Tonight Yankee stadium will host the Houston Dynamo as NYCFC try to do something, anything, to prove they are still a real team.

Interestingly enough, this is not the first time NYC have faced the Dynamo. While it was only a preseason match, we have played against these lads in the Carolina Challenge Cup back in February.

We played a fairly poor game then, losing 2-1, with the only consolation a sweet back heel from McNamara to set up Mix’s emphatic finish.

Ahhhhh, February. We had the whole world ahead of us: “back heels”, “emphatic”, “finishes,” no knowledge of Ned Grabavoy’s consistent mediocrity.  Granted, playing as we did should have been a stiff harbinger for the future, but hey, it was February.

Form

If there’s one thing that can be said about Houston’s season thus far it’s that is has been far from boring.

They’ve had only four wins, two of which have come in the past three games. They tied Sporting KC at home in a 4-all eight goal thriller. Their last match was set to be a tie against the Galaxy in California until a 92nd minute winner by Alan Gordon, giving LA the late victory.

Houston haven’t played all that poorly this season, they’ve just had a lot of unlucky moments. Watch out for British striker Giles Barnes who’s got 5 goals already and holding mid Luis Garrido. Also if you think you see a certain 33-year-old former US international playing left back, you’re not dreaming: it’s the man, the myth, the legend, DaMarcus Beasley.

NYC keep losing. They’ve lost for a while. There’s a few tied games in there. Mostly losses. That’s all.

Lineups

Houston (4-4-2): Deric (GK), Beasly (LB), Taylor (CB), Horst (CB), Rodriguez (RB), Lopez (LM), Clark (CM), Garrido (CM), Garcia (RM), Bruin (ST), Barnes (ST)

-Poster boy Brad Davis caused NYC a whole mess of trouble in that game back in February, so Yankee Stadium will hope that the left midfielder’s right knee bruise doesn’t heal up before this match. He could start, though, if the doctors give him the green light this morning.

-Center back Horst has a slight knee sprain, but is expected to start.

NYCFC: (4-4-2): Saunders (GK), Brandt (LB), Watson-Siriboe (CB), Hernandez (CB), Facey (RB), Ballouchy (LM), Mix (CM), Jacobson (CM), Shelton (RM), Villa (ST), Mullins (ST)

-It’s possible that NYCFC are using the same medical staff as Arsenal have been using for the past few years. There are SIX players who could possibly not play, FIVE of those defenders.

-Left back Calle and right back Williams are both certainly out, with a right quad strain and left adductor strain, respectively.

-Wing backs Brovsky and RJ Allen seem to be forming some type of chemistry, as both are questionable with right quad strains. Twins!

-Center back Wingert looks doubtful with a right hamstring problem.

-Ned Grabavoy is our final name on this list, with a pelvic injury (HA, loser!) having kept him out of a few matches. We’d usually be celebrating another match without him, but at this point it doesn’t even matter.

Final Thoughts

I think we could get a tie. But then again I also thought Pluto was a real planet, Arsenal would finally win the league this year, and NYCFC had a chance of making the playoffs.

Maybe try to play well? I don’t know. I really don’t know.