dcunited.com lists the following injuries: Santino Quaranta - MID Doubtful - R hamstring strain David Stokes - DEF Doubtful - quadriceps strain Brandon Prideaux - DEF Doubtful - MCL sprain Jamil Walker - FWD Questionable - hamstring strain Also, Alecko has been out with a knee ailment, and Namoff has been battling back from an off season surgery, I think. The Santino listing is really odd to me, since there's a news article from the day before that describes him as a player who can pick up the slack as others rest. So, anyone know who's healthy and likely to play the next streach of games as the team looks to rest guys like Moreno and Gomez?
Santino is ready as evidenced by his appearence in the last two games - but he is probably not 90 minutes ready. Eski also has said he hopes to be ready by Tuesday. Prideaux is a ways away I believe and Jamil I have no idea on
I wonder how the team will work the three headed monster of Olsen, Simms, and Carroll? I think they will be slow to bring Benny back in, there has to be a mental let down on his end coming back from the World Cup and it seems Brian and Clyde are going great so why break that up?
I heard Benny on XM radio Fifaworldcup and he mentioned something about a groin injury. I hope he's okay.
During the last home game Prideaux was sitting up in the mezzanine, at least near the end of the game. After the game several younsters recognized him and asked for his autograph. He had a sheepish grin on his face as he signed them, and said 'Hi' to other people waving to him.
(a) Gomez is an intense player who is at his best when he's not holding anything back, the way Moreno does some times. (b) At his age, he is susceptible to wearing down physically, i.e. his sports hernia last year, so it makes sense to give him some rest when possible (c) Being one of the few MLS players who is genuinely creative, he is a target for cynical fouls and hacks from opposing teams (d) He holds one of three spots with few defensive responsibilities, so if defense is required to hold a lead, it makes sense to move Adu (our weakest non-forward/AM defensive player) to his spot and sub on a defensive specialist like Mediate, McTavish, Wilson, etc. Finally, this year DC has been kicking ass, so we are generally ahead at 70-80 minutes and so (b) (c) and (d) become even more important. We don't want to lose him to some ridiculous tackle in the 87th minute of a game where we've got a two goal lead, or give up an equalizer because someone's throwing everyone forward when we could have put on some more defensive-minded guys. We also don't want him to run out of gas just before the playoffs start and have a repeat of last year's collapse.