The Chicago Fire come to the RioT for the very first time this Saturday. However, everyone still remembers what happened last time the fire came to RSL. Mr White, after 90 minutes of theatrics, scored a goal in stoppage time that gutted RSL on its season opener and drew the game level with only seconds to spare. Many RSL fans, like myself, still can remember the rise in blood pressure when Blanco got down on his knees (where he belongs in my opinion, if you get what I mean) and did that retarded celebration of his. I hope the players for RSL remember this game as well, and use it as motivation this Saturday.
Chicago comes into this game as THE BEST road team in the MLS. On the flip side, they are visiting, arguably, the best home side in the MLS in RSL. This factor alone makes this game very interesting to many across the league. Besides that, there are huge playoff implications with pretty much every game remaining, a win here for RSL keeps them on track for sliding into one of the last playoff spots. A draw or loss, however, drops them out of the race and puts RSL in a tight spot to get more points on the road. To say the least, this is a must-win game for RSL and its playoff hopes.
The injury report and suspension list for this game is not helpful for RSL in the least. Javier Morales is listed as doubtful with an ankle injury, Ned Grab-my-boys and Kyle Bekcerman are both suspended, and Will Johnson is listed as having a toe injury that could keep him out of the lineup (very unlikely though). That means 3 midfielers are for sure gone this game, and one listed as questionable. Accompany that with the fact that this team relies heavily on the work-rate and vision of its midfield, and you can see why this game is not going to come easily for the home side.
Come game time, though, here is what I think we will see for the starting XI of RSL:
Rimando
Wingert Olave Borchers Beltran
Russell Williams Johnson
El Khalifi Campos Espindola
There is no reason to mess with that back 4. They have been solid in the last couple of games, with some players getting breaks on the tight schedule.
Rimando should be ready to finish out the rest of the season, however Seitz showed last game that he can be a reliable backup.
Russell and Johnson will be the deciding factors this game. Will needs to clean up his touch and passes, and Russell will need to cover for Andy and keep a high work rate defensively.
Williams has shown a bit of his old flair that many, like myself, have fallen in love with lately. If he continues this, he will dominate the middle of the pitch.
The top 3 will have to put in some serious work as well. With Conde listed as probable, the already strong defensive of Chicago just got stronger. REK needs to see the ball more and whip in some quality balls. Espy will ware down his side of the field and hopefully get in behind them a time or two. Campos needs to be huge (literally) this game if RSL is to score. His presence up top should give Chicago fits and open things up for Espindola more.
I would expect to see Findley off the bench around the 60th - 70th minute for Campos. Mathis for El Khalifi around the same time. Then, depending on the situation of the game, Cox for Espy or Alexandre for Espy.
Prediction:
RSL 3 Chicago 1
Cheers,
15 to 32
9.11.2009
9.08.2009
Post USA vs El Salvador
During my wonderful, but not long enough, Labor Day weekend I had time to reflect on one of the most memorable games I have ever been to. Here are my thoughts:
The Crowd:
I arrived a bit later than I had wanted to as my dinner took longer than expected and parking/traffic was a bit of a pain. However, I did get there in time to soak in some of the pregame activities.
First off, the El Salvador fans (along with pretty much any other country that LOVES football) were fantastic. They were loud, emotional, and most importantly passionate about not only their team but the game in general. The chants, the drums, just simply the noise was something that stadium had yet to experience at that level (no offense to La Barra or Chivas USA fans). I made my way over to the south end stands and was delighted to notice that that was the area with the most "passionate" of fans, on both sides. The American Outlaws were doing there best to make sure that the rest of the stadium showed its true colors, and the El Salvador fans were making sure all of their fans were just as loud. Honestly, in a couple of years, I likely wont remember much about the actual game. However, I know for a fact that I will remember the experiences I had for those far too short 90 minutes of football in the stands.
The Actual Game:
El Salvador is no push-over, I must apologize for thinking that they would come into the RioT with their heads down, willing to accept defeat. While overall I fell the US was the better team, there were good chunks of time where El Salvador was the better team. The opening minutes were fantastic I thought. Some people call it sloppy, I think its more of an emotional high the players are running on. Such a huge event with such a great atmosphere will get players on a high that one can only dream of. The US was the better side, however, they could not get that finishing touch. Then, after a horrendous mistake by Bornstein, El Salvador punished the US. A very nicely placed cross was met with an astounding header (how did that guy get so tall all of the sudden?) that got Timmy crossed up and found the back of the net. The US was not going to put its head down though.
After that, the crowd really got into things. The El Salvador fans were doing there best to keep their team on a high, but they were simply too out-numbered. The US fans rose to the occasion and lit a fire under the ass of the yanks. A wonderful set piece found the lone on-sides player in Clint Dempsey and things were all square. Its funny to go back and watch the replay. Clint, seriously, is the ONLY US player on the screen that is on-sides. We are very lucky that not only did he make the run, but that none of the other players went towards the ball.
From there, the yanks continued on their push to get a goal. Cross after cross went begging, but with only 15 seconds left in the allotted extra time, Cakes found a wide-open Jozy Altidore who put his corner down and in the near post. A world class finish for a player that is simply on fire right now.
At the break, it was 2-1 for the yanks. Everyone in the stands had the feeling that the scoring wasn't over, and they were right. However, the final scoreboard would prove them wrong. A few confrontational calls/non-calls in the second half left many fans scratching their heads. First, the third goal by Jozy Altidore was called back after what appeared to be an offsides call. However, if you go back and look, the AR never raises his flag to signal for offsides. So then it must have been a foul correct? Well, with where the center gave the foul at, it would mean that Jozy had somehow fouled his mark when he received the pass from Dempsey. Once again, if you go back and watch the replay, there was no foul. The defender lunged for the ball, he missed, Jozy took it to the goal, and calmly slotted it in. I have still yet to hear what the official "foul" on the play was. This, sadly, was not the only MAJOR questionable incident with the official directly involved. With about 15 minutes left in the game, an El Salvador player made a cut inside the box and was completely hacked down by Bornstein (not his best night eh). Nothing was called... All of the fans around me, the strongest US supporters around, all agreed that there should have been a penalty awarded. So, in the end, I guess you can call it even. The center took away 2 goals, one from each team.
The closing minutes of the game were not the prettiest football to be played. Heck, they were some of the ugliest football, lets me honest. El Salvador was showing its class of possession and the US was showing some of its flaws defensively. If not for a tremendous save by Timmy Howard (how he got so low so fast is still beyond me) then this game could have easily ended in a draw.
Player Evals:
Timmy Howard: B+
Got caught out of position on the first goal, but made up for it with some great saves and stellar play the rest of the game. Isn't it nice to have a big man inside the 18...
Bornstein: C-
Awful awful AWFUL night. How he got the nod over dolo is beyond me. He continued his bad form from a couple weeks ago in the RioT this game. Against a better opponent (Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica) he would have been responsible for another goal or two.
Marshall: B
He couldn't touch a guy without it somehow being a foul. It was really sad to see how cautious he had to be just to stay out of trouble. I think he can be a great player, but he needs to get out of the MLS to learn how true center backs play.
Boca: B+
Good night, solid in the back. When there isn't much to say about your center back, it usually is a good thing.
Spector: B-
The guy can cross a fantastic ball, however he didn't have the cleanest of touches and his speed was exposed by the quick number 11. Not an awful night, but he didn't do much to make that "his spot"
Deuce: B
The guy can be so good for spurts, and so bad for others. If he put together a full game, or even 70 minutes, he would be the best player for the nats. However, its getting him to put out that effort that's holding him back. Great goal though
Bradley: B
He can be really great at winning tackles, distributing, and being the central figure. However, once he starts to slip, it gets ugly. There were a couple minutes where he looked simply awful and others where he looked brilliant. There are going to be ups and downs, but that much of a variation is not a good thing. Learn to control that, and he is our best center mid.
