Gutsy Huge Win

Despite playing down a man for over an hour of play, RSL pulled out what has to be one of their biggest wins of the season. A ridiculous mistake by the Chivas defense gave Saborio a cake walk of a goal. An equally ridiculous first touch by Borchers setup his ejection. In the end, the Sabo goal proved just enough and RSL walked out of the Home Depot Center with 3 points they desperately needed.This game was setup to be one of the more attractive matches of the weekend. Both sides like to posses the ball and build their attack through multiple passes. Early on, this was just the case. RSL would build an attack, Chivas would counter with their own. It was, for those first 15 or so minutes, some really nice soccer. Then came a sequence that will have Robin Fraser just shaking his head for the next full week. The outside left back for Chivas took the ball up the line, had no option, so decided to play a back pass. Instead of looking up, finding his center back, and playing a crisp ball on the ground, however, he played a no look driven ball back to where he thought his center back would be. Saborio was also in the area and, through some lucky bounces and an awful whiff by the Chivas center back, he was in on goal all by himself. A simple hesitation and side step past the keeper put him in and RSL up 1-0. It was a bit of luck that RSL had been missing quite a bit lately and was very much welcomed, and taken advantage of, by the squad.

Chivas came firing back and on two occasions nearly got an equalizer. A close range shot from their left wing was smothered by Rimando and Juan Pablo Angel saw his volley from the 18 just hit off the cross bar. The moment that defined the match, though, came shortly thereafter. Beckerman, under pressure, passed the ball back to Borchers. The ball must have had a lot more pace on it than Nat had expected because his first touch not only went into the middle of the pitch, but went roughly 10 yards away from him, right to the feet of Labrocca. Nat was the last man back and sprinted to make up for his mistake. He cut across the back of Labrocca while grabbing his jersey and dragged him down just outside the 18. Labrocca made sure to make the most of the contact, but there was indeed enough contact to constitute a foul. Stott, the center ref, really had no choice but to go to his back pocket and send of Borchers. A huge blow for the side that just got its other starting CB, Olave, back in action. RSL was now in a situation of defend first and look to counter.

To their credit, RSL did something that typically they aren't very capable of: defending for long stretches of time. For over an hour of play, RSL was able to stop Chivas from mounting anything serious. There were a few chances for Chivas, but ultimately nothing truly spectacular was required of Rimando or the back line to keep the clean sheet and the win. In the end, RSL worked as a unit incredibly well and got three points they most desperately needed.

Man of the Match: Jamison OlaveIn his first match back since picking up an injury at the all-star game, Olave showed why he is (in my opinion) the most important piece of our defense. Lots of players for RSL were deserving of this reward: Espindola, Saborio, Beltran, and Johnson just to name a few. The key difference between this match and the one in Houston, however, was the presence of "The Verb". With Olave, our defense goes from decent to really good.

Wankers of the Match: Chivas USA
It seems all the hard work this club has put together over the past couple of months went to waste in two matches in the same week. At Portland they couldn't defend properly on a set piece or finish a host of chances to at least get a point. Against RSL, at home, they couldn't find a way to score against a team playing a man down for over an hour. Fraser had this unit moving in the right direction, but it seems these last two games could really be what separates them from a wild card spot and watching the playoffs from home.

Looking Forward: Big Weekend
Despite getting the full 3 points in this game, RSL finds themselves in a position in which they really need to get the full 3 points in any game at the RioT. When they host Philly this weekend, that task will be even more difficult than it typically would. RSL will be missing, due to international duty, the following players: Will Johnson, Alvaro Saborio, Arturo Alvarez, and Jean Alexandre. Three of those players were starters in the last match and the other, Jean, was slated as a super sub. Beckerman was originally on this list, but Kreis made a phone call to Klinnsman essentially begging him to let Kyle stay home for this game - thus missing the US game vs Costa Rica. Interestingly enough, Saborio, who was called up by Costa Rica, wasn't asked to stay back. To get the full 3 points, some bench players will really have to step it up for RSL. Philly is a decent side and is in need of points to keep a spot in the East. I think the guys are capable of doing it, but it will take an even better effort than they put in down at LA to do so.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Revenge? How about just playing well...

