Match Preview: Revenge on the cards as renewed RSL look to defeat Chivas

Right, we're back at it today, and I, for one, can't wait. But of course we're left with possibly the latest kickoff imaginable (well, not imaginable — imaginable but still practical? That seems to lose some bite. Oh well.), meaning we have to wait an hour or so longer than under normal circumstances. That's an odd thing to complain about, so I suspect I'm rather grasping at straws. No, when it comes down to it, I'm simply excited — and the sooner the match gets here, the better.

In yesterday's post, I approached our internationals who were returning and our injured players. Since then, I have learned (via @kiraterry) that our internationals are indeed all fit, and Javier, too, is fit for at least some minutes. I don't have more details, but that's not surprising — I'm sure it's being kept rather tightly in the camp. As usual, you know.

With that out of the way, let's run through a lineup prediction and look at it from a tactical perspective. There will be one or two fairly difficult choices for Jason Kreis to make (though it's certainly the case that he makes those decisions earlier than an hour before kickoff, mind, so I suppose he's probably already made them.) As we run through the positions, I'll touch on those and perhaps we can come to a reasonable conclusion. Or an unreasonable one. Maybe that one would be rather more fun.

Some of the choices are rather more obvious than others. The back five builds itself: Rimando, Beltran, Borchers, Olave, Wingert. There. That was easy. It's the bench, however, that's more interesting here: Chris Schuler and Leone Cruz are both out of the picture, leaving us rather short (literally and figuratively) in the central defender category.

Impressive youngster Chris Estridge has traveled with the team, and though his more natural position seems to be at full back, he's made some fine performances for the reserves at center back. He's not likely to play, but should he be called upon, it'll be a huge test for the youngster. It's also true that Chris Wingert can slot in at center back if required, so it is not as if we're totally dry there. Terukazu Tanaka has traveled and will be the rather obvious right back replacement option. I don't suspect we'll see him (I really hope we don't need to — nothing against Tanaka, of course), but he's there should he be needed.

In the midfield, we've got some questions, but there certainly won't be many asking who starts in the anchor role. It is, of course, always going to be Kyle Beckerman over his backup in Yordany Alvarez, and it'll be very nice having him back. Good, effective play is what we've come to expect from him, and I suspect that's what we'll see again. Surprise? Hardly. He'll be rather like a new signing. (I kid, I kid.)

In the box-to-box spots, we will see two of the four following players: Will Johnson, Ned Grabavoy, Jonny Steele and Sebastian Velasquez. Will Johnson is basically a lock in his left-sided role, so that leaves the three to decide from. Now, under normal circumstances, Ned Grabavoy, too, would be a lock on the right side, but with Javi unlikely to start (90 minutes fitness has not yet been reached, after all) and Luis Gil most certainly out of contention in the playmaker role, there is a possibility that he'll be played in that spot.

My preference, though, is for Grabavoy to remain on the right side, with Sebastian Velasquez slotting into that attacking slot. Ned's reliability and consistency on the right is one of his great strengths, but he lacks that little bit of magic in the spark for me. Could he well prove me wrong? Sure. I hope so. He makes some fantastic runs from deep, and that might be the sort of spark we need in that spot. Velasquez, though, provides a bit more magic on the ball in the form of excellent dribbling ability. His knack for keeping the ball in tight situations (something Ned also exhibits, mind) is an essential piece of that attacking puzzle, too. He's rather a long shot to start, I think, but he's my preference and, as is usually the case, my prediction is essentially my preference — though ever so slightly tempered.

Up front, no questions about it: Fabian Espindola (with his 'probable' injury status now removed) and Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica's hat-trick hero, that one) are certain to start. I really don't see any other way to do it, anyway. On the bench, I do believe we'll see Paulo Junior and perhaps another striker. Will it be Emiliano Bonfigli or Cody Arnoux? I've no clue whether either traveled.

At any rate, there's all that. Tactically, we'll be basically the same as ever, so my promise of talking about tactics perhaps has run a little dry. I did a little, I suppose, but you know. Yes.

Right, here's my prediction: Rimando; Beltran, Borchers, Olave, Wingert; Beckerman, Grabavoy, Johnson, Velasquez; Saborio, Espindola.

And, for no particular reason, here's my bench prediction: Reynish, Estridge, Tanaka, Steele, Morales, Paulo, Arnoux. Let's see what happens, shall we?

Come on you Claret and Cobalt!