Benny: B-
This guy never seems to be fully fit for a game. He was doing great in the first half, but in the second he seemed to run out of steam. If he gets his fitness up for the world cup, he should be a starter for us. The Brazilian part of him shows when he is on his game.
Cakes: A- (co MOTM)
Mandon showed that he is one of the fittest players in the world this game. His sprints up and down the pitch were a beauty to watch. If other players on this team had his work rate and fitness, we could push for some very high results.
Davies: B+
I love this kid. His skill, speed, touch, vision, etc all make him look like a fantastic player. If he continues to develop, this team is going to turn heads (again) on the big stage.
Jozy: A- (co MOTM)
Altidore looks like he was made in a factory. The guy is built, tall, strong, fast, and just plain and simply smart. He looks a whole lot more experienced than he is. Like Davies, lets hope this kid continues to develop. A Jozy-Davies duo in the next two world cups could make for some great things for this country.
Holden: B
Stuart needs to get out of the MLS, sorry to say it, but his talent is greater than the league can handle right now. I really hope he gets a shot at going to a bigger club. This kid looks like a true winger that we have all dreamt of playing for our team.
Beckerman: C
Simply awful. He pushed, and in my mind passed, Borstein for worst player on the pitch and he was only out there for 10 minutes. I could spin it since he is the home-town boy, but honestly he has zero chance (well at least that's what I hope) at making the roster for the world cup (if and WHEN we qualify). Beckerman, you had your shot, and nearly were directly responsible for dropping 2 vital points in a tight race.
Torres: B
Jose came on in the final minutes when things were hectic and put into a position that really didn't get to see much of the ball unless it was flying over his head or being brought at him by the El Salvador players. I like what this kid has to offer, but I don't think he is going to be seeing much time in '10.
USA: B
Not the greatest game I have seen from them. Against better opposition, that game ends differently (who knows what would happen with a quality ref) and likely not good for the US. We got the 3 points that we needed to get though, and that's all that matters. Now, moving on to T&T... a game where 3 points could put us on top of the group once again.
Cheers,
15 to 32
The Crowd:
I arrived a bit later than I had wanted to as my dinner took longer than expected and parking/traffic was a bit of a pain. However, I did get there in time to soak in some of the pregame activities.
First off, the El Salvador fans (along with pretty much any other country that LOVES football) were fantastic. They were loud, emotional, and most importantly passionate about not only their team but the game in general. The chants, the drums, just simply the noise was something that stadium had yet to experience at that level (no offense to La Barra or Chivas USA fans). I made my way over to the south end stands and was delighted to notice that that was the area with the most "passionate" of fans, on both sides. The American Outlaws were doing there best to make sure that the rest of the stadium showed its true colors, and the El Salvador fans were making sure all of their fans were just as loud. Honestly, in a couple of years, I likely wont remember much about the actual game. However, I know for a fact that I will remember the experiences I had for those far too short 90 minutes of football in the stands.
The Actual Game:
El Salvador is no push-over, I must apologize for thinking that they would come into the RioT with their heads down, willing to accept defeat. While overall I fell the US was the better team, there were good chunks of time where El Salvador was the better team. The opening minutes were fantastic I thought. Some people call it sloppy, I think its more of an emotional high the players are running on. Such a huge event with such a great atmosphere will get players on a high that one can only dream of. The US was the better side, however, they could not get that finishing touch. Then, after a horrendous mistake by Bornstein, El Salvador punished the US. A very nicely placed cross was met with an astounding header (how did that guy get so tall all of the sudden?) that got Timmy crossed up and found the back of the net. The US was not going to put its head down though.
After that, the crowd really got into things. The El Salvador fans were doing there best to keep their team on a high, but they were simply too out-numbered. The US fans rose to the occasion and lit a fire under the ass of the yanks. A wonderful set piece found the lone on-sides player in Clint Dempsey and things were all square. Its funny to go back and watch the replay. Clint, seriously, is the ONLY US player on the screen that is on-sides. We are very lucky that not only did he make the run, but that none of the other players went towards the ball.
From there, the yanks continued on their push to get a goal. Cross after cross went begging, but with only 15 seconds left in the allotted extra time, Cakes found a wide-open Jozy Altidore who put his corner down and in the near post. A world class finish for a player that is simply on fire right now.
At the break, it was 2-1 for the yanks. Everyone in the stands had the feeling that the scoring wasn't over, and they were right. However, the final scoreboard would prove them wrong. A few confrontational calls/non-calls in the second half left many fans scratching their heads. First, the third goal by Jozy Altidore was called back after what appeared to be an offsides call. However, if you go back and look, the AR never raises his flag to signal for offsides. So then it must have been a foul correct? Well, with where the center gave the foul at, it would mean that Jozy had somehow fouled his mark when he received the pass from Dempsey. Once again, if you go back and watch the replay, there was no foul. The defender lunged for the ball, he missed, Jozy took it to the goal, and calmly slotted it in. I have still yet to hear what the official "foul" on the play was. This, sadly, was not the only MAJOR questionable incident with the official directly involved. With about 15 minutes left in the game, an El Salvador player made a cut inside the box and was completely hacked down by Bornstein (not his best night eh). Nothing was called... All of the fans around me, the strongest US supporters around, all agreed that there should have been a penalty awarded. So, in the end, I guess you can call it even. The center took away 2 goals, one from each team.
The closing minutes of the game were not the prettiest football to be played. Heck, they were some of the ugliest football, lets me honest. El Salvador was showing its class of possession and the US was showing some of its flaws defensively. If not for a tremendous save by Timmy Howard (how he got so low so fast is still beyond me) then this game could have easily ended in a draw.
Player Evals:
Timmy Howard: B+
Got caught out of position on the first goal, but made up for it with some great saves and stellar play the rest of the game. Isn't it nice to have a big man inside the 18...
Bornstein: C-
Awful awful AWFUL night. How he got the nod over dolo is beyond me. He continued his bad form from a couple weeks ago in the RioT this game. Against a better opponent (Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica) he would have been responsible for another goal or two.
Marshall: B
He couldn't touch a guy without it somehow being a foul. It was really sad to see how cautious he had to be just to stay out of trouble. I think he can be a great player, but he needs to get out of the MLS to learn how true center backs play.
Boca: B+
Good night, solid in the back. When there isn't much to say about your center back, it usually is a good thing.
Spector: B-
The guy can cross a fantastic ball, however he didn't have the cleanest of touches and his speed was exposed by the quick number 11. Not an awful night, but he didn't do much to make that "his spot"
Deuce: B
The guy can be so good for spurts, and so bad for others. If he put together a full game, or even 70 minutes, he would be the best player for the nats. However, its getting him to put out that effort that's holding him back. Great goal though
Bradley: B
He can be really great at winning tackles, distributing, and being the central figure. However, once he starts to slip, it gets ugly. There were a couple minutes where he looked simply awful and others where he looked brilliant. There are going to be ups and downs, but that much of a variation is not a good thing. Learn to control that, and he is our best center mid.
Benny: B-
This guy never seems to be fully fit for a game. He was doing great in the first half, but in the second he seemed to run out of steam. If he gets his fitness up for the world cup, he should be a starter for us. The Brazilian part of him shows when he is on his game.
Cakes: A- (co MOTM)
Mandon showed that he is one of the fittest players in the world this game. His sprints up and down the pitch were a beauty to watch. If other players on this team had his work rate and fitness, we could push for some very high results.
Davies: B+
I love this kid. His skill, speed, touch, vision, etc all make him look like a fantastic player. If he continues to develop, this team is going to turn heads (again) on the big stage.
Jozy: A- (co MOTM)
Altidore looks like he was made in a factory. The guy is built, tall, strong, fast, and just plain and simply smart. He looks a whole lot more experienced than he is. Like Davies, lets hope this kid continues to develop. A Jozy-Davies duo in the next two world cups could make for some great things for this country.
Holden: B
Stuart needs to get out of the MLS, sorry to say it, but his talent is greater than the league can handle right now. I really hope he gets a shot at going to a bigger club. This kid looks like a true winger that we have all dreamt of playing for our team.
