Official DC United vs Dallas Burn PRE Match Thread [N&A]

I'd like to see Nana get some time as well, but am I correct in thinking that he's out until next week? Based on Dyson's latest, that is.


...it's very weird to type that and then picture my grandmother stampeding down the right flank.

 

Yeah, i thought that Nana was available for minutes tonight as well. Apparently, if he had to, he could have played last wednesday. obviously, being a friendly, that wasn't going to happen. I am under the impression that he is basically fine now. I would hope to see him in this game, and hopefully he gets in under good circumstances (DC up 3-0 in the 55th minute). A brotha can hope, can't he?

 

I look forward to that.

I guess John sat down with Kuffour and Carroll last week.

 

I bet she'd give more of an effort there than Bobby.

 

I hope Peter keeps in mind that this game is not as important as tonight's Open Cup Game with the Kickers. We loose tonight, we're out of the Cup -- and I'd love to see us win the Cup. We lose to Dallas, we can recover and make playoffs. Go all out tonight and let Saturday take care of itself.

 

Well if Bobby doesn't play, he had a good last game with DC.

 

after the richmond match, i'm not sure he wont kick the bags over to the Dallas players...

I'm really beginning to worry about this match. our starting XI against Richmond will be pretty much what we roll out against Dallas

 

I agree with you on this one. Can we assume that Adu will get 90 minutes (barring injury)? I would guess that Nana will get some real minutes as well. Along with 15 minutes or so out of Quaranta to help him get his fitness back. I hate to say this, but we ABSOLUTELY have to show ourselves well in this game. It's time for Adu and Moreno to actually play together as if they like each other. It's time for Gros to show us that he deserves to start because of his value and not just because Convey is on his way out. Leaders like Nelsen and Stewart have to light a fire under this team, or we are looking at a repeat of the fizzle out that we had last year. I'm still sick to my stomach about the last 5 games we played last year. Loss Loss Tie (to a KC team that was playing for nothing) Loss Loss. Enough.

 

The two major differences are probably that Adu will start over Esky (who was absolutely ineffective per the broadcast) and the goalscorer will probably be in for Dema (who couldn't keep the ball from reaching row Z when he had chances). We'll see how it turns out.

 

Wow. That was harsh.

 

Wow. That was harsh.

 

Start NANA!!!!

 

We're down to 21 roster players with the impending Convey deal. Subtract the two long term injuries (Martins/Q2) and we have 19 players. This is real crap. Esp. when Olsen, Stewart and Nelsen may be too hurt to play and Q1 is iffy. That leaves us with 15 including the backup keeper (and Stokes who just plain sucks and Ara who looked real raw last night) for the match on Sat. I can't see the team going into FC Dallas and getting a result this time. Not after last night. Still, there's a couple more days to go. Any trialists in town, or is there a shock Chris Carreri signing in the cards?

Thx,

Jay!

 

yeah, Convey is gone, Olsen is definitely out (mother's wedding) Dema and Esky are sitting on suspensions, Stewart, Nelsen, Kuffour, Q1 and Namoff are all carrying some sort of injuries...

I don't give us much of a chance to come out with a W. I guess our best lineup (assuming Stewart and the other questionables can play) is...

Perkins
Namoff-Nelsen-Petke
-------Carroll
EZ-Stewart-Ara-Gros
----Moreno-Adu

With Kuffour maybe supplanting Ara, but he's been listed as more of a winger/forward, so I don't know if I'd run him out in the middle. Perhaps Nana could play in Adu's spot as well, but I think it's best to sub him for Freddy in the second half if he's not playing well.

The rest of the bench is Rimando, Q1, Prideaux, Stokes.... and that's about it.

 

I have a really bad feeling that Dallas will put a five spot on the board Saturday. Especially after reading about how lackluster DC was last night.

 

If the questionables can't go (anybody know their likelyhood of playing?), i would suggest going to 4man defense. Our strength is in a dynamic, hard-working, intelligent midfield. Missing bobby, benny, dema, and maybe stewart (4 out of 5 yikes!) that is no longer our strenght. Our D gets exposed as it is with all of our horses in midfield. now missing 4/5ths(!) of them i think Nowak really needs to look at this game as a defend/counter opportunity. If nelsen plays, i'll feel better about a 352, but petke has shown very vulnerable keeping everybody organized on counters. I would feel even better with petke/nelsen paired in the center of a 4man backline.

if the questionables cant go....

perkins
namof-petke-prideaux-stokes
EZ-carrol-ara-gros
freddy-jaime
--OR--
perkins
namoff-petke-EZ-prideaux
gros-carrol-ara-nana
freddy-jaime

We really need Nellie in this game.....

 

I think Nellie can go Saturday..

If we stay 3-5-2:
Perkins
---Petke--Nelsen---Prideux
------Carroll----Namhoff
-Ezra---------------Gros
--------Moreno <---------If Nowak wants me to Drink myself to sleep Saturday
---Adu----------Tino

The other way could be: 4-4-2: But that's up in the Air. , God help us, that no one gets hurt.

 

Oh, ye of little faith! Beware the wounded, cornered animal.

We're going to win. It won't be pretty; it won't be elegant, but it will be 3 points. Think back to Tampa Bay in '96 or '97. We went down there with a C- team in a monsoon and completely demolished them.

If we don't win, I'll drink a Guinness (or two) for atonement.

 

Those years they had a solid team with decent depth.

Maybe my gut feeling will change between now and Saturday but I'm pretty bummed this team lost last night and without Dema, Olsen, Esky it's a tall task ahead of them. I would take a road point and be happy as hell they got it.

None the less, the fridge is stocked. Get started.

 

Ok Cantankerous, you get started on the top shelf...I'll handle the bottom two.