On May 8th I sat down at my computer and essentially circled the date of August 27th; revenge date. Everyone knows what happened on May 7th, a match that RSL won according to the stats but is, quite possibly, the biggest loss of the RSL season. Javier Morales went down with that disgusting ankle break and separation and we all feared the worse. Well the worst hasn't come to full fruition, but its getting far too close for comfort. Now it's time for the rematch. This game could easily be spun to a revenge match: getting level with the team that took down our star. Given the grand scheme of things, though, that seems rather pointless. RSL needs not to worry about that and instead on righting the ship that seems to be sinking fast. This road game wraps up the 3 game road swing that has been anything but satisfactory. It's time for RSL to get points, or else.Of the many story lines that could be attributed to this match, one should stand above the rest: RSL vs another playoff contender. Or, better yet, RSL vs a team that is in the hunt to take away their playoff spot. With how the season started, this tag line would have been a joke to think possible, now its far from a joke but the sad truth. RSL needs points from this one in so many ways, starting with keeping Chivas at bay.

4 Keys to the Match for RSL:

1. Keep Labroca at bay.
- The midfielder has been bounced around quite a bit in his career but seems to have found some solid ground in LA for Chivas. By all accounts, he has been their best field player this year. His passing has been superb, his vision is surprisingly great, and his work rate is very Will Johnson-esk. The guy has turned what would be a cellar dweller of a team to an actual playoff contender. Kyle Beckerman will likely hold most the responsibility of keeping Labroca in check. To do so, Kyle will need to have a damn good game. He struggled against Geoff Cameron, a player not anywhere near as good as Labroca is currently, so things don't look overly promising.

2. Forget about Mondaini.
- Yeah, the dude busted the ankle of Morales. Yeah, he could be given a lot of credit for the struggles of RSL this season. Yeah, his punishment wasn't as severe as it probably should have been. So what. RSL can't let themselves get too worked up over the guy. He should be an afterthought. The best way to stick it to another guy, in my experience, is to beat him as a unit. Make him realize just how good this team is despite his vicious tackle. It'll be hard for the guys, I would imagine, to not want to at least give him a hard hit. If he plays, just play him as we would any other striker. Physical and strong, but nothing dirty.

3. Don't lose track JPA
- Juan Pablo Angel has had a rough season, his stint with the Galaxy was quite less than stellar. The old vet, however, showed just how short his memory is when he got to the Goats. His first game he was causing havoc like always, showing that maybe it wasn't so much himself that was struggling, but that the Galaxy system just wasn't the right fit. JPA has a history of giving RSL fits, especially on set pieces. We looked pretty awful defensively on set pieces in Houston, hopefully they were a focus point in practice this week. If not, JPA could continue his resurgence against a club he has had great success against.

4. Possess the ball with purpose
- One of the most irritating things about that game at Houston was how RSL went away from their possession game after they went up 2-1. The Espy sub obviously played a huge factor, but it was painfully obvious that the team suddenly wasn't overly worried about keeping the ball. This team is at its best when it not only controls possession, but does so with purpose. We did that for quite a long time in Houston, one of the lone positives. To be successful in this game, we'll have to do it for closer to 90 minutes rather than the 60 or so we did in Houston. We can beat this team if we play that purposeful possession game we are known to do.

Starting XI for RSL:
GK: Rimando
LB: Beltran
CB: Borchers
CB: Schuler
RB: Russell
LM: Alvarez
CDM: Beckerman
RM: Johnson
CAM: Gil
FW: Espindola
FW: Saborio

Key Player for RSL: Kyle BeckermanKyle will be the deciding factor in this game. If he is on, both defensively and offensively, RSL could easily dominate the weaker Chivas side. If he is off, however, Chivas will come at us multiple times and exploit the middle of the pitch. Kyle has been quoted quite a few times lately saying things aren't as dire as fans (myself included) and the press want to believe. With a trend of 1 win and 4 losses in the last 5, they certainly aren't that great. If I'm to believe what Kyle says - this team is ok, just in a bad slump, will be out of it soon - then he better show it to me in this match. Time and matches are running thin. Its time to put up or face the reality, KB.