Beckerman: C
Simply awful. He pushed, and in my mind passed, Borstein for worst player on the pitch and he was only out there for 10 minutes. I could spin it since he is the home-town boy, but honestly he has zero chance (well at least that's what I hope) at making the roster for the world cup (if and WHEN we qualify). Beckerman, you had your shot, and nearly were directly responsible for dropping 2 vital points in a tight race.
Torres: B
Jose came on in the final minutes when things were hectic and put into a position that really didn't get to see much of the ball unless it was flying over his head or being brought at him by the El Salvador players. I like what this kid has to offer, but I don't think he is going to be seeing much time in '10.
USA: B
Not the greatest game I have seen from them. Against better opposition, that game ends differently (who knows what would happen with a quality ref) and likely not good for the US. We got the 3 points that we needed to get though, and that's all that matters. Now, moving on to T&T... a game where 3 points could put us on top of the group once again.
Cheers,
15 to 32
9.04.2009
Pre USA vs El Salvador
Sorry for the long break between posts guys. School started up this past week and life has been a bit hectic to say the least. I was really hoping to do another off-topic Wednesday post (I have a list of fun ideas, well fun in my opinion) but I guess I will just suffer through writing about the GIGANTIC USA World Cup Qualifier game here at the RioT.
Currently the US sits in 3rd place in the CONCACAF standings with 10 points. With the top 3 getting the automatic bids and the 4th place having to play in the playoff against the South Africa 5th place team, this game is a MUST WIN for the nats. El Salvador gave us a good match down there, but the late heroics of surfer-dude Frankie Hejduk and Jozy Altidore saved us a point in a 2-2 draw. Coming up to the RioT, the nats can expect a very good, home-favoring crowd that will cheer them to victory.
Starting XI:
Timmy
Dolo Demerit* Boca Spector
Dempsey Bradley Feilhaber Donovan
Jozy Davies
* - Demerit is questionable for this game, which sucks as he is already the replacement (sorta) for Gooch. Either Goodsen or Marshall would take the spot if he is injured.
I don't have much on El Salvador outside of what I have seen from them in a few matches. I know they are a pretty well organized squad that counters quite well (see the first goal they score on us down there). The US will have to be sharp and the first goal is vital if they want to get the 3 points they so desperately need.
In the end, this game has to be the one where the US gets not only a win, but a big one. A 3 or 4 goal win would be huge if this qualifier comes down to goal differential.
Prediction: 4-0 USA
Currently the US sits in 3rd place in the CONCACAF standings with 10 points. With the top 3 getting the automatic bids and the 4th place having to play in the playoff against the South Africa 5th place team, this game is a MUST WIN for the nats. El Salvador gave us a good match down there, but the late heroics of surfer-dude Frankie Hejduk and Jozy Altidore saved us a point in a 2-2 draw. Coming up to the RioT, the nats can expect a very good, home-favoring crowd that will cheer them to victory.
Starting XI:
Timmy
Dolo Demerit* Boca Spector
Dempsey Bradley Feilhaber Donovan
Jozy Davies
* - Demerit is questionable for this game, which sucks as he is already the replacement (sorta) for Gooch. Either Goodsen or Marshall would take the spot if he is injured.
I don't have much on El Salvador outside of what I have seen from them in a few matches. I know they are a pretty well organized squad that counters quite well (see the first goal they score on us down there). The US will have to be sharp and the first goal is vital if they want to get the 3 points they so desperately need.
In the end, this game has to be the one where the US gets not only a win, but a big one. A 3 or 4 goal win would be huge if this qualifier comes down to goal differential.
Prediction: 4-0 USA
8.29.2009
Post RSL @ Kansas City
One word can sum up the night that RSL experienced in Kansas City.... "wow".
For the first time in a LONG time, RSL stole points. Yes, you are reading that correctly, RSL stole points from an opponent. The bad play wasn't punished as it always seems to be, unbelievable to say the least. Lets take a look back at what could be, potentially, the biggest road win for RSL since they beat San Jose last year.
The first 45:
As I sat down on the couch to watch this game, I got a very uneasy feeling. For starters, my boys from Milan just got utterly raped by their cross town rivals Inter earlier in the day. I wasn't exactly thrilled or up-beat. Then, just to make things a bit more uneasy, the starting lineup for JK comes out. Up top, we got Cox, Campos, and Mathis. I didn't quite understand what the hell Jason's thoughts were here. A small pitch needs possession, why not put in Fabian Espindola? He says they needed rest, and I partly get that, but at the same time these are professional athletes that get paid to run around. I think they should be able to handle a game, especially on the postage stamp that is KC ballpark. Next, the midfield, the area I was pleased with. Beckerman, Andy, and Ned. A solid possession oriented group that was going to be the decision maker for this game. Finally, the back line: Wingert, Olave, Borchers, and Russell. No Beltran? The guy has been one of the most consistent guys for us since his rough start, but it wasn't such a drop-off to have Russell in their, was it? I guess we could find out one way...
As the game began, I remembered just how small this stupid pitch in KC is. RES all of the sudden looked huge, that's just wrong and embarrassing to the league. It became obvious that this game was going to require short passes and a lot of movement off the ball if any goals were going to come. That is exactly how RSL got the lone goal of the game. Andy continued his good form and created a chance with Russell and Wingert down the wing. A cheeky ball from Andy found a wide open Campos on the pk mark, and not even an RSL player could miss that one. Into the side netting and I was ecstatic. I jumped off the couch, pumped the fists, yelled a bit, and then sat down realizing this game was far from over.
The rest of the half was not pretty in the least. RSL was on their heels for a good majority, but only one or two chances were seriously threatening. Seitz was playing quite well, his positioning was superb, and it seemed as though he had everything they threw at him covered. Oh the luxuries of having a keeper over 5 foot (no offense Rimando). Then came a very bizarre play, even by MLS standards. Grabavoy goes into a hard tackle with Gomez. The ball pops loose to a KC player and the ref calls play on. While I may not be an expert at reffing, I believe that if you are going to send someone off for a tackle, it should be done immediately. Apparently, this isn't the case. KC attacked, the ball went out, then you see the ref jogging back to where Gomez was lying. Next thing you know, a bunch of RSL players are around the ref with their arms up and saying "duck" a lot. At first, I thought he was going back to give a yellow for the tackle, it was worthy of that. but that wasn't the case. Grabavoy is walking off the pitch and nobody really gets whats going on. Replay shows that Grabavoy was a bit late, but a red was VERY harsh, even to Brian Dunseth (and that's saying something). Unbelievable, I thought the game was gone right there. No way RSL can play like they had for the last little bit with only 10 men, no way.
The Second 45:
While a lot of people don't understand the Andy Williams sub, I can say it was actually a pretty smart move. Andy, though he is fantastic, is not the fittest guy on the squad. He logged in roughly 80 against New England on Sunday, the full 90 against Chivas on Wednesday, and had gone 45 already here. That is a bit rough, especially for a guy his age, with his situation, and his fitness level. Jean, while he might not be the first guy you would think of, is actually a great presence in the middle. He reminds me of Olave, and its not just because they look a lot alike. Hard tackles, good play, a little bit of flair here and there, but all around just a solid player. The Findley sub was obviously going to happen, whether it should have been Campos or not though was the problem I was having. Pablo was winning balls up top and keeping possession for us AND he was tracking back quite. I would have rather seen Findley come on for Cox or Mathis, but wasn't infuriated with the Campos sub. The Espy sub, just like the Findley sub, was obviously coming. Cox was the right choice there, he just wasnt getting it done like he should have. The play in the second 45... I would rather not talk about it. How we got out of there without conceding a goal is still a head-scratcher to me. I thought RSL sucked bad at finishing... wow. This KC team has a LOT of problems going on with it right now. They look like the May version of us, just cant seem to snap out of it like we did. I will just sum up the second 45 with one word, lucky.
