I'm thinking Bush, Clark, Dunseth, Hedjuk, Denton, Garcia, Mais, Martino, McBride, Buddle(or Cunningham),West. I would really like to see Buddle get the start based on his last performance with Brian. Cunningham almost cost the team with his ejection in the first Panama game, sit him until Buddle faulters.
What I think, considering the 5 games in two weeks the Crew in with the CCC, West is out for another week or so, and Denton is banged up although I don't know if he's game ready or not. ----------Busch------------- Hujduk--Clark--Dunseth--Denton/Torres --------Oughton------------- Mais--------------------Garcia --------Martino-------------- ---Cunningham--McBride------ Why: Defense:Just because that's who's going to be our defense. Mid:Martino and Garcia need no explaination. Oughton earned his spot last year when he became the conduit between the defense and the midfield, Mais over Paule because he is a captain and is capable of playing on the right. Not his best position, but he will do. Fwd:McBride's McBride and although Buddle has done really good lately it doesn't change that Cunningham has been the Crew's leading scorer for the past two seasons, he's had a really good spring, and he deserves the start. First subs: Offense: Buddle Defense:McCarty
------Busch------ Hejduk---Clark---Dunseth----Torres ------------Mais--------- Paule------Martino--------Garcia Buddle-----McBride JC -- 65th for McB Duncan ---75th for Mais Duncan hasn't played or practiced as much as Mais Paule threw in some great crosses against DAU Should be a great game McB will need the rest and JC should be deadly off the bench.
Do we know the extent of West's injury at all? Is it safe to say that Paule will start over ther in his abscence. I mean, thanks to Merz I know that Warzycha is adjusting to coaching well, but I really have heard little on the status of one of our starters. I agree with Raoul's lineup, but I think if healthy Denton gets the nod over Torres, he brings more into the attack from the back and Greg should be wanting that dimension at home.
I think Andrulis would put Mais and Oughton out there together because it's a chance to get one of the team's captain out there. Besides he did it last year, what has really changed. Like I said I really think he wants to start McBride, Buddle, and Cunningham together but probably won't because he has to keep them all fresh for the games. His next option was a McBride, Cunningham, West combo but West went out in the CCC game with a hamstring injury and they said he would be out 2-3 weeks. I guess it would be two weeks on Saturday, so he could come back but thats best case sceniero and hamstrings are a difficult injury to gauge. So with that out I think he goes with Oughton and Mais in midfield. Does anyone really think Andrulis would start Paule over Mais or Paule over a healthy Oughton? Oh and Denton definately goes if healthy. He's a much better LB then Torres will ever be.
I thought Paule was quicker and made better crosses than Mais does. Westie is very doubtful and Duncan and Mais are rehabbing with Mais way ahead of DUncan. Duncan made quite a few unforced giveaways in his appearance vs. DAU and looked very rusty. He's had two weeks to get up to speed, so maybe he's 100% now. I think we have to play our offensive pressure game to beat LA. We can't have the "minstrel defender" coming up into the play on croners etc. I wouldn't mind seeing the Lalas/Buddle battle in the box though. LA's back line is too big and strong for JC early on. He'd be more effective against the big guys in the 2nd period, IMO. A fresh JC would make them look slow and clumsy in the last 30mins. They'd body him around early on and he can't defend against the big guys so he'd need to play the top forward on set pieces.
Heck, instead of trying to figure out which eleven players will pose for the pregame picture I'm trying to figure out what formation Andrulis will use. Will he go 4-4-2 or his seemingly preferred 4-3-3?
FF, that is a good question....a starting lineup will be easier to determine if we knew the formation. however from what i saw tues nite ----------Busch------------- Dude--Dunseth--Clark--Torres ---------Duncan------------- Paule-----------------Garcia ---------Martino------------ -McB----------------Buddle-- This will also be determined by injuries...i could be mistaken but i think dunseth went off tues nite with a slight injury. if he cant go then it will be McCardMe. And i think that Walsh will be a late sub with Cunny. and