i it will vary a ton throughout the season. for richmond i would guess for the front line it will be Earnie and Alecko.. could tell you about the rest..
Will Tino or Esky get the start alongside Earnie? Or will it be all 3 with Earnie playing at the attacking mid?
I would wager that Ray doesn't even know at this point. Sometime after Richmond and a few more practices, he'll have an idea of how he wants to attack KC.
It'll vary depending upon call ups and injuries, but here's my guess: -----------Stewart--------Santino----------- ----------------Etch------------------------ Convey-------------------Dema--------Olsen -------------------Nelsen------------------- --------Reyes-----Ivanov----Petke---------- ------------------Rimando------------------ Esky will likely be the first sub coming on for Santino. Hristo will be a sub for most of the away games and Eliseo will sub most of the home games. Brandon Prideaux will be the first defensive sub, with Stokes coming on when we need a goal against bunkered teams. Namoff will be the utility sub, taking the Dmid spot if Ivanov or Nelsen are out of the lineup. Ivanov will miss the opening day, so Nelsen will probably slide back into central defense and Namoff will play Dmid. But frankly, I wouldn't mind seeing Stokes get some playing time before too long. -Digital
Until he plays himself out of the lineup, Etcheverry will be starting. Even though the team would probably be more effective in MLS with Stewart there, you don't resign a guy for max salary without being prepared to start him. I tend to agree with Digital. That's our likely first XI for at least the first 4 games of the season. It'll line up something like this on opening day: --------- Rimando --- Reyes Nelsen Petke Olsen Kovalenko Namoff Convey -------- Etcheverry ----- Stewart Quaranta Ivanov won't be ready for at least that first game, so Nelsen has to move back. Namoff is the best backup for Nellie in the destroyer role. As for striker...Eskandarian has been doing well for most of the preseason, and I'm pretty sure I'll be eating some crow before too long from that. Quintanilla too seems to be improved, though possibly not enough to start at forward right now.
Chino will be on the field at dmid if we play a 3-5-2 or until Ivanov is fit -- I think Namoff is behind Alegria on the depth chart. Quaranta must produce quickly or get acquainted with the pine while Alecko and Ali get PT. GM
Dude, you seriously spoiled this thread...you must be a very literal person not to see the absolute joy in the posts above you...stringing our poor new friend along... Tim
My guess against KC is: ----Rimando---- Namoff--Petke--Nelsen--Reyes Olsen--Kovalenko--Etch--Convey ---Hristo--Stewart--- Subs: Tino, Chino, Alecko...? Another option would be to slot Olsen at right back, push Hristo back into the midfield and Tino up top. While Chino is probably ahead of Namoff for D-mid, I think that Namoff's speed will keep him ahead of Chino for right back. There is also a chance that Barclay may get a shot at outside back... BTW - this is what I expect, not what I would choose.
Do you know something we all don't? While I think that he may get some punishment about "the tackle," I'm not convinced that it won't just be a small fine. As for a formation, has Hudson ever used a "formation" other than "get out there and play well boys!"?
(de)formation! Unfortunately I recall a particular Hudson formation for ao couple of road games last year - the woeful 4-5-1!! And he's mentioned again this year the possibility of using it!!! Whatever we do, we surely should find a way to play at least one pure forward and one withdrawn!! If having Etch start in the midfield means we have to go to a 4-5-1 then keeping him around was definitely a bad move!! As for the lineup vrs KC, I think that it might be a good idea to put Reyes on the left to shut down Klein.
Recognizing that this is just expectation, not recomendation, I hope this is wrong. First, I think DCU's personnel is better suited to a 4-4-4-2, so, so far, so good. Second, I don't understand the whole Namoff at right back instead of Prideaux at left back. Even if Namoff was better than Prideaux, which I don't think he is, Reyes is a heck of lot better on the right, no? Third, I recognize that Ivanov is injured, but eventually, he is going to replace Nelsen. Fourth, and most importantly, I see all these lineups without a defensive mid, or with Kovalenko at dmid. Shear madness if you ask me. It's got to be Nelsen or Chino, and I hope Chino as he is more skilled. This means that DCU has to choose three from Etch, Olsen, Kovalenko and Convey. Finally, starting Stoichkov is wrong as well. He will never last and if he is to have value (other than teaching players how to break legs) he will have to play a few minutes here and at most spot start.
Martin, if we could get an extra 4 guys on the pitch, I'm all for it! As for the Prideaux situation, I believe he has a hamstring problem that has kept him out of the squad. This is the reason for Namoff at right back. Reyes out left is to go directly after Chris Klein. Again, not my preferred line up but what I believe we'll see...
Given that the league is investigating and that he was given a straight red card for the incident, I think it's very unlikely he'll avoid a suspension. And that's not even taking into account the pretty-much unanimous agreement that Stoichkov was retaliating for a bad call and took it out on this kid (not saying he meant to hurt him).
If we're allowed to field that formation, we stand a good chance of making the playoffs, this year. Winoman
You're right about Prideaux. Helped him out with some rehab work on it yesterday, but he could be out for a week or 2 still, maybe more if it doesn't get better yet. He said straight ahead running was fine, but just the overall game situation still caused pain. Devin Barclay probably has a stress fracture in his foot and will be out up to 4 weeks. Doug Warren injured his PCL recently but is back training at full strength. Nick Rimando is back at full strength. Ryan Nelsen practiced at full strength and then did some extra rehab work as well. Alecko Eskandarian had a pulled hip flexor, the extent of which was unknown. Reyes and Kovolenko both had tweaked hamstrings, but both seemed fine during practice. Ivanov saw a doctor today, and should be able to being riding a bike and then jogging very soon. 2-3 weeks before he's back in the picture. Hope all this helps. Accurate as of yesterday.