Player Evals:
Seitz: A-
I am seriously torn on who to give the MOTM to. Seitz was HUGE in the back for us. Not only did he make huge saves, but he did great at being the general of the team. His voice was consistently heard through the on-field mics. He was smart with his play, composed, and quite honestly, he looked a whole lot more experienced then he is.
Wingert: B+
Solid night again from Wingert. Smart play, good composure on the ball, and really just didn't make a bad mistake like he sometimes does.
Olave: A-
JAMISON! Olave is slowly but surely passing Nat as best defender on this team. Personally, I think he is the best, but others don't. However, I see that changing if he continues his very composed and solid play.
Borchers: B+
I like Nat a lot, but his speed kills me. If he had a better step, he wouldn't be here though.
Russell: B
Good night, but not fantastic night. Did his job, won tackles, just made sure to not get seriously beat as he has in the past.
Beckerman: A (MOTM)
I will say that Kyle hasn't exactly been playing well this season, but lately he has been on fire. His work in the middle was top class. His heart was really showing there at the end. That slide he made to deflect the ball wide for a corner was the difference in him being MOTM and not Seitz.
Andy: A-
Good work from Andy. Great vision, just wish he was fully fit so we could have that for 90 minutes all the time. He will be big in this final stretch, mark my words.
Ned: B+
The red was HARSH, and before that, he was doing VERY well in the middle. Bad luck for Ned, we will miss him next match.
Cox: B-
Had the worst night for an RSL player, but it was abysmal. He ran his ass off and just annoyed the crap out of Kansas City players the whole time he was on. He looks like Will Johnson 2.0...
Campos: A-
Good game from Pablo. I am actually starting to understand why he is here. Great post-up play, good possession, and a pretty talented player. Hope to see more of him in the starting XI honestly.
Mathis: B
He did a lot of work, but faded in the latter stages. I really wish Kreis would have subbed him, but it was either he or Cox that came off... and I think Cox was the right choice in the end.
Findley: B
Good work, not great stuff, but annoyed their back line. Maybe should have finished one on an early shot, but still a good night.
Jean: B+
Surprisingly this guy logged in some seriously good minutes. Will he push Russell for that other holding mid spot against Chicago? I hope so, we need the competition. Big guy, look forward to seeing more of him, but not until next year honestly.
Espy: B+
Espy keeps being the guy that does a ton of work out there that really goes unnoticed. Loved his effort tonight, he should be back in the starting lineup against Chicago, no doubt in my mind.
RSL: B+
The grades overall are all a bit high, I will admit that. However, it is a bit justified. We played down a man for over 45 minutes, and didn't conceive a goal. Realistically, that is a combo of Kansas City sucking and us doing the scrappy work, but nonetheless its still the same in the end. 3 HUGE points for this team. Sitting at 33 with 6 games left doesn't sound that bad at all...
Looking Forward:
RSL will get a bit of a rest, which maybe it doesn't want. The last 2 games have looked like an entirely different team, we can only hope that continues to happen. The next game, in my opinion, is the hardest one left on our schedule given the individual situations associated with the other 5 games. No Beckerman, no Ned, and Chicago is the best road team in the league... its not looking like a game that will easily go RSL's way. I think RSL has the ability to win that game, and honestly, I think we will. 3 points there, and we sit at 36 with 5 games left. While it is impossible to say how many will be needed, 43 looks more and more like the special number. That means we would need to get 7 points out of 5 games, 2 of those at home... I believe.
Cheers,
15 to 32
For the first time in a LONG time, RSL stole points. Yes, you are reading that correctly, RSL stole points from an opponent. The bad play wasn't punished as it always seems to be, unbelievable to say the least. Lets take a look back at what could be, potentially, the biggest road win for RSL since they beat San Jose last year.
The first 45:
As I sat down on the couch to watch this game, I got a very uneasy feeling. For starters, my boys from Milan just got utterly raped by their cross town rivals Inter earlier in the day. I wasn't exactly thrilled or up-beat. Then, just to make things a bit more uneasy, the starting lineup for JK comes out. Up top, we got Cox, Campos, and Mathis. I didn't quite understand what the hell Jason's thoughts were here. A small pitch needs possession, why not put in Fabian Espindola? He says they needed rest, and I partly get that, but at the same time these are professional athletes that get paid to run around. I think they should be able to handle a game, especially on the postage stamp that is KC ballpark. Next, the midfield, the area I was pleased with. Beckerman, Andy, and Ned. A solid possession oriented group that was going to be the decision maker for this game. Finally, the back line: Wingert, Olave, Borchers, and Russell. No Beltran? The guy has been one of the most consistent guys for us since his rough start, but it wasn't such a drop-off to have Russell in their, was it? I guess we could find out one way...
As the game began, I remembered just how small this stupid pitch in KC is. RES all of the sudden looked huge, that's just wrong and embarrassing to the league. It became obvious that this game was going to require short passes and a lot of movement off the ball if any goals were going to come. That is exactly how RSL got the lone goal of the game. Andy continued his good form and created a chance with Russell and Wingert down the wing. A cheeky ball from Andy found a wide open Campos on the pk mark, and not even an RSL player could miss that one. Into the side netting and I was ecstatic. I jumped off the couch, pumped the fists, yelled a bit, and then sat down realizing this game was far from over.
The rest of the half was not pretty in the least. RSL was on their heels for a good majority, but only one or two chances were seriously threatening. Seitz was playing quite well, his positioning was superb, and it seemed as though he had everything they threw at him covered. Oh the luxuries of having a keeper over 5 foot (no offense Rimando). Then came a very bizarre play, even by MLS standards. Grabavoy goes into a hard tackle with Gomez. The ball pops loose to a KC player and the ref calls play on. While I may not be an expert at reffing, I believe that if you are going to send someone off for a tackle, it should be done immediately. Apparently, this isn't the case. KC attacked, the ball went out, then you see the ref jogging back to where Gomez was lying. Next thing you know, a bunch of RSL players are around the ref with their arms up and saying "duck" a lot. At first, I thought he was going back to give a yellow for the tackle, it was worthy of that. but that wasn't the case. Grabavoy is walking off the pitch and nobody really gets whats going on. Replay shows that Grabavoy was a bit late, but a red was VERY harsh, even to Brian Dunseth (and that's saying something). Unbelievable, I thought the game was gone right there. No way RSL can play like they had for the last little bit with only 10 men, no way.
The Second 45:
While a lot of people don't understand the Andy Williams sub, I can say it was actually a pretty smart move. Andy, though he is fantastic, is not the fittest guy on the squad. He logged in roughly 80 against New England on Sunday, the full 90 against Chivas on Wednesday, and had gone 45 already here. That is a bit rough, especially for a guy his age, with his situation, and his fitness level. Jean, while he might not be the first guy you would think of, is actually a great presence in the middle. He reminds me of Olave, and its not just because they look a lot alike. Hard tackles, good play, a little bit of flair here and there, but all around just a solid player. The Findley sub was obviously going to happen, whether it should have been Campos or not though was the problem I was having. Pablo was winning balls up top and keeping possession for us AND he was tracking back quite. I would have rather seen Findley come on for Cox or Mathis, but wasn't infuriated with the Campos sub. The Espy sub, just like the Findley sub, was obviously coming. Cox was the right choice there, he just wasnt getting it done like he should have. The play in the second 45... I would rather not talk about it. How we got out of there without conceding a goal is still a head-scratcher to me. I thought RSL sucked bad at finishing... wow. This KC team has a LOT of problems going on with it right now. They look like the May version of us, just cant seem to snap out of it like we did. I will just sum up the second 45 with one word, lucky.
Player Evals:
Seitz: A-
I am seriously torn on who to give the MOTM to. Seitz was HUGE in the back for us. Not only did he make huge saves, but he did great at being the general of the team. His voice was consistently heard through the on-field mics. He was smart with his play, composed, and quite honestly, he looked a whole lot more experienced then he is.
Wingert: B+
Solid night again from Wingert. Smart play, good composure on the ball, and really just didn't make a bad mistake like he sometimes does.
