Home Opener Finally!

Maybe this guy will make an appearance?

Its been a long winter of discontent but tomorrow we finally get to get back out to the Dick and enjoy a home game.  Of course its a tall mountain to climb tomorrow as the opponent is the LA Galaxy and their roster of ex-European stars.  The injury report helps us out a bit but this will still be a tough match.  Game time tomorrow is 5pm so the C38 tailgate kicks off at 2pm.  Along with the normal hot dogs and beer there will be chowder and a live recording of the C38 podcasts with an interview with the commentary team of Fleming and Balboa.

Player Availability:

OUT: GL John Berner (hand); D Sean St. Ledger (knee injury)

SUSPENDED: M Jermaine Jones (through 4/13)

UNAVAILABLE: D Joseph Greenspan (Navy duty)

No surprises there.  Apparently Berner has been in a cast for a while and they just neglected to list him last week.  We found out that Williams not playing last week was a strategic decision, not a injury forced one.  LA will be missing starting GK Kennedy and starting F Dos Santos and has three other players listed as questionable including former-Rapids Ginger Ninja.

Starting XI Prediction:

There's a lot of options given Pablo's coaching style.  We could see Pappa start either as a straight swap for Badji or pushing Powers back to Watts spot.  We could see Watts or Burling at center back, pushing Williams back outside or to the bench.  The only players I'm sure of are MacMath, Sjoberg, Cronin, Gashi, Powers, and Kevin Doyle.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by K.Doyle.  LA has quality, even if its old.  Mike Magee could eat our back line up.  They are hurting and playing at elevation though so I think we can mostly neutralize them.  We get a draw in front of the home crowd, barely.