Rematch of the Western Conference final last year, which we all remember. Wizards playing the last of a 5 game road streak, of which they're 3-0-1. On an incredible roll, even without Preki and Simentunkov (sic). They're midfield is very tough, as is their backline. Arnaud and Wolff up front take their chances. Donovan returns for the Quakes. Starting lineup up in the air. I figure with all the traveling the Wizards have done the last two and a half weeks, their legs should be a little mushy. If the Quakes come out playing their high energy game, hopefully they can make KC wilt. Should be a good one.
Re: Quakes v. Wizards (6/26) - pre-game I'll be there. I'm picking the Quakes to win, as always! No, but really, I'm so glad Donovan is back. Now we really have someone to force play in the midfield besides Mullan.
With the line-up, there are a few interesting questions this week: What happens on D with Agoos out (red card)? Who gets moved back to the bench to bring Donovan back in? Can Mullan go? (See injury report in guamster's post.) I figure Mullan, even if he's really feeling the pain, will do everything he can to start. ...Russell is my pick to move benchward to accomodate LD. I don't know what we'll do at D, but I've been hoping to see Dunnivant get back out there for a while - this seems like his chance. ---------DeRo--Ching --------------LD -Corrales-------------Mullan ----------Mulrooney Dunni--Waibel--Cochrane--Hart -----------Onstad ...Of course, Todd hasn't played competitively for a long while, and Dom might rather work him in as a sub a few times before giving him a start. In this case, Corrales goes to left back, and Alvarez, Brown, or Russell start at left mid. (I'd like to see Alvarez start, but I suspect Russell would get the nod since he's been starting recently.) Which side does Arnaud play on? He seems to be a real danger guy for KC this year - who will be marking him for us? And will the small confines of Spartan help our D cope with Wolff's speed? (Waibel and Cochrane marking Wolff! )
This has all the makings of a cracker. I wouldn't worry about KC's legs getting tired from travel, they've had a full week off the last two weeks. What will make their legs tired is chasing DeRo, Ching, LoDo and Mullan around. This team has really surprised its fans with this road trip, and has the look of a very confident road team. Unless the trend is broken, don't look for KC to give up more than 2 goals. Our defense has been rock solid. Zavagnin back in the midfield is a big plus and will need a great game shutting down Donovan. Our midfield has come together nicely with Preki out, but if Walsh sees any time consider yourselves lucky because the guy sucks. Klein and Gutierrez have been looking real sharp. To answer the question, Arnaud doesn't really play on a "side". Arnaud and Wolff, along with Klein, rotate in and out of the front two spots. Arnaud's hustle is what to fear most, as he'll run you to death and never get tired. Wolff has also been coming around, and look out for Matt Taylor who just got a pair last weekend in NE. Like I said, this really should be a great game.
Injuries aside our lineup should present a problem for the Wizards. I'd like to see... ------Onstad------ Hart---Cochrane---Waibel---Corrales Mullan-Mulrooney-Donovan-Alvarez ----Ching---DeRo--- Dunnivant if he's 100% but he's sure to show a little rust out on the pitch. Donovan in a more attacking forward position would be best. If Mullan can't get it done we're stuck with Russell, dammit. With the Metros complete PUNKING of the galaxative scum yesterday, this would be a great chance to pick up three and get within striking distance. It should be an excellent match indeed
A win on Saturday would be HUGE for the Quakes. The Quakes would be 2 points behind KC with 2 games in hand and 2 to 5 points behind the Galaxy (LA@Chi on Sunday) with 3 games in hand. At the same time, a loss or a tie would not be altogether disastrous, what with those "games in hand" giving the Quakes ample opportunity to narrow the gap.
But, but, but!!!! The two teams ahead of us are KC and LA... Our next two games are against KC and LA... THIS is our chance to make up the ground because if we win these we make up ground while KC and LA stay put. A tie would be a disappointment at home, and if we lose...!!!??? I don't even want to think about it. I haven't watched KC play this year, so I really don't know what to expect. I may be wrong, but I actually think that KC is a lot like the Quakes when we are without LD. Everyone seems to work really hard for each other, they have a solid D, and they play the full 90 at 100%. I'd like to think that the creativity we get from LD and DeRo will make enough of a difference on the offensive side to cover up for fielding what will amount to an "experimental" D. (And Beerk - I'd like to see Alvarez start too, but with the current state of the D, I kind of think that we'll see Russell since he's a bit stronger on D than Alvarez.) Anyone think that Dom will try to get Eke on the field? (....Shoo! Shoo, spejic, shoo! ) He could take a page out of Frankie-Canada's book and play DeRo (or LD) out wide with LD (DeRo) and Ching up top. ...a lot seems to depend on how ready Dunni is...
A win would allow us to gain ground without using our games in hand. And if you say "if we win..." the Great Pumpkin won't visit you on Halloween night...
It appears that the game will not be televised, at least it's not on the Direct Kick Package. Didn't this happen last year with a game against KC? Always like to have a record of the game. I will bring the portable recorder and get John Schrader's radio play-by-play. Audio record better than nothing.
I like how weve matched up against KC, we've buried them in the past in midfield. They may be better there without Preki this year, but I just think our style is a tough tough matchup for them. Their counter to their forwards, especially with our patchwork backline, my only real area of concern. I like our chances in this one.
I'm expecting to see a really tough match today. It sure is nice to have all of our World Cuppers back for this one--a huge game for us, made even bigger by LA's loss on Wednesday. As someone stated earlier, if we pick up these 3 points we're breathing down LA/KC's necks for first place with at least 2 games in hand on each. By my way of thinking, that makes us the team to beat in the West, though I know you can never take anything for granted in this league such as assuming we'll win those "games in hand." Still, I come to that conclusion through probability--our guys are playing great. Certainly, they'd win at least one of those two! This being my 1,000th post on BS, I was going to save it to discuss a big Quakes' victory but my excitement about this game is too great. Starting XI: Onstad Hart, Waibel, Cochrane, Corrales Mullan, Mulrooney, Donovan, Russell DeRosario, Ching If we need some fresh legs/offensive punch later, I could see Alvarez in for Russell or Dunivant in and slide Corrales up to Russell's spot. Has anyone seen practice at all? How is Todd's conditioning at this point? Is he game fit? Go the Quakes!!!