Official DC United vs MetroStars PRE Match Thread • Atlantic Cup Matchday 4

Pressure is on the MetroDonkeys now. We kick their ass 3-1.

 

I am going to guess that one of the Kevin's (Stott or Terry) will be the ref Sunday. Brian Hall, Alex Prus, Terry Vaughn, and Gus St Silva already have asisngments this weekend.

Olsen was on DC101 for a few minutes and said that this one could be pretty ugly.

 

DC United-2
Metostas-0

 

So its all down to this for the Atlantic Cup. I am so excited. My b-day's on Monday and I think DCU has an early present for me! 2-1 DCU. Retain the Atlantic Cup and move past the Metros in the East!!

 

Lineups?

I say Hudson/trask go with the same, except for Nellie and Warren:

-----------------Warren
Ivanov----Petke----Nelsen----Prideaux
--------------Kovalenko
Olsen-------------------------Convey
---------------Stewart
----Cerritos------------Martins

The chemistry was just too good last nght to tamper with the lineup much. Plus, this lineup is both much faster and much taller than what the metros can field.

 

I agree but the league must like him because he is flying out to do the KC LA game Saturday night.

 

The uglier the better. We will prevail in the Battle of the Anacostia 3-0. The Metros will come out looking for payback, but once again will be unable to cope witha confident DCU midfield. Then come Wednesday, we keep the Muertos trophyless yet again by shafting them up Rutgers University. I want those red-and-black-striped bastards to come with everything they've got, and that goes for their punkass fans too.

 

Bring banners, drums, flags, streamers, confetti, your posse and smokey stuff...everyone needs to step up and make RFK rock.
Like you need to be told.
One battle is over, it's time to focus on Sunday.
LA BARRA BRAVA!!!

 

So what's the attendance going to be, given it's on an NFL Sunday?

 

I expect to see Etch back in his old spot. W/ Quintanilla out on the left this time.

Bradley is not going to let us dominate the set pieces like before.

BTW, those who watch the ESPN2 tape delay ...did anyone else see the Man Utd commercial w/ Tim Howard?

 

I would agree except there is only three days rest. I think we will see Q2 and Etch in there. The chemistry was great and the mid field played awsome - the best we looked in years.

 

Yeah, it was cool. Rio, Ruud, and Tim at the end. Heady times for U.S. soccer fans, eh?

 

Yeah- I'm of two minds here and I'm also trying to figure what Hudson will do: that in itself is crazy making. So here's the arguments both ways as I see 'em:

For keeping the midfield and forwards the same

1) As the TV guys accurately said, we had a bunch o worker bees out there, six guys working their asses off complimenting/overlapping each other beautifully. By far the best our offense has looked for an entire game, without question.

2) These six were also a lot faster than the metros mid and defense and with Guevera out next game that speed difference will be all the greater.

3) Martins fit in beautifully and his height really distracted the metros on set pieces. They aren't very good in the air anyways and with nellie probably back our height advantage will be huge.

4) Stewart is flat out better than etch on free and corner kicks and if Etch plays, he takes 'em.

5) Convey played his best since the Tottenham incident. That along with the fact that opposing teams now know that Q2 has no right foot and are thus better able to shut him down. That makes Q2 less able to overlap with the a-mid like Convey and Olsen can.

6) Yes our front six will be a little tired, but, a) they are all in great condition and it's not like the metros will be rested. That and the fact that such low work rate guys as Mathis and Lisi will be both tired and counted on to generate their offense will make our speed advantage all the more apparent on the RFK grass. Look we have our foot on their necks- why take it off by a change in personnel that we don't know will be as effective? It's not as if the metros have players on the bench who will vastly improve their midfield and defense.

Against keeping the mid and forwards intact

1) There will have to be fatigue in those six and Etcheverry and Quintanilla are just as good. We can afford to sit uh probably Convey and Martins for the next game and still be as strong.

2) With Nellie coming back we can keep our height advantage if Martins sits.

3) Etch's lack of defense will not be as important since Guevara won't be playing.

4) Etch's passing when he's on could take apart that metros defense better than any other DCU player. I wouldn't be surprised if Bradley switches to a 442 so our passing could use Etch's touch.


.....

My guess is that Hudson already made up his mind on who will play the next game before the last game. Either that or he hasn't thought about it yet.

 

Keep the momentum, guys. Maintain focus and take 'em down like last year. A win will put us
in great position to clinch a playoff spot against Columbus.

No Guevara so I'll look for Fatass to drop back and help out Lisi with Wolyniec and Magee (if he's able) up top. I'll take that lineup any day.

