It's been a bit too long since we set foot in the Rio Tinto, but lucky us! Today is the day and all that. Also, that's a great track by Yo La Tengo, so perhaps check that out if you are bored or some such. On a relevant note, this may possibly be the hardest lineup I've attempted to predict since starting the blog (if you recall, I started in June last year, so post-CCL run), so if you'd like to laugh at me for getting it all utterly wrong, you'll have a golden opportunity.
Speaking of golden opportunities: Jason Kreis has made it clear that there will be rotation. Significant rotation, at that. These are the sorts of opportunities, I suspect, that make or break a young player's opportunities for the season. Show well, and perhaps you will be handed further chances. Show badly, and your chances will diminish.
These are the sorts of moments when we really get to know our depth. When everything's changed around, can we still perform? When our key players are resting in advance of one of the most important matches we've played all season, can the younger players step things up? Further, how many questions (rhetorical and otherwise) can I ask? Is this too many?
In the most recent RSL Insider (with your host Brian Dunseth), Jason Kreis emphasized that rotation. His statement — "I think we're going to see more of our players play this week than we've seen the entire season" — takes a little parsing. We've seen 22 players on the pitch this season, which doesn't rule out the actuality of that statement. Will we see 23 or more players? I don't know. If we do, it will take the heaviest rotation we've seen in a while — in fact, it would take an almost entirely changed lineup for it to even be possible.
Kreis: "We're going to see more of our players play this week than we've seen the entire season."
I think we're likely to see a few of the same players in both matches, though. Both full backs should be relatively well-rested, although we do have a bit of depth there to shore up the ranks should rotation be desired or required. I'd imagine we'll see Nick Rimando today and on Tuesday. We may see Espindola both days, with an early substitution or perhaps a substitute appearance in one of the matches.
Let's run through the positions as usual, then, but with an eye toward rotation, shall we?
Goalkeeper? Nick Rimando. Simple. The fatigue is less an issue for him, and barring any injury concern, we're fine to play him three times in eight days. Of all players, he may even be able to play more than that, but we're not likely to take that strange risk, especially as we don't play more than that. Anyhow.
Full backs are, like I said, where we're not hurting too much. None of our four wide defenders were involved in international play, so while we do have a quick turnaround, they may be a bit more ready to do it than, say, Kyle Beckerman. I'd not be entirely surprised to see a Mansally-Beltran or Mansally-Wingert pairing, as FC Dallas is a left-sided team. Perhaps that sort of approach gives us room to bomb up the wings without as much risk as in other circumstance. Our selection may depend on fitness more than anything.
Our central defensive pairing is pretty clear cut for now — we will see Borchers and Watson-Siriboe, mark my words. I can imagine we'll see them on Tuesday, too. There's no chance to rest either before Olave and Schuler returns, so we will likely make do with what we have on hand. It's not a bad pairing in the least, but fatigue is likely a bit of a concern.
Edit: Except, you know, for Borchers, who will be absent on Tuesday through red card suspension. I'd forgotten this and have just been reminded. Wingert and KWS are likely to pair on Tuesday, which could play into whether Wingert features at all today.
In the midfield, Kyle Beckerman seems likely to rest, with Yordany Alvarez likely to step into the fray once again. He proved something last match he played, and there should be relatively little fear of playing him. Prepare for some masterful interceptions.
Will Johnson, too, will be pegged for a rest after his 90 minutes of what was likely non-stop-running for the Canadians; I suspect we will see Jonny Steele in his place. I'd suspect Ned Grabavoy will start, but I've not any real evidence for this, so I could well be wrong. If he doesn't, we might see one of Sebastian Velasquez and Enzo Martinez out there. That's right — the E word. Javier Morales is likely to rest as well, given that he has some adductor tightness (I'm just parroting the MLS Injury Report, of course. I have only a very vague idea where an adductor is, let alone what it's good for — Huh! Absolutely nothing. [My apologies.]) This should open a spot for Luis Gil to play, who will be looking to improve his more recent form.
Up front, again, question marks. Saborio would seem almost entirely out of the question, so perhaps we'll see a bit of Espindola and Braun together, or perhaps Braun and Paulo, or perhaps Paulo and Espindola. Bonfigli, in any case, would be a bench option, and perhaps if needed he can perform some heroics again. I'd rather he didn't need to, but you know, there's that.
Right, I suppose that's all I've got for you. More questions than answers, I'm sure, but that's what makes this all so interesting. Let's go out there and see our depth, shall we?
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