Olave: A-
JAMISON! Olave is slowly but surely passing Nat as best defender on this team. Personally, I think he is the best, but others don't. However, I see that changing if he continues his very composed and solid play.
Borchers: B+
I like Nat a lot, but his speed kills me. If he had a better step, he wouldn't be here though.
Russell: B
Good night, but not fantastic night. Did his job, won tackles, just made sure to not get seriously beat as he has in the past.
Beckerman: A (MOTM)
I will say that Kyle hasn't exactly been playing well this season, but lately he has been on fire. His work in the middle was top class. His heart was really showing there at the end. That slide he made to deflect the ball wide for a corner was the difference in him being MOTM and not Seitz.
Andy: A-
Good work from Andy. Great vision, just wish he was fully fit so we could have that for 90 minutes all the time. He will be big in this final stretch, mark my words.
Ned: B+
The red was HARSH, and before that, he was doing VERY well in the middle. Bad luck for Ned, we will miss him next match.
Cox: B-
Had the worst night for an RSL player, but it was abysmal. He ran his ass off and just annoyed the crap out of Kansas City players the whole time he was on. He looks like Will Johnson 2.0...
Campos: A-
Good game from Pablo. I am actually starting to understand why he is here. Great post-up play, good possession, and a pretty talented player. Hope to see more of him in the starting XI honestly.
Mathis: B
He did a lot of work, but faded in the latter stages. I really wish Kreis would have subbed him, but it was either he or Cox that came off... and I think Cox was the right choice in the end.
Findley: B
Good work, not great stuff, but annoyed their back line. Maybe should have finished one on an early shot, but still a good night.
Jean: B+
Surprisingly this guy logged in some seriously good minutes. Will he push Russell for that other holding mid spot against Chicago? I hope so, we need the competition. Big guy, look forward to seeing more of him, but not until next year honestly.
Espy: B+
Espy keeps being the guy that does a ton of work out there that really goes unnoticed. Loved his effort tonight, he should be back in the starting lineup against Chicago, no doubt in my mind.
RSL: B+
The grades overall are all a bit high, I will admit that. However, it is a bit justified. We played down a man for over 45 minutes, and didn't conceive a goal. Realistically, that is a combo of Kansas City sucking and us doing the scrappy work, but nonetheless its still the same in the end. 3 HUGE points for this team. Sitting at 33 with 6 games left doesn't sound that bad at all...
Looking Forward:
RSL will get a bit of a rest, which maybe it doesn't want. The last 2 games have looked like an entirely different team, we can only hope that continues to happen. The next game, in my opinion, is the hardest one left on our schedule given the individual situations associated with the other 5 games. No Beckerman, no Ned, and Chicago is the best road team in the league... its not looking like a game that will easily go RSL's way. I think RSL has the ability to win that game, and honestly, I think we will. 3 points there, and we sit at 36 with 5 games left. While it is impossible to say how many will be needed, 43 looks more and more like the special number. That means we would need to get 7 points out of 5 games, 2 of those at home... I believe.
Cheers,
15 to 32
8.28.2009
RSL vs Kansas City - pregame
Only 2 days rest for the boys before they head out to Kansas City to take on the struggling Wizards. Usually this kind of game would have loss written all over it for RSL. First, and the most obvious, is that its on the road. Second, RSL only has 2 days of rest. Last, the dimensions of the Kansas City baseball field... er pitch, are going to make it hard for RSL to create the space it thrives on. With that said, RSL looked like a team with a chip on their shoulder against Chivas and like they wanted to prove something. With how tight this league is, especially near the 6-10 spots, a win here could throw RSL right into the playoff picture seriously. However, a loss could throw them back to the bottom of the list. Here is to hoping for the first scenario.
I am expecting Kreis to stick to his word and reward players for their performances in training and games. Based upon the Chivas game, no changes should be made, but that isn't the case. Will Johnson will be serving a yellow card suspension, and really it came at the best spot it possibly could have I think, if it had to happen. I am hoping for Kreis to only make the adjustment there, and to leave the rest of the team the same. There was a hint of good chemistry with the starting lineup against Chivas, so why mess with it.
Rimando
Wingert Olave Borchers Beltran
Beckerman Williams Grab-my-boys
Khalifi Campos Espy
Andy earned another start at the attacking mid role after his brilliant performance against Chivas, sorry Javi and Clint. Campos is a great post up man, and with the small field we will be playing on, we are going to need all the possession we can get, sorry Robbie. Khalifi actually knows how to play the wing position, and its natural to him. The same cant be said for Clint.
Prediction: 2-0 RSL
Maybe I am being way to optimistic, but this game I think is the one where RSL shows the rest of the league that we are for real (no pun intended). Kansas City has only won one game since they knocked us off in the RioT, that is plain and simply awful. RSL owes these guys a bit of revenge for that lone loss, I hope JK and co remind them of that before the game.
Cheers,
15 to 32
I am expecting Kreis to stick to his word and reward players for their performances in training and games. Based upon the Chivas game, no changes should be made, but that isn't the case. Will Johnson will be serving a yellow card suspension, and really it came at the best spot it possibly could have I think, if it had to happen. I am hoping for Kreis to only make the adjustment there, and to leave the rest of the team the same. There was a hint of good chemistry with the starting lineup against Chivas, so why mess with it.
Rimando
Wingert Olave Borchers Beltran
Beckerman Williams Grab-my-boys
Khalifi Campos Espy
Andy earned another start at the attacking mid role after his brilliant performance against Chivas, sorry Javi and Clint. Campos is a great post up man, and with the small field we will be playing on, we are going to need all the possession we can get, sorry Robbie. Khalifi actually knows how to play the wing position, and its natural to him. The same cant be said for Clint.
Prediction: 2-0 RSL
Maybe I am being way to optimistic, but this game I think is the one where RSL shows the rest of the league that we are for real (no pun intended). Kansas City has only won one game since they knocked us off in the RioT, that is plain and simply awful. RSL owes these guys a bit of revenge for that lone loss, I hope JK and co remind them of that before the game.
Cheers,
15 to 32
8.26.2009
Post Chivas vs RSL Game
Well, as my father has often told me, even a blind squirrel can find an acorn.
I have to admit, I went into this game against our expansion siblings thinking it was the end of the season. Anything but a solid 3 points here and the chances for this squad to make a run into the post season would be all but finished. Nothing, save the home field advantage, gave me a feeling that this game would be RSL's, and definitely not in the fashion it was.
First off, just on a side note, whoever decided that RSL should wear their white tops, with their blue bottoms and socks needs to be shot. I am not a super fashionable person myself, but it looked like we were wearing something a 5 year old picked out. Yes I understand that we couldn't wear our full home kit as the blue tops would clash, and I know we couldn't wear our full white kit as the shorts would clash, but seriously? Come on, don't we have a 3rd jersey (the greens?) or something better (training kits with names added to them?). Just a side note that wasn't very important, I just thought it was a bit comical.
Moving on to the game:
The starting XI was fantastic. It only took a handful of games for Kreis to finally figure it out, but he did figure it out. He put in an actual target for his two wings, and it produced and was dangerous the entire night. Add that to some of the most fantastic play I have seen out of Andy Williams in a long time, and a very solid effort from pretty much everyone else on the pitch, and you get a 4-0 drubbing of the second Chivas.
The first 45 was a pretty even battle. RSL came out with a bit more fire than Chivas, something I haven't seen from this team in quite some time, and seemed like they wanted to be the first ones to get on the board and to get all 3 points. Credit has to be given to Chivas though as they kept their shape and only had a couple serious saves to make. Then, after about 20 minutes or so, the attack switched and Chivas took it to the home side. RSL was lucky not to concede a goal on a very cheeky back heel/redirection that Nicky Rimando somehow got a hand to (save of the week candidate?). After that, it leveled out again until a very nice tackle from Beckerman in the middle of the field gave him some open space. A clever ball out wide to Espindola lead to a well placed cross to the big man in the middle who tucked it inside the far post. Props to Campos for saying hi to his wife and soon-to-be child, that was classy. The half ended with RSL just holding onto the lead and neither team really pushing much.
