Quakes @ Columbo Preview

By: Sean | June 6th, 2008

So after spending all morning deliberating on what angle to take on today’s preview post, I read Tim Hanley’s preview over at Center Line Soccer, and he hit the nail right on the head:

I would love to see Ramiro and Gray side by side as defensive mids. Make it difficult for the Crew to play in the middle through Schelotto. Maybe Kirvoski in front of them with Johnson doing his best battering ram impression. Ryan will be surrounded by some big guys so maybe push the ball to the flanks to pull Marshall out of the middle. Long balls played in the air will come right back at you. I think Salinas should start on the right if only in the hopes that, like Ian Russell, he will turn it on next year. Ian was superb in 2001 after logging tough minutes on Lothar Osiander’s 2000 side that is shockingly similar to this year’s version. O’Brien can play on the left and balance out the side.

I agree wholeheartedly with the above, with a couple changes. Kirovski will be Cuncliffe, as Yallop was quoted as saying that he will get the start after scoring his first of the season last week. (Note: If its actually Kirovski and Cuncliffe, with Johnson sitting, well, I might just give up on the season). There’s also talk that O’Brien has a tweak in his back, so I’m going to assume the worst and say that he won’t play, pushing Riley up to outside midfield with Salinas. With Garcia being out, and Riley in the midfield, this puts Hernandez at center-back with Cochrane, and moves Gray to right back. Taking his place at the defensive midfield spot is Joey Vide. Still with me? This might make it easier:

This, I think, is our best chance to leave Ohio with points. Yes, its very defensive. But I think the speed of Riley and El Shea can create chances on the counter-attack, with the ball coming through Cunliffe. If we can get him the ball, have him hold up the play, bring it back out to the wing, and then play balls into the box, with Corrales lurking at the top of the box for a rebound. (We can’t pretend that Corrales will ACTUALLY sit back and not come forward. We don’t want miracles.)

So while this looks eerily similar to a 4-5-1, it actually has the potential to quickly change to a 4-4-2, or even to a 4-2-4. As Hanley said, “defend with six, attack with four”. Granted, all of the above is moot because Yallop will play Grabavoy (grumble grumble grumble).

Best case scenario, it plays out like the first half of the US/Spain match, with containing their attack, and not dropping too far back into our own area, and perhaps creating a chance or two on the break. (Side note: you know your team is bad when you are comparing Columbo to the Spanish National Team.)

Worst case scenario, they create chances early and often, we never establish any sort of rhythm, and allow them to play however they’d like.

0 points = a shrug (to be expected)
1 point = a smile (a moral victory)
3 points = a hangover on Sunday (the comeback starts now)

Prediction: 3-1 Columbo. Sorry boys. Prove me wrong.

P.S. I found Hanley’s comment about the similarities of this year’s team to 2000 very intriguing. Look for some analysis of that next week.