Prediction: RSL 1 - Chivas 1
Goal from Johnson for RSL.
- I see this game as one in which RSL plays well, like they did in Houston, but commits too many errors to get the win. I don't think it'll cost them as much as it did there, but it will be 2 points we should have got left on the table. Hope I'm wrong, but this team seems to be playing this way lately.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

The Game is 90 Minutes Long...

In what shouldn't be much of a surprise, RSL fell short in the dying moments of their game down in Houston. For whatever reason, whenever we play that team - especially in Houston - the level of drama raises just that much more. What stings the most in this particular case, however, is not that the goal came in stoppage time but where RSL had been in the game previously. Someone obviously needed to remind the guys: "hey, the game is 90 minutes long".
There are a lot of things that RSL did both great and awful in this game. Ultimately, the negatives won out (in horrendous fashion) and now RSL is quickly finding themselves in the chase not for the top 3 spots in the West, but in the chase for one of the wild card spots. Just weeks ago RSL had itself separated from the mess that was the spots roughly 5-12, now they are very much in the thick of it.

The positives from the game at Houston:
- Early pressure (first 45)
- Possession oriented (first 45 and parts of the second half)
- Finding Espindola in space
- Trying to use width to help continue possession (first 45)

The negatives from the game at Houston:
- Horrible start and finish to the second half
- Lack of pressure on Brad Davis in the second half around the box
- Long balls to nobody to end the game - desperation
- Paulo Junior looked completely lost
- Robbie Russel's defending
- Giving away WAY too many set pieces, especially corners
- Lack of focus to end the game

In all, the negative list not only is longer than the positive list, but it was much more daming. On the road, you have to play a solid full game, or at least very close to. RSL played about 70 minutes, being generous, of good soccer. They were punished, however, for their 20 or so minutes in which they simply looked awful. That is how this game works, especially on the road. We make those same mistakes at the RioT and we might not be as badly punished. When you are at other people's home stadiums, though, you have to be sharp for at least 80 minutes.

Man of the Match: Brad DavisIt was very obvious that Houston had watched our film against the Crew just a few weeks back in which Robbie Rogers torched us down the left flank (our right). The Dynamo's go to guy couldn't have been in a better position to beat us. He constantly was a threat during the run of play and then, to make matters worse, was even more dangerous on set pieces. The guy has a hell of a left foot and should be making his way into talks for MVP this year. His play has been simply phenomenal.

Wanker of the Match: Robbie RussellLots of players - and coaches - for RSL are deserving of this reward. Russell drew the unlucky straw of having to mark Brad Davis and, especially in the second half, failed. His failure to make a tackle led to the first goal and his man was the guy who got open to head in the second. Also, the attack that ended up with their third started down Russell's wing. Not a great night, but he shouldn't feel too bad. Rimando and Kreis were also very serious candidates for this lovely award.


Wrapping up the Road Trip:
RSL heads to Chivas this coming Saturday on their final stop of this 3 game road swing. It has been, to be perfectly honest, a gigantic failure thus far. RSL has been scored on 4 times in 2 games and only put the ball in the net 2 times themselves. Against possibly the worst team in the league they couldn't find the net. Then, against a mid level team that is now a challenger for a playoff spot, they couldn't hold on to a lead despite gaining it two times. Things don't look very good for RSL. Chivas USA is starting to figure things out and will be hard to beat no matter the circumstances. Fraser would love nothing more, I'm sure, than to beat his former team. This road swing could see RSL go 0 for 9 on points. Something that would surely kill any momentum they had started to gain previously.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Water Break?

