After a couple days off from the blog, I've emerged from the post-CCL haze, and there's no shortage of things to discuss. The big one? Jamison Olave's out. Four weeks is the word, but time will tell. Also big? We've got a chance to earn our first 3-game sweep of the season with a win over Colorado.
Olave. What is there to say right now? It's a tough one. He's an excellent defender on his day. In fact, he's one of the best. The thing, though, is that we haven't seen that recently. While we know he's been hampered a bit by injury, his form has been concerning at the best of times, and his concentration levels are nowhere what we need. Perhaps it's an issue of playing through pain, although he's certainly not new to that. Perhaps it's that his injuries are worse than he lets on. It's difficult to say definitively what the issue has been, but the fact remains, there is an issue to be had. Four weeks off may be good for him. We need his head in the game. Or, you know, some other meaningful phrase like that. I'm trying here.
Enter Kwame Watson-Siriboe, stage right. The young central defender has shown well for himself thus far, and I can't help but imagine real, substantial tests are coming. If he continues to show well and improve, he'll be sparking conversations next season about finding a starting place for him, depending on the state of Olave's knees, calves and hamstrings. We'll certainly see him tonight alongside Nat Borchers.
On the note of defenders (C#, or something, right?), Chris Schuler's injury continues. No status update is really there, but he's still out. It's a blow. It's a blow for him, for us, for our chances — but that we're even saying that is remarkable. His transformation over the last year and a half has turned him into a quality central defender who can really compete at this level. In two, three years, might we see him and Watson-Siriboe together as our starting partnership? I don't know, but I'd like to find out.
Where does this leave us defensively tonight? Surprisingly, I think we're in a good spot right now. We'd obviously rather have a fully fit and fully aware Olave in there, but I have a lot of time for Watson-Siriboe alongside Nat Borchers. Siriborchers? I don't know. It has a ring to it. On either side of those two, I'd suspect we'll see Wingert and Beltran.
We've got no major injury concerns in the midfield that I'm aware of, so maybe we see our first choice midfield again. Beckerman, Johnson, Grabavoy, Morales. Up top? Espindola. Saborio. It's not our best XI — not without without Olave — I think. Given what he's shown in the last month or two, I'm a little hesitant. I'm a long way from ruling him out for good, but a little awareness goes a long way. Once Olave loses the physical side, deteriorates to such an extent as to no longer be the beastly defender he is, he'll need to adjust mentally.
We've also got no suspensions to deal with, but if Alvaro Saborio picks up another yellow, he'll be suspended for a match. He's already exhausted his good behavior incentive (what is this, middle school?) and we face off against Vancouver in a week's time. I don't think we'll hold him back today, but that's got to play in Jason's mind just a little bit.
The bench should be in a good spot, too — we'll have a good chance to show our depth, and perhaps we'll get to see Justin Braun or something. We have, after all, just come off a midweek match, and sometimes, it's better to be safe than sorry. Or, you know, something like that.
And though we know that Colorado is, at best, suffering a real bad run of form, we should be ready for something bigger from them. In fact, though they suffered a winless July (save a friendly against Swansea, who my pal Teddy assures me will be massive someday) and won only once in June. Let's see about getting them another winless month, shall we? It starts with us. Besides, if we win, we move to the top of the table, as San Jose haven't a match today.
All of you folks off in Denver, represent us well. Though we've already sealed the Rocky Mountain Cup for yet another year, it would be nice to make a real, strong statement. We've also got a reserves match out there, so be on the look out for that.
Come on you Claret and Cobalt!
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