Racing v Stars -1
Racing ends its challenging week with a 4pm (hopefully) kickoff against Chicago on Saturday. The players and the staff are all too ready to toss the KC match into the dustbin of history. Chicago has had Racing squarely in focus with its last match being on July 24th, while Louisville had to play in LA and KC during that time period. Bev said that Racing handled that by doing most of its planning for Chicago prior to the road trip. The plane got back from Kansas City in the wee hours of Thursday morning, so Racing’s recent prep for the match today consisted of a training session today and not much else.
The positive thing about the quick turnaround is that we can all forget about Kansas City. O’Kane and Hill said that they are ready to put that performance behind them and move on to Chicago. I asked Bev if she would even look at the film from Kansas City. She said that everything from that match has pretty much been tossed in the garbage as they prepare for Chicago. Good riddance.
The pre-match story has to be Racing trying to rebound against a former player who might be extra motivated. (Check here for my breakdown of Bloomer vs. Atkinson.) Don’t expect any lapses in focus for either keeper in this match. In some ways it will be a referendum of both of them.
In other news, Jeff Kassouf thinks Racing stinks. Hard to argue with his assessment. Grading on a curve, I might be inclined to give the team a D minus, but that’s splitting hairs.
If Racing wants to pull its grade up for the rest of the season, it will start with this 5-match stretch where they play Chicago twice and play 3 out of 5 at home. The toughest match is probably Orlando away, but with Banda at AFCON, that one isn’t as formidable.
FREE EMMA SEARS
Speaking of Banda’s absence, this would have been a prime opportunity for Racing to price gouge the Pride and get them to overpay for Emma. I have no information on Orlando’s interest, but it would make sense. Maybe Racing is holding out until after they play in a week. Again, I have no inside information on this either. Emma continues to put in “professional” performances, but it would be interesting to see if a change in scenery might kick her into another gear.
