Well . . . I don't get to watch this one; I am hosting a former Costa Rican president on campus for an event. So if the team relaxes and plays well and wins, then the question will be whether I should also skip the next game. Here's hoping for something positive. Rotation is expected.
Are you expecting rotation based on the last performance or because this is a midweek game? RSL needs 3 points. I do whatever lineup I can to up my odds of winning. Figure out how to give players a break later. Portland comes to town Saturday though, so?
No Chicho or Katranis for this one due to YC accumulation. Hopefully they don't miss any more games in the regular season.
Pablo said there would be rotation in this one after the Houston performance I bet he rotates MacMath in just to keep ********ing with both of them and Vera returns. That alone would be 4 changes.
I would love to believe that this team will play relaxed and get back to their early/mid season beautiful play and form but I really think their just ratcheting up the self inflicted pressure instead. You have to start Beavers if you ask me. Build him up and let him figure it out. Beavers Hidalgo, Glad, Vera, Brody Eneli, Ojeda Marczuk, Crooks, Luna Julio FCD will have all of their DP's available on Wednesday for the first time in a long time and RSL is in some pretty horrible form so I am expecting things to get worse before they get better. The players have to play the game but it's rather surprising that the chemistry has come completely undone. Maybe it's the lack of games over the last month or so, Chicho injury/suspension, Gomez leaving, and who knows what else, but for the Guru, player motivator coach that is Pablo I just don't think things should be this bad. Out of town for this one. Would love to be in the post game to ask some questions after this game. That's for sure.
Brandt, I wanted to disagree with your lineup, but looking at the player availability (assuming Brown and Palacio aren't able to play), I'm not sure there's a better option. Further, the biggest reason I think we go with that lineup is that it most closely resembles the team that was having success earlier in the season. Mainly it's having a facsimile of Gomez out there in Marczuk. Everyone else knows their role, so you're only introducing one new player for guys to get adjusted to. As they talked about on the RSL Show, I'll be looking for RSL to the pressing team that brought them success earlier. The outside backs and d-mid is very thin tonight, but there should be plenty of attacking players to fill in Bench: MacMath, Silva, Quinton, Caliskan, Orozco, Goncalves, Brook, Chang, Michel. Orozco/Vera are the backup outside backs if necessary (starters should be able to go 90 no problem). I need to believe that Silva is the better player than Quinton at this point. Caliskan gives a break to one of the d-mids in the middle of this 3 games in 8 days. All 4 attacking subs should be used if the starters aren't getting it done.
Actual lineup: Brook Crooks Marczuk Ojeda Eneli Brody Vera Glad Quinton Beavers I had 9/11. Can't argue with Brook on the left. He was one of the better players from Saturday and I think he looks better on the left. I don't understand how Quinton is a better option at RB over Hidalgo at this point. I had the wrong Silva on the bench, but otherwise had the rest. We'll see if they play hard like Kreis said is the expectation from everyone at this point.
I don't understand how Quinton is a better option at RB over Hidalgo at this point. Couldn’t agree more. Very puzzling…
Crooks has been more impactful this game than Diogo all Houston game Dude deserves to start over him Saturday at this rate
I still think it was pretty soft. We've received worse contact in the box with no call. I'm not complaining, but had the ref let it go I wouldn't have been upset
How is this team so lost when defending at the edge of the defensive third despite having numbers behind the ball