After yesterday's blow by Jason Kreis to reveal that Jamison Olave will certainly be missing today's match against San Jose, we're left with some questions about the back line. Rightly so, I think, but in speaking to Chris Wingert (with other reporters, I mean — I didn't, like, speak to him on a personal level or anything. I'm not that cool.) after training, he seems confident that he can do a job. Jason, too, indicated such, describing him as a "cerebral player" (I'd heartily agree with this statement.)
What does it mean to be a cerebral player, though? Clearly, all of our players are thinking out there. Jason has certainly brought the side together and vetted their personality because he is interested in that sort of player: you know, the smart ones. Those. They're exactly the sorts of players we need in all areas of the pitch. Chris Wingert, though, is perhaps a little different. He seems to always be actively examining his options and weighing his decisions. It's very easy for players to get caught out of position when they're doing that, but this is why Chris is so valuable.
He keeps his head up, watches his options, and makes the right ones. That's invaluable. There's a reason why so often he is among the top five in the side in passes completed and attempted. His accuracy and vision are enviable traits. While he has graduated from his past life as a center back, he'll be asked to play there tonight. He said he'll go back to the tapes, watch his positioning, do all that fun stuff — so I'm not at all worried. Starting a match at that spot, of course, is very different from being pushed there, and that should play into our favor.
Moving on, let's talk about the lineup. We'll start at the back, as that's a very good place to start.
In goal — well, do I even need to say it? Well, sure. It's Nick Rimando. Big surprise, everyone. Ahead of him, we have question marks. Nat Borchers and Chris Wingert will almost certainly play together in the center of the park, and we can be fairly certain that Tony Beltran will be on the pitch. I'd stretch "fairly certain" to 98% certainty, which I think is pretty good, isn't it? Anyway, we'll see him. Take my word for it. Or don't. Who his full back opposite will be is the real question.
Let's run through our options, as we have at least three or four. I'll prioritize them by what I sense is the likelihood of their occurrence. 1) Tony Beltran moves left, leaving a space for Terukazu Tanaka to fill in. This seems the safest option, and although I think Tony's better on the right, he can certainly do a job elsewhere. 2) Tony Beltran stays on the right, and Kenny Mansally comes in on the left. Jason said that he's considering dropping him in the deep end, and given that he's had a good few weeks with the side to adapt, this wouldn't be surprising. He looks fit and raring to go. 3) Will Johnson takes the left back spot and we find a spot for another midfielder. If Javier Morales is 90 minutes fit, that problem solves itself. 4) Chris Estridge comes in at left back. I'd argue that he's being adapted into a utility player, primarily a center back, though. This seems the least likely of the four.
As usual, I'll take my most likely assumption and put it to the side, then take my second pick and make it my prediction. If I were a betting man, this might perhaps be a good idea. As I'm trying for accuracy, it's not so much, but let's just say I'm going with my gut, and my gut had a pastrami sandwich for breakfast. That could be bad, it could be good. I don't know.
In the middle, I'd expect we'll see something approaching basically what we saw last week. I don't imagine Javier Morales is quite 90 minutes fit — and I recall Jason saying something to that effect — but if he's, say, 60 minutes fit, he might be good to start. Getting started on the right foot is important. Or your left, if you're left footed. Or if you're bowling and right-handed. Or is the other way around? I don't remember. But yes: I'd think we'll see Kyle, Ned, Will and Javi. Am I certain on that? Not exactly. Not by a long shot. Am I concerned? Oh, not particularly. You know me. Our other option is, to my mind, the same as Wednesday: Kyle, Jonny, Will, Ned. I wouldn't be surprised if that was what we rolled out.
Up front, who else? Espindola and Saborio. We've got a week 'til the next one — and then another 3 in 8 — so if they're fit to go, I don't see us holding them back. However, Paulo will be pushing for minutes to rest one or the other, given his sparky performance in that defeat to the Galaxy. He didn't score (obviously enough) but he looked alive. Perhaps he gets a run out late on. Something like that would be nice for him, as I think he's bucked up his ideas sufficiently.
Right, so the prediction: Rimando; Beltran, Borchers, Wingert, Mansally; Beckerman, Grabavoy, Johnson, Morales, Saborio, Espindola.
Right, I think we've got a great opportunity here to take that flag the Galaxy knocked out, pick it back up, draw a line in the sand, a place that flag somewhere in that sandy area. I'm not sure what the sandy area is aside from, well, Sandy. (Any other trite sayings that I could add? Please suggest some for me. Thanks.)
Right, well, let's go do this. Come on you Claret and Cobalt!
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