 

Why do we care about the Norwegian Football League?

I might even venture a guess on the result after my last attempt in the Spoilers thread (which was 2:1 DC)...

I predict 17,000 fans witness a demolishing - DC United 3

Metroscum -1

They are missing "the Submariner" who really creates everything for them in midfield - not to mention his flops give Cletus a chance...

 

Since Martins is out for the Open Cup, I'd imagine that we'd see him in on Sunday. We'd be foolish to play without Cerritos or Earnie either, so they'll probably stay in the same formation. Bobby's at risk to lose the spot to Eliseo, but he did have solid game on Thursday, so we'll see. If Nellie's 100% he plays, if not 100% then we rest him again. I would hate to push players through things like a flu like illness if we've got sufficient depth to cover his spot.

On Wednesday, I imagine that Marco starts along with Eliseo.

 

A couple thoughts:

Have we gotten an update on Nicky?

As much as I love Nicky and I want him in goal, this is an excellent opportunity for Warren to show us what he is made of

Shouldn't "Che" Guevara be playing on the revolution?

Man, I can't wait until Sunday. Right now, all of the pressure is on the scum.

Oh yea, if you are trying to pick me out in the crowd, I am the guy in Barra Brava with a beer in his hand. That should narrow it down.

 

This should be a good one Sunday! When we win this one (3-0), it's gonna set up a very ugly game at Rutgers on Wed. Damn them for going back oon their promise to televise the semis.....
I knew Nicky had played alot of consecutive minutes (too many for me) but I had no idea he was only 50 minutes away from an MLS record.

The following story is about the DC/NJ rivalry, and was put up yesterday on MLSNet, I hadn't seen a link yet, so it fits here as well as anywhere, and it even mentions the GrillMaster, and the Screagles !!
http://mlsnet.com/content/03/analyze0925.html

As far as who to play and whether to break up the group from last night, I say we rest Benny and stick Q2 in, and tell Bobby to run himself empty 'cause Etch is coming in at 55'. Or start Etch and rest Earnie, but I like Earnie on the field.

Sunday's thrashing will be to make up for that crap goal scored on us in OT when the vermin visited us earlier in the season.

 

I would say that last night's line-up should go again, with Ryan being the exception.
It's a tough choice on Q2, though, what a scrapper!
Marco can sub-in late if necessary, but not start.
If Q1 is fit, then perhaps a mid-2nd half sub in midfield.
Warren apparently played a primo game last night, I hope he has another Sunday.

All the best of wishes and hope for Nicky!
A speedy recovery, no matter the severity.
Mark

 

If anybody deserves a rest, it is Benny. But, the guy is hot, you probably should leave him in, and maybe sub him out in the second half if he is dragging.

I would hesitate putting Q1 in there right now. Chemistry is a wonderful thing and we shouldn't over think the line up.

I know I am being bi-polar with the whole chemistry thing, but I would like to see Hristo back on the pitch.

Ah the hell with it, all I want is a thorough thrashing of the Metroscum on Sunday. Man, I am pumped for this game. I even took Monday off from work so I don't have to regulate my drinking.

I was told that beers at the Swamplands were $6.75. And we thought we had it rough.

 

Aguante DC UNITED!

The TEAM HAS RESPONDED by winning games.
It's OUR TURN TO RESPOND TO THE TEAM by ROCKING RFK LIKE NEVER BEFORE!


Aguante LA NORTE, LA BARRA BRAVA and THE SCREAMING EAGLES!



New Song:
Yo no se si estoy sordo
o el estadio es muy grande
pero a ti no te escucho
METRO CONCHETUMADRE!

 

Yeah, but they were either big old plastic bottles (dangerous even without the caps they take from you) - or Guinness and Harp in decent, regular sized cups. I'd pay $7 for Guinness at RFK in a heartbeat. They had Heineken taps, but they weren't working, must be for the pointy-ball folks.
Not that I've ever had one any place else but once, but the Meadowlands have good knishes, and that's the only nice thing I can say about the place. May the Mutt fans "enjoy" their $6 warm Buds in wax cups at RFK Sunday. We'll have our free Foggy Bottom and Rolling Rock at the tailgates.
Death to the Metros.

 

I say stick with the lineup that ran the Scum ragged. (Except, of course, Nelsen and Warren.) Convey should be rested- that was his first start in over a month. Ben is hot. Stewart is finally clicking with Cerritos, and Martins was solid. If Benny really is tired, and we need a pick-me-up, we could throw in Etch or Q2 mid-second half. Why tamper with a good thing, though?