DC United @ Dallas Burn • Date & Time :: Saturday, June 26 @ 4:00pm EST • Television :: ESPN2 (we hope) • Audio Webcast :: English, Spanish, Other Webcasts • Broadband Video Webcast :: None • PBP AIM Chatroom :: BigSoccerDCU :: Directions Here • Match Previews :: DCUnited.com/MLSNet • Game Day Experiences at RFK • Referee Analysis Thread Items in gray will be updated as information becomes available. News, Analysis, and Serious Discussion Only :: Non-N&A posts may be deleted. :: No Flames - No Trolls
Since they're changing their names, (yes, names), and having a contest to see if any fan can guess them, perhaps we should come up with a good one before Saturday. Panhandle Putzes Texas Toast Desert Dreck Cowboy C...no, I can't bring myself to say it. . On a serious note, this team worries me. We have never matched up well against them. I don't know their injury situation, but with O'Brien pulling their strings, they are dangerous. They'll have all their national team players back...er, let's move on.Kreis is coming into form, Nhleko (sp?) makes dangerous runs and is strong, and they have a host of young fast players who work as hard as our midfield. Plus they have a certain goalkeeper I hate facing... Why do we always get midsummer afternoon games in Dallas? If we get Ryan back, even for a half, that will be a big stabilizing plus for us. Seeing Namoff on the field again was a nice sight, and he worked well w/ Carroll several times to defuse attacks and start ones of our own. I think we try Jaime in the withdrawn forward position again, playing behind Alecko and Freddy. Can we really bench Gros? Perhaps we pair Gros and Alecko up top. I could see that being a tough combo to defend against, since most defenders don't really want to face speed and hard work for the full 90 minutes. We're going to win this weekend. 2-1 is my prediction.
Maybe they'll change it from Dallas Burn, to Ft. Worth Crap., maybe the Frisco Clap? I really hope Alecko can continue his hot streak now that we seem to have a STABLE starting striker Pair (finally). All we need is our midfield sorted out since Young Gros is proving that High Salary or Not..Earnie will have to earn his way back on the field.
I think the biggest question to be answered is if last week was a fluke with the ability to finish, or the start of some real momentum. The first twenty minutes will tell us that story. We score -- and we're on our way. We miss two sitters, and we're snakebitten and downtrodden yet again. Novak will also tell me something with his lineup. He has shown an ability to let players earn their way on the pitch through individual performance. Does this same rule apply to combinations, or even the whole lineup? We shall see...
I will be very interested to see how we play this game. We have a tiny bit of momentum coming off the win. How do we respond to Bobby and Earnie coming back? The heat may also be a factor. If they come out a bit flat, maybe conserving energy, we should pounce on them. But if we don't score soon, we should settle back down and possess the ball for a while. I thnk we possess the ball well while moving forward, but I'd like to see us add the capability to kick it around more. We do it at the end of some games, usually when the other team is playing mostly defense, holding their 1 goal lead, but not much in the middle of games to wear the other guys out. I think the key to this game is the first 15 minutes of the second half. Followed by concentration at the end. One thing's for sure, we'll see a different forward pairing this week, I've been looking forward to Alecko/Freddy, but I think we see Alecko and Jaime start this one. On another note, my daughter is probably going to this game, does anyone know a good section to buy her tickets in (not with their supporters, cause someone would get into a fight )? pm me if you have suggestions, or are going.
Here's some notes on what The "Insert name her" are up to in training. perhaps this will help with the discussion... Dallas "Insert Name Here" training notes for June 22nd. The weather for Dallas Saturday is currently Scattered Thunderstorms with a high of 84 with 78% humidity....Not bad at all.
I actually think we'll come off very hard & trounce the Burnt. I really like Toni Nhleko as a player & he's a very good finisher, we'll have to mark him well all match. We must make them Garlick our butts (he's out, so we'll face Cassar). I'd guess they might trot out Reyes against us there too. I think Bobby & Ernie will be back on the field, with Ernie being a midfield sub around the 60'. Esky & Dema will get one each: 2-0 DC.
I think that Prideaux will get three yellow cards this time. The main concern I have is that both Nhleko and Johnson have shown an ability to get behind the defense for breakaways, and the backline isn't necessarily the fleetest of foot. Nonetheless, I see a 2-1 victory.
I have to join in saying that I have a bad feeling about this game. I feel a 3-1 spanking coming on. If there is one thing that is consistent about United, it's that they are going to be wildly inconsistent. And this is our week to look horrid. Add to that fact that we have this midweek game tonight that will make some of our weary legs even weaker, and I just don't feel good about this.
To help with a few earlier responses, Nhleko hasn't started in about two months since Jason Kreis returned to the lineup, so he won't be a bother until late in the match.. However, I do think we will have major problems with Ed Johnson's breakaway speed.. Whether or not Johnson converts those chances is another story altogether but he will be a handful.. I don't have a win or lose vibe working for this game at the moment so I'll go the safe route and say a 1-1 draw.. My lineup (or at least what we're likely to see): --------------- Perkins --------------- Namoff ------ Nelsen --------- Petke ---------- Carroll --- Olsen ----------- Stewart -------- Kovalenko ------ Convey ----------- Jaime ------ Esky ------------ Subs: Rimando Gros Adu Prideaux Ara I know, I know.. Josh Gros definitely belongs in that lineup right now but for some reason, I just see Nowak going back to that opening day lineup now that all of those players are relatively healthy (Nelsen being questionable but when I talked to him last weekend, he said he should be ready to go).. It will be interesting to see what lineup Nowak trots out tonight against Rochester.. That will probably go a long way in determining who plays significant minutes on Saturday..