RSL travels to face the cream-sickles in Houston this weekend in what is shaping up to be a very important match for both teams. Houston is very much in the hunt for a playoff spot in the East. If the playoffs started today, based purely on points, they would be one of the wild cards. In fact, they would play RSL in the wild card match-up. Both teams are looking to improve their playoff standings in hopes of avoiding that dreaded wild card play-in game.Typically this game would be just an assumed loss. RSL struggles quite a bit on the road, especially in Texas, and especially in Houston. In their entire history, RSL has never won the road game in Houston. They have salvaged one draw, but never a win. What is interesting, however, is that unlike the Toronto record, RSL has scored in each game they have played in Houston. Yes, that is not a typo, RSL has scored each and every time they've traveled to the Dynamo's home. If you know your RSL history, you will know this game tends to be one of the craziest games of the year (both home and away). For whatever reason, when we play the Dynamo things get heated, there is typically a lot of goals, and usually an ejection or two by the end of the 90 minutes.

For this particular game, RSL might just have a bit of luck on their side. While injuries continue to pile on (Wingert out six weeks with a busted wrist) RSL caught a break in that Houston had to travel to New England yesterday to play the Revs. The game was hard fought and looked to be a win for the Revs going into the 90th minute. In the dying moments of the game, though, Houston drew level 1-1. Many Houston fans were chalking that game up as a must-win, so while the draw (and the fashion it came in) were nice, it was still a disappointment. Thus, it will be interesting to see how Houston approaches this game Saturday. By all accounts, they need to get points, especially at home, if they want to maintain a playoff spot in the very crowded East. I would assume they will come out flying, even on the short rest, looking to get an early goal instead of leaving it up for late heroics.

RSL, similarly, is in need of points. As I stated before, if the playoffs started today they would be in the wild card match, not something they would like to do, you can imagine. They have to find a way to get back into the top 3 of the West, which means they HAVE to find a way to get points on the road. What better time than now? To do this, they will have to play one of their best games of the season. Houston is a very good side at home (7-3-3 record) and in relatively good form lately.

The lineup I think would best to use in this match-up is as follows:
GK: Rimando
- Will have to be big between the pipes. Some blame can go on him for the TFC goal last week, lets hope he makes up for it.

LB: Beltran
- Replacing Wingert on the left is pretty easy when you have 3 capable starters. Tony will have to be solid. I wouldn't be surprised to see him switch with Russell so that he would mark Brad Davis.

CB: Borchers
- Stone wall and Mr. Consistent has to be those two things. Against Ching and Costly, he is going to have his hands full.

CB: Schuler
- Olave might be able to get back in the lineup for this one, but at the same time it's not an ideal opponent for his first game back. Olave and Ching have a very colorful (literally, red and yellow) history with each other. I'd probably sit him out this one and let Schuler replace him.

RB: Russell
- Like I said with Tony, he might switch sides. Russell's marking has to be solid this game or he will be the reason we get burned.

LM: Alvarez
- Having to replace Will because of suspension sucks, especially when you have to pick between Alvarez and Warner. Neither have been good this year but I think I'd prefer Alvarez at this point. Hopefully he will be willing to use his right foot, or even the right side of the field, at times.

CDM: Beckerman
- He finally got a full weeks rest so hopefully he is set for a very big game. He has to be solid in the middle or we'll lose, plain and simple.

RM: Williams
- I wouldn't be surprised to see Warner take Andy's spot. Andy really struggled in Toronto and simply doesn't have the legs to be a 90 minute guy every week. He was supposed to be a solid sub for us not all year, not a starter.

CAM: Gil
- Luis struggled in Toronto at times and at others looked solid. His work rate will have to be high for us to get anything going in the offensive third of the field. Shoot the ball kid, please.

FW: Espy
- Fabian did everything but score in Toronto. The poor guy couldn't buy a goal. Hopefully he makes up for it at a place I've seen him score at before.

FW: Sabo
- If we can use him as our target more and work off of him we will succeed. The more he is in the middle of the pitch as the target, the better our offense will work.

Key Player for RSL: Tony BeltranIf you have watched any Houston games this year you will know that their attack runs through Brad Davis. I'd assume and hope that Beltran gets the assignment to mark him. If we are going to get even a point out of this game, we will have to take Davis and his solid left foot out of the equation as much as possible.

