If I'm the Revs players I'm really pissed right now and want some blood. I think the Fire are in for an ass-whipping. Revs will not be forgetting the last meeting with the Fire Defense has been playing exceptionally well. None of the four goals given up in 5 games were due to poor defending. (two deflections, one bad bounce and a non-pk) Biggest question mark is who will fill in for Joseph and how that will impact the games outcome. Suspect we will see Franchino replacing Joseph Home cooking, nice weather and a friendly stadium should help.
With the way they muscled Houston around the field last week and the way we've been relying on some chippy defense, I can't say I'm too excited about this one.
Frankly, I'm concerned that Franchino is going to slot into the starting lineup. He's not going to help our attacking midfield play.
I agree that the Rev's defense has been very solid (and adding Parkhurst helps). Hoewever, I've been frustrated at how slow they close down attackers on occasion. A perfect example of this last night occurred on a corner when the ball fell to Gomez at the far corner of the box. The nearest Rev was 10 yards away and no one even tried to close him down. They all sort of stood there like they would be able to block his shot. It put a lot of pressure on Reis who was forced to make a great save, pushing it over the crossbar. They got lucky there because usually Gomez buries that. I've noticed this in a few of the games, especially about 20-25 yards out...it's almost like they're inviting the shot. Close down the man with the ball!!
My hope is that Dorman moves back to D-mid next to Big Red, Noonan plays at attacking mid, and Cristman starts next to Twellman.
Hopefully Nicol can pump these guys up enough before the game and not in the locker room at halftime this time and i hope the starters legs arent too tired. I know they are professionals and should be fit but only a few days to recover after playing the last 30 min a man down. Plus it sounds like the Fort is going to be wide awake for sundays game. Its going to be a fun one.
Once again I'll ask ... please wear your blue in the Fort. Yes, I know not everyone will ... but those of you that can and are willing ... PLEASE WEAR BLUE.
..................................Reis ..........Heaps............Parkhurst............John ...................JL....................Franchino Ralston................Dorman...................Smith ..............Twellman............Noonan This is what we will see most likely ..........................Reis .........heaps........Parky...........John ...............JL...............Riley Dorman................................Ralston .......................Noonan ..........Cristman............Twellman This is what I would like to see
We lose Shalrie and that causes us to have to retool every piece of the midfield? John in for Riley, Riley pushes up, simple as that. It's times like these when Mophead would have come in handy
I would love to see Dorman on the right and Ralston on the left for for a game (but maybe wait till Noonan gets back his touch)
ya, why not, we are certainly not getting any production out of Khano, why not Ralston on the left? Why not do something to put your best players on the field? what a concept!
I'd much rather prefer to see Pat Noonan or someone on the left, and I don't know what you guys are seeing. Sure Khano isn't scoring, but he's definitely not useless. He and Big Red do a lot of the dirty work out there, JL on the defensive end and Khaninho on the offensive side.
SN is not one to change anything ... unless he has no choice. I like many of the suggested lineup changes in previous posts (this thread) and have suggested myself that Dorman move outside and Noonan drops back with Christman starting as forward. However, I doubt SN will do anything radical except trying to find more minutes for Joey, either in Joseph's spot or in Smith's and that won't work. His reluctance to make necessary changes will be our undoing. Chicago is tough and I think we'll lose this one.
Well, there is also the fact that the mid-field, barring the Toronto game, has either been offensively missing in action or, at best, inconsistent the entire season.
Does anyone know why Avery John was on the bench for the D.C game??? Riley has not been impressive at all. In Columbus his laps cost us a victory and his lapse in judgement again cost a victory. Yes Avery will get a card now and again but he is a huge asset in the back line. Why sit him on the bench??? Sometime Nicol really annoys me. We still haven't paid Shalrie yet, our scouting of foreign help has been horrible. We let Cancela go who to me was the most skilled player on the team. Joe Franchino is gone then comes back and is subbed into the D.C game before Avery John??? How fit can he be???
This thread's really ... really ... dead. Huge game tomorrow boys and girls. It's going to be windy out there apparently, and it'll feel like upper 40s. Joseph being out hurts. I don't think Joey can go 90, so there's one definite sub that'll need to be made. Noonan can't go 90, so there's 2. And Khano's virtually done nothing except for one game ... yikes. And the Pissants haven't lost a game yet.
Patience.... What have we learned the last few years, MLS teams that start strong ALWAYS LOSE in the post season.