Pre-game: Revs vs. LD Alajuelense

Yeah, says he's out the Wed. match against Herediano and the Rev matches. How many Argentines play in Central American leagues, anyway? Bizarre.

Now if only Fonseca and Bryce could suffer the same against Herediano.....

 

Isn't Herediano Sunsing's old (and current) team?

 

Lineup guesses anyone?

I believe I saw a roster that didn't include Harris or Llamosa, so based on that here's my guess:

Twellman -------- Noonan
------- Moore --------

Griffiths - Hernandez - Ralston

Franchino - Kante - Pierce - Heaps

---------- Brown ----------


Regardless og who's available, I still see Moore as our "playmaker" although I doubt he'll drop deep into midfield. I think Hernandez will be defensive-minded, but given the freedom to move into the attack when the proper opportunity arises.

If Harris is available, I think he'd start up top and Noonan would slide to left midfield. I'm just not sold on Griffiths as a complement to Ralston.

I really wish we could get some more news from training camp though, because it's hard to gauge this team on anything but last year's performance and pure speculation (i.e. Noonan).

 

I am going to assume that the list of players was incorrect, and that the entire team is down there.

Without any serious games under their belt, I guess we go with what we had at the end of last year (as much as possible).

------- Harris ---- Twellman ---
--------------- Moore --------------
Kamler ----------------- Ralston
------------ Hernandez -----------
Franchino --------------- Heaps
------ Llamosa -- Kante --------
--------------- Brown ---------------

I think that Pierce and Cullen are the odd men out barring injuries.

Bench:
Reis, Pierce, Cullen, Griffiths, Noonan

Others:
Downing, Joseph, Leonard, Westfield, Singer

It seems that all the other CONCACAF Champions games were a bit chippy. I predict that Hernandez is the first to get tossed via Red Card as he retaliates for cheap shots on Moore and Twellman.

Hopefully everyone is healthy when they return to start the season.

 

How about:

------- Moore ---- Twellman ---
----------- Hernandez ---------
Kamler ----------------- Ralston
------------ Pierce ------------
Franchino --------------- Heaps
------ Llamosa -- Kante --------
--------------- Brown ----------

... putting Pierce back at his college position (from what I understand). A little less distribution, a little better marking/physical presence - might be a good way to go.

 

If they were going to play with a line-up like that I would take Cullen over Pierce.

 

I've been trying to find out if this game will be broadcast over the Internet(radio), and haven't been able to find out much. Just sent out an e-mail to the alajuela webmaster to see if they know of anything. Hopefully I didn't accidently call him the offspring of a frog and a rooster with my poor Spanish, and he will respond.

Lee

 

Paul Gardner and his like be damned: I say we go for the ugliest defensive-minded soccer we can muster, under the circumstances. That means Pierce starts on my team:

Brown
Pierce Llamosa Kante Franchino
Ralston Heaps Hernandez Kamler
TT Moore

 

As we've seen in the past SN is not above going with a 4-5-1.

A Midfield of Ralston and Kamler on the flank and Cullen, Hernandez and Moore in front of a back line of Heaps, Llamosa, Kante and Franchino isn't going to give up many goals.

 

this is my bet.

 

My guess is that Cullen and Hernadez will play as last year with JMM in a withdrawn striker/forward midfield role and Twellman up front alone. Nicol will choose to defend and counter as he did last year. Hernandez will not be trusted (for good reason) to anchor the defensive midfield by himself. Nicol will hope to frustrate the Costa Ricans and catch them in a counter by Ralston, Moore, and Twellman. Most of the game will be in the Rev's end. The defense, two central midfielders, and probably Kamler will not try to get forward. It will be an ugly, conservative and physical game which the Rev's will win or tie unless they are forced to play a man down (which is very likely).

 

interesting, some media outlets have no idea the Revs are playing both games away
quote:
The Revolution plays Alajuelense Sunday in Costa Rica and March 26 in Foxboro, Mass.

just above MLS Notes
http://www.nj.com/metrostars/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/104797271964650.xml

 

I just heard back from the webmaster of the alajuela.com site. Here's the text of his reply:

If my Spanish isn't failing me, he is saying that the games are transmitted on 3 radio stations in Costa Rica. Two of the stations, Radio Monumental and Radio Reloj, are available through links here. A third station, Radio Columbia, is available here.

Looks like plenty of options for those of us who can speak Spanish to follow the game. Perhaps a chat room or PbP thread where translations for people that can't? I'll volunteer, but someone who is fluent in Spanish could probably do a better job. If they talk as fast as the Guatemala stations, I'll have a tough time listening, translating and typing with my poor Spanish.

Lee

 

The lineup question seems to revolve around whether Harris plays upfront with Hernandez as dmid or Moore plays up front with Cullen or Pierce as d-mid.

If Nicol is consistent he will play the more defensive oriented line-up and take Harris out and put Cullen or Pierce at d-mid. My selection there would depend on my assessment of the need for additional speed in the back. If I need it, I go with Pierce, if I don't I go with Cullen.

Then, if we want to push for more offense, you take out Cullen/Pierce, push Hernandez and Moore back one spot and put in Harris.

The good news is that Nicol has a couple of legitimate players/starters on the bench that gives him the ability to play tactics without giving up quality. (At least too much quality.)

 

My Prediction

I want to go one record as saying:

Revs win 2-1 surprise them with 2 goals on counters.


Revs Tie 1-1 real ugly defensive Bunkered down scheme.


SoccerHead

 

Could someone please state the time of the game? Thanks

 

Take heart from Celtic's performance today where they took a 2-0 victory on Liverpool's pitch to win their UEFA cup quartfinal....after losing 2-1 at home no less in the first leg.

 

Re: My Prediction

Hell, I say the Revs win both games and play the next round in front of a raucous 143 fans

Kidding aside, I don't see how a predicition is possible when so little is known about the Revs training. If we were in midseason form, I think it would be close. Hopefully Mr. Brown can put in one of his blinding performances and Moore or Twellman take advantage of a couple opportunities.

 

You are so right...this game has 4-5-1 written all over it. We might see Joseph slip into the back line, though and I predict we will see Noonan, but not starting.

 

Actually the first leg was a 1-1 draw

 

Would you pay $15 to watch the matches on your PC?

www.cablevirtual.com in CR apparently has an internet subscription service of $15/mo., broadcasting Repretel Channel 6 on the web (if you have a media player like QT or MS Media Player and a connection speed of 56k or higher).

*If* both games are being broadcast on 6, theoretically (and my Spanish isn't that great, we would need to check on this) you could pay the $15 for a one month subscription and watch the matches on the web. A pretty good deal for PPV, I would say.

 

Re: Would you pay $15 to watch the matches on your PC?

The webmaster at the Alejuela website told me that the LD Alajuelense games are indeed broadcast on this channel. Their program guide only shows today's schedule. I'll try to check Sunday's schedule on Sunday morning to see if the game will indeed by on. I may just listen to it on the radio, anyway, and save the $15.

Lee

 

Other games with MLS teams

What werre the scores of the other first legs of the tourney????

LA
SJ
COlumbus