Prediction: Houston 3 - RSL 2
- Goals for RSL from Espy and Beckerman

Like many trips to Houston in the past, I expect this game to be wild and have some late heroics to it. I bet we go into the last 20 minutes of the game tied at 2 just for Davis to whip in a ball that Ching or Costly puts in to win it.

What I would give to be wrong, but history down there suggests it'll be ugly.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Stumbling out of the Gate

RSL ultimately failed in their first road game of this 3 game road trip. They went to Toronto with a lot of confidence and a full week's rest, but walked away with 0 points and, once again, 0 goals for. On paper, the game was by far the easiest left on the schedule. Toronto is a cellar dweller that was leaking goals at an alarming rate. Not only did RSL fail to get a point, but they failed to score. Which, to me, was the most alarming point of the match. The lack of production up top is starting to become a really big issue, especially away from home.This game could be used for coaching lessons throughout the world. It was a prime example of "getting punished for not taking advantage of your opportunities". In the first 25 minutes, it looked as though TFC was going to be the team punished. They created chances quite a few times, yet couldn't find the net. At around the 25th minute, things changed. Suddenly RSL took hold of the game and attacked. Like TFC, though, they simply couldn't score. For whatever reason, RSL looked simply confused once in front of goal. The crossbar did come to the rescue for TFC on two occasions, it's true, but RSL should never have let the ball go that high. It was a painful half to watch in regards to finishing. So many blown chances.

In the second half it was much the same. RSL looked dominant but simply couldn't find the net. As the game wore on, though, it became much more level. TFC, as the home team should, took some risks and threw numbers at RSL. Ultimately, this paid off. A bizarre and rather weak shot found the back of the net, and sank the hopes of RSL. Thus, RSL was made to pay for their lack of finishing. The chances were there for RSL to put this one away both in the first half and in the second. TFC made us pay.

Man of the Match: Torsten FringsMoving Frings to CB, I thought, was going to be a bad idea. Instead, it paid off rather well for TFC. The veteran lead from the back and played a role in RSL's scoring woes. The guy has played at the top level, you can tell. Wonderful addition to MLS.

Wanker(s) of the Match: RSL's AttackNot scoring on the leagues leakiest defense is simply inexcusable. Hell, this same team gave up 3 goals to a 10-man DC United just last week. I know they made adjustments to disrupt our play, but not scoring was simply embarrassing. This can be spread across the whole squad, but is especially reserved for Saborio, Espindola, Paulo Junior (was nice to see him, though), Alvarez, Johnson, Williams, Gil, etc. The supposed lethal offense of RSL looks incredibly tame once it leaves the confines of the RioT.

Reason to be Nervous:
RSL has scored only 5 times away from home this year (9 games). We are almost the league worst when it comes to goals scored on the road (second to Portland by .01). With 8 more games to be played on the road, there is plenty of reason for RSL to be nervous. RSL has to pick up points in some of these games to make the playoffs; it's becoming that dreadful. Relying on the rest of the home games for the points to get in is not only a risky venture, but it's not an assured one either. Teams above us in the standings are separating themselves. Similarly, teams behind us are closing the gap. This team that was once in the discussion of Supporters Shield winner is now having to wonder if they have what it takes to make the playoffs.

Reason to Not be Overly Nervous:
On the positive side of things, RSL has only given up 7 goals on the road this year. We are the only team in the league with a goals against average on the road that is less than one (both Philly and LA average exactly 1 GA on the road). Thus, the defense is doing their job. The offense has to be able to find the net a whole lot more than they have been. While teams are starting to separate themselves from RSL, it is key to remember those games in hand that RSL have. The cRapids are now 4 points ahead of RSL, but they also have played 4 more games. Seattle is 6 points ahead but has also played 3 more games. Dallas is 7 points ahead but has played 3 more games. LA is quickly becoming out of reach, though, as they are 12 points ahead having played 3 more games. Similarly, the teams behind us are in fact gaining ground but still have all played more games than us. Chivas USA, the most immediate threat, is 6 points back and has played 2 more games. On the other side, Houston is 5 points back having played 2 more games and Sporting is 6 points back having played 1 more game.

