Pre/In/Post Wizards vs Crew Sat 6/6 7:30pm [R]

Only one win in our last 6 games. I hope we haven't hit our summertime slump early. Four of our next five league games are at home. We need to go on a run at CAB like we did at the end of last season. It seems like a long time since we last beat Columbus....we are due for one against them.

 

Of course, of those 6 games, 4 were away and we scored in 5 of them... one was a hard-fought tie ending down 2 men and playing against the top of the league.

In the same respects, we started out 4-0-0 when scoring first and since then have let in equalizers in our last two matches. 4 shutouts in 12 games... 2 of them against teams at the bottom of scoring in the league and 2 of them against teams playing a man down a large portion of the game. Need to shore up this defense somehow...

Hopefully the guys are wanting revenge for the league game we played here against CLB last year.

 

Just a shout from the land of the Crew.

Looks like you got our injury situation right, of those injured, Iro is probably the only one who could be back for this game, and he isn't likely to start.

I'd say the starters will likely be:

----------Gruenebaum------------
Zayner--Marshall--Brunner--Padula
-----------O'Rourke--------------
Ekpo--------Gaven--------Rogers
------Schelotto----Noonan-------

Maybe Garey or Lenhart for Noonan, but I doubt it.

Bench: Duffy (GK), Burns (M), Grendi (M), Elenio (M), Garey (F), Lenhart (F), Nyazamba (M/D).

We are razor thin everywhere but up front, and can barely field 18 healthy players with a MLS pook GK included.

With NE's win over DC, the east looks to be getting jumbled again, aside from Chicago at the top and NY at the bottom.

 

Gruenebaum is from Overland Park, so I'd think this will be another special game for him (he played here in 07, a 1-0 KC win). He was also in goal in Columbus earlier this season. Also - realize that his mom may very well be in attendance... so you might take that into consideration for whatever chants you want to start (whether that makes you want to be more or less 'respectful' is up to you)

Question for you, TrueCrew - Schelotto came off the bench last game... was that just to give him a rest? You do expect him to start for this game?

//EDIT: Found the answer here:

 

Converting the masses one at a time...

Yes, losing a third season series is death to the idea of a home second leg in the first round.

With only two games in league play and being joint 6th in the table with many other clubs, the reality is that come July 1st KC will be low table without winning both June MLS games. A big part of the psychology of teams is knowing where you are in the standings and carrying that with you onto the field of play. Yes, Dallas pummeled Chicago this weekend. I'm just saying it's a big part of things. Humans make more mistakes under greater pressure. Bottom table teams have to carry that extra burden of must-win every day.

You get pounded away and you don't need a reminder in your return home game. KC has guys back. KC has been routinely better after a lesser result under Onalfo. KC has been better structurally of late. With speed guys back, I like their ability to find gaps and eventually all these shots will go in, right? What better time than Saturday? CLB is short. The game is in a hallway. Lopez will not get a full :90. No reason KC shouldn't put up 3 goals and take full points.

KC 3-2

 

Interesting stats I found on the Crew in an article on MLSnet:

Fortunately, we are usually the better team in the second half. The key will be to hold them scoreless by halftime and we have a very good shot at winning. Can we get a first half goal this week? Please? That would make things soooo much easier.

 

Gaven and Rogers like to snorkel so I predict Hirsig and Watson will have some card issues.

Seattle had pretty good success beating Zayner to get good service. So maybe we can get something good to Wolff from over there.

 

SambraALa, Guillermo came off the bench because he hates playing on turf, throw a curveball to Sigi Scmid who knpws how to contain him, and possibly rest.

 

So what you're telling me is that we have to lay turf down in CAB and then keep him up all night Friday evening?

 

Maybe we'll get lucky and get a ref who doesn't go for his flops. That tends to cause him to throw tantrums when he doesn't get his way......he'll take his woobey and go home.

 

He had played every game, and near 90 minutes in all of them. Plus it was on turf, so that was a good game to:

1) Get him some rest, and
2) Get Noonan to knock the rust off, and get his endurance up.

Especially since Noonan will likely be starting for Moreno, who is off with Venezuela in WCQ.

Guille is fine physically, and I'd be shocked if he doesn't start Saturday.

PS: You guys have done a pretty good job this year (and most years). I always feel KC is our brethren in terms of being disrespected by the rest of the league.

We are both one of only 5 teams to have won every domestic trophy at least once (MLS Cup, SS, USOC), and are in the top half of the all-time league table. KC has been to multiple MLS Cups, and the Crew have been to FIVE conference finals. Yet we both get treated like ugly stepchildren. It really ticks me off.

Anyway, good luck, just not on Saturday.

 

i heard the theme this week is "faith and family" and there's going to be christian rock bands. any one else think that's crazy and stupid?

jimmy conrad is the only j.c. i'm concerned with.

p.s. WILLING TO BUY mask of the devil from Legend:

 

I don't.

While not super religious myself, I have zero issue with parents and kids who instill faith into their family dynamic.

Mainly because these aren't the types of people who are going to steal my car stereo.

Don't worry, these festivities will take place after the game.

 

hahaha, magic minutes are back! i think that's one of the few promotion/gimmicks that i didn't mind. yeah, it's dumb that so many people only make noise during those minutes, but i'll never argue with a free pizza, or sandwich in this case. plus, i know that this promotion tortures the hell out of a couple friends of mine, so that makes it worth it too.

 

Totally. In the past, I was all about the pizza.

But at this point, I'd actually enjoy a goal more than the free sandwich.

It should actually be a free sandwich if the Wizards take a shot within the magic minutes.

 

Oh Snap!