KC has been scoring at a high rate (over 2 goals/game) but giving up a lot, too. Will the Revs defense be able to slow them down? Can our offense put up some goals like against LA? I'm looking for Joe-Max to have a breakout game in a 3-2 win.
coming off a shut out and a great game defensively, i think we wont have a big problem with them in that aspect. Kansas City stills has a good defense, its Meola that is their problem. It doesn't help when your defense gets a little tired and Meola lets the goals in. Revs have to mark Klein and his fast powerful runs with his wicked toe ball. Franchino can give him a nice knock on the head. If Heaps played like he did against LA, expect a lot from Twellman, Moore, and Ralston, and maybe even Kamler. A lot of passing and creative play will allow them to put a few in the net, hopefully more then Kansas City. Lets hope the Revs break this streak of good game, bad game, good game, bad game, good game.
We have a lot of boys that'll have big time family/friends coming (Twellman, Ralston, Kamler, Noonan, and maybe a few others). Hopefully that will be extra motivation for them.
My thoughts exactly. The interesting thing to me is going to be who starts in the middle...will DH have worked his way out of the doghouse by then, or is he destined to be an offensive substitution? Since we know SN is pretty consistent with his lineup, there isn't much to discuss there besides the DH-LC question. I would imagine that Joseph has played himself into a starting role.
I'm willing to bet that on the road SN goes with the slightly more defensive allignmentof Cullen and Joseph and save hernandez for the secondhalf if we need an offensive spark. Revs 2--KC 1 I think having the same starting lineup for awhile will pay dividends. Much of what ailed the Revs in their first two home matches can be cured by getting to practice out of the bubble, improved game fitness and the chemisty that come for an eleven that has played together for awhile George
Don't watch many KC games do you. Click here for a break down of the goals we've given up. This doesnt include the Dallas goal, which from www.mlsnet.com sure doesn't look to be Tony's fault either. Our defense is our problem. We're injured like crazy, but we're also deep so we can't use that as an excuse. Wolff, Simutenkov, Talley and Gutierrez (all starters if healthy) are all question marks for this game. I asked the question on the KC pregame thread, so I'll ask it here. Does anything think NE could have gotten all pumped up for revenge vs. LA and therefore suffer from let down @ KC? It's possible, and happens all the time. I think the key to this game KC's defense vs. NE's offense. KC has scored goals on every team, but can't keep the ball out of the net. NE's attack has been inconsistant, going from the poor showing vs. Columbus to the the most recent game putting two up on LA. If KC can't eliminate service to Twellman and Moore, it could be a long night.
the comments i made about meola are directed to his game against Chicago. The Kreis goal was a fantastic goal, nothing Meola could do, but i've seen some of the goals Meola has let up and they aren't that pretty. Maybe its a combo of Meola and the KC defense.
"I asked the question on the KC pregame thread, so I'll ask it here. Does anything think NE could have gotten all pumped up for revenge vs. LA and therefore suffer from let down @ KC? It's possible, and happens all the time..." It's certainly possible and happens with some frequency: coming out flat after a strong performance from a motivated team, but I think it's somewhat inaccurate to characterize "revenge" (as many have) as the team's primary motivation last week. More than anything, I think the motivation came from poaying two games at home where the Revolution were lackluster at best, not playing with the composure, consistency, or intensity as they demonstrated to good effect previously against Chicago and Dallas. While I agree that it's important for the K.C. defense to find a way to neutralize a Revolution attack featuring Twellman, Moore, Ralston, and Kamler, if they're ineffective as they were against San Jose and Columbus, then the onus will be on the Revolution's defense to hold together. While the Revolution applied consistent pressure on the Galaxy, especially in the 2nd-half, Los Angeles did have some good chances, stellar defensive saves from Brown and Cullen needed in two cases. With K.C. well ahead in league scoring... but also last in goals allowed, it seems a team not all together different than the Revs of last season. If the Revs team that played well against the Galaxy on Saturday shows up, I think the Revs have an excellent chance of coming out with a win. If they come out flat and uninspired... The Magpie
The Revs started in the season in sub-par shape, because of the weather (they had minimal outdoor training and most of their scrimmages had to be cancelled in the 2-3 weeks leading up to the opener) and various minor injuries related to having to train for too long on hard, indoor surfaces. Against Chicago in the opener, neither team was in great shape. Against Columbus who was much further ahead in their development, they got hosed. In Dallas they grabbed the initiative over another banged up club and controlled the game. After the SJ and LA games, they're just now rounding into shape, in terms of conditioning, skills and tactics. Looking at the Rev's early performances would be misleading.
Last week the Revs extended their current league-best string of matches allowing fewer than 3 goals. Usually in games billed as offense v defense, defense carries the day. Rev's defense is better than KC's, and the offense is equal, I would say. KC is .500 at home in the young season, Rev playing well away. Wiz have nagging injury problems. KC is *not* going to get 3 goals in this match. I give us the edge, which could mean a tie away, but I don't think this game will be pretty to watch. Brown Pierce Kante Llamosa Joey (never see it, but that's my favorite back line) Ralston Joseph Cullen/Hernandez Kamler TT JMM
Duh! Fixed my post. What was I thinking? I guess I don't want to keep Jay out, it was that great run of his that made Brian's goal against LA. I would drop Kante, I guess, if I had to keep Jay in the line up.
Another thought: will SN be a bit more willing to do some line-up shuffling with 3 games in 7 days? I can see maybe 1 defender getting a rest. Would JMM take a seat to Wolde for one start?
I would expect 1 or 2 of Llamosa, Kamler, Moore, Brown will sit. Any other changes will have to wait for subs. I would start Kante for Llamosa, and just use early substitutes on a couple of the others. It's a shame really, as he had a great game this weekend, but he could definitely use the rest, and Kante is not a bad second choice. Normally I would say sit Moore, but I think he needs some game time. He and TnT weren't very good the last couple of games and need to get sharp. Lee