35 plus years ago I was born in Seattle, and I lived in the greater Seattle area for the first 28 and a half years of my life. Alas, when MLS started Seattle didn't get a team, local boys Chris Henderson and Marcus Hahnemann went to Colorado, and thus I'm a Rapids fan. Now I live in Denver.
Tomorrow, my tow cities face off at the Dick. The Rapids have yet to beat the MLS version of the Sounders in either the league or Open Cup play. Kickoff is a 7pm, with the Supporters Group tailgate starting in the West lot (new location for this game only)at 5pm.
Injury Report:
Key To Look For: Freddy Ljungberg vs. Pablo. Ljungberg has lost focus this year, spending more time complaining to the officials than playing. If Pablo can get in a couple of hard but legal tackles on Freddy early in the game he'll probably go down the same road, which will take away the Sounders midfield general.
Injury Report:
OUT: DF Kosuke Kimura (L ankle stress fracture); MF Ciaran O'Brien (L hip sprain); FW Ross Schunk (R ACL tear); DOUBTFUL: None; QUESTIONABLE: DF Julien Baudet (L knee sprain); MF Jamie Smith (R hamstring strain); PROBABLE: DF Scott Palguta (L calf strain)
DC has 6 players out or questionable, including two of their better defenders. Having Koz, Baudet, and Palguta on the injury list is a bit of a concern, if none of them can start it leaves our back line very thin. I'm going to guess that Baudet is good enough to play, since he played the full game on Wednesday, but if none of them can go we're looking at Holody or something. My lineup guess:
Pickens
I really hope Clark has won the left back spot from Thompson, because Wells hasn't looked great the last couple of games. If Baudet isn't available though, we might see something like a 3-6-1 with Thompson or Moor taking the extra spot in midfield.
DC has 6 players out or questionable, including two of their better defenders. Having Koz, Baudet, and Palguta on the injury list is a bit of a concern, if none of them can start it leaves our back line very thin. I'm going to guess that Baudet is good enough to play, since he played the full game on Wednesday, but if none of them can go we're looking at Holody or something. My lineup guess:
Pickens
Wynne - Moor - Baudet - Earls
Pablo - Larentowicz
Cummings - Ballouchy - Clark
Casey
I really hope Clark has won the left back spot from Thompson, because Wells hasn't looked great the last couple of games. If Baudet isn't available though, we might see something like a 3-6-1 with Thompson or Moor taking the extra spot in midfield.
Key To Look For: Freddy Ljungberg vs. Pablo. Ljungberg has lost focus this year, spending more time complaining to the officials than playing. If Pablo can get in a couple of hard but legal tackles on Freddy early in the game he'll probably go down the same road, which will take away the Sounders midfield general.
Prediction: 2-0 win, goals by Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. Seattle's offense has been woeful this season, and I think our defense can finally get back-to-back shutouts. Seattle's defense has big gaps due to injury and I think the Dynamic Duo will take advantage.
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3 comments:
always love the faith you put in your guys - not once have i seen anything besides a win or a draw for your prediction.
no prediction from me - just hoping we can come down and steal a point on the road
I would be suprised to see Clark start this one. He really hasn't shown anything yet this year to earn that spot. I think he is physically recovered, but he still has some mental stuff to overcome. He seem's to shy away from 50-50 balls, and sometimes just doesn't show any urgency in his play. When he first got hurt, I was thinking it would be June or July before he was fully back. He is healed but not match fit. I see him coming off the bench the next two games, and then we have the break for the World Cup. After that he should be ready to start fighting for a starting role. Although I wouldn't say that Thompson is a better player than Clark, I do think that he is a better option for now.
I'm not sure I've ever predicted a home loss but I have predicted a couple of road losses.
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