With three games on the schedule for tonight, Last Call returns after a distinct lack of raw material for what would have otherwise been yesterday's edition. We don't waste your time on tired content because we genuinely like you.
Red Bulls Reshuffle
The club where winning every game is the only guarantee of continued employment will need new leadership. Managing Director Marc de Grandpre is no longer with RBNY, saying: "I have been offered an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. This was a decision that I made solely with my family."
Hard to draw conclusions, make with the laughs, or anything else without knowing where he's going, and so far the New York area soccer blogs are no help. Has that stopped pundits from taking veiled and not-so-veiled shots? What do you think? Moving on.
DC - Pachuca
7:30pm, Fox Soccer Channel
For those of you that consider it part of some civic duty to ignore the veritable cornucopia of Mexican League games available on even over-air television, first, shame and you, and second, Pachuca is not likely to play to DC's strengths. So don't expect the passing lane lunge, or the kind of straight line midfield they saw on Saturday hosting Toronto. This one my friends will be hard.
DC needs two goals unanswered for overtime and three for the regulation win. Luciano Emilio is the likely target, with Jaime Moreno either super-subbing or trying to work most of the full 90 with him. DC did the smart thing by not using both of them for the entirety against Toronto. Moreno said following that one that he isn't as sharp as he would like, saying: "I'm not comfortable yet sprinting, and I still have a little bit of fear. I have three days to work on that, and hopefully I'll be good for Wednesday."
Hopefully, that's a euphemism for acting as a dagger in the heart of the visitors.
Saprissa - Houston
10pm, Fox Soccer Channel
Though we didn't trot right out and say DC has about as much chance as... well, fill it in for yourself and extra credit for working in a reference to Jake E. Lee era Ozzy, Houston has excuses they don't need to use. Spare us the hazy nightmares about Fortress Saprissa. Houston wins and they advance, much simpler than the three goal rhumba needed by our friends in DC and they're not facing down a Mexican League club that made Club America look even worse, if such a thing is possible.
Ok, they'll be doing it without Pat Onstad, but as long as the Fox Soccer camera doesn't show us Tony Caig looking like he genuinely believes in the wonder and awe of Fortress Saprissa this shouldn't be the difference. This is a guy that's walked out onto the field at Tynecastle while wearing a Hibs uniform and spent most of the current season watching Gretna implode. Sorry Saprissa, but he's seen worse.
Not being naive enough to play the goalkeeper situation up as a potential advantage, it does put the game squarely where it belongs. The feet of Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosorio. Simple story line here, if Saprissa has an answer for that they likely advance. Neither of them are going to turtle in the shadow of El Monstruo Morado.
Kansas City - New England
8pm, Direct Kick
The official pre-game release for tonight's sole MLS game refers to CommunityAmerica Ballpark as 'cozy,' even as the fans work to make it anything but for the visitors. Who would've thought that three games and years of soccer-specificity would get turned by an independent league baseball stadium and Kansas City Wizards supporters? That dear friends is what makes the game great. If fans of clubs yet to actually play get press, the Wizards support should be hiring a PR company.
Unfortunately for the original rapscallions of MLS support, the Revs are undermanned ('banged-up' according to the release). In particular, that means Chris Albright and Jeff Larentowicz along with the recovering Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston. Kansas City isn't an issue in the injury department, and that's likely going to tell the story.
FC Signs Guevara
Toronto FC makes the Amado Guevara addition official, complete with hopefully self-fulfilling prophecy from FC ringleader Mo Johnston: “He’s talented, and we’ve very happy that he’s signed with us. It’s a chance for him to resurrect his MLS career in Toronto, and I know our fans will embrace him.” The joke starts with "considering what they've seen so far..." Feel free to make it yours.
Revs Sign Matthew Britner
Local by way of Brown but actually a Canadian international, the Revolution get their 41st pick of the 2008 SuperDraft. That means Matthew fills a developmental slot as well as an international slot in the myriad of slotting categories available in MLS.
