can turn it around in an off-season. KC was 7-0 (3 SO losses) to end 1999 (3 GF - 8 GA) KC was 10-0-2 to start 2000 (25 GF - 5 GA, 9 SOs )
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] I'm really looking forward to this game, as it will tell us a lot about the team. This is a game we "should" win. We're facing a team at reduced strength. We're playing at home. We've played well and even shown improvement in our first two games. In my opinion, we have superior talent. But can we maintain the focus and concentration necessary to beat a well-coached, defensively-capable team? The only reason I even ask is because inconsistency has been the mortal enemy of the Burn for 9 years now. It would be completely in the Burn's character to beat the defending Eastern Conference champ on the road, then return home and lose to a team that might wind up last in the West. We've all seen this scenario happen before. I expect our midfield to dominate our opponent for the third week in a row. I think we are the first decent midfield that KC will have faced this year. Whether or not we can convert that into the creation of numerous scoring chances against a solid KC defense is another question. I give KC a slight edge on defense. Their talent is solid and Gansler is an excellent coach on that side of the ball. Our D has not really come together completely and has experienced a few breakdowns in each game. Luckily this should be nullified by our strong advantage at forward. I have no respect for Arnaud or Wolff, and combined with my predicted domination by our midfield, they should spend most of their time coming out towards midfield just to try to collect the occasional ball. Nhelko and Johnson, on the other hand, should continue to stretch defenses and provide long-range outlets for our defense/midfield. Finishing will be the decisive factor for both teams. Best case scenario: Dallas scores early of set piece play. KC forced to move forward in search of equalizer. Burn takes advantage of extra space on counter. Burn wins 4-0 Worst case scenario: Defensive brainfart for Dallas or fluke goal for KC early. KC goes into instant deep bunker. No more than one Wizard crosses midfield stripe for remainder of game. KC wins 1-0.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] I look forward to kicking their arse in, but nothing is a shoo in. I wonder if we'll see Kreis off the bench yet. I look forward to exploiting Thomas. Now if the Burn could ever get off a decent shot from a corner kick, Thomas would be worse than being a man down for them.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] plus we owe KC an ass whooping of a life time, we've let them get away with garbage wins and ties in the past 3 years, we need to just put foot to ass on this one, really add to team chemistry and confidence.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] OK, maybe I shouldn't have said shoo-in. But I am quite confident we are the much better team. Having said that, I realize anything can happen in soccer. I think Jambon is right on with his worst and best case scenarios. My prediction is a 3-1 Burn win. Have no idea how City scores. Note: I predicted 2-1 Burn over Colorado and 1-0 Burn over Chicago. I was one Burn goal off on each one. I wanted to predict 4-1 for this Saturday, but brought it down to 3-1. I should be right on. SCORCHED EARTH. PS: We OWN City at the Bowl.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] Alex - Warning! Warning! The Karma police have been watching you. You are to be considered a "person of interest". I just saw Brushes Sand post in another thread, so I thought it only fair to give you a heads up ...Don't weauxf the soccer godz!!
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] Jambon, good post. I think that your above statement is dead on and the #1 problem that the Wizards have - the forwards are ALWAYS coming back to midfield to get touches. I tend to have a little more respect for their forwards than you (especially Igor who is down - a guy I feel is one of the most underrated players in MLS), but they are never allowed to make runs forward (utilizing their speed) because they are always coming back for the ball. I'm obviously in my pessemistic mood this morning - all the positive energy in this thread is terrifying me. We had a great win last week, but the Fire were just returning from Costa Rica and they hadn't scored in three games. The fact that we are at home and Preki is not playing should make us slight favorites, but I'm not sure if we should be expecting multiple goals. KC's two matches this year were 0-0 and 1-0, and in the exhibition we had in OKC was on a goal mouth scramble after a corner. As has been stated in some posts here - the Wizard D is good. A solid back line (Zotinca-Thomas-Conrad-Garcia) and a good Dmid (Zavagnin). I think that we should hope to eek out the 1-0 victory, but not be too disappointed with a nil-nil draw. I think in many ways this KC team is similar to the Burn - Veteran keeper, Solid Defence and Dmid - Strong on the right, average to below average on the left - an attacking mid that is trying to mold into that position - and forwards who have tended to have trouble finishing. Should be a good matchup - given that the Fire had just played in Costa Rica, I think this should be the toughest test yet for this rebuilt Burn side.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] I do NOT, and should not, mess with the Gawdz. Maybe I should have made it clear that my prior post was a dream I had. I expect a 1-1 tie.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] I'm guessing that both inDemand and Dish will carry it, but that DirecTV won't.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] DISH's Sat. listings say ch. 464 Dallas × K.C. 7:30 p.m. "DISH people": Ain't it a drag you can't get the box to change channels, like, to record the first part of an east coast game and then have it switch to record the Burn game? Because it always says "call to subscribe" even when you're all subscribed and paid up? At times, in years past, you could program it to change channels---'remind box' 'tune to channel'? ---or am I missing something this year? K.C.--- Going out on a limb: I don't think Shavar Thomas is a shrewd defender yet. Jamaican U-23 or Wizards jersey, he hasn't gotten the hang of that "accidentally on purpose" mentality that works to camoflauge obstruction and tripping by effective D's like Nick Garcia, therefore Shavar gets FK's and PK's called against his teams. Partly that, but mainly due to the Burn's accelerating rate of combustion: Burn win Sat.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] Oops, yeah. I was thinking a week ahead. With my upcoming travel, I'm already scoping out my programming set for next weekend. It's the Colorado at Kansas City game that doesn't show up on DirecTV's MLS Direct Kick page.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] I went to training today and will have a practice report later tongiht. http://www.3rddegree.net/ based on what I saw here is your probable lineup EJ Nhleko Quill Davis Valakari O'brien Behncke GIbbs Jolley Salyer Garlick there will be much more in the practice report.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] I hate to be this guy, but... Saturday April 27 2002 KC 1 @ DAL 1 Wednesday July 31 2002 KC 1 @ DAL 0 Saturday May 10 2003 KC 3 @ DAL 1 Saturday August 16 2003 KC 2 @ DAL 3
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] 2003 wasn't at the Bowl. 2002 was an aberration. 8/25/01 Dallas 3 Kansas City 0 6/17/00 DAllas 4 Kansas City 1 3/20/99 Dallas 4 Kansas City 0 7/10/99 Dallas 5 Kansas City 0 4/25/98 DAllas 3 Kansas City 1 So in the last seven games played at the Bowl, the Burn is 5-1-1, 20 goals scored versus Kansas City's 4. Pretty close to owning, IMO.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] I guess it depends on how much the '98 and '99 teams matter in 2004. But then this season is so young we don't know what last years form has to do with Dallas do we? And we all know how many injuries KC has. I just think the Dallas fans seem a little too sure of themselves being 2 whole games removed from the disaster that was 2003.
Re: City vs. Burn future [R] Well if you want to show the results of past games, you need to show all, not some. Sounds liek the wiz fan is getting scared.