We’re all still buzzing off that win, right? That one had all the right elements: Adversity, exciting runs of play, staunch defending, tactical inventiveness. As a result, we were handed a bit of a vintage match, showcasing why exactly it is that this club is very hard to beat.
After Nat Borchers was sent off — and I don’t think he was having anywhere near his best game before then (perhaps illness had an effect) — Chris Schuler came in and did very well. He’s a bit of a similar player to Borchers, though perhaps without the same level of awareness. Alongside a stopper like Olave — a player who will press forward and disrupt play — Nat Borchers and Chris Schuler both have a chance to sit a little further back and knock down the long balls and crosses.
When we were handed Schuler and Olave together, the first thoughts were of the New England Revolution match, which wasn’t exactly known for its fine defensive performance. Since that match, though, Chris Schuler has come on leaps and bounds, looking an assured defender who could well make a first-team slot his. With a player like Jamison Olave, I think he has a chance to really show his stuff.
Injured and Absent XI
It’s very possible we’ll be without a slew of players — more than on Saturday — for this impending match against the Union. Here’s a quick overview of that so you aren’t particularly surprised and partly to prepare me for it. It’s not exactly a cheerful outlook.
Certainly missing will be Arturo Alvarez, Will Johnson, Alvaro Saborio, and Jean Alexandre, all of whom have been picked for their respective national teams for matches on Sept. 2 and Sept. 6. Kyle Beckerman will be playing with the U.S. on Sept. 6, bless Klinsmann’s heart, because of our match against Philadelphia.
Definitely missing out through injury will be Javier Morales, Nelson Gonzalez, Chris Wingert, and Chris Agorsor. Probably missing out will Kyle Reynish, and there is a slight chance Ned Grabavoy will be fit. Inevitably missing out will be Nat Borchers for his calamitous red card against Chivas.
An Injured/Absent XI would look like this (4-3-1-2):
Reynish
Johnson - Borchers - Alexandre - Wingert
Alvarez - Grabavoy - Gonzalez
Morales
Saborio - Agorsor
To be fair, this side would have troubles performing in the league. The defense is a bit shaky with Alexandre at the back, and the midfield is a little more attacking than we’d usually deploy — largely because we’ve had to put Will Johnson on the left — but there’s strength in attack here.
Right, so I’m done depressing you with this sort of news. ‘Til tomorrow!
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