Official DC United vs Dallas Burn PRE Match Thread

We are going to kick their a$$.

 

DC United is playing at home.

DC-2
Dallas-1

From Goffs article:
"If Etcheverry cannot play Saturday against the Burn (0-1-1), Hudson said he would probably use Eliseo Quintanilla or Earnie Stewart in the playmaking role."

If this is the thinking then there is something seriously wrong (Unless of course Hudson is sending out smoke to cover his real intentions).

While Quintanilla is a decent player, he is no Stewart (In fact I thought this was Stewart's preferred position).

 

i don't think "playmaking" is his preferred role but he seems to like to play an attacking mid/withdrawn forward type of role. when playing at NAC he often played behind the strikers and is very effective in that role.
in 2001-2 (last season) he had 11 goals in that role. he has played a very similar role for the Nats, especially in 2002 qualifying.

of course he can also play as the focal point of the attack, much like he did for the US against Venz a few weeks ago.

 

I would like to see Stewart in Marco's role to start, if Marco is not fit.

Unfortunately, Q2's size seemed a problem in the Kansas game. He was scrappy and tenacious, no doubt, but physically underwhelming.

I am looking for the lads to break the tie spell, and come away with a home win!
United 2
Burn (in hell) 1
Mark

 

C'mon Knaver...is that the biggest font you've got?

John

 

I hope they have more action in front of the goals than in the Chicago game. I can stand a 0-0 draw as long as there are some quality shots.

That being said - if Stoichkov plays we will score. I see it as 2-1 for the good guys.

-The Far Side

 

Without Etch:

Rimando

Petke-Nelson-Prideaux

Olsen-Kovalenko-Stewart-Convey

Quintanilla

Quaranta


With Etch:

Rimando

Petke-Nelson-Prideaux

Olsen-Kovalenko-Stewart-Convey

Etcheverry

Quaranta

 

i don't think Etch's health status should force us to play with 10 men for the entire game, in either situation.

 

After his performance last week, you can probably guaran-damn-tee Hristo will start this game.

I'd rather see him out there for the first 60 to give us the lead, then have Chino come on to shut down the midfield.

[sheesh] I never thought I'd say that I'd want Chino to come in and shut down the midfield

 

Sorry failed math. That's how I got into computers.

Without Etch:

Rimando

Namoff-Petke-Nelson-Prideaux

Olsen-Kovalenko-Stewart-Convey

Quintanilla

Quaranta


With Etch:

Rimando

Namoff-Petke-Nelson-Prideaux

Olsen-Kovalenko-Stewart-Convey

Etcheverry

Quaranta

 

i'd like to see convey get some run in the middle should etch not be healthy. drop one of the Q's to left mid and put hristo up front.

the center of kovo-stewart-convey would be very effecitive, in my opinion, if not a bit too offensive minded.

also, other players i'd like to see on the field some point soon would be ivanov, carroll, and warren.

 

Absolutely. He plays centrally for the U-20s and post-Etch he'll be doing it here. Time to get a look at him.

 

I say we go with both Bobby and Earnie in the middle, in a 3-5-2 like so:

Rimando

Petke-Nelson-Pridoux

Kovalenko

Olsen-Stewart-Convey-Allegria/Quintanilla

Stoichkov-Quaranta

If we don't think Stoich can go at least 60, then Chino at LM and an all-Q front line. Otherwise give him the start, and bring Ali on for spark at the end.

 

I am in the camp that wants Stoichkov to start.

We'd have some intensity in the game right from the start and maybe less East-West passing drills and more North-South attacking the goal.

I did not see any comments on the apparent disagreement between Earnie and Hristo in the Colorado game. Hopefully, the issue was resolved and it won't affect team chemistry.

 

I looked like a tactical disagreement between two intense players to me. As if Earnie was looking for one thing and Hristo was thinking something else.

 

I cant wait until our team meshes and we can start putting out anyone we want. For example... if this new "young international d-mid" trade comes through (chris bergin a few weeks ago)
maybe we can start rotating our players with more flexibility. I would like to see Earnie and Marco up front without totally ruining our midfield.

 

Basically I am for Stoitchkov early and or as long as he can go, but I must say that I relish the thought of a fresh Hristo attacking a tired defense late in the game. They will have to foul him and we will get a restart, perhaps even a PK. If Hristo can wrest the ball away from Etch and take the kick himself we have a good chance of a score.

 

I'd rather see Stoitchkov come in at half time.

Softens up the defense for him, and he is more dangerous than anyone else we have on the bench.

 

Rookie ref, Jesse Johnson.

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/datastore/90min0429refereesDALDC.html

 

Q2 didn't play against KC, and he was, in some people's eyes here, our best player against Chicago. Are you thinking of Chino, perhaps?

 

Count me among those who would bring on Stoitchkov around the hourmark or a little before.

While I am impressed with Etcheverry's resurgence so far, I think in the interest of maintaining that resurgence, a break is not out of order.

In the meantime, I like the notion of letting Bob run the midfield. Go 3-5-2 with twin d-mids.

Rimando

Petke-Nelsen-Prideaux

Alegria-Namoff

Olsen-Convey-Kovalenko

Stewart-Quaranta

The only problem is that leaves us short on defensive subs. If Ivanov can give us 20 minutes, that's an option. Carroll could potentially make his debut. Everything I've heard suggests that Stokes isn't ready for prime time, and won't be until late in the season, if then.

We'll see.

On second thought, if Etch is 100%, he goes.

 

-----------Rimando----------

---Nelsen---Petke---Prideaux---

-----------Alegria--------------
Olsen---Convey---Kovalenko----
-------Etcheverry-------------

-----Quaranta--Stewart--------

From Ray Hudson:
I'm sure Chino will be in contention for a starting spot on Saturday.

 

According to the conversation we had with Ray Hudson on the Soccer Show this past Monday, look for this lineup on Saturday, if everyone is healthy:


------------------- Rimando ---------------------


Petke -------------- Nelsen ------------ Prideaux


------------ Alegria ------ Convey ---------------


Olsen --------------- Etch ------------- Kovalenko


--------- Quaranta --------- Stewart -----------




A couple of things to note.....


1) Hudson also says he may start Stoichkov, but probably not...

2) Convey will move into the middle with Dema moving out to the left..

3) Alegria will be the defensive midfielder..

4) Stewart will finally have a partner up top...


I really like the look of this lineup and it will only get better when Ivanov gets back and we can push Nelsen up to d-mid....

I say 2-1 United with Stewart breaking his duck and Tino scoring as well....

 

I like the looks of this lineup quite a bit, with Convey sliding in Centrally and Dema going out wide on the left, they both should look more dangerous in the attack in these roles. Q1 and Earnie up front seem a good pair, with Stewart hopefully having to endure less frustration. I don't know about Hristo starting. I think I'd rather see him making an apearance early on in the second half. This all depends of course on everything going decent enough early on though. I definatly don't want to be chasing Dallas late in the second, trying for the equalizer, so as soon as we can knock their dicks in the dirt the better. I think 3-1 United. Earnie and Tino in the first with Stoichkov adding one in the second half. I hope that is not too optimistic.