Last week, I started the pre-match preview nonsense with a swathe of links, and whether you like it or not, I'm going to start it that way again. None of it is exactly required reading — not by a long shot — but why repeat myself too much? Don't worry, though: This is the only place you'll get gems like references to cheap 1980s sci-fi flicks.
First, I've taken a look at the tactical approach Kreis might employ over at The Sovereign. Of particular concern: Keane and Donovan in the box, and Juninho and Beckham in the midfield. But a boon to RSL will be the absence of AJ DeLaGarza, who hasn't missed a match in advance of today's battle. Now he might be out for the month — and perhaps longer.
RSL is looking for a clean sweep of the Home Depot Center, which is pretty cool, if you ask me. \ It would have been better if we could have had a clean sweep of LA Galaxy and Chivas USA, but what can you do? It'll be essential as we enter the playoffs that we finish in as high a position as we can.
I touch on how LA leads the league in percentage of goals from outside the box — and how we lead the league in percentage of goals conceded from outside the box. And by lead the league, I mean, we're the best at it — not that we've done it the most. Just to be clear.
Over at RSL Soapbox, I've written about Sebastian Velasquez. He's taking things "day by day," illustrated by this quote: "I'm taking it all in, learning day by day, and getting better and getting to know the system. At the end of the day, we're building up to be something better - hopefully for the team."
Right, what else? We'll be looking for good performances from everyone, and once again, we'll also be wondering who replaces Ned Grabavoy. Our two big options will be Luis Gil and Jonny Steele, with Sebastian Velasquez being a capable attacking foil if needed. I suspect Jason Kreis will go with Luis Gil again, but Gil is not nearly the consistent force Grabavoy is — especially when we're looking at defending. Will Johnson and Kyle Beckerman will need to form a capable defensive midfield tandem, with the Canadian serving as the box-to-box player in the pairing.
Right, how about a lineup prediction? Rimando; Beltran, Olave (back from yellow card suspension), Borchers, Wingert; Beckerman, Gil, Johnson, Morales; Saborio, Espindola. Simple.
Someday, I'll calculate how many of our lineups are our best eleven less one — that'd be interesting, maybe. Maybe not. (If it's not, too bad.)
Let's go win this thing, shall we?
Comments