Wizards, San Jose chasing playoff spot

The Wizards travel to San Jose to take on the new Earthquakes as both teams fight to make the playoffs.  This is the first of a two game road trip for the KC.

The Wizards are 5 points behind DC and NY for the last playoff spot.  But first year San Jose are also just 4 points behind FC Dallas, who are 3rd place in the West.  Both teams have 9 games left to get into the playoffs.

San Jose hasn’t lost since July 5th against Chivas USA.  Two wins and four draws since then.  Nine goals scored and just four given up.  That’s not exactly “hot” or “streaking”, but it’s also not too bad.   Former Wizard’s forward Scott Sealy has been involved in 3 of the goals scored since joining San Jose.  Of course the SJ captain is former KC defender Nick Garcia.

The Wizards aren’t doing so well as SJ are as of late.  KC have two losses in the last four games.  The others being a win over Chivas that they almost blew and a last gasp draw against FC Dallas at home.

Going on the road isn’t that great for KC this year.  Only one win all season.  The other 10 games are split with five draws and five losses.  At home San Jose are 3-3-3.

Here’s the team preview for the game.  It will be KC’s first road game in … a baseball stadium 🙂

KC has two players that could possibly miss game time.  Sasha Victorine has a hip flexor injury and is questionable.  Also Micheal Harrington is probable with a shoulder sprain.  I assume that’s a holdover from the dislocated shoulder injury.  If Sasha doesn’t then either Kurt Morsink or Carlos Marinelli could step in.  If Micheal cannot play then that’s also a chance for a midfielder to slid over to right side.  But then Davy could drop back to that position too.  If Davy drops back then Claudio would likely move up top with Roger Espinoza making his way back into the starting lineup.

San Jose have two players that are out – Gavin Glinton and Ramiro Corrales.

As far as I am concerned, this is the first meeting between San Jose (08) and Kansas City.  If MLS want to pretend that Houston Dynamo are an expansion team, then go right ahead.  The rest of us know that SJ is the new team and that Houston has all the history of San Jose 96.

Anyway, I can’t see KC winning this game.  But not losing either.  Tempted to call it 0-0, but will go with 1-1.  Goal from Davy for KC and Scott Sealy for SJ.

OG

29 Aug. News and Blogs you might have Missed

Weekend Soccer Television Schedule – 30/31 August 2008

(Some more of) Your Questions Answered “KC has taken a step back this year but Vermes has done a good job of not only hiring a very promising young coach in Curt Onalfo, but also in remaking an old and underperforming KC roster ”

Eyes Towards Britain “Setanta Sports did a write up on 11 other players around MLS that, according to them, could make it over in the British. Wizards defender/midfielder, Michael Harrington made the list. “

Versatile Harrington key to K.C. hopes

Hanley: Quakes, Wizards will be playing to win

Starting XI: Down The Stretch In MLS

KC moves on, ties FC Dallas

2010 WC Stadium Updates

AG

28 Aug. News and Blogs you might have Missed

Kickin’ It With Al Hopkins: WTF Edition

SBI MLS Power Rankings: Week 22

Tuesday’s Americans Abroad Roundup 

KC = Sixth-Worst City to be a Sports Fan

MLS: What Ever Happened To…..???

MISL Reunion Game

MLS PowerScore ™ Rankings — Week 22

THE TORONTO-ON-TEES COLUMN

AG

 

27 Aug. News and Blogs you might have Missed

New VP for Kansas City Wizards

MLS Reserve Division Leading Scorers

Rape Returns to the Duke Campus

My expansion draft wishlist

MLS power rankings “Note: The Wizards have won just once in their last six matches, and are struggling to score”

Wizards grab point at the ‘death’

A banner day for MLS

AG

Wizards grab point at the ‘death’

It wasn’t a pretty game, though both goals were.  The Wizards even had a half hour man advantage but it didn’t really seem like it.  FCD got their goal early when Wizards defenders backed off Rocha – all the while we fans were wondering why the heck he was given so much space as the ball hit the back of the net. Sheesh.  Back to that man advantage.  Did it not seem to take forever for Navarro to produce the red card on Richetti?  I thought so too.  By the way, there were nine cards in the game.  And Davy should have got a red card for his take down from behind in the 84th.  Anyway, we were up a man for the last 30 or so.  Yeah, we had the advantage and the ball for almost that entire time but we had nothing going in regards to scoring.  Ball kept bouncing around and sent back out to midfield then the Wizards would come in again.  But it never felt like they were going to score.  And then came 4 minutes of injury time and Wolff’s low cross and Jimmy’s goal.  In fact, it ended pretty much the same way the game in Dallas ended.  Amazing.  Then right after that it seemed KC would get the win but Davy couldn’t finish. 

