Game Day #2 => The Wandering Wizards

Today I'm taking my wife and three kids to Robertson Stadium. One couldn't ask for better weather to watch a match. I wonder if we can convince the team members from Canada that this is how our summers feel too...

KC is a well-coached team that will be a bigger challenge than the Rapids were. KC has some strong defenders (and defensive mids) with Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr., and Kerry Zavagnin (a National Team hopeful, though he hasn't helped his case recently). Sasha Victorine is another defensive-minded fielder who has taken a more offensive role in the midfield. The most dangerous players up front will be Davy Arnaud (a South Texas boy) and Eddie Johnson, formerly of FC Dallas. The Wizards look to be missing Jimmy Conrad in the back and Josh Wolff up front, both due to injury. Luckily, Conrad's typing hands are uninjured as he has some of the funniest essays you'll find on the Net. He's wittier than some who make their living through wordsmithing.

I'm hoping the reffing is a bit more consistent this time around. Last week we had Alex Prus, who apparently doesn't mind tackles from behind that wipe out the player, as long as the ball is touched somewhere along the way. At least he was making that non-call for both sides, but he'd also make inexplicable soft calls at other times, such as the call against Serioux that led to Kirovski's goal off a free kick. Let's see what Erich Simmons can do from the center today.

Side note: Is Ricardo Clark's confidence shaken up? He's an excellent player, but last week he had several opportunities -- some even self-generated -- but didn't seem to want to pull the trigger. Choocandoit, Ricardo! Pull that trigger and make Houston love you!

I'm predicting quite a few goals tonight. It'll be up DeRo, Big Chingy, and Moreno to make sure our tallies outnumber theirs. Onstad will be busy, so no worries about him being caught unawares, and I'd go with him over the Wizards Oshoniyi under pressure.

Ya know, the last MLS match I watched live involved KC. The Wizards were visiting Dallas and left victorious 1-0. Davy Arnaud didn't score that goal, but I think he assisted; and he seemed the most dangerous threat throughout the match. He's a very good player, and is fun to watch, but here's hoping he and his don't spoil my family's trip to the park again today.