Thus, it isn't time to become overly worried, but there should be a bit of nervousness in the air for RSL fans. Things aren't awful, but they aren't trending in a positive manner at all. This team is really struggling to find the net away from home yet has twice as many road games left as home games. I said it before this road swing began and I'll say it again, this is the true test of this squad. The next two teams are potential playoff contenders. If the playoffs started today, Houston would be the last team in while Chivas would be the first team to miss the cut. These are the kind of games that RSL has to show they are a top level team against. I'm not saying they have to win both to do so, but picking up points is key. Where this team is will be pretty well understood come August 28th.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Road Trip!!!

It's that time of year for RSL: road trippin! This Saturday RSL starts its 3 game road swing up in Toronto, Canada. TFC has been possibly one of the worst teams this season thus far. However, they have made some big changes in the past few weeks and look a totally different side than the one we played here back in late June. It's going to be a big test for this RSL side.This first road game is, in my opinion, the most winnable for RSL of their three road games through the rest of August. Toronto is a cellar dweller that is nearly already eliminated from playoff contention with 3 months left in the season. They have made drastic changes to the team and coaching staff yet remain near the bottom of the incredibly weak Eastern Conference. Confidence in the team making the playoffs is dwindling by the hour, it seems, and the focus has quickly (and understandably) shifted to their play in Champions League.

Yes, it's quite painful to see, but TFC is back in CCL this year. Playing in Canada has HUGE advantages in this regard. This does come to the advantage of RSL, though, for this particular game. Toronto has a road game in Panama City just 5 days following this match. That game is very pivotal in them finishing in the top half of their group. Getting road results is what typically separates teams in group play. So long as you get full points at home, one or two road points can see you through to the next round. Thus, TFC would likely want to get those road points out of the way right off the bat. If I was in their coaches position, I would highly consider resting my best guys this weekend in preparation for the big match ahead.

It is very unclear if this will actually happen, though. Mathematically, TFC is not eliminated from the playoffs. They are lucky to be in the East where a 3 game hot streak could easily put them right back in the playoff picture. I wouldn't be surprised to see Winter (TFC's head coach) save his best guys for next week, but it might be still too early in the season for him to get away with it and not get a lot of heat from his front office and fans. RSL should go in expecting their best XI to be out there and nothing less.

For RSL, the key to this match is rather simple: build off of the New York home performance. Against the Red Bulls, RSL showed signs of working as a unit again. In that two game losing skid RSL experienced one thing that was very noticeable was the amount of individualism being practiced as opposed to the team, as a unit, working together. This changed against New York as RSL pressured them and attacked them collectively. To get points at Toronto, they will need to continue this trend and even do better with it.

This means, and it's been stated by players and coaches constantly this season, that RSL has to focus on team defense first. A higher line, a team defensive effort starting with the forwards, and a high energy rate will be the first step to RSL playing well. If they execute this first key step, then the second is easy to achieve. With that high line RSL wins the ball higher into their attack, has more space to work with, and has more players into the attack. We saw it against New York and we should hopefully see it against TFC. Team pressure, team attack, and team win.

The best XI players for RSL, for me, would be as follows:
GK: Nick Rimando
- Big between the pipes. We didn't call on him against New York too much, that might be a bit different this match.

RB: Robbie Russell
- I have no problem with Tony Beltran playing, however the play of Russell against New York was key to our attack. His crosses are the best on the team, hands down.

CB: Chris Schuler
- He put the two bad games behind him and had a solid night against New York. Hopefully this continues against a decent TFC front line

CB: Nat Borchers
- Our most consistent player has to be just that, consistent.

LB: Chris Wingert
- The more he gets into the attack, the better we are playing.

RM: Andy Williams
- A full weeks rest was much needed for Andy. He should be ready to go and looking the skillful guy we know he is

CDM: Kyle Beckerman
- With him going the full 90 against Mexico on Wednesday he could be in need of a rest. Jean Alexandre would be my replacement. I hope Kyle has the ability to start, though, as he tends to be the glue that holds us together in the midfield.

