Usually, early-round (or in this case, a play-in) US Open Cup games serve as a glorified reserve game. Often, MLS clubs will trot out reserves and rest many first-choice players and if they win, they win. If not, oh well. I don't necessarily agree with that feeling but that seems to be prevalent.
Anyway, the Galaxy have won two consecutive games now and the team will have to change the lineup no matter what. David Beckham and Landon Donovan are in England and will not play, so the lineup will change.
But just how much should it change? Do you think Ruud Gullit should keep the starters on the field and only account for Becks and Landon? Or do you think it's time for Josh Wicks, Josh Tudela, Julian Valentin and/or Bryan Jordan to step in and see what they can do?
Assuming USSF doesn't change its criteria, the USOC provides a CONCACAF CL spot for the winner. With this in mind, I don't think we should throw out a team full of reserves. I say give Wicks, Tudela, and Sisay (sp?) a chance to show what they can do, but keep some experience in the lineup and take the game seriously.
ReplyDeleteDefinately take the game seriously we could get some hardware here and a CCL qualifying spot. We should take the open cup seriously and take the new CCL even more seriously.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of the points mentioned
ReplyDeleteabove, which are good points, Ruud
needs to play a team with minimal
changes to find a squad which can
play without Landon and David since
we're going to be that way all too
often this summer. The way things
are shaping up so far, you're going
to have to finish in the top three in
the West to get in the playoffs and
we've got to find a way to get points
without the national team players.
Forget the U.S. Open Cup and play the rookies. It's about time that others than Franklin and McDonald get some substantial game experience.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I'd rest Franchino, Klein, Xavier and Vanney because of their respective ages (I'd kick Xavier off the roster entirely, but that's another subject for another time). Besides, if any of those four get injured for a substantial length of time, the Galaxy is screwed (Come to think of it, the Galaxy is screwed even with them in the lineup, but I digress...)
Also, I would start Sesay. Obviously, the Galaxy sees something in him or else they wouldn't keep him on the roster. Give him a chance to see what he can do in non-reserve competition. Same with Valentin.
In fact, here's the lineup I'd like to see:
GK: Flip a coin
D: Gavin, Franklin, Valentin, Jazic (he needs to get match fit)
MF: Tudela, McDonald, Pires, Randolph (if Gullit's going to use him as a MF, let him get some more experience there)
F: Sesay, Jordan