The second 45:
Kreis made no subs at half, which to be honest was a bit surprising. Campos was sitting on a yellow after a pretty reckless tackle at the end of the half and was seeming a bit gassed. I thought at first he should bring on Findley then, but as he stated in the post game show "making subs at half can put you in a bad spot if anything happens in the first part of the half". I was amazed, Kreis should some tactical sense to his subbing... there is a god. The half started where it left off, a pretty even battle with RSL being the more dominate side, but not by much. Then, came the Andy Williams show. I haven't seen Andy play with that fire for that long of a period of time (the FULL 90) in quite some time. I think he saw the door open to take Javi's spot, and isn't going to sit quietly, which is a VERY good thing for this squad. His clever little balls, dicing Sasha Kljeiaojdlafdsljhstan (you have to say it like that), and vision were superb. He found Espy out wide, who then took the former RSL man Talley to town by faking to his right (like he would ever go that way) and firing a rocket into the far post with his left (aka, his only foot). The last two goals came because Findley was finally used properly. As the Chivas defense wore down, Findley looked more and more explosive. Off of an extremely nice cross by Wingert, Findley caught Talley (again, poor guy) flat footed, blew past him, and sloted the ball back to the near post for a 3 to nothing lead. But it wasn't over there, Mathis wanted in on the assists. He found Findley streaking towards goal. Findley, again, cut across Talley (that's 3 if you are counting, and his birthday... ouch) and fired one off the far post and in (gotw?)
In the end, I hate to say it, but I have my faith restored in this team. With that starting XI and those kind of substitutions, this team can make a push. This next game is HUGE for RSL. I am not sure if I will categorize it as a must win game or a must get a point game, but either way, a loss is far from acceptable.
Player Evals:
Rimando: A-
I want to give the guy an A, but his dive to the far post when the ball was obviously going wide made me reduce it to an A-. Showing off like that is pretty retarded Rimando, no offense. With that said, FANTASTIC save in the first half. That is the kind of stuff that deserves save of the week honors.
Beltran: B+
Tony is becoming one of the most consistent players on this team, and it actually hurts him in my evals. He plays so good, that I don't know how to grade it. Tony is the kind of player this team needs to lock into a long contract in my opinion.
Olave: A
JAMISON!!! This guy was a beast tonight. If Andy didn't have such a spectacular night, he would win man of the match honors without a doubt. Solid tackle after solid tackle. Smart plays, very nice touch, a steal for this team, and absolute steal.
Borchers: A-
Its not that I don't like Nat, its just that Olave set the bar too high with his play. Nat, great game again. Solid in the back, the BEST defender when he is behind the ball. He isn't great at recovery, but he usually doesn't have to worry about that.
Wingert: A-
That is the kind of game we need out of him. Solid tackles, smart decisions with the ball, shut down one of the better players in the league all night. oh, and one hell of an assist to Findley on the 3rd goal. I bash on you a lot Chris, but I cant tonight. That was one hell of a game you put in
Johnson: B+
This guy is a beast as well. I give him a lower grade as I feel the need to give at least someone below an A and why not the guy who is suspended next match. Seriously though, Will had a great night as well and the yellow he got was pretty soft (big man Jesse Marsh all of the sudden became soft that play... wtf)
Beckerman: A-
As many people involved with soccer/football will say, when you don't hear too much about your holding mid, it usually means he is having a good night. Kyle did the work, distributed, got forward as needed, and played with a lot more confidence. While I don't personally think the national team call up is deserved, it is obviously boosting his morale, and that's a good thing no matter what.
Andy: A+ MOTM
Andy was everywhere on the pitch. If he made a bad pass, he was sprinting back. His vision is better than anyone on this squad (yes, even better than Javi) when he is on his game. I didn't think he had 90 in him, but he sure proved otherwise tonight. Andy, I hope this is just the start of another great run with the team. I know my love for Andy makes me a bit blind at times, but that was a damn good match, everyone agrees.
Espy: A
Fabian is coming back into form under a lot of people's noses. Even though a lot of us may think he would do better in the center striker role, he has adjusted his game and is thriving on the wing. In the last 3 or 4 matches he has figured out how to go at players, get the space he needs, and either get quality service into the box or make a dangerous run in himself. Great game from Fabian, great game (and one hell of a finish I might add)
Campos: B+
While he may not be the fastest guy (giant understatement) he is very good with his feet and is pretty good in the air. This is exactly what we need at that post position to start the game. His skills worked wonderfully and he deserved the goal he got. I expect to see him back in the starting XI against KC and probably for the rest of the season unless things go bad.
REK: B+
Rachid reminds me of Will from last year in how he is gelling with the squad. The pure raw talent and understanding of the game put him a lot further ahead than most players would be with the little amount of time he has been here. JK, I hope at least, recognizes this and is trying to get him to be a staple in our lineup like Johnson. Will wasn't fantastic in his first couple of games last year if you remember, but you could see what he wanted to do... the same is with Khalifi. I have high hopes for this guy, he seems like a very good find for what this team needs.
Mathis: B
I was VERY happy to see Kreis send the same message as he did to Olave. This can only be good when it comes to the locker room. Clint didn't seemed pissed at all, and logged in some very good minutes. The level of play didn't drop when he came in, and that is the biggest thing for a sub. Good game Clint, and a very clever assist.
Findley: A
Robbie has found his role. He could very easily be leading scorer in this league despite only averaging around 30 minutes a game with his talent and skills. Two very pretty finishes, with the second one topping the first. Good game Findley, continue the hard work
Ned: B
Like Clint, Ned came on but the level of play did not drop. This is HUGE for subs, especially in a position as vital as the one Ned plays with this team. Good hard working minutes from Ned. I expect him to be the replacement for Johnson this weekend in Kansas City, and for there to be just as much work and the level of play to be just as high.
Looking Ahead:
This win means nothing if RSL can't find some points in Kansas City baseball field. There are going to be a lot of things to deal with there (sun, dimensions, etc) but I have faith that if RSL plays its game, we can get some revenge on our only home loss of the season.
Cheers,
15 to 32
I have to admit, I went into this game against our expansion siblings thinking it was the end of the season. Anything but a solid 3 points here and the chances for this squad to make a run into the post season would be all but finished. Nothing, save the home field advantage, gave me a feeling that this game would be RSL's, and definitely not in the fashion it was.
First off, just on a side note, whoever decided that RSL should wear their white tops, with their blue bottoms and socks needs to be shot. I am not a super fashionable person myself, but it looked like we were wearing something a 5 year old picked out. Yes I understand that we couldn't wear our full home kit as the blue tops would clash, and I know we couldn't wear our full white kit as the shorts would clash, but seriously? Come on, don't we have a 3rd jersey (the greens?) or something better (training kits with names added to them?). Just a side note that wasn't very important, I just thought it was a bit comical.
Moving on to the game:
The starting XI was fantastic. It only took a handful of games for Kreis to finally figure it out, but he did figure it out. He put in an actual target for his two wings, and it produced and was dangerous the entire night. Add that to some of the most fantastic play I have seen out of Andy Williams in a long time, and a very solid effort from pretty much everyone else on the pitch, and you get a 4-0 drubbing of the second Chivas.
The first 45 was a pretty even battle. RSL came out with a bit more fire than Chivas, something I haven't seen from this team in quite some time, and seemed like they wanted to be the first ones to get on the board and to get all 3 points. Credit has to be given to Chivas though as they kept their shape and only had a couple serious saves to make. Then, after about 20 minutes or so, the attack switched and Chivas took it to the home side. RSL was lucky not to concede a goal on a very cheeky back heel/redirection that Nicky Rimando somehow got a hand to (save of the week candidate?). After that, it leveled out again until a very nice tackle from Beckerman in the middle of the field gave him some open space. A clever ball out wide to Espindola lead to a well placed cross to the big man in the middle who tucked it inside the far post. Props to Campos for saying hi to his wife and soon-to-be child, that was classy. The half ended with RSL just holding onto the lead and neither team really pushing much.
