News: US Open Cup Opponent for the Red Bulls

Hopefully we take this seriously this year. Backe said they will go for it and I hope he sticks by it. We have better depth this year, especially when guys get healthy.

Either way we should get by Reading or Charleston.

 

But that was a while ago wasn't it. And at this point Charleston is a USL team, not even an NASL team. So losing to them would be embarrassing to say the least.

 

Is there really much of a qualitative difference between the NASL and some of the other USL clubs?

I think we lose to Charleston. Not a particularly favorable draw IMO.

 

At least this game is not really in the way of league games as we have a long break after the game against Chivas. I haven't looked at the schedule down the line and if the fixtures get really congested in the later rounds of the Open Cup but we have to get by this game first.

 

I can just see Backe in my mind's eye right now, trying to explain away a loss to Charleston.....

 

without getting too far ahead of ourselves down here in Charleston, (We still need to be Reading) I'm pretty excited by this match. One we have a very solid team this year. Defense is good the forwards are strong and fast and our midfield has been providing service and scoring as well.

Two the Battery has always taken this tournament very seriously. Making the Quarter and Semi finals a number of times. Even making it to the final in 2008.

Another reason of course would be seeing Thierry Henry. I would think it would a nice bump for what normally is a tough sell. (Tuesday night match, less than a week to promote, etc.)

Lastly, our center Defender Colin Falvey and captain is Irish. I wish I could mic him for the match as Im sure he hasn't forgotten Henry's handball that knocked Ireland out of the WC contention!

Mikey

 

Charleston wins 2-1 and will host the Red Bulls on the 29th.

 

Will this be the lineup??
--------------Artega/Hertzog
------------------Ballouchy
Lade-----Palsson-----Lindy----Solli
Miller----Conde---Ruthven----Barrajo
----------------Meara/Voulo

Players like Dax, Cooper, Dane, Hulk need a rest as they have played majority of the season. Barklage has also played alot lately and deserves a rest as well, plus it's good to see what we have in Barrajo.
This will be a warmup game for Solli and Conde, if they aren't ready to go we shouldn't risk them obviously.
If we are somehow losing in the second half bring Cooper and/or Henry as subs..

That lineup should be enough to beat Charleston and if it's not we don't deserve the cup...

 

I can't make the game tomorrow, but someone needs to make a big ass banner that tells management to take the Open Cup seriously this year.

 

So we will be without Dane, Lindpere, Miller, and Marquez for this game. Backe mentioned that Palsson was called up to the U21 team, but I don't know if he'll be released for that.

--------Henry-Cooper
Lade----Ballouchy----Solli
-------------Dax
Pearce-Conde-Hulk-Barklage
-------------Meara

 

There is about a month break. No reason to sit all the starters. Would have been the best time to get Marquez some playing time, but Mexico calls. Hopefully he never comes back.

 

If we win we get the winner of New England/Harrisburg

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Lamar-...-Cup-Pairings-for-Fourth-Round-Announced.aspx

 

Backe willprobably feild red bull academy's u13 squad for this one

 

Will this game be streamed?

 

That's a favorable draw so we better win. In the post-Chivas interviews Backe said the only player he is hesitant about playing in this game is Henry. Otherwise he is going to play the strongest team possible. I still don't know if he released Palsson for the U-21's yet. Thus:

-------------Cooper
Lade-Ballouchy-Palsson-Solli
---------------Dax
Pearce-Conde-Hulk-Barklage
-------------Meara

That backline is so solid there is no reason we should conceed.

 

Holgersson.

And Palsson will be with the Icelandic U-21's

 

edited Rooney's post to avoid confusion.

 

Silverbacks sold their home game vs Seattle to Seattle.

 

Minus Palsson, that's the lineup I'd play. I'd play a 4-4-2 and give the start to Hertzog or Arteaga.

Also: what is Solli's health status?