LM: Will Johnson
- Johnson in Canada = playing well... or that's the hope. He hasn't had his best games recently, hopefully he takes a more composed role this game and plays solid for us on the left side.

CAM: Luis Gil
- The kid was tremendous against New York, I'd love to see it continue at Toronto. He'll have some better midfielders in their defending him, so the test will be tougher. I think he is up for the challenge

FW: Fabian Espindola
- When Espy plays as part of the team he can be one of our best assets. When he tries to do a bit too much himself, he can be the part of the machine that ruins it all. He is more the first than the second, but we tend to remember the second much more.

FW: Alvaro Saborio
- Against TFC Sabo should be able to do his trademark post-up game. Their center backs simply aren't as skillful or talented as the others we have played in recent games. I honestly think Sabo could have a huge game against these guys, they wont know how to handle his size and aerial attack.

Key Player for RSL: Luis Gil - Dude, he's only 17! Gil will have a target on his back for this game. Not only from the TFC midfield and defense, but from the watchful eyes of RSL supporters. His game against New York was superb and people want him to be the next big thing; that's a lot of pressure. How he will handle it is to be seen. If this season has been any indicator, though, he'll take it in stride and continue his hard work.

Prediction: RSL 2 - TFC 0
- Goals from Sabo and Espy
It's a roller coaster watching this team and trying to predict what will happen. The last game always weighs far too heavily in my predictions, but it is what it is. I think this team is very capable of getting the full three points in Toronto - something we have never done. If the past 6 games are any indicator of how the game will go for RSL then whoever scores first will win. In each of the past 6 RSL matches, the first team to score wins and shuts out the opponent.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Predicting The Future

It's time for my yearly predictions of the big leagues in Europe. I'll make my predictions of the EPL, La Liga, and Serie A. Along with that I'll make predictions of the various trophies within each those leagues and the mother of all, the UEFA Champions League. With all the movement of players and teams looking to figure out a way to beat Barcelona, this could be a very interesting year in European football. This is how I see it shaking out:

English Premier League
Champion: Manchester United- There is too much talent on this roster to not win it. While I think De Gea will cost them a few points here and there, players like Young, Smalling, Gibson, etc. will make a huge impact. With Rooney having an actual off season, I think he'll terrorize the rest of the league. Rooney, Nani, Chicharito, Giggs, and Hernandez? Yeah, good luck stopping that one.

2nd Place: Chelsea
- As much as it pains me to say it, Chelsea has a very talented squad. If Torres, and this is a huge if, can find form then they'll push United for that top spot. If not, well then they'll be in a dog fight to stay in a Champions League spot.

3rd Place: Manchester City
- It's ridiculous to look at the roster of this team and imagine them not winning anything this year. That, however, is exactly what I think will happen. It's wonderful to have a bunch of stars, it's something entirely different to build chemistry and be a good team. City simply lacks that team mentality. Wonderful talent all over the field, but they have yet to show me the ability to consistently put it together into something meaningful.

4th Place: Arsenal
- Many people are saying this will be the year Arsenal finally falls out of the top four; I'm not seeing it. The Cesc issue is beyond annoying, but no matter what they will field a very capable team. It'll be a dog fight for these spots as Liverpool and Spurs will be right there, but I see Arsenal finding a way to pull it out in the end.

Relegated: Wolves, Norwhich, and QPR.
- Two of the three newly promoted sides, I think, will find their stays in the premier league very short. I want QPR to do well, but I just don't see it happening. I think Swansea has enough talent and plays well enough that they will find a way to not only stay up, but finish near the middle of the table and possibly even push for a Europa spot. Wolves stay in the top flight has been remarkable, but I think it'll come to an end this season.

The FA Cup
Champion: LiverpoolThis team simply has too much talent to not win anything. Without the congestion of Champions League (I doubt they put a ton of effort into Europa) they'll make a push for this one to please the fans that are understandably a bit frustrated. Believe me, I don't want them to win it, but it seems a logical choice.

