Another game coming quick. And after the emotionally exhausting El Trafico, a tough road-match on turf vs. a Portland team that has an offense that rivals ours, but with a worse defense. But this has mid-week trap game written all over it. A real test for our defense, which has been porous on the road. But there are definitely goals to be had for our offense. Picking up all 3 points on the road would go a long way to making those tougher last 2 road games (vs. Colorado and Houston) a lot less necessary to win to guarantee winning the west. So not a must win - but a win here sure would be nice. Let's see if our team has championship mettle or not.... We get back Paintsil but lose Cerrillo. So a chance for Paintsil to shine (after getting almost 2 weeks of rest). And then do we start Reus on short rest or is this the game to trot out our Pec-Delgado-Brugman lineup that we haven't seen in some time....and then make Reus the super-sub in this game? And do we rotate any of the centerbacks? A chance for Garces, maybe? Here's hoping that reigning Coach of the Matchday, Mr. Greg Vanney, makes the right decisions. Let's Go Galaxy!!
There is a kind of weird irony here in the desert (I know technically Southern California is a Mediterranean climate) we have grass pitches and in the rainy Pacific Northwest they have plastic pitches. Though I suppose they’d prefer plastic pitches to the plastic fans at BMO.
For me I think you take advantage of players that are good that didn't play much last weekend (Paintsil, Delgado, Brugman) and sit Reus for the first 55 minutes. It's short rest and plastic pitch. I also wonder about Dejan and if playing on turf and in three straight matches in one week so soon would be an issue. Might consider: ---------------Berry------------- Paintsil-----------------Pec -------------Riqui-------------- --------Brugman---Delgado----- THE REST UNCHANGED With Reus, Fagundez, Dejan coming on later. Want a result but want to be fresh to kill Vancouver on the weekend too.
I'm not so sure Vanney will rotate too much, especially some of the key players. I agree with your midfield 3, and I agree he'll probably rest Reus, but I'm not so sure he'll start Berry. Dejan's had a lot of rest and I can see him starting Dejan, throwing Berry at halftime or late. I CAN see Cuevas as a possible starter for Nelson or Yamane. I want to see more of him.
With a game against Vancouver Saturday and a week off to follow, I am thinking that Reus and DeJan start from here on out. After tonight we only have 4 games left of the season. We need to have everyone 100% in rhythm and running like a well oiled finely tuned engine going into the playoffs. I think we are going to see the same lineup from El Traffico accept Paintsil will replace Deigo as starter. We will see Brugman and Delgado come in for Reus and Cerillo in the 2nd half and Fagundez will sub whoever is most tired between Paintsil and Pec around minute 65. DeJan will sub for Berry around the same time as last game also. Riqui is going 90 as I don't see Vanney pulling him unless we are up 3 goals by minute 80. Keep the same plan as the 2nd half of El Traffico. FIND YOUR FORWARD AND FEED HIM SO THAT YOU GET YOUR MIDFIELDERS FREE! Reus acts as 8 to Riqui's roaming 10 as Pec & Paintsil bomb up and down the wings looking to cross and cut into the box whenever they can. I expect to win this game 3-1 : Goals by Paintsil, Dejan and Pec with assists by Reus and Puig. -------------------------Dejan Pec----------------------------------------Paintsil ----------------Puig-------------Reus -------------------------Cerillo Nelson---Yoshida-------Neal-------Yamane -----------------------McCarthy
Obviously don't know how the players recovered from Saturdays' game - but since Dejan subbed out and Reus went the distance on Saturday, I expect we see Paintsil, Delgado and Brugman move into the starting lineup for Fagundez, Reus and Cerrillo and then Reus, Fagundez and Berry be the second half subs. And then maybe we see Garces either start or sub in during the second half to rest one of our center backs. And then also maybe Cuevas as the fifth sub to give one of the outside backs a breather.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-player-status-report-matchday-33 LA Galaxy Julian Aude - Groin (Out) Martin Caceres - Achilles (Out) Edwin Cerrillo - Not Due to Injury (Out) Portland Timbers Claudio Bravo - Lower Leg (Questionable)
#MLSRefStats Match Day 33PORTLAND TIMBERS vs @LAGalaxy REF: Tim FORD - 81st gameAR1: Cory RICHARDSON - 135thAR2: Stefan TANAKA-FREUNDT - 54th4TH: Matthew CORRIGAN - 41stVAR: Jose Carlos RIVERO - 181stAVAR: Tom SUPPLE - 170th#PORvLA #RCTID #LAGalaxy— MLS Referee Stats (@MLSRefStats) September 18, 2024
This game could is going to be informative. The second 45 minute of the derby still has the shine on it, but can’t forget the egg we laid in St. Louis and the fact we haven’t put together a full 90 minute match. It’s one thing to dig deep for a derby game, it’s another to do it on a plastic pitch on a Wednesday.
Yup. Lately we've been poor on the road. Let's see if we can turn that around. We will need to grab some points in these last 3 road games if we want to win the west and, on paper, this seems the most likely game to grab some.
Our XI in Portland ✨ 📰: https://t.co/4bnK14P30L | @ModeloUSA pic.twitter.com/iwYl5D5pDn— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 19, 2024
Can’t argue with that lineup. We have some good players to bring in off the bench in the second half.