Red Bulls – Galaxy Preview

Remember when Abel Xavier went down in the last few minutes on Wednesday, and you’re thinking two things? First, Don’t be hurt, don’t be hurt… and second, Stay down! Eat up more of the clock!! (Because injury time is such an inexact science.)

The good news was, he did eat up more of the clock. The bad news? Out with a knee injury for tonight’s game. According to the game guide, this puts Ante Jazic in at centerback and Mike Randolph at leftback. I missed this back line when they played last week. How did they look? I mean, aside from the whole losing thing? I thought Randolph earned another start with his play on Wednesday, but I’m a little uncomfortable with the thought of him playing next to Jazic without Abel there to clean things up.

Kelly Gray’s also still out, but I’m not sure where they’d put him anyway.

Other than this change, the Galaxy Game Guide (it makes me smile whenever I type that) is listing the same lineup as Wednesday’s, including, yes, our multi-million-dollar talisman, David Beckham! Apparently those sixty-four minutes didn’t make things worse. We hope.

INJURY REPORT:

NEW YORK RED BULLS – OUT: MF Dema Kovalenko (facial injuries); MF Santino Quaranta (R toe sprain); MF Chris Karcz (R ankle sprain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Claudio Reyna (R groin strain) …

LOS ANGELES GALAXY - OUT: DF Troy Roberts (R ankle); DF Chris Albright (R hamstring); MF Kelly Gray (R calf); DF Abel Xavier (L knee); DF Quavas Kirk (L foot); PROBABLE: MF Cobi Jones (R hip); DF Kyle Veris (R hip); MF David Beckham (L ankle); FW Edson Buddle (L Achilles)

Santino’s out with a toe sprain. Why does this feel somehow appropriate to the game?

Here’s the expected starting lineup:

————–Buddle—Pavon—————-
Martino–Harmse–Beckham–Donovan
—Randolph–Jazic–Harden–Klein–
——————–Cannon——————–

I’m hoping for some goals from the forwards today. How ’bout you?

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: 2007 Games, Player News