Minnesota Thunder vs. Puerto Rico Islanders – Game Preview

Week 8 in the USL-1 season sees the Minnesota Thunder take on the Puerto Rico Islander this Sunday at the National Sports Center at 5:05 p.m.

The Minnesota Thunder take on last year’s USL-1 table winner Puerto Rico Islanders. The Islanders come into the contest struggling to find last year’s form and the success that propelled them through the CONCACAF Champions League tournament and into the semi-finals. With 7 games played, the Islanders are 2-2-3 with 9 points and sit in 7th place in the standings. Colin Clark had recently been criticized by the team’s board of directors for fielding a team of bench players for the second game of the Caribbean Championship that saw them lose to W. Connection 2-1. The Islanders still qualified for the 2009/2010 CONCACAF tournament. Last week the Islanders drew with a visiting Portland on a Friday night. In a rematch the following Sunday, again played at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, the Islanders lost to Portland 2-1.

The Thunder come off a home draw, the only point they have received in their  homestand that has seen the team lose 2 of the 3 games. Sunday will be the conclusion of that homestand as the team will return to the road the following week traveling to Rochester, New York to play a very hot Rhinos team. The Thunder had more positives than the week before in a game played against the Cleveland City Stars that was perhaps the low spot of the season so far and showed a team that was lacking ideas and confidence.

Minnesota looked much more inspired last week and could have been up 3-0 at half if not for some heroics by Miami goalkeeper Pat Hannigan who ended up with USL-1 Goalkeeper of the week honors for his performance, thereby robbing the Thunder of several goals.

IMS talked to head coach Donny Gramenz who gave Thunder supporters a few updates on the team.

IMS: Donny, can you give us an injury report?

Gramenz: Friedland had a hamstring injury. Chris Costanzo has a dislocated elbow  and Nathan Knox is dealing with a hamstring.
(Readers note: IMS Talked to Kevin Friedland before last weeks draw to Miami and he said he had been making good progress with the hamstring when he re-injured it warming up with the team before the game.)

IMS: One of the high points of last week’s game was the combination of Andres Arrango and Jon Greenfield in the back — the first time this year those two have started together. Did Arrango earn himself another start?

Gramenz: I was pleased the way Andres played last game.  He was tough defensively and played quickly out of the back.  Unfortunately, he received two yellow cards last game so he has a one game suspension, which will be the Puerto Rico game this Sunday.

IMS: You also played Olum out wide last week. He looked a little lost at times but did alright. What did you think of his play there and will you be trying that again this week?

Gramenz: I thought Lawrence did a great job overall. He created serving opportunities for himself that ended up in the box or as attacking corners.  He also took players on with surging runs. I don’t believe he was ever lost but recognized when players (Sanchez and Dyachenko) were wide on his side and he tucked into the center of the field which was needed at the time and assertive on his part.

IMS: The Thunder signed Marco Terminesi this week who was rookie of the year in the Extreme Soccer League with the Milwaukee Wave. He’s a forward by nature but I’ve been told he also has spent a good deal of time playing wide. Is that how you see Marco fitting into this team, as a wide outside midfielder? Also, will he be eligible to play this Sunday?

Gramenz: Marco is signed and hopefully will be cleared to play on Sunday.  In our new system I see him playing as a left winger.

IMS: Well, since you brought up the new system can you tell me about that and how the training went this week — what you emphasized.

Gramenz: Training went well. This Sunday we will be switching to a 4-2-1-3 system, so we concentrated on tactics defensively and offensively. (The Thunder has been playing a 3-5-2 so far this season)

Sunday will be a battle and a very entertaining game against the Islanders. They are coming off a very successful 2008 season and a great run in CONCACAF(Champions League).