OVERVIEW:

The Bulls currently hold a 2-1-2 record in the East, while once bottom dwellers LA Galaxy are finding a way to stay atop the standings in the West.  David Beckham and Landon Donovan have formed a 2 headed monster - a “Beckovan” if you will - that has been causing early fits with defenses this season.  The Bulls seek to earn a point on the road, with a line up that is beginning to read like a who’s who of ER fame.

CURRENT TABLE :

……………………….GMS……….PTS

Chicago ……………….7………….16

Columbus ……………6………….15

Kansas City …………7………….10

New England ………7…………..10

Toronto FC ………….6…………10

New York ………….5…………..8

D.C. United ………….7……….6

INJURIES:

Richards - (probable)

Eric Brunner - (left the team, as reported first on ASR)

David Roth - 3-4 weeks - knee

Marco Echeverry - 2-4 weeks

PROJECTED LINEUP:

===========Angel==============

Borman======Magee=======Freeman

==D. Van Den Bergh==Ubiparipovic===

Goldthwaite==Parke===Mendes==Leitch

==========Conway=============

BEHIND THE SCENES:

+ Jozy Altidore is being overworked and overtraveled, so says Coach Osorio.  It seems like a full year of playing games, and travelling cross country has taken a toll on our budding young star, and this may prohibit his entry into Saturdays big game.

+ Eric Brunner, as reported first here on ASR, has decided to forego a developmental contract with the Red Bulls after his original contract was negated.  He will now explore European and USL options.

+ Osorio looks to be playing a 4-5-1 for this game, so don’t expect a large array of goals.  The way he has been able to hold the teams form this season may prove to be just enough to hold back Beckovan and the rest of Los Angeles.

+ Claudio Reyna and Seth Stammler may be available off the bench, but will definitely not be a part of the starting 11.

+ If the 4-5-1 would be employed, it will be interesting to see if Mendes or Boyens gets the nod in the back.  It seems from early indications that Mendes is not looked at in the highest regard, which may allow Boyens to move into a more central position and allow Leitch to continue to man the right hand side.

+ Boyens is yet to receive his work visa.

KEY MATCHUPS:

Juan Pablo Angel v. Sean Franklin and Greg Vanney (Abel Xavier)

Coach Osorio believes it will only take one goal to make Angel forget his ailments this year.  And he may be correct.  But he will have to get by a resurgent Galaxy central defense.  Sean Franklin has been able to balance the slow footing of an Abel Xavier and Greg Vanney in the middle, making for more versatile defending.  And once you get past them, its only one Steve Cronin standing in his way for a goal.   I expect Angel to break the snide this week, and to do so with an emphatic exclamation.

Beckham v. Conway and the Backline

Can Bormans crosses in practice be enough to prepare for Mr. Pin Point Accurate David Beckham?  The Bulls are hoping so, as they will surely trot out a very defensive oriented lineup to neutralize Golden Balls.  If you see alot of bodies in the box, continuously this game, do not be surprised.  The absence of Reyna and Stammler will make for some important back tracking, which is why I would see a Hunter Freeman at wing to neutralize the Beckham affect even more so.

Jeff Parke v. Landon Donovan.

Jeff Parke has been the dominant leader of our back 3 (sometimes 4).  He has made the big saves, held form, barked orders and stablized a potentially horrible defensive situation.  Donovan is on a record goal scoring pace, stretching defenses like putty, and cutting through them like toilet paper.  It will be interesting to see how two men, at the top of their games, but on opposite sides of the offensive/defensive spectrum, handle each other.  Will Donovan do what he has done to defenses all season?  Or does Parke have enough to neutralize Beckovan?

PREDICTION:

The odds may be too highly stacked against the Red Bulls, though the infusion of a Jozy / Angel tandem up top would allow a more even playing field.  Nevertheless, without the midfield defensive prowess of Claudio Reyna and Seth Stammler, Saturday will prove to be a test of this teams defensive fortitude. 

 PREDICTION:  Red Bulls 1 - Galaxy 2

Goals by:

+ Angel (1)

+ Landon Donovan and Alan Gordon