Did you feel after that we stole a point from Dallas or that we let two points get away?  I am torn on this.  It almost makes me glad FCD scored first to force us to go for the win… but then who knows if that first goal doesn’t go in does the game play out differently.   Bottom line though, we can’t play like this against San Jose.  Even though that team is bottom of the table they are still dangerous … and at home.

Player of the Game.  Easily.  Jimmy Conrad.  Next player.  Harder.  Who stood out?  Going with Aaron Hohlbein.  Third player.  Hartman for getting the saves and his 1100th (too back that 1100th save wasn’t on Rocha, eh?)

OG

26 Aug. News and Blogs you might have Missed

The Monday MLS Breakdown: Playmaker, Playmaker, Come Out To Play

Recap: Kansas City vs. FC Dallas

Finding kicks, of a better kind

FCD’s Sikora Out 4-6 Weeks

Sikora has torn meniscus

Monday Morning Pescadito: August 24, 2008

WVH Weekly Awards: Once More Its GBS

MLS Week 22 Wrap

Wizard’s blizzard bounces Roos

The 5th Annual Autumn Bash

Kansas City Wizards Weekly Schedule

The Kansas City Wizards have lost only two of their last ten matches and will look to extend that strong run of form Saturday against the expansion San Jose Earthquakes. San Jose has featured an improved lineup over the two month and is undefeated in its last six League games.
 
Tuesday, August 26 – Training
10:00 a.m. CT; Swope Park Training Center
 
Wednesday, August 27 – Training
10:00 a.m. CT; Swope Park Training Center
 
Thursday, August 28 – Training
10:00 a.m. CT; Swope Park Training Center
 
Friday, August 29 – Training
10:00 a.m. CT; Swope Park Training Center
 
Saturday, August 30 – MLS Match
9:00  p.m. CT Kansas City Wizards at San Jose Earthquakes on Metro Sports and TWC 5
 
Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
6310 Lewis Road
Kansas City, MO 64132
Google Maps here
 
Wizards Travel to San Jose Saturday for Showdown Against Expansion Earthquakes
 
Kansas City tied the first match of its final 10-game push toward the playoffs last Saturday in dramatic fashion thanks to Jimmy Conrad’s stoppage-time equalizer. Conrad’s goal was nominated for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week award. The Wizards will look to improve its standing this weekend in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. Kansas City is currently five points out of the final playoff place with nine matches remaining.
 
San Jose boasts a pair of former Wizards in defender Nick Garcia and forward Scott Sealy. Kansas City dealt Garcia before the season for the number 1 overall selection in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft before trading Sealy to San Jose during the season for allocation money. Watch parties will be held in Kansas City at Barley’s Brewhaus in Shawnee, O’Dowd’s Little Dublin in Zona Rosa and at the Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center.
 
 
Wizards Jerseys Available for Auction to Conclude Community Night Activities
 
Eighteen autographed, game-worn Wizards jerseys are available for auction at www.kcwizards.com as part of the club’s Community Night activities from their 3-2 win over Chivas USA August 9. Proceeds from the sale will benefit five of the Wizards preferred charities and the Kansas City Soccer Foundation, the charitable arm of Wizards ownership group OnGoal. To visit the auction page directly, go here.
 
Jerseys start at $150 or $200, and the auction runs through September 15. Autographed jerseys are available from the following players: Claudio Lopez, Kevin Hartman, Jimmy Conrad, Josh Wolff, Kerry Zavagnin, Sasha Victorine, Davy Arnaud, Kurt Morsink, Jack Jewsbury, Roger Espinoza, Michael Harrington, Chance Myers, Tyson Wahl, Matt Marquess, Aaron Hohlbein, Ivan Trujillo, Nelson Pizarro and Eric Kronberg.
 
Proceeds will go to the five charities that participated in Community Night on August 9: Autism Speaks, Charlie’s Safe Haven, Child Protection Center, Gilda’s Club, and Spofford.
 
