Home - 4/11 Salt Lake

[NYdoesitEZ]

I’ll take our A’s against their B’s to get an easy win. Take a few goal lead and make 3 immediate like-for-like subs to rest particular players. Those minutes will be important to fitness and situational timing - don’t want rusty players going in “cold” to Atlanta.

Soccer ball is round. What if our starter do not score in the beginning? Do you keep them on? What if after 3 subs, you have injury situation, you play a man down and defend for a goal lead? Not a safe strategy. Much better to play b team and sub starter on the last 20 min to get some game feel and warm up

 

[Ulrich]

Soccer ball is round. What if our starter do not score in the beginning? Do you keep them on? What if after 3 subs, you have injury situation, you play a man down and defend for a goal lead? Not a safe strategy. Much better to play b team and sub starter on the last 20 min to get some game feel and warm up

Soccer ball is lopsided if you stand on it.

Too many Ifs in life to worry about every one and related to this, to play scared. Any game can have an injury after the 3rd sub. Play to win the match. Always.

 

[Seven]

I’ll take our A’s against their B’s to get an easy win. Take a few goal lead and make 3 immediate like-for-like subs to rest particular players. Those minutes will be important to fitness and situational timing - don’t want rusty players going in “cold” to Atlanta.

That's actually a good point, especially in regards to Villa, about game fitness. It will be a month since he has gotten any game minutes. If he's healthy for it, makes sense to give him some minutes before Atlanta

 

[Schwallacus]

That's actually a good point, especially in regards to Villa, about game fitness. It will be a month since he has gotten any game minutes. If he's healthy for it, makes sense to give him some minutes before Atlanta

Agreed. Start the A-squad, sub off Villa, Maxi, Ring (or Herrera) for Berget, Sands, and Ofori between the 50th and 60th minutes. Gives Villa some game time, Maxi and Ring/Herrera get some rest, and it also gives over half an hour of playing time for the youth and gives a chance for Ofori and Berget to potentially gel with fellow A-squad people.
Also gives us a chance to see if Berget has some potential (I think he does). His runs are there, just needs a little more time to try and connect with the wingers and middies.

 

[Gotham Gator]

No need to rest people since we aren’t playing this weekend. If it were 3 games in 8 days, I would think you don’t want the same guys starting each game. 2 games in 5 days with a week or more on each end? I think they can handle it.

 

[SoupInNYC]

If the game against RSL was a regular season game and then the game at Atlanta was a playoff game, then I get sitting the starters. And I do agree that the game at Atlanta is more important for us as they will be vying not only for a top spot in the East, but also for the CCL spot.

However, I don't think I would sit our starters against RSL (that said, I would be cautious with those returning from injury). If it was as simple as a math equation that if we play our A team at Atlanta that we will get a win, then do it. But its not, Atlanta is tough and we may not win there with our A team. If we go B against RSL and then A at Atlanta then we are risking dropping a decent amount of points.

Start the A guys against RSL and then assess fitness for the game at Atlanta. As Gotham Gator points out, this is 2 games in 5 days with a week or more on each end. This is very different to the scenario we encountered last year with 3 road games in 10 days.

 

[Ulrich]

If the game against RSL was a regular season game and then the game at Atlanta was a playoff game, then I get sitting the starters. And I do agree that the game at Atlanta is more important for us as they will be vying not only for a top spot in the East, but also for the CCL spot.

However, I don't think I would sit our starters against RSL (that said, I would be cautious with those returning from injury). If it was as simple as a math equation that if we play our A team at Atlanta that we will get a win, then do it. But its not, Atlanta is tough and we may not win there with our A team. If we go B against RSL and then A at Atlanta then we are risking dropping a decent amount of points.

Start the A guys against RSL and then assess fitness for the game at Atlanta. As Gotham Gator points out, this is 2 games in 5 days with a week or more on each end. This is very different to the scenario we encountered last year with 3 road games in 10 days.

Exactly! Do as much as is possible to guarantee 3pts vs RSL with ATL being a bonus, since the flip side if everything goes to pieces is a loss of 6pts. Always take the “easy” points. 3pts is a solid haul for 2 games/5days. 4pts is exceptional. 6pts would be devastatingly great! But 0/1/2pts would be a tragic lost opportunity.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Remember too that Atlanta will be on turf.

