Time for Indy's first visit to Oklahoma City to face the expansion Rayo OKC. Rayo is off to a decent start at 1-1-1; the only defeat was to the high-flying Carolina Railhawks, 3-2. Since the recent 0-0 draw with Edmonton, Rayo has scored 5 goals in two games, so they'll be a stern test for Indy's revamped defense. Indy founding defender Erick Norales signed with Rayo OKC over the winter after Indy declined to exercise its option. But he hash't yet featured on the bench, let alone on the field. Is he hurt? I couldn't find anything. The match preview on Indy's website states that the "full squad" is available, which I presume means that Ubi is back. Frankly, I'm not sure that's a good thing, given how well Mares has been playing. Is it possible to get Mares and Ubi on the field together? It doesn't seem likely, but I hope that Hankinson is considering his options. The prediction poll is back by popular demand.
Brad Ring just had a baby so I would think that there is a possibility he will not be in the squad tonight. Just an assumption, could be wrong. If that is the case though, That frees up a central position for Mares to occupy. If Ring is in the team, I like Mares on the right wing where he can wander inside to be creative. I think the idea of Ubi and Mares working together is exciting. Hopefully we get lots of goals, but I would take a tie in a tough road environment against the tough expansion side. Also, does anyone know why games are not on espn3 this year?
Some of the game are on ESPN3 but the TV deals with One World Sports and BeIN mean games on those networks aren't on ESPN3. This game is on BeIN so no ESPN3.
I hope a way to can be found to get Mares and Ubi working together, and not getting in each others' way. Last year, Mares played at least one match in the summer in a deep-lying position (in a match where both Pena and Ring were hurt, I believe), and it didn't go well.
Legally at least. I'm sure there is a sport bar somewhere that has it. I'll be going over to a friend's house.
Interesting XI.... Omar Gordon and Jair Reinoso both starting and Ubi going out wide with Mares on the bench. I'll go ahead and copy the whole XI since I don't know how to post tweets. ----------------Zayed-----Reinoso--------------- ---Ubi------Paterson-----Ring------Gordon--- --Vuko------Janicki------Falvey------Palmer-- -----------------------Busch-----------------------
Missed the first half, but I'm watching the second I have to say, I'm not impressed by Gordon at all. And, yes, stringing passes together is a problem.
Indy wins! A couple of hairy moments at the end there. But a good win. Two wins and two draws to start the season, and though there's still work to do, the team unquestionably looks better than last year.
Jair Reinoso is a stud, what an amazing finish by him in the first half and he has a great work rate. Whenever he has the ball he looks dangerous. Omar Gordon had a rough debut.... Some of it looked like he wasn't used to his teammates expecting his teammates to be at certain places, miscommunication etc. but some of it was simply being bested by the defender. He did pick up an assist on the winning goal though which was good to see.
I'll give Omar a few games before giving a verdict on him. It was a rough game, we'll see how he is doing in a week or two. P.S. I want to see more Mares.
Definitely not giving up on Gordon yet, but it was an inauspicious start. His repeatedly trying and failing to beat his man 1-vs.-1 suggested, at the least, that he wasn't prepared for the level of play he was going to see.
I still think the best XI would be to use a 4-4-2 diamond, with Reinoso and Zayed as the forwards, Ubiparipovic at the top of the diamond, Gordon and Mares on the wings, with Ring/Paterson as the DM.