DC United vs Los Angeles Galaxy • Date & Time :: Saturday, July 17@ 7:30pm EST • Television :: FSW, KCAL, CSN (DirectKick) • Audio Webcast :: English, Spanish, Other Webcasts • Broadband Video Webcast :: Yahoo! • 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
Perkins Namoff Nelsen Petke Carol Dema Olsen Convey Gros Moreno Esky Bench: Ez, Earnie, Q1, Prideaux, Adu
What makes you think Nowak is ready to start Gros over Ernie? I'm definitely excited by the young guy's energy, but I really don't see him getting the start over the veteran just yet. Ernie still needs to get his shot down (like Convey), but his play seems to be pretty consistent. I say Gros comes on as a sub, again. It sounds like him and Adu were gelling pretty well against Forest (which may not mean much), so perhaps they could get something going against LA.
Convey's questionable for this game, due to a leg injury sustained in practice earlier this week...Nellie is also questionable, as he may be injured again as well. If assuming those two are OK, agree completely with vivaelbolivar; if they are out (please God, not Nellie...) then: Perkins Namoff Ezra Petke Carroll Dema Olsen Gros Earnie Eski Moreno Gros starts no matter what. That kid is my frigging hero. Bailee
I'd make a slight change. BTW, how did LA do tonight vs. the Crapids. I saw up till Half-time. Perkins Namhoff-Nellie-Petke -----Olsen--Dema--- -Earnie---Convey---Gros ----Esky------Moreno-- It's time for Carroll to get a rest. He's only 23..if we don't rest him by the end of the season he'll be 34.
Not having Nellie and Convey for this game worries me. After last games shellacking against them, we need to play ALOT better defense or it could happen again. LA's been scoring goals in bunches and if Nellie isn't in the back, whoever Nowak starts back there better come up huge.
Perkins Namoff - Nelsen (or Ezra) - Petke (From the Nottingham game last night, its apparent that both Ezra and Petke can be either Central or Outside Defenders - This give DCU great versatility and depth in the back) Carroll (or Ara) Gros (or Stewart) - Olsen (or Ara) - Dema - Convey (Again from the Nottingham game last night, I was really impressed with Ara - not necessarily an Offensive Halfback - But someone who's very calm in tight spaces and finds safe passes to maintain possession - If either Carroll or another central Halfback needs a rest, Ara is a great alternative - And it really doesn't who's where in the Midfield - All these guys can just go where they need to go (outside, overlap, bring it into the middle to distribute, etc) for a really great fluid game in midfield) Moreno - Esky (Primary sub is Quaranta - Adu has had two starts and hasn't shown much - Maybe third time's a charm, but Q1 needs game time to get stronger - This is more with an eye for later in the season when injuries and yellow cards may force using the bench) (Primary bench - Ara, Ezra, Quaranta) John L
Adu played 90 minutes for the first time in his professional career yesterday. This leads me to believe that he won't get any playing time against LA, with Peter choosing Tino as the first option off the bench.
If Nellie can't go I'd like to see us go with a 4-4-2 (perhaps that's why Nowak employed it in the 2nd half last night against Forrest?); Perkins Namoff Petke Ezra Prideaux (remember he usually shuts Cobi down well) Dema Olsen Convey (Gros if Convey can't go) Stewart Moreno Esky Actually I'd like to see Bobby in the middle and Gros starting on the wing, but I just don't think Nowak would put Stewart on the bench right now. Cherno
Gros should own Broome on the wing. Ben should rip them a new one. Dema should break Ruiz and Herzog legs. It should be an intense game. DC United needs to come out strong and play solid for 90 minutes.
Just what I was thinking. Consider: Namoff--Nelsen--Ez--Petke ---Gros--Kovalenko Olsen----------Stewart ----Moreno--Esky A tad defensive? Yep. I'm haunted by the last time we played LA and got lit up for four goals in ten minutes. Plus, while Gros and Kovalenko are both esentially Dmids in this scheme, they've also proven to be highly useful in attack. If we're trailing, Convey or Quaranta could sub in for one of the two D-mids; if we're leading, maybe bring in Carroll for Stewart. And then there's the statutory Adu sub-in in the second half.
About Adu vs LA: In his favor, Freddy has shown in two games that he can dribble and get off his shot against the slow mastodons that LA uses in defense. because of that Adu matches up better in this game than Eski does. I still expect to see Eski start, but I expect Adu to receive decent playing time- ahead of Q1.
I disagree on the 4-4-2. With Ruiz back in their lineup, they seem to be back into their familiar pattern of having sending everything up to him, with Herzog being the provider. So if we flood the midfield and clog the passing lanes, we can render them toothless. Grabavoy, though, could be a threat if unchecked.
Paging Dema Kovalenko: "Dema we need one U-20 midfielder picking grass out of his teeth for about 75 minutes on Saturday, Please see a Mr. Ned Grabavoy between the 18 yard-boxes on Saturday, thank you."
If Bo or Califf were playing then you're probably right, but the way that Marshall and Suarez are playing, we've looked very solid at the back recently (1 goal allowed in 4 games). I would also fear for Adu's life with the Animal Suarez charging around, he's a total nut case, but has made alot of great plays recently, just needs to get his head on straight (or someone needs to tighten his safety helmet or something). I can't ever remember EZ playing at center back for us, is it something he started when he was in the A League, or does Nowak just like trying guys out in new positions? Should be a good game any way, but with Ruiz playing fairly poorly in the finishing partment (and diving too damn much), and our back line starting to get it's act together, It won't be another 4-2 game. How about a 1-1 draw.
OK. I've got two predictions for players. The "I wish" predition: Perkins EZ Nellie Petke Carrol Ara Stewart Dema Gros Eskie Moreno (with Q1 to sub him out at minute 60) The "Novak wishes" prediction: Perkens EZ Nellie Petke //if Nellie is out, EZ takes center and Namoff right Carrol Dema Stewart Olsen Bobbie Eskie Moreno (with Freddie to sub him out at minute 81) That would be my bet. -kravi
Anyone know if Nana is going to see some time against LA? Figured the Forest game would have been a good chance for him to get a few touches in.
The article in the Post on last nights match claims that Nana couldn't play due to an ankle injury so I would assume he'd be questionable for Saturday.