The second 45:
Kreis made no subs at half, which to be honest was a bit surprising. Campos was sitting on a yellow after a pretty reckless tackle at the end of the half and was seeming a bit gassed. I thought at first he should bring on Findley then, but as he stated in the post game show "making subs at half can put you in a bad spot if anything happens in the first part of the half". I was amazed, Kreis should some tactical sense to his subbing... there is a god. The half started where it left off, a pretty even battle with RSL being the more dominate side, but not by much. Then, came the Andy Williams show. I haven't seen Andy play with that fire for that long of a period of time (the FULL 90) in quite some time. I think he saw the door open to take Javi's spot, and isn't going to sit quietly, which is a VERY good thing for this squad. His clever little balls, dicing Sasha Kljeiaojdlafdsljhstan (you have to say it like that), and vision were superb. He found Espy out wide, who then took the former RSL man Talley to town by faking to his right (like he would ever go that way) and firing a rocket into the far post with his left (aka, his only foot). The last two goals came because Findley was finally used properly. As the Chivas defense wore down, Findley looked more and more explosive. Off of an extremely nice cross by Wingert, Findley caught Talley (again, poor guy) flat footed, blew past him, and sloted the ball back to the near post for a 3 to nothing lead. But it wasn't over there, Mathis wanted in on the assists. He found Findley streaking towards goal. Findley, again, cut across Talley (that's 3 if you are counting, and his birthday... ouch) and fired one off the far post and in (gotw?)
In the end, I hate to say it, but I have my faith restored in this team. With that starting XI and those kind of substitutions, this team can make a push. This next game is HUGE for RSL. I am not sure if I will categorize it as a must win game or a must get a point game, but either way, a loss is far from acceptable.
Player Evals:
Rimando: A-
I want to give the guy an A, but his dive to the far post when the ball was obviously going wide made me reduce it to an A-. Showing off like that is pretty retarded Rimando, no offense. With that said, FANTASTIC save in the first half. That is the kind of stuff that deserves save of the week honors.
Beltran: B+
Tony is becoming one of the most consistent players on this team, and it actually hurts him in my evals. He plays so good, that I don't know how to grade it. Tony is the kind of player this team needs to lock into a long contract in my opinion.
Olave: A
JAMISON!!! This guy was a beast tonight. If Andy didn't have such a spectacular night, he would win man of the match honors without a doubt. Solid tackle after solid tackle. Smart plays, very nice touch, a steal for this team, and absolute steal.
Borchers: A-
Its not that I don't like Nat, its just that Olave set the bar too high with his play. Nat, great game again. Solid in the back, the BEST defender when he is behind the ball. He isn't great at recovery, but he usually doesn't have to worry about that.
Wingert: A-
That is the kind of game we need out of him. Solid tackles, smart decisions with the ball, shut down one of the better players in the league all night. oh, and one hell of an assist to Findley on the 3rd goal. I bash on you a lot Chris, but I cant tonight. That was one hell of a game you put in
Johnson: B+
This guy is a beast as well. I give him a lower grade as I feel the need to give at least someone below an A and why not the guy who is suspended next match. Seriously though, Will had a great night as well and the yellow he got was pretty soft (big man Jesse Marsh all of the sudden became soft that play... wtf)
Beckerman: A-
As many people involved with soccer/football will say, when you don't hear too much about your holding mid, it usually means he is having a good night. Kyle did the work, distributed, got forward as needed, and played with a lot more confidence. While I don't personally think the national team call up is deserved, it is obviously boosting his morale, and that's a good thing no matter what.
Andy: A+ MOTM
Andy was everywhere on the pitch. If he made a bad pass, he was sprinting back. His vision is better than anyone on this squad (yes, even better than Javi) when he is on his game. I didn't think he had 90 in him, but he sure proved otherwise tonight. Andy, I hope this is just the start of another great run with the team. I know my love for Andy makes me a bit blind at times, but that was a damn good match, everyone agrees.
Espy: A
Fabian is coming back into form under a lot of people's noses. Even though a lot of us may think he would do better in the center striker role, he has adjusted his game and is thriving on the wing. In the last 3 or 4 matches he has figured out how to go at players, get the space he needs, and either get quality service into the box or make a dangerous run in himself. Great game from Fabian, great game (and one hell of a finish I might add)
Campos: B+
While he may not be the fastest guy (giant understatement) he is very good with his feet and is pretty good in the air. This is exactly what we need at that post position to start the game. His skills worked wonderfully and he deserved the goal he got. I expect to see him back in the starting XI against KC and probably for the rest of the season unless things go bad.
REK: B+
Rachid reminds me of Will from last year in how he is gelling with the squad. The pure raw talent and understanding of the game put him a lot further ahead than most players would be with the little amount of time he has been here. JK, I hope at least, recognizes this and is trying to get him to be a staple in our lineup like Johnson. Will wasn't fantastic in his first couple of games last year if you remember, but you could see what he wanted to do... the same is with Khalifi. I have high hopes for this guy, he seems like a very good find for what this team needs.
Mathis: B
I was VERY happy to see Kreis send the same message as he did to Olave. This can only be good when it comes to the locker room. Clint didn't seemed pissed at all, and logged in some very good minutes. The level of play didn't drop when he came in, and that is the biggest thing for a sub. Good game Clint, and a very clever assist.
Findley: A
Robbie has found his role. He could very easily be leading scorer in this league despite only averaging around 30 minutes a game with his talent and skills. Two very pretty finishes, with the second one topping the first. Good game Findley, continue the hard work
Ned: B
Like Clint, Ned came on but the level of play did not drop. This is HUGE for subs, especially in a position as vital as the one Ned plays with this team. Good hard working minutes from Ned. I expect him to be the replacement for Johnson this weekend in Kansas City, and for there to be just as much work and the level of play to be just as high.
Looking Ahead:
This win means nothing if RSL can't find some points in Kansas City baseball field. There are going to be a lot of things to deal with there (sun, dimensions, etc) but I have faith that if RSL plays its game, we can get some revenge on our only home loss of the season.
Cheers,
15 to 32
8.24.2009
Post New England, Pre Chivas
New England Reaction:
With the short schedule for RSL this week, this is going to be a double post of sorts. First, the "game" that RSL played over in Boston. Just like you would expect, RSL showed why it is one of the worst road teams in the league. Going into a game against an opponent with half as much rest, RSL looked the less composed and more tired squad for pretty much 80 minutes of the game. Of course there were stretches where RSL looked like an actual competent soccer team (findley off the post) but there was too much bad to make this a point deserving game for RSL.
Player Evals:
Rimando: B
It sucks when he gets so little help in front of him, but I felt he could have done a bit better on one or two of the goals. A cross should never come into a keepers 6 yard box without him being there to meet it, and Rimando has to learn to actually block the ball away from goal if he cant save it. Too many times Rimando gets caught ball watching on crosses, and when a shot comes in he pushes it to the center of goal rather than away or all the way across the frame.
Wingert: C
Awful, it seemed as though all of the New England attack came down his wing. Its sad we don't have Ian Joy anymore because he would be a starter (well with most coaches) a long time ago.
Russell: D
Seriously one of the worst matches I have seen from any RSL player (that includes Mr Horst shit himself). Russell should be in contention for man of the match... for new england.
Borchers: C
He seems to struggle without a physical presence like Olave supporting him. He too got burned on the goals quite a bit, too much ball watching.
Beltran: B+
One of the few bright spots for the team this game and really this season has been tony. He did his job on the right side of D for RSL. Its too bad he was surrounded by incompetent players in the D.
Beckerman: C+
So this guy goes and works his tail off for the nat team. That nat team wasn't exactly super stars, at the most it was a bunch of high quality MLS players. So where is that work and consistency in the RSL kit? very strange to me that he disappears to much with this team when he was standing out with the other.
