DC United Preview 6/28/2006
DC United vs. Kansas City Wizards
Wednesday, 6/28/2006 8:30pm EST
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
So this is it, the final meeting between these two clubs the entire season, unless they meet in the playoffs. United have won all the matches thus far this season, outscoring the Wizards 6-2, shutting them out on a rainy and wet Saturday night, winning 1-0. This will be the first match between these two clubs that the US World Cup players should be available, which means the KC defense and forwards should get a boost.
What exactly is a pelvic dysfunction? Jamil Walker seems to have one. I can't figure out what this is? He get kicked in the balls? Whatever it is, he is listed as being out for this match, which is just perfect for a United side that seems to be dropping forwards left and right.
As our player situation seems to be in a "funk" right now, and with Benny hopefully returning for this match, I would not be surprised to see Peter Nowak send out a side that will be heavy on clogging the midfield. Olsen, Simms, Gomez, Gros, Carroll, Adu all playing in the midfield and Moreno up top by himself, with Freddy really listed as a withdrawn forward, but sitting in the midfield. It will be a match were we try and replicate the same "luck" we had on Saturday: strong defense, disciplined midfield and quick strike for a goal on a counter/break-away.
Even though it is true that Kansas City will most likely have their returning forwards back for this match, they will not be getting anyone new inserted in the midfield, which seems to be their weakness right now. Conrad will shore up their back line, but if they cannot build up from the midfield and service their forwards, they will be playing pretty much as well as they did on Saturday.
Prediction: I see United leaving with at least 1 point, as our defense and midfield is much stronger than the KC offense and midfield. If we are lucky, as we were Saturday night, we get another quick strike and hold onto a 1-0 lead. If Conrad is truly as good a defender as people are saying, he should be the biggest factor in this match. I don't really see their offense or midfield cracking our midfield or defense. Perkins has another strong match.
DC United 0 - 0 Kansas City Wizards
posted by Brian at 9:33 AM
3 Comments:
from The Post: United Notes: National team midfielder Ben Olsen rejoined United on Monday. His replacement, Clyde Simms, has excelled this month, and Olsen, who is battling a sore groin and did not accompany the team to Kansas City, said he does not expect to be handed back his starting role.
"I've got to get my spot back; that's the reality of this thing," Olsen said. "A guy like Clyde, and some of these other guys, have come in and done well, and I don't think there's any reason why I should be playing over those guys right now."
Forwards Jamil Walker (lower back) and Alecko Eskandarian (knee) and midfielder Domenic Mediate (concussion) are not expected to play tonight.
Damn. Oh well, I still think we do the same thing we did on Saturday, which is pretty much what I wrote.
To top it off, Wolff and Johnson are probably not getting to KC until tomorrow. Conrad may be back, but whether he plays is evidently up to him says Bunker Bob.
Things are lookin good.
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