Hey guys, quick practice update for y'all. Minnesota United trained for the final time at the National Sports Center during this inaugural MLS season on Thursday. The Loons take off for California on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. Sunday match at the Los Angeles Galaxy. The team will then stay out West through the Oct. 22 match at the San Jose Earthquakes, which will close out the season.
Coach Adrian Heath said he's bringing about 20-21 players on the road trip. Center back Joe Greenspan will not be joining the team at least for this weekend, as he is back on loan to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, who have one more match Saturday. He would have been suspended for the Galaxy match anyway for a red card.
Center back Francisco Calvo and midfielder Johan Venegas were back from national team duty with Costa Rica on Thursday after clinching a spot in the World Cup. Midfielder Kevin Molino will meet the team in LA as he makes his way back from Trindad and Tobago for national team duty.
Midfielder Sam Cronin has also sat out the past few practices still dealing with his concussion. Center back Brent Kallman also ducked out of practice early Thursday because his lingering hip injury was "locking up" on him.
Heath played a 4-4-2 in the Loons' last match as a way to put forwards Christian Ramirez and Abu Danladi both in striking positions together. And that is something he is still exploring.
"We've got two really good forwards, and some people haven't got one," Heath said. "You spend a lot of time trying to find goalscorers. We've got two. I didn't want this season ending without having a look at what them two can be like. I wanted to try like a 3-5-2 at some stage as well. Now whether we do that either this weekend or next weekend, I don't know. But I think the two of them up top have deserved an opportunity together. So we'll see where they go again next week. Obviously, away from home will be a little bit tougher than it is at home because you lose an extra body in the middle of the park. But let's see how we go."