Johnson: C
For claiming this was a big game, Johnson sure seemed to disappear for LONG stretches of the match. He was huge for us last season when we made the final push, but has become less and less effective this season.
Javi: C
He wasn't having the greatest of matches for the short time he was on, and its hard to say how it would have gone. But being an RSL fan/supporter, its pretty easy to see how it very likely would have gone. Hope he gets feeling better, if he does in fact have a groin problem, don't expect to see him for 2-4 weeks.
Espy: B+ (MOTM)
Espy showed once again that he will do the work that is needed from him, and then some. I feel bad for the guy since he is on a team that plays "attacking soccer" yet gets no support around the 18.
Findley: C-
Lets just admit it people, Findley is not that good and is in a slump right now. I think my 8 year old brother could have put that one away that he rang off the post. Why he decided he had to take 3 touches after getting the ball from Reis is beyond me. But if Findley was on any other team, he would never start. His speed only works late in games when he is fresh and the D is not... but don't expect JK to realize this EVER.
REK: B
I thought Khalifi did alright. You can tell he is still adjusting a bit to the team, but it was a much better performance than his last game (and that wasn't that bad in my opinion). His crosses are, as advertised, pin point... we just cant finish them.
Andy: B-
For how many minutes he had to put in, Andy did quite well. Towards the end, it seemed he and Espy were the only ones willing to work off the ball to make something happen. That is a pretty pathetic thing to say considering his fitness level compared to everyone else.
Ned: B
Didn't really get much, but was there for the lone RSL goal.
Campos: B-
The guy doesn't impress me with his feet (which he is supposedly great with) and he isn't a very big threat in the air despite having a couple inches on most players... its confusing to say the least as to why JK and co were so big on this guy.
RSL: C
Awful awful AWFUL night. Not exactly the raping I was thinking that it could easily have been, but to allow some guy named Dube to get a hat-trick on us... that's pathetic in the very least. Jason, better start getting that resume prepared.
Chivas Pregame:
This Wednesday we host Chivas USA (sadly not the real one yet) in what is a must win game if anybody wants to take this team seriously for the rest of the season. Before the New England game people were saying that we needed to get at least 6 points out of the next 3 matches, well that means a win here and a win at Kansas City... Do I have my doubts, of course I do, but I still think this team has that fighting spirit somewhere (in Germany) to win some games.
Nothing about this game gives me any hope of an RSL win though. A short week, a cross-country travel back home, a total lack of heart lately, and we cant seem to finish anything in front of goal (even if its wide open) unless the other team puts it in for us... The one thing to look forward to this game is what JK will do with Yura and Mathis. Rumors are they both are on the outs with the club, what does this mean for this game? Who knows.
Starting XI will likely be:
Rimando
Wingert Olave Borchers Beltran
Johnson Javi/Andy Beckerman
Espy Findley REK
If Javi can go (I highly doubt it) then I would expect to see Andy out there despite him not being a 90 minute guy. Personally, I think if you don't get the win this game, its time to start mixing up the lineup and figuring out who you want to keep for next season and who should go.
Prediction: RSL 1 Chivas 1
And JK gets a nice gift from me against Chicago
Cheers,
15 to 32
With the short schedule for RSL this week, this is going to be a double post of sorts. First, the "game" that RSL played over in Boston. Just like you would expect, RSL showed why it is one of the worst road teams in the league. Going into a game against an opponent with half as much rest, RSL looked the less composed and more tired squad for pretty much 80 minutes of the game. Of course there were stretches where RSL looked like an actual competent soccer team (findley off the post) but there was too much bad to make this a point deserving game for RSL.
Player Evals:
Rimando: B
It sucks when he gets so little help in front of him, but I felt he could have done a bit better on one or two of the goals. A cross should never come into a keepers 6 yard box without him being there to meet it, and Rimando has to learn to actually block the ball away from goal if he cant save it. Too many times Rimando gets caught ball watching on crosses, and when a shot comes in he pushes it to the center of goal rather than away or all the way across the frame.
Wingert: C
Awful, it seemed as though all of the New England attack came down his wing. Its sad we don't have Ian Joy anymore because he would be a starter (well with most coaches) a long time ago.
Russell: D
Seriously one of the worst matches I have seen from any RSL player (that includes Mr Horst shit himself). Russell should be in contention for man of the match... for new england.
Borchers: C
He seems to struggle without a physical presence like Olave supporting him. He too got burned on the goals quite a bit, too much ball watching.
Beltran: B+
One of the few bright spots for the team this game and really this season has been tony. He did his job on the right side of D for RSL. Its too bad he was surrounded by incompetent players in the D.
Beckerman: C+
So this guy goes and works his tail off for the nat team. That nat team wasn't exactly super stars, at the most it was a bunch of high quality MLS players. So where is that work and consistency in the RSL kit? very strange to me that he disappears to much with this team when he was standing out with the other.
Johnson: C
For claiming this was a big game, Johnson sure seemed to disappear for LONG stretches of the match. He was huge for us last season when we made the final push, but has become less and less effective this season.
Javi: C
He wasn't having the greatest of matches for the short time he was on, and its hard to say how it would have gone. But being an RSL fan/supporter, its pretty easy to see how it very likely would have gone. Hope he gets feeling better, if he does in fact have a groin problem, don't expect to see him for 2-4 weeks.
Espy: B+ (MOTM)
Espy showed once again that he will do the work that is needed from him, and then some. I feel bad for the guy since he is on a team that plays "attacking soccer" yet gets no support around the 18.
Findley: C-
Lets just admit it people, Findley is not that good and is in a slump right now. I think my 8 year old brother could have put that one away that he rang off the post. Why he decided he had to take 3 touches after getting the ball from Reis is beyond me. But if Findley was on any other team, he would never start. His speed only works late in games when he is fresh and the D is not... but don't expect JK to realize this EVER.
REK: B
I thought Khalifi did alright. You can tell he is still adjusting a bit to the team, but it was a much better performance than his last game (and that wasn't that bad in my opinion). His crosses are, as advertised, pin point... we just cant finish them.
Andy: B-
For how many minutes he had to put in, Andy did quite well. Towards the end, it seemed he and Espy were the only ones willing to work off the ball to make something happen. That is a pretty pathetic thing to say considering his fitness level compared to everyone else.
Ned: B
Didn't really get much, but was there for the lone RSL goal.
Campos: B-
The guy doesn't impress me with his feet (which he is supposedly great with) and he isn't a very big threat in the air despite having a couple inches on most players... its confusing to say the least as to why JK and co were so big on this guy.
RSL: C
Awful awful AWFUL night. Not exactly the raping I was thinking that it could easily have been, but to allow some guy named Dube to get a hat-trick on us... that's pathetic in the very least. Jason, better start getting that resume prepared.
Chivas Pregame:
This Wednesday we host Chivas USA (sadly not the real one yet) in what is a must win game if anybody wants to take this team seriously for the rest of the season. Before the New England game people were saying that we needed to get at least 6 points out of the next 3 matches, well that means a win here and a win at Kansas City... Do I have my doubts, of course I do, but I still think this team has that fighting spirit somewhere (in Germany) to win some games.
Nothing about this game gives me any hope of an RSL win though. A short week, a cross-country travel back home, a total lack of heart lately, and we cant seem to finish anything in front of goal (even if its wide open) unless the other team puts it in for us... The one thing to look forward to this game is what JK will do with Yura and Mathis. Rumors are they both are on the outs with the club, what does this mean for this game? Who knows.
Starting XI will likely be:
Rimando
Wingert Olave Borchers Beltran
Johnson Javi/Andy Beckerman
Espy Findley REK
If Javi can go (I highly doubt it) then I would expect to see Andy out there despite him not being a 90 minute guy. Personally, I think if you don't get the win this game, its time to start mixing up the lineup and figuring out who you want to keep for next season and who should go.
Prediction: RSL 1 Chivas 1
And JK gets a nice gift from me against Chicago
Cheers,
15 to 32
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