bring on Chivas!
By: j |
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Well here it is, the start of the Liguilla and Monterrey’s route to the Copa will go through Chivas.
After a week off, the team has been experimenting with a more offensive formation and there has been some rumbling of dissent between Ricardo Lavolpe and Humberto Suazo. Although the rumors have have come and gone quickly, tactical decisions are crucial with matches on Wednesday (@ the Tecnológico in Monterrey) and Saturday (@ Estadio Jalisco).
A key to the Rayados success will be controlling set plays by Chivas, reducing the defensive lapses that have plagued them, off-setting the Chivas home-pitch dominance and the mid-field readying the table for counter attacks by Humberto Suazo and Jared Borgetti. Whether the new formation that will see Robert de Pinho center Suazo and Borgetti remains to be seen but this is certainly the most tactically exciting of the Liguilla.
Category: Monterrey Team News
Tags: new ball for Liguilla
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Just had to post the new ball for Liguilla as it looks great in a vibrant yellow and orange design. 
Category: Monterrey Team Newslooking ahead
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After the hiccup this weekend with the 1-0 loss to América, the Clausura season concluded with an incredible turnaround for Monterrey. After finishing second to last in the Apertura, they jumped up to eighth this spring and twelfth overall in the combined season total. While I know it’s just a bit early to look at, in Apertura ‘08 Monterrey will be in Group 1 with Santos, Atlante, Pachuca, Puebla and the promoted squad.
Category: Monterrey Team Newsoff to América
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As Monterrey travels into Mexico City to face América today, they know a victory will see them finish fifth in the Clausura season, which is a stunning turnaround from the Apertura season when they finished second-to-last in the table. Under Ricardo Lavolpe’s mastery the attacking style of the club has seen a goal-scoring eruption of Humberto Suazo and they have additionally tightened up weak defensive links. As noted by Lavolpe himself, the club is now a close-knit group that can perform with the best of clubs in the Liguilla.
This is a peculiar time to face América, as their season has been a frightful mess where they have only eight points to show for the campaign and miserable negative sixteen goal differential in what is clearly their worst season on record. They are winless in their last five matches in the Primera División, with a 13-3 combined score and it is quite obvious that the strain of playing in the Copa Libertadores has weighed heavy on them. It won’t be any easier today with them facing Flamengo in the second leg of this round in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday as well and that must be in the back of their minds as well as their tactical play. While naturally this appears to be the best possible time to face them, based upon performances such as River Plate in the Copa, they cannot be underestimated and must be marked tightly, specifically in set-plays.
However, that being said I expect the Rayados to come out with a full three points and for Suazo to add to this thirteen goal total.
Category: Monterrey Team NewsMonterrey 3-2 over Atlante
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Last night Monterrey’s streak continued with a 3-2 victory over Atlante last night. The victory now moves them to sixth in the overall table, second in Group 2 with fourteen points over the last six matches.
Monterrey came out very aggressive and struck early with a deft chip by Suazo at the eighteen minute mark. Although they pressured constantly it wasn’t until Suazo’s stunning second goal just before the half that they took a 2-0 lead. However after the half Atlante pressured hard and scored very early to narrow the deficit. After trading a series of goals, Atlante looked very close to adding the equalizer but Monterrey was able to hold them at bay.
Next week the Rayados are off to play América.
Highlights are below. Make sure to check out the the second goal by Humberto Suazo from an impossible angle.
Category: Monterrey Team News2-0 at the half
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Just wanted to let everyone know Monterrey is up 2-0 over Atlante at the half on two goals by who-else, Humberto Suazo.
Category: Monterrey Team Newsa tough trip to Cancún
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This has to be one of the most challenging if not distracting road-trips for any team in the Primera División, as Monterrey heads to Cancún to play Atlante. Arriving early today the club engaged in a short training session and by all accounts is healthy and continuing to gel under Ricardo Lavolpe’s direction. Injuries are fairly limited excluding Pierre Ibarra’s knee and the all-important injury to Humberto Suazo that he suffered last week, is apparently fine. With Lavolpe noting; “the one that does not come to win, ciao”, the message is quite clear that they are pushing for the top spots in the league.
This is a key match for the club as a victory can add distance away from Atlas which has a very tough test against San Luis that is complicated with a series of injuries and a short week in which they played Colo Colo in the Copa Libertadores Tuesday. Considering Santos poor away record, a victory this weekend could see the Rayados within a few points of the top spot of Group 2. To be successful they will need to overcome their anemic offensive weakness on the road and voraciously attack Atlante, which has cleaned-up its porous defensive problems recently.
Category: Monterrey Team NewsMonterrey - Chivas
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highlights from yesterdays Monterrey - Chivas match. The Suazo goal was a thing of beauty.
Category: Monterrey Team NewsGoooooooooal
By: j | 1 Comment
for those not following the match against Chivas, Humberto Suazo just scored at the 4th minute. Still early, around 16th minute mark and the magic of Lavolpe continues as Monterrey is up 1-0.
I’ll update major events on the pitch -
…at the half Monterrey still up 1-0, Chivas has been pressing hard.
…final update, this match is full-time and Monterrey has one of the biggest upsets of the campaign, taking down Chivas 1-0. This is only the second loss of the campaign for Chivas and further shows how Monterrey is picking up on the tactical genius of Ricardo Lavolpe.
Play was controlled through the mid-field and the Chivas attack never seemed to get untracked in the Monterrey defensive net. However one possible negative is Suazo sustaining an injury. I’ll follow-up with a full report on that as soon as it is released.
Now do you think anyone will start to question whether Lavolpe is the man for El Tri?
Category: Monterrey Team NewsWelcome!
By: j | 1 Comment
Welcome to new comfy confines of the Monterrey blog. This should be a whole lotta’ fun with our brand of La Adicción. Led by one of the sports best tacticians, Ricardo Lavolpe, the Rayados are one of the most interesting teams in the Primera División to watch.
It is a perfect week for the blog to start with Lavolpe’s rejuvenated squad facing Chivas at home this weekend. Over the last four matches, Monterrey has moved upon to ninth in the tables and sitting six points behind Santos in Group 2. The team is showing a more diligent marking defensive system and as per Diego Ordaz, starting to capture Lavolpe’s tactical approach. The team has not lost in its last four matches including the 7-2 eruption over Veracruz in which striker Humberto Suazo legend grew by netting four goals. However as you might guess, Chivas continues to look nearly unbeatable domestically and is coming off a mid-week 3-0 dismantling in Bolivia of San Jose in the Copa Libertadores as well as a dominating win over América.
For Monterrey to come out with points it is critical for the seasoned mid-field combination of Luis Pérez (assuming fit and ready), veteran Jesús Arellano and Egidio Arévalo to control play. Tight marking of Chivas’s Omar Bravo and Sergio Santana is key and for Humberto Suazo to capitalize on tactical openings. Another Lavolpe success and the Federación just might re-think its position on who should lead El Tri.
Category: Monterrey Team News
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