 

[hatt91]

One game at a time. Win the game that is right in front of you

 

[Kjbert]

The RSL game and the Atlanta game are worth the same number of points.

 

[Fake Jew]

This Atlanta game is a six pointer. I want a fully fit team for that game.

 

[adam]

The RSL game and the Atlanta game are worth the same number of points.

Except RSL isn’t contending with us for a playoff spot or CCL spot by way of regular season standings. So it counts double by making it a 6 point swing for either team.

 

[Sabo]

I watched the second half of the RSL-Vancouver game last night. RSL looked terrible. They were parking the bus with a 1-0 lead without even pressing in the defensive half. Their CB was hurt and David Horst was replacing him -- I can't picture him keeping up with our movement. Their young defenders have potential, but I would be shocked if we don't score on at least 1 PK. Rusnak is really good but he is going to have to drop back to 25-30 yards from his goal to get service the way we play and won't be as effective. If Vancouver converted their chances they would have dropped 4 or 5 goals on RSL.

Plata was benched and didn't look happy about it but he hasn't looked effective when I have seen him play this year. He may be motivated if and when he plays Wednesday.

Vancouver doesn't press like we do. I am expecting a game like the Toronto game in which RSL never looks like they will challenge for the 3 points and we get 20 shots with half on frame.

 

[Ulrich]

I watched the second half of the RSL-Vancouver game last night. RSL looked terrible. They were parking the bus with a 1-0 lead without even pressing in the defensive half. Their CB was hurt and David Horst was replacing him -- I can't picture him keeping up with our movement. Their young defenders have potential, but I would be shocked if we don't score on at least 1 PK. Rusnak is really good but he is going to have to drop back to 25-30 yards from his goal to get service the way we play and won't be as effective. If Vancouver converted their chances they would have dropped 4 or 5 goals on RSL.

Plata was benched and didn't look happy about it but he hasn't looked effective when I have seen him play this year. He may be motivated if and when he plays Wednesday.

Vancouver doesn't press like we do. I am expecting a game like the Toronto game in which RSL never looks like they will challenge for the 3 points and we get 20 shots with half on frame.

You get props for committing yourself to watching that game.

 

[Sabo]

You get props for committing yourself to watching that game.

45 minutes of my life wasted.

 

[LionNYC]

I watched the second half of the RSL-Vancouver game last night. RSL looked terrible. They were parking the bus with a 1-0 lead without even pressing in the defensive half. Their CB was hurt and David Horst was replacing him -- I can't picture him keeping up with our movement. Their young defenders have potential, but I would be shocked if we don't score on at least 1 PK. Rusnak is really good but he is going to have to drop back to 25-30 yards from his goal to get service the way we play and won't be as effective. If Vancouver converted their chances they would have dropped 4 or 5 goals on RSL.

Plata was benched and didn't look happy about it but he hasn't looked effective when I have seen him play this year. He may be motivated if and when he plays Wednesday.

Vancouver doesn't press like we do. I am expecting a game like the Toronto game in which RSL never looks like they will challenge for the 3 points and we get 20 shots with half on frame.

I watched too. It was a bad game of football and the referee lost control of the match. We may see some fines or suspensions from this one. RSL was barely attacking when I watched. Of course they have the weapons to be explosive but they didn’t show them this game.

 

[Kjbert]

Except RSL isn’t contending with us for a playoff spot or CCL spot by way of regular season standings. So it counts double by making it a 6 point swing for either team.

What if we lose to RSL and Atlanta beats a midweek opponent. Is that not a 6 point swing?

 

[Kjbert]

Low of 41 Wednesday night and partly cloudy

 

[adam]

What if we lose to RSL and Atlanta beats a midweek opponent. Is that not a 6 point swing?

If Atlanta has a midweek opponent that would be correct. But they don’t. Moreover, we can only control Atlanta’s result when we play them.

 

[Kjbert]

If Atlanta has a midweek opponent that would be correct. But they don’t. Moreover, we can only control Atlanta’s result when we play them.

But we can control all of our results.

Home game against RSL. Start you best XI. If you get rolling then let Maxi and Ring and Villa get a blow at 60'. But RSL is a must win. You need to beat crappy teams at home. Atlanta ok the road will be tough no matter what. And it's on turf.