The Jimmy Conrad Show Live from McFadden’s Wednesday
 
The Jimmy Conrad Show is back on the air Wednesday for another dose of the latest in soccer news and notes. Conrad and voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will host the show live McFadden’s in Kansas City’s Power and Light District Wednesday, August 27 at 7 p.m. CT. Each week, Conrad and Wheelock will chat with guests from the Wizards and other MLS clubs for the latest from around MLS.
 
Archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show are available online at the Wizards podcast page.
 
Wizards Weekly Press Conference Held Thursday at Swope Park
 
The Wizards weekly press conference will start at 12:00 p.m. CT at the pavilion adjacent to the team’s Swope Park Training Center. Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player will discuss the final nine matches of the season and a push for the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs. Planet Sub sandwiches and cookies will be provided to all media members who attend. Each Kansas City Wizards practice will still be open to media, and outlets are encouraged to take advantage of the Wizards media policy.
 
Zona Wizards Airs Live Thursday on La Playa 1480 AM, Time Warner Cable Channel 5
 
Zona Wizards, the weekly Spanish-language radio and TV show, will air live this Thursday at 2 p.m. on La Playa 1480 AM and Time Warner Cable Channel 5. Hosted by Enrique Morales and Raul Villegas, Zona Wizards will feature a player each week.
 
Wizards Weekly to Air Thursday, Friday, Saturday
 
Wizards Weekly, Kansas City’s weekly magazine show covering the Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player each week. Metro Sports will air Wizards Weekly three times per week.
 
Wizards Weekly show times:
 
Thursday’s        9:30 p.m. CT
Friday’s             6:30 p.m. CT
Saturday’s         11:30 a.m. CT

 

AG

25 Aug. News and Blogs you might have Missed

Rocha gets first goal, but FC Dallas settles for tie

Conrad relishes time up front

FCD 1, KC Wizards 1

Sunday After Stats

Saturday’s MLS Roundup

Community America Ballpark

Soccer magic to promote unity

MLS Round-Up: Conrad Rescues KC, Columbus and D.C. Roll

Late Conrad equalizer helps Wizards earn point vs. FCD

WIZ- FCD High lights 

Veterans steal the spotlight “Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad was transformed into a striker against FC Dallas in the final minutes, ”

Interview Poll #3

AG

Wizards, FC Dallas square off

First I’ll start with finishing up from last week’s game.   I didn’t get to see the game but I talked with my brother who was lucky enough to endure it.  POTG is Micheal Harrington.  Second player is Sasha Victorine and it seems the only other player to show up was Kevin Hartman.  So KH gets third.  You can see an updated POTG standings here.

So, KC is now on the home stretch.  Ten games to go to make the playoffs.  Not impossible but it will be difficult.  The team needs to avoid road meltdowns such as the latest DC and Colorado games.  There is a Rusert story on what Coach Onalfo sees as his five keys for the Wizards.  I’ll touch on just the first point since it involves FC Dallas.  That is maximizing points at home.  And that means 3 points against FCD today.

FC Dallas are currently in third in the West and thus in the playoffs.  KC are tied for last in the East, and while having 25 points like Dallas does, are at least 3 points out of the playoffs and need to better their goal differential.  Dallas will be without Davino and apparently Saragosa is also not with the team in KC.  So some good news there.  It does look like Micheal Harrington will play, at least I expect he will.  I don’t see any reason for the lineup to be any different from last week.  They just need to not play like they did last week… The only issue might be that if Harrington, or possibly Davy(I guess he has a knock), do not start then I’m sure we’d see Roger Espinoza on the left side and Lopez moving to the vacated position.

KC really need some goals so it would be nice to see Josh Wolff and Claudio Lopez step up and knock some in.  From last week, even though Harrington got the goal, Sasha seemed to be the only threat.  Which is in an of itself a very good thing, except when no one else shows up.

Here is the official preview for the game.  Navarro is center ref.  He has 11 MLS games.  KC lead the all time series with Dallas and also lead at home with 9 wins to 6 (and 4 draws).  The weather calls for thunderstorms all day.  Yippee.

If you are a fan of Micheal Harrington, here’s a story on him and his versatility.  Also covers his injury from last week – seperated shoulder.

Prediction for this game.  Dallas and KC seem to always play it close.  For this one I am gonna call it 2-1 for KC.  But our defenders need to keep Cooper in check.  Sloppy goal from Dallas, a Sasha goal for KC and a winner from Josh Wolff.

Enjoy the game.

OG