FC Dallas Vs. Seattle Sounders, Matchcard: Projected Lineups, Broadcast Info, Statistics
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 19, 2011 3:29 PM PDT
in Sounders: MLS Regular Season
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It will probably come as little surprise that after banging the drum for Mike Fucito to see more playing time that we are projecting him to start on Saturday against FC Dallas. Unlike the umpteen preveious times we projected him to be in the starting lineup for the Seattle Sounders, we actually think that he'll be there this time. After scoring two spectacular goals earlier this week, it would seem mighty strange if he wasn't in there this week.
The only other particularly notable player in our starting lineup is Lamar Neagle for Alvaro Fernandez. We're operating under the impression that the Fox Soccer announcers had no idea what they were talking about when they said Neagle's red card would land him in Sigi's doghouse. We're also thinking that Fernandez is more likely to be held back for next Tuesday's game at Monterrey since Neagle will not be eligible to play.
The glaring weakness with our lineup is the lack of any real aerial threat. Outside of Osvaldo Alonso, there really isn't a "ball-winner" in our front six. We think this is a reasonable trade-off, but it would not be shocking if Brad Evans got the start for this very reason.
Our FC Dallas lineup projection was produced by Big D Soccer, SB Nation's FC Dallas blog. They think Zach Loyd is the replacement-in-waiting for George John, which we'll get a preview up this weekend.
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Alvaro
Can anyone explain why Alvaro is the least used of our “regulars”? I understand the rationale for this game you explained above, but generally I don’t understand based on his skill level how he gets less minutes than the other day-to-dayers. Conditioning? Am I not seeing something? Does Sigi manage heavily based on personal vendetta’s and behind the scenes pissing matches in an effort to get something he wants out of his players?
by RalfZakuani on Aug 19, 2011 3:57 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
I think it's fitness
Ever since he came in, Sigi has been somewhat displeased with Alvaro’s general conditioning. The game at RSL where he had to come out pretty early was just another example. Somewhat understandably, I don’t think Sigi really wants to use Alvaro more than once a week. Can’t say I blame him.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 19, 2011 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I dont see it
I don’t see it, but I suppose I’ll start paying more attention to see if he fades in games.
the other thing to keep in mind...
He plays a postion where the Sounders are deep. Sigi would be stupid not to use it.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 19, 2011 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Wouldn't be the first time Sigi was stupid not to use something!
by Aaron Campeau on Aug 19, 2011 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Since when!?
Name even one bench player that Sigi could have hoped to get production out of who he’s let sit there for a game…
OK, fine.
But I bet you can’t name 8.
"But who would listen to Little Old Me anyway?"
-by -Dave Clark
and -thehemogoblin
by Little old me on Aug 19, 2011 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Fitness testing
I thought I remember something about Sounders using Science! to test fitness levels, blood testing lactic acid levels, etc, rather than relying solely on practice observations and player assurances (honest coach I feel great). Anyone know if they are doing any advanced testing on individual players to determine fitness? Maybe Flaco’s body just recovers slower than ironmen like Alonso or Riley.
Nice to have Evans in the mix
Just that changes the prospect of what kind of sub is coming in. And while I think Evans can play a role starting or subbing, Fucito has to start. And it needs to be with Fredy. Doing so gives the most chance for danger to start and the bench will have enough depth to make a real change if tactics aren’t coming together up front.
Yellows
Wahl 4 (3 games until Good Behavior)
Carrasco 4 (2 games until Good Behavior)
Montero dropped down to 3 cards after Good Behavior for 3 games.
Fernandez, Friberg, Hurtado, and Riley have 3 cards as well.
Jacobson on FCD has 4 (2 games until Good Behavior). Maybe Alonso can get under his skin so he’ll miss FCD’s following game @ SKC next Saturday.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/mls-disciplinary-summary
Fan of: Cardinals, Blues, Sounders, Yellow Jackets, Wolverines, Rams, and Blazers.
by ColinMacLeod on Aug 19, 2011 5:10 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
that's right ... forgot I said I'd include this stuff
next time, next time
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 19, 2011 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Priorities
This week is a good week to assess where the Sounders organization is putting it’s priorities. The line ups for Saturday and Tuesday may give some clues. If the Sounders are serious about making a run for 1st or 2nd seed in the Western Conference and consequently the SS, they must win Saturday. If there is one game in the CCCL group stage that the Sounders are least likely to win it would be the away fixture in Monterey. Makes the possible lineups very intriguing.
The above lineup card is a compromise. Neagle cannot play on Tuesday and the Sounders are in the middle of multiple competitions. Play him Saturday and rest Flaco. Evans is recuperating from injury and played this week, play Friberg. Gonzo and Wahl are rotating and its Wahl’s turn. Not an unreasonable set of assumptions.
