Here are the three questions on my mind (plus a bonus question!) before our game against the Flamingos.
1) Is Forward Madison a good soccer team?
Regardless of how you feel about their supporters, this season has been a mixed bag for Forward on the field. They’ve lost twice on the road: once to an okay Richmond team and once a possibly good, possibly bad North Texas team. But they have a very convincing home record with their 4-0 win against Tormenta (albeit against the worst defense in the League) and their draw against Greenville, which is the only game all year in which the Triumph has dropped points. Our very own Elo rankings have Madison as the fourth best team in the league right now (we’re third). Without the lines of four different sports on the field to confuse their opponents is Madison able to put it together for a competitive match in Omaha?
2) Which lineup will we see for Los Buhos?
Will Jay recall the team that beat Tuscon or put forth the rotated squad that was going to play Chattanooga, or a mixture of the two? My guess is the mixture of the two, but we’ll learn a lot about Jay’s rotation policy when the lineups come out. Don’t forget we have to go to North Texas for a Sunday night game, but it has been 10 days since we last played so everyone should be rested and healthy. Which game does Jay think needs our A lineup?
3) Will the game on the field look and feel like a rivalry game?
The chirping back and forth between supporters on Twitter has been nearly constant since the end of last season. Union Omaha fans’ desire for a rivalry with the best supported team in League One was egged on by the provocative actions of the front office (myself way guiltier than all others combined) over the winter. But after months of being told we aren’t rivals by Forward fans, I think UO supporters have given up on the idea of a rivalry between the clubs. After all rivalries do require two competitive teams on the field and two willing fanbases off the field and Madison seems to be putting forward neither right now.
Ok, cheap shots aside, I’ve always believed that the first game between the two teams will determine if there is a rivalry or not. If the game has some controversial calls that go Omaha’s way, if the Owls crush the ‘Mingos, if Evan Conway has an outrageous anti-Madison celebration (suggestion for any goal scorers reading this: stand on one leg, flap your arms, and then fall over), Madison fans may realize they absolutely detest our team and our fanbase. If it happens, that is what will spark a rivalry. If it doesn’t happen, so be it, we will have rivals soon enough.
Bonus question: will Philipp Marceta acknowledge my heckles about his recent attempt to follow my wife on instagram?
Seriously, this happened on Monday. I can’t emphasize enough that my wife is her own person and whomever she allows to follow her is entirely her decision and it has no bearing on me or our relationship. BUT, man is it a strange coincidence. Was he looking for her pithy insta stories about politics and social work memes, maybe seeking princess photos of our girls that I’ve somehow neglected to post, or just trying to build his brand one opposing female fan at a time? [Editor’s note: Ben isn’t that special, Philipp followed me as well. Based on his photos he is an average fisherman and an above average person, even if he unfollowed me.] I intend to satisfy my curiosity!
Who Gives A Hoot? 