Giving our best, worst, and craziest predictions for Racing Louisville heading into a big weekend.
I am a terrible prognosticator. I don’t think I have correctly predicted a correct scoreline for a single Racing match yet. Zach is also a sub-par prognosticator. And so are you, and so is everybody else. So why even do it? We do it in the hope that we will be remembered for the one time we are correct and not the hundreds of times we are wrong. Also, it’s fun and the wilder the prognostication, the sweeter it is when it comes true. Zach and I both confidently predicted that Olivia Moultrie would NOT make her debut in Louisville, poking fun at the local rag in the meantime. Of course, she did.
It definitely won’t be the last time I am wrong. In fact, I am sure to wrong again by 9:00 PM on Friday night. I believe Zach once predicted that Krush Groove was going to be a bigger movie than ET, although that may have been Matt Damon. Zach and I will both make 3 random predictions and we’ll see if any of them come true. The person who gets the most predictions correct gets to pick what tattoo Benton gets during the next Vamos Morados podcast. He most definitely hasn’t agreed to this.
Michael’s first prediction: Coach Holly sits Gemma Bonner because he’s mad England is in the Euro finals.
Coach Holly and I are most definitely in the “Anybody but England” camp when it comes to our rooting interests for the 2020 Euros. Being Northern Irish, I’m sure Coach Holly never wants England to win anything. The both of us being Arsenal fans also hate to see Bukayo Saka get injured or see him get a late start to the season, which is now inevitable.
Zach’s first prediction: This will be the first game we get to see the Bonner/Hendrix backline pairing.
Bonner and Hendrix have not started a game together yet, mostly due to fitness issues and timing. I think most fans believe this paring to be the best central defense combo that Racing can put out there. It’s interesting that Martin has been preferred as the partner to Bonner, so it’s possible for us both to be wrong!
Michael’s second prediction: Coach Holly gets another yellow card.
Zach suggested that if this comes true is would likely be due to a disallowed goal like this one:
What a shame! Posting this also gives me a chance to post two Arsenal goals that are reminiscent of the USWNT’s goal.
Back from my Arsenal digression…I think Coach Holly already has two yellow cards this year, so not the worst statistical bet.
Zach’s second prediction: Emily Fox gets her first regular-season assist this week.
Zach: She’s due. She’s been great at getting forward all year and she’s probably the best passer on the team behind Freja.
Michael: I’m getting a bit lazy when it comes to evaluating Fox. I pencil her in as a 7 in my player rating posts and only go up or down if something special happens. She is destined for the National Team at some point I believe. She should set a personal goal to become as good a crosser of the ball as my favorite non-Racing player, Carson Pickett.
Zach: I agree. I think she has the highest potential of any of the younger players on the team. She’s already one of the most consistent players on the squad and still has room to grow.
Michael’s third prediction: Racing shockingly wins the possession battle…to be fair Orlando is the second bottom in the league in possession and is missing 3 key starters.
Zach: That would be a welcome change of pace. I’m very happy with the attacking players and the defenders the team has acquired since the season started but I do worry that without more dedicated central midfielders we’re not going to be able to link up those lines and get the most out of everyone.
Zach’s third prediction: Betos faces more shots than Harris, but also has more saves.
Michael: A pretty safe one. When you asked Benton on the podcast about the number of saves Betos had made vs the next highest person, I actually knew it was about 50% more, because I has written about it 3 or 4 games ago. Not getting better yet I see.
Zach: It doesn’t help that half of their games have been against North Carolina and Portland so far.
Michael: Agreed. It’s hard not to think that the schedule might get a bit easier, but having not faced NY/NJ yet, that may be misleading. I think they’re good. Definitely stingy on defense. They are flying under the radar a bit having only played 7 matches so far.
Zach: I was crunching some numbers and it’s a stark difference between how they look against those two vs how they have looked against everyone else.
Final Score Prediction:
Both Zach and I predict a 1-1 draw, so if you’re a betting person, pick any scoreline but that one.