But what if the Sounders decide that Saturday is more important? Who do they start? In that case I would be more inclined to think that Flaco will get the start and maybe Evans as well. Heck, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Gonzo out there based on the quality of his performance. Though Evans and Gonzo may be subs due to endurance and the heat. But the keys are what is the mix and do they start Flaco.
Like everyone else, I expect Fucito to get the nod. And there in lies another scenario. If the Sounders are content with their position in the MLS standings and will settle for any result in Monterey, then these two games become a great opportunity to hone the coordination of Fucito into the attack. Fredy and Fucito need to work together and they need to be fed by Alonso, Evans, Friberg, Rosales and Flaco. Now is the time to refine their timing and get used to the style of play that a FM/Fucito pairing will require.
Am I the only one
Intrigued by the thought of pairing Neagle and Fucito up top and letting FM move into the CAM spot?
"But who would listen to Little Old Me anyway?"
-by -Dave Clark
and -thehemogoblin
Interesting thought...
FM doesn’t operate currently as a CAM but rather a Withdrawn Forward. I think the idea has possibilities but would require more tinkering than bringing Fucito into a forward pairing and using Evans and Friberg as the CAM. Your proposal requires that a player learn essentially a new position. Playing Fucito with FM just requires that the team integrate a different pairing and then adjust their schem to fit the pairing. FM as a CAM is the kind of experiment that I would expect either earlier in the season or if the team gets desperate.
by Abbott Smith on Aug 19, 2011 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Obviously
I forgot about this.
"But who would listen to Little Old Me anyway?"
-by -Dave Clark
and -thehemogoblin
by Little old me on Aug 20, 2011 1:18 AM PDT up reply actions
OK
Call FM Tequerista. Already tried and succeeded at that game this season. And I think the difference for the team between playing with or without a target forward is dramatic enough to eclipse any awkwardness that results from having a guy who normally plays in the hole play a bit further behind the play.
"But who would listen to Little Old Me anyway?"
-by -Dave Clark
and -thehemogoblin
by Little old me on Aug 20, 2011 1:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Off sub, but Sanyang
I noticed that Amadou Sanyang was on the bench (or at least bench list) for the Chivas match. What did that mean? He was sort of a recent trialist (I thought). Does that make him eligible for regular league matches?
Eleven Thousand Miles
That’s how far we have to fly in the next month. When I was watching Dallas-UNAM, I was thinking “I’ll bet Dallas is closer to Mexico City than it is to Seattle”. I looked it up and it’s a LOT closer. And Monterrey isn’t too far from Dallas (I assume they won’t fly back here in between), but Costa Rica is like 4500 miles from here. We have to fly SO MANY MORE miles than other clubs it’s not even funny.
I mean, Dallas is right in the center of North America, they don’t have really long flights to anywhere. Not like us.
That's a good point...
I suppose the one thing that is working in our favor this week is that they played their first-choice team while we rested some guys and got others off relatively early. They also played at altitude. But in general, you’re right, Seattle and Toronto easily have the roughest situation in CCL.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 19, 2011 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions
thank goodness for pdx and van
Four games a year with them makes things a bit more even for the rest of the league as Seattle gets some shorter road trips and the Crews of the world add relatively more travel.
Toronto? Pah.
They’ve got all those east coast cities that are an hour away. Even Toronto – Chicago is way less than Seattle-San Jose. Toronto to Kansas City is only a little longer than Seattle-SJ or Seattle-Salt Lake.
Even Toronto-Panama is a piece of cake compared to Seattle’s trips. Toronto’s about the same distance from Panama City as it is from LA.
wow, i guess you're right
In my head it seemed like it would be comparable, but it looks like Toronto to Panama is a full 1,000 miles less than Seattle to Panama.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 19, 2011 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions
the problem the sounders have is that they need to go east (to texas)
to get to central america whereas toronto just go straight down.
Not too mention the lack of direct flights
Seattle will be making a lot transfers through Dallas. I wish the league would lighten up on the use of charter flights
And Seattle is a lot farther north (strange as that may seem).
I believe the 45th parallel North is well south of Portland and Toronto is only on something like the 43rd parallel N.
One of my favorite websites
is Great Circle Mapper, which takes the distortions of any given map projection out of the picture. You can map the actual air route between any two airports in the world.
Lets' hope the recap doesn't feature the word "Gantar"...
He’s a new ref for us….has only reffed 7 MLS games in his career, and I think the last one he oversaw was SJ vs RSL in which Saborio dove untouched in the box, and Gantar awarded a PK and a red card to the defender who never touched him. The call changed the game completely and the end result was a 4-0 rout. That was nearly a month ago….so we have a rusty, inexperienced ref with a bad history overseeing a game in sweltering heat between two fast, skillful and physical teams. In the end, could he be much worse that Kevin Stott? I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Can’t wait for the game!!
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