Gros is just flat out playing better than any midfielder we have right now, bar none. To leave him out of our starting lineup is just plain criminal at this point.
On both offense and defense. And don't forget that he's burned us on a couple of outside shots, too. I hope he can continue to do that for us now, since he was able to do that against us while with the Galaxatives!
FYI from MLSnet Disciplinary Report... What are the chances Dema goes three games without getting a yellow? Heck, I'll give even money on him getting at least a yellow in the F*C* Dallas game. And from that report as well: Valakari is suspended for Dallas, so look for our buddy Carey Talley to start at D-mid. I'll set odds on him getting a yellow in this game at 1:2. That's right. I dare someone to bet he won't get a yellow.
I think the team is playing well and we've got some players primed to do good things. That said...I don't think we match up well against Dallas. They seek to defend and then counter. They've got a lot of speed up top and unless EZ is ready to start or Nellie is healthy, I think EJ and Nhleko and Ronnie O'Brien will exploit our defense on counters. I think we'll have the run of play and generate a lot of chances--but not good ones. Their defense generally stays organized and stays at home. The exception to this rule is the possible impact of missing their Finn D-mid and if Garlick is still out (I know Cassar has been impressive but Garlick is a better organizer). In short, this is a team (Dallas) that is designed to absorb pressure. Our key to winning this game is for either Moreno or Eskandarian to bury some chances--especially an early chance. That will force Dallas to push forward. Their outside backs (absent Reyes who hasn't played much) don't contribute a lot on attack and their defense gets much weaker when they have to go forward and press the attack. Plus, I don't think their midfield can outplay our midfield--despite the season ROB is having. But it's all contingent on us doing something we haven't done well all season--finish a chance or two, especially early so Dallas can't sit back, stay compact, and counter.
I think Chris has the right lineup unless Nelsen can't play again and then Petke is in the middle with Prideaux on the left. If it is a hot day in Dallas then Gros will look good as a second half sub.
Let's hope not. He's not a forward, and shouldn't be involved in the attack any longer. He's best in the midfield and marking out the other team's top midfielder. Thx, Jay!
Re: question of subbing at forward Well, after seeing Jaime used again at a-mid spot vs the Rhinos, with Stewart and Convey back, as well as seeing Cerritos let go, could it be- will we finally see a match where we don't use a sub at forward? With Jaime, Esky and Freddy all on the pitch to start (YAY!!!) who's left to use anyway- Gros?? maybe Ara??or needing to open up room at midfield to get these guys on the pitch, pushing Earnie up? let's hope not. I think the evolution we've all been waiting to see culminate is nearly there, especially with Esky's breakout last week, and our picking up Ezra. Simplifies the logjam up top, and gives us some reassuring depth at the back til Nelson gets fully healed. And with Gros playing well, and Convey and Stewart back, a nice little pool of talent at mid to choose from. Considering who's healthy, I'm sure Nowak's got the pecking order figured by now, which should settle everyone playing's expectations, with only 1 piece (holding forward) left to figure, and that being used only as matchups will dictate. In a nutshell, Nowak holds the strings to win or loose this game, and we'll all be able to come up with a consensus report card come Sunday. He's smart enough though, I say we win 3-1, (keep an eye on Stewart, given his fiery 'tude in Rochester) and whatsmore, we'll look smart at seeing who we sub as well as when afterward. We knocked off the tarnish last week, let's see some polish now on what's been recovered and revealed. Could it be that The Black is back? Vamos United. Vamanos.
Re: question of subbing at forward i think earnie's play at striker on wednesday was significant, but not necessarily for this match. nowak probably just wanted to see how he might fit up there in case on of jaime, freddy, esky goes down.... again. i think CWeed has the right lineup. i've said for a while that our opening day lineup is the default unless injury or callups dictate otherwise. while the cerritos/esky combo made many think of leaving jaime in midfield, now that he's gone, i think the starting duo until further notice is jaime/esky. with freddy coming on for esky around 60min. who are the availalbe field subs? Freddy, EZ, ara, prideaux, stokes? might we actually be able to leave someone home who isn't injured? what is the travel roster, 15? i forget....
Re: question of subbing at forward Holy Crap.....does anybody else feel it? See it? Its..I think its, can it be? Why yes!!! Its genuine optimisim!! Moving Cerritos, bring in Ezra, Esky finding the net,...seeing the club playing well w/o Stewart , Convey and Nelsen can do that to you. I hope Esky is still in his best vs. That Namless Dallas Team (or the POS formerly known as the Dallas Burn). I believe we will see Adu/Esky/Moreno out on the pitch together. In light of Earnie's seemingly outbirst at Nowak its interesting to see if Earnie sits in favor of Josh Gros.
I think you just figured out the new Dalls name! Dallas POS Although I am cautious of this match (seeing as we have yet to accomplish a winning streak) I must say it is nice to go into the weekend without a dread cloud hanging above my head.