I live in Raleigh, and your team is coming here next Tuesday for the USOC, and I want to know if it's worth buying tickets. I appreciate your help.
Normally, I'd expect a near reserve team but with the way the season has been going, this may be LA's best chance of getting a trophy this year. However, both Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan are on international duty, so won't be there. We also play Houston on Saturday, so that will also influence who plays. If tickets are cheap, it might be worth a gamble. The odds of a strong line-up are certainly stronger than usual.
I'm just spit balling, but with the way the schedule is shaping up I think you could see many of the front-line players. After that game, we don't have any other games until June 17th (except for the next round of the US Open). We need games to sort out what is wrong with this team. I don't know if you'll see Beckham or Buddle, and Donovan and Keane are away on NT duty, but I think you could see many of the other starters suit up.
Does it really matter? All of our lineups are crap. Just buy a ticket and cross your fingers that Beckham will bend over and adjust his socks so you and your friends can get a good giggle.
Dave - do you know if the game will be televised in your area? I'm hoping we can find a streaming feed of the game somewhere. Also on a side note, winning the US Open Cup is shaping up like our only home to get into the 2013-14 CCL. So I'd like to see us put a priority on this tournament.
The way the schedule has played out -- I think you have to rest some guys on Saturday -- so they don't do 3 games in 8 days. Beckham is usually held out the third game in a week. And some of the other regulars have gone the full 90 in two games already this week. So with no league game the following two weekends, and a couple guys needing to be rested on Saturday, there is a very good chance to see a lot of starters on Tuesday. My guess is both games will be a 50/50 mix of regular starters and bench players...
Never mind...the Railhawks have already sent out notice that tickets for the game are no longer on sale. Their league games are all available online. I don't know about the USOC. I suspect that this particular game WILL be televised. I'll let y'all know if I find out anything.
Our reserves mixed with the subs will be the starters. Might get lucky and have Buddle and Magee start.