So excited for this one! ESPN2 game on Sunday evening. Best two teams in the East, both in the hunt for the Shield. We have the best defense in the league, and I think it's safe to say that New York presents the toughest test they will see all year. Henry, Cooper, LeToux, Cahill, Lindpere... that's some serious firepower to deal with right there, and it's safe to assume that at least one or two of them will come off the bench with fresh legs in the second half. If we can keep another clean sheet it would be a major accomplishment. I think New York's defense is suspect; their strength is up top. Their fullbacks are nothing to write home about, so Chance, Seth, Kei, and Zusi should have a field day on the lines. Expect more of the same wing play with crosses to the center, but I think it has more chance of success against New York than some other teams. This has the look of a possible high-scoring game. I don't see either team parking the bus. I see lots of high pressure defense from us on their attackers, with possible multiple cards coming out. Their offense is very good, and their defense isn't. Let's call it a 2-1 victory for us -- maybe even 3-1 if they get desperate for a result and open themselves up the middle.
Should be a great game. But sometimes I don't like close battles, sometimes I like beat downs that don't leave you guessing who the winner is going to be until the final seconds.
This game 2/3 way through the season against the next best in-conference team is like the Chiefs being 7-3 atop the AFC West with a 7-4 San Diego visiting with the game on a nationally televised Sunday night broadcast. Home team wins and the lead materially widens; visitors win and they take over the lead. KC should be jazzed for this game! That said, I'm surprised at how poorly the aftermarket tickets are selling (and for that matter, primary market - there are still seats together in the East Stand). I guess late on Sunday night doesn't work for the families and out-of-towners.
I hate Sunday night games. Especially ones that will start an hour later than normal (because let's face it the game isn't going to kick off anywhere close to 8, with it on TV it'll start around 8:30).
That is precisely why I will be watching this one at home--a late-starting game on a school night. Fortunately, this is one of only two, the season finale against Philadelphia being the other. We made it to the Dallas game because it started much earlier.
+1 And to piss us off further, there is an NBC game in LA that starts earlier than ours. Wha?????? Why wasn't it worked out so that the game in the midwest starts earlier than the game on the west coast? Different networks, I know, but the league should have worked this out better. I guess ESPN didn't want to interrupt a billiards tournament..... We better win this one or there are going to be a ton of tired, grumpy people driving in rush hour traffic bright and early Monday morning. Just win and we will forgive the schedule makers this time.
Weirdly, I'm really pumped for this game. I have more emotional anticipation for it than I did for the USOC final. I was sort of numb before that game; perhaps I was subconsciously steeling myself for disappointment. I hope we can draw a raucous crowd. Our team is going to need the support. I can see this being a wide open, physical, back and forth affair with multiple goals. 3-2 SKC. Collin|Kamara|Sinovic - Henry|Cahill. That's right, I'm picking this game for Seth to get off the schneid. How many days it it until Sunday?
If the parking lots were open earlier... And my problem isn't really the start time, it's the fact that it's at that time on Sunday night.
Given the lingering injuries to Convey and Peterson, I see the same lineup as last sat v TFC. CJ and Saad are the only healthy fowards left with experience for the bench. PV's postgame comments about his substitutions on sat tell me he will ride the hot hand here. Actually I think that is our strongest lineup anyway, even with Zusi as RW, with the current injury status. I dont need to see CJ-Teal-Kei starting again unless injuries dictate As for the matchups, Besler and Collin will need to keep close watch on Henry, cant give him much space near goal. Midfield will need to patrol Cahill and watch him on crosses/set pieces. NY may be a little slow at CB and seem to have issues defensively on set peices. They have given up twice as many goals on the road and scored about half as many. We need this one to keep some separation before 2 return games in NY
What did he say? I missed his comments. Because frankly, I was baffled why, in a road game, he (1) waited 80+ minutes before making his first sub, (2) only made two of his three available subs, and (3) left several players on the bench who I thought could've made an impact for some tired legs out on the field. I get that SKC has played very very well for the last season plus, and it's hard to argue with the success Vermes is having. But there's always room for improvement, right? And his substitution patterns are still very mediocre, in my extremely humble, uninformed opinion.
http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2012/08/vermes-stingy-subs I often feel he waits too long to sub esp at home when we are struggling to get a goal/result. I thought sat PV looked content to finish the game with no subs used until Kei scored, and based on his explanation here, I dont disagree. Would CJ/Saad/Olum really changed much had Kei not scored? I"m just saying that based on this report and the current injuries, we may see a repeat sunday, IMHO
Pretty good injury report update -- Peterson is doubtful, and Convey is questionable. Both upgrades from recent weeks, I think. No one else on the list except for Hedrick and Kempin. We're getting close to full strength; of course, the two guys above are both nominal left wingers so that's the continued hole. Don't see any reason why we won't see the same starting XI as against Toronto last week.
Favorite stat from the pregame guide: When the back four of Sinovic-Besler-Collin-Myers start, we are 10-1-1 with only four goals allowed.
I think since last year it's something crazy like 25-2-5 including playoffs. And if CJ or Teal scores, it's pretty much a guarantee that we win. The stats are pretty wild.