Game Preview: Will There Be A Winner?

By: Dave Martinez | April 10th, 2009

OVERVIEW

If there is one team in Major League Soccer that can relate to a let down start to the season, it is the Houston Dynamo. Perennial contenders, the Orange Attack came into the season with fairly high hopes, and, much like the Red Bulls, their face has been rubbed in the mud. The mirroring 0-2-1 teams will now face off to see if someone will be able to grab a win.

WHATS AT STAKE

It depends on who you ask. If you ask me, I would say my blog is at stake. But I am sure the teams have other issues in mind.

They have a 6 game history against each other (post San Jose of course), and they stand at an even 2-2-2. So, at the very least, they are both playing for a historical one-up-man-ship. And both teams are struggling to turn their respective seasons aside. But, with recent history clearly on the Red Bulls side after a dominating playoff defeat of the Orange, the Dynamo will be playing for a bit more – pride. Remember that the Red Bulls are your 2008 Western Conference Champions, and they got there by steam rolling the Dynamo. The Bulls, who have been working on formation and close range man marking all week, will need to put up a concentrated and physical effort if they would like to escape Texas with a win.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Dynamo are looking for revenge; the Bulls are looking for points. So looking at it this way, expect the Bulls to align themselves once again in a defensive posture (a 4-5-1 that will look like a 4-4-2 in offensive transition) with the Dynamo pouring on the early attack. With the Beast known as Ade Akinbiyi a possibility for Saturday, the Bulls will be forced to stand back and counterattack where possible. Unless, of course, they can do what they did last season; break down the defense from the wing sides, and pour in the attack through the middle of the pitch.

KEY PLAYERS

RED BULLS: Dane Richards. Hey, I’ve said it before; this should be Dane’s time to shine. If he can run Wade Barrett “into the ground” again, then the Bulls will have that opening to capitalize on. Cross your fingers.

HOUSTON: Ricardo Clark. Even indirectly, Ricardo Clark can disrupt whatever Dane Richards tries to accomplish if Clark does what he always does; disrupt the midfield. And seeing how the midfield has been slow to gel, Clarks’ play can dictate the direction of the Bulls momentum. If he has a classic disruptive game, the Bulls will once again struggle to complete passes, and the Dynamo will have their way.

STARTING LINE UPS

Red Bulls:

———-Angel———–
Smith—-Rojas—–Richards
—-Sassano-Vallo———
Borman-Petke-Mendes-Hall
———Cepero———–

Houston:

Brian Ching-Kei Kamara
Davis-Holden-Clark-Mullan
Barrett–Cameron-Boswell–Mulrooney
Onstad

PREDICTION

With the reinforcements still in doubt this late into the week, I see the Red Bulls playing a defensive style throughout, and, with the law of averages on their side, a goal will undoubtably find its way to the back of the net. But that doesn’t mean Houston won’t respond.

RBNY 1 – Houston 1
- Richards scores
- Stuart Holden scores

My Prediction Record: 0-3