San Jose v Dallas preview

By: Melissa | May 1st, 2008

Finally, the Buck Shaw home game is here. Finally, there’s a reason for me to go to San Jose that doesn’t involve sitting in a data center for hours on end. Finally, the weather has cooled down enough for me to rock a neon blue wig at this thing. But don’t expect any streaking. The season is only a month old so despite the fact that our stats are pretty crap (but we’re still better than Houston), there’s plenty of time to improve using good ol’ ingenuity and initiative. The point I’m getting at here is this: we are nowhere near giving up on the season. So let’s begin the preview…

Any line-up changes? YES! With Cochrane out, the entire back line is in question. Jeff Carlisle suggests rearranging both the midfield and the back to compensate. But I think Yallop doesn’t want to shatter a starting 11 that’s finally starting to gel a bit. In my completely unqualified opinion, I see Hernandez taking Cochrane’s spot with Denton filling in as left back. Other than that, the usual line up stays.

Who is out? Ryan Cochrane and Jay Ayers are nursing concussions and perhaps catching up on lost Teletubbies episodes. Nick Garcia is probable with a thigh contusion but he’ll play. Oh yes he will.

Who is gonna score? I hope somebody does. Seriously. I’m worried that our offense will never get past the Dallas midfield during the entire game. But by the time the first whistle blows, I may be too drunk to care.

Who is gonna shine? I love Ryan Cochrane. Every Quakes fan loves Ryan Cochrane. But boy did he eff up against New York last week. This game is gonna prove Hernandez’s versatility as a fullback as well as in the center.

Biggest improvement? ME! I’m trying to take these game previews more seriously. I may not be successful but I am going to try. Also, I’m retiring the Biggest Improvement category. Bit of a dumb idea.

I have achieved inner peace by muting the game commentary. What should I listen to now? As soon as the new Madonna album leaked, I had that sh*t downloaded on my computer and onto my crappy mp3 player. I’ve been listening to it non-stop. Give it 2 Me is gonna be the jam of the summer (you heard it here first) and I swear Madonna and Pharrell get hyphy during that song.

How should I prepare for this game? Alcohol and bbq. Either at the official Fanzone tailgate or at a secret diy location. At this point, I don’t care if we lose, I just want all 10,000+ fans in attendance to get to that “happy drunk” phase. Group hug time y’all.

So I think that’s it. Don’t forget to read Tim Hainley’s preview from a coach’s perspective over at Center Line Soccer. And I’m leaving you this week, not with a song, but instead with a video taken at Coachella of the orbs we brought out there. I can’t find any good night video so you don’t get to see them roll around with their blinky different colored leds on. But still, seeing them roll around during the day is kind of fun. Myself, and the little buggers will be at the Maker Fair on Sunday so if you are going to that, stop by and say hi.