Revs News March 26

Proving once again that I'm not above plugging my own site...

Revolution-LD Alajuelense Preview
by: Mike Marshall

 

real nice site, but what you said in that article has already been said a thousand times before. again, very nice site though. plug away as you wish.

 

The usual coverage in the Costa Rican press...

LIGA A ASEGURAR EL BOLETO
By: JOSÉ LUIS JIMÉNEZ ROBLETO, Diario Extra
http://www.diarioextra.com/cgi-shl/2003/marzo/26/deportes06.pl

Article suggests that due to the score in the first leg that LDA may not play a majority of their top players, instead playing a number of reserves while also giving some promising players starts for the first time. The article also suggests that Steve Nicol is going to go with the same formation as last time, save for Carlos Llamosa playing in place of the suspended Jay Heaps.

Liga a rematar la serie: Los alajuelenses pretenden eliminar hoy al New England Revolution.
By Norman Montes Reyes, El Heraldo
http://www.elheraldo.net/deportes/deportes4.htm

Article suggests that the LDA coach may in fact rest those key players who are also members of the Costa Rican National team to give them some rest prior to a friendly they have schedule against Paraguay next Saturday. The article also suggests that the game tonight won't be much different from Sunday, in that, "the American soccer player usually does not leave his scheme."

Liga por el jaque mate
By Arnoldo Rivera J., La Nacion
http://www.nacion.co.cr/ln_ee/2003/marzo/26/deportes3.html


Nothing special here, although the coach is quoted as saying that there shouldn't be much drop off in quality from playing his reserves, rather than his starters.

Hará seis cambios hoy: Pinto da marcha atrás
By Esteban Arrieta Arias, Prensa Libre
http://www.prensalibre.co.cr/cgi-shl/2003/marzo/26/deportes03.pl


Article confirms six changes to the LDA side that will be fielded against the Revolution tonight. Ricardo González, Roy Meyer (ex-MLS), Javier Delgado, Carlos Hernández, Josef Miso and Alejandro Alpízar will start tonight.

There is also a brief column including with this link that describes the Revolution's task as "Mission Impossible." Adin Brown is quoted as saying, "The truth is, I believe that it's like an impossible mission to overcome the margin. Alajuelense is a very strong team that is in their regular season; whereas right now we are begining the preseason in our respects.... in the last game we made many mistakes and we paid for them expensively, because it is now very difficult that we've given to them a four goal advantage."

Rusty Pierce is quoted as saying, "Without a doubt, the last result surprised us all, and we never thought that it was going to happen."

Joe Franchino said, "We are going to give our best effort we can to leave with a good image, and the worst thing that can happen to us is another strong defeat."

The Magpie

 

Nice article. While I'd expect Llamosa to start (as opposed to just letting Joseph get some game experience) I'd like to see what Noonan does at the beginning of the game. I thought he played pretty well on Sunday.

From the article: "And I checked my front lawn this morning - there are some bare spots without much grass, but it's probably playable, and I haven't touched it in months."

I've been trying to explain to my son that our yard definitely isn't playable at this time, and that for the forseeable future we'll be playing "futsal" type games in the street or the driveway.

And that even when it's playable, it's not playable in his cleats....

 

Fair enough, but I hadn't said anything about this in the past, and there really hasn't been anything on the site about it, for a variety of reasons. I thought it was important to at least touch on it, and I thought this was the appropriate time.

And I've honestly skipped most of the debate on here about the topic, because reading that stuff makes my hair hurt.

Thank you for your kind words about the site.

 

That's exactly what I was hoping for. With the addition of Llamosa (and the subtraction of two penalty kicks and one "player-down" situation), I think we can put up a much more respectable challenge.

I don't expect a 4 goal victory, but I do expect a much more even game.

 

"..don't expect a 4 goal victory, but I do expect a much more even game..."

I hope so, and I think the Revolution have the chance to come away with a respectable result. The addition of Llamosa should bring a bit more stability to the back, and if we're lucky enough to get Moore back, a more dynamic pressence in midfield. Hopefully we do a better job of staying composed on defense, retaining possession, and making better movement off the ball to open up space for our attacking players.

The Magpie

 

if this game doesn't show an improvement ( draw or win)... its going to be a long season.

this team's success last year was low goals against. if we lose that then it is back to the bottom of the table. ( i hope i'm wrong and it is preseason stuff).

 

anyone know if the 2nd leg will be webcast again? if so could you be so kind as to - post the url & time...

 

I hope JMM doesn't play at all. With the daunting task of overcoming a four goal deficit, we may want to 'make sure' he heals properly and paces himself for the MLS opener.

He might feel 'pressured' into doing Moore than he's fit for, and that's the last thing I want to happen.

 

Who's been eating (at least some of) the pies?



Doesn't look like our man Stevey will be making a comeback anytime soon. Not the most flattering of angles.

About time we had a coach that was more interested in coaching than playing in practice.

 

Re: Who's been eating (at least some of) the pies?

My first thought exactly.
Glad to see he's looking more like me

 

I don't think that's the ex-MLS player Roy Myers...it's Roy Myrie, who was on the last Costa Rican U-20 WC team.

As for the other subs...Hernandez was also on that U-20 team, Gonzalez was the last goalie cut from their WC team last summer, Alpizar was on Sampson's squad team at the UNCAF tournament last month, and Miso was Alajuelense's star player when they reached the finals of this tournament a few years ago--reportedly some Mexican clubs were interested at the time but he suffered a major injury not long afterwards and has never quite re-established himself in the lineup.