Match Briefing For 12.16: NY Red Bulls

Match #: 12.16

Opponent:
NY Red Bulls
24 pts, 25GF, 21GA, +4 0 GD
3rd place Eastern Conference, 6th place MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: Midpoint test of depth, please pass...

TV: Telefutura, Comcast Sports Net (5:00PM), MLSLive.TV

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: June 10th, 4-2 United win at RFK.

The Stakes: United has had a horrible July, accumulating just one win, two losses, and a tie in four games. The team now faces a very crowded schedule which will test the team's depth from top to bottom. New York begins a five game home stand and also wants to recapture the form it had at the beginning of the regular season. Both teams need to find the rhythm and pace to carry them to the playoffs.

Previews from the DCUniverse: Six Yards North, The Offside - DC United, Quarter Volley
Previews from the Metroverse: The Offside - NY

Expectations: I'm bracing myself for disappointment, not because New York is such a formidable opponent, but the team's lack of mental focus and constantly shuffling defense have taken us out of games too often this month. Dema might return to the NY lineup this week, and if he's there, DC's midfielders will have their work cut out for them. If we start the half playing quickly and possessing the ball, that will be a good sign.

What to look for?

• Get of the bench - Tom Soehn might as well use a Boggle board to figure out his lineup. The following players are out through Injury or Suspension, Ben Olsen (mysterious Yellow Card accumulation), Jaime Moreno (hamstring), Bryan Namoff (hamstring), Justin Moose (hernia), and Guy-roland Kpene (hamstring).
• Paging Christian Gomez - Please play like Jaime played last week, we really need it. I honestly thought the addition of Fred and Emilio would prevent defenses from solely focusing on our #10, freeing him up to direct the attack and get involved more, but its seems he's taken himself out of games to compensate.
  
• Who's attacking us? Altidore returns to the Red Bull attack, but will be without Juan Pablo Angel who is suspended with a red card. Altidore will be a handful for Boswell and Vanney to mark.
• Our first hardware - a second victory here would give us the Atlantic Cup. Unlike previous years these two teams will only meet 3 times during the regular season.
  

My Predicted Lienup
........................... Perkins

Mctavish ... Boswell ... Vanney ... Gross

Fred ...... Gomez ...... Carroll .... Mediate

................. Emilio .......... Addlery


Oscar's Prediction?

• 1-1 tie, goals by Altidore and Emilio. Perkins will channel Nick Rimando a few times during the match, but not as badly as last week.