Seattle Sounders Vs. Sporting Kansas City, Matchcard: Projected Lineups, Statistics
by Jeremiah Oshan on May 20, 2011 10:56 AM PDT
in Sounders: MLS Regular Season
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In case you haven't noticed, projecting the starting lineups for the Seattle Sounders this year has been ... well ... tough. Rarely has the same group of 11 been rolled out in consecutive matches, and it seems unlikely that we're going to get that this week. Against Sporting Kansas City, we're projecting Erik Friberg to start on the right with Servando Carrasco in the middle, but who knows? Friberg's health is still very much in doubt, as is Mauro Rosales' and Brad Evans'. We wouldn't be shocked if Lamar Neagle or Roger Levesque started out wide.
On defense, it's not much easier. Patrick Ianni and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado have been starting recently, but Jeff Parke could very easily be plugged in for either one of them. Tyson Wahl seems to be the starter on the left side, but seeing Leo Gonzalez out there would not be at all surprising.
SKC's lineup was provided to us by Andy Edwards of The Daily Wiz, SB Nation's Sporting KC blog. After last week's disaster, he thinks Matt Besler will get the start over Julio Cesar. He also thinks Ryan Smith is apparently fit enough to start for the first time this season.
PDF version: sounders-skc 0521
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SKC's front line is scary
fortunately for us, their back line is worse…
also when do they get Bravo back?
He’s their best PP90 player and I think he’s due to return soon. That combined with them getting their stadium should show them a completely different team for the second half of the season. I wouldn’t sleep on SKC.
by ABTsportsline on May 20, 2011 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions
He could be back this weekend
He has returned to training. We address it in 3 questions.
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i dont think friberg will start
Josh’s comments yesterday made me not want him to start.
Id rather wait for him to heal
by Sandra_R on May 20, 2011 11:39 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Andrew Winner, also at practice, saw it as a less significant issue
but our bigger point is that any of like 7 guys could start
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Josh Mayers just tweeted
That today Friberg was “all in” and Rosales trained all week, not 100% but “right now he looks good”
FUCITO
I know this is a heavily abused topic, but this needs to be said. We need fresh legs. Kansas City would be the best match to see Fucito get his minutes. With KC being the worst team in the MLS, Sigi should give the bench warmers an opportunity. Estrada, Neagle, Fucito, etc, especially Fucito. If I was Sigi, and I know I will never be, I would give those who have minimal minutes an opportunity to show their TALENT. It makes sense.
by Pauly "Pablo" Morris on May 20, 2011 11:44 AM PDT reply actions
By any measure, Pts, PPM, GD
they are clearly the worst. Of course, all their games have been away, but they still have clearly been the worst team over the first third of the season.
Yes, of course all their games have been away
And if you adjust PPM to account for expected points home and away, they are not last in the league.
4 points
I pray to God you are being sarcastic. I usually judge by the point system. I don’t care who coaches or plays, if you are sitting at lowest of the low then you are the worst team, IMO. KC is the worst team in the MLS.
by Pauly "Pablo" Morris on May 20, 2011 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Home field advantage is huge in MLS
Let’s take an example from last season. Starting from the end of the season, and counting backwards only on away games, this team had the following results:
L — @ LAG
T — @ FCD
T — @ RSL
L — @ NYRB
L — @ Col
T — @ Phi
L — @ Sea
L — @ Tor
T — @ Hou
T — @ Chi
That’s a 10 game stretch, all road games, where the team in question earned FIVE points. 5 points, 10 games. That team, the Colorado Rapids, then went on to win MLS Cup.
There’s also a difference between when a team has been the worst team and whether that team is now the worst team. KC has had poor results, but they aren’t going to keep up that rate of earning red cards, and their only two big losses were against NYC and LA. I will not be surprised if they make a run for a playoff spot.
We’re just not used to seeing this kind of a road trip, and it magnifies the fact that it really is just that hard to play on the road in MLS.
It is certainly tough to play on the road
and I am expecting SKC to at least pass TFC, VAN, maybe CHI in the next few months. But right now, on current form, they have been the worst team. They are still on the road. Once Bravo is back, and they’re playing at home, then they’ll have an opportunity to try and climb back into it. But right now, they are the worst.
I'd rather
take the points and try and develop chemistry amongst my starters so they are prepped for the road game against RSL next week.
Points?
Who says we won’t have the points? I actually have faith in anyone of our guys against KC. We will definitely get the points. Their defense is awful! This gives Montero and Co. a chance to rest. We have Dallas on Wednesday. That is a game we definitely need to win. Dallas is very good!
by Pauly "Pablo" Morris on May 20, 2011 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Man...
As much as you may have confidence that our backups are better than SKC’s starters, that would be a rather crazy gamble.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on May 20, 2011 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm a risk taker.
I don’t consider it crazy. I actually believe it’s worth the risk.
by Pauly "Pablo" Morris on May 20, 2011 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
obviously
But I would hope you understand why others do not.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on May 20, 2011 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
You aren't giving Sigi credit
He watches these guys day in and day out. If he thinks it is their time, they’ll play. Also, he’s not going to throw a group of guys that haven’t been starters this season in all at the same time….I would think it’d be more likely that he’d play 1 or these guys at a time once they are ready….
you also have to get some regularity in there
the starters can’t build chemistry if you’re moving the entire lineup around every week. I’d like to see Fucito as much as the next guy, but in the name of building chemistry with our starting XI, I’ll bend toward keeping it similar to last weekend.
That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing Fucito in the game earlier than the 88th minute if we’re tied or down.
I absolutely concur!
To all: I am not wanting to move the entire line up every game. I was just mentioning the idea of giving others an opportunity to play, especially with a team like KC. It was just an idea. Some people think it’s crazy, but actually it isn’t. I’m only talking one guy…Fucito. I pray to God Sigi gives him an opportunity to play a full 45. I believe he’ll tear it up. PERIOD.
by Pauly "Pablo" Morris on May 20, 2011 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Only 1 shot against TFC in 23 minutes of action
though he should have had an assist. He’s had chances to tear it up, but hasn’t yet, and he’s still getting his legs under him after the injury. His chances will come in time. USOC and CCL action is not far off.
Personally, I'd rather see Friberg in the middle
and Neagle on the right. Carrasco has been fine, but I’d like a more offensive slant.
I don't mind starting Carrasco
That being said, if it’s the 58th minute and we are tied or down (moreso at home than away) I would say Carrasco should be the first man off, assuming he isn’t providing much in the form of offensive support
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