Runners Up: Manchester City
- They'll put a large focus on retaining this cup, but in the end come up short to a team with a bit more flair in the final third.

Spanish La Liga
Champion: Barcelona - I want to believe that Real Madrid has what it takes to knock them off this year, but I don't think anybody in the world can. Barcelona could easily be the best club team of all time right now. They have talent at every level and seem to only be getting better. Their defense, as is always discussed, seems a bit thin. However, the very best defense is the Barcelona offense. If the other team never has the ball, they can't score.

2nd Place: Real Madrid
- I think it will be a very tight race, but in the end Barca will get enough points off of Madrid to keep them separated. Those classico matches will be key in determining the champion this year, no doubt in my mind.

3rd Place: Valencia
- They will be the best of the rest. Like in years past, the points difference from 2nd to 3rd will likely be in the double digits. It's no secret among the rest of the teams in La Liga that it's simply a race for that 3rd and 4th place spot for Champions League.

4th Place: Athletico Madrid
- The other Madrid side, in my opinion, will have a very good season and edge out the likes of Villarreal and Sevilla for the last Champions League spot. It's hopeful thinking, I know, but I'd love to see Forlan back in the champions league.

Copa Del Rey
Champion: Real Madrid - I think Madrid will, once again, get the better of Barcelona in this tournament. Mourinho can't lose to Barca in everything and once again, this will be the place he is dominant. Lets just hope Ramos isn't allowed to hold the trophy on the bus again.

Runners Up: Sevilla
- I honestly think the Madrid v Barca match will happen in the semis. It's all about the luck of the draw in these things, and that seems a likely action. Sevilla will get into the final and then be blasted by Madrid.

Italian Serie A
Champion: AC Milan - While other teams, especially Inter, have struggled to bring in anybody of interest this off season, Milan has been on the move. Their transfers have setup a team that, in my opinion, could very easily surprise quite a few people both in league play and in champions league. So long as the midfield and defense stays healthy, this team could do something very special this season. I don't see anybody in the Italian league standing a chance against them so long as injuries don't become too severe.

2nd Place: AS Roma
- I think Roma will make a jump back into champions league soccer this season with a very strong performance in Serie A. They have enough talent on that team to really make a move.

3rd Place: Inter Milan
- They'll be in a dog fight this year to stay in champions league football. They have some wonderful players on that team, no doubt, but it all centers around Sneijder. I'm not convinced he is staying. If he does, they should easily finish in the top three. If not, they'll have to pull out some amazing results to even finish 4th, I think.

4th Place: Juventus
- The return of the "big 4" in Italy will be completed with Juve finally making it back near the top. I think they have enough chemistry between them that they won't be thrown off by a team like Napoli or Udinesse as they were last season. It looks a bit predictable, but I really think it's the year for Italian football to return to the "norm" that people expect.

Copa Italia/Tim Cup
Champions: Roma
Roma will mark their return to the top of Italian soccer with a Copa Italia win, something they haven't done since 2008. I see them as the side beating Milan in the semis and having an incredible derby match in the final.

Runners Up: Lazio
- It'll be something to watch if this does in fact come true. A derby with this kind of importance added to it would be something you wouldn't want to miss. I think Roma will get the better of them, but that it will be a hell of a match.

UEFA Champions League
Champions: FC Barcelona - Believe me, I want to be wrong about this. However, I think this team is the best of any club team by far. The talent they possess, especially in the middle and offensive third of the pitch, is just simply incredible. When will their dominance end? I don't know. It could very easily be this season. If I was a betting man, I'd wager it's not this season, though. They have far too much skill to not be the best in the world.

Runners Up: AC Milan
- I think my Milan side has the skill to really make a run in the Champions League. With the right draw (which this really heavily relies on) they could be in the semis without many people taking notice. Shalke did it last season and they aren't near the talent that Milan is. The years of getting beat by stupid English sides will come to an end with Milan knocking off United in the semis.


Wishful thinking? You better believe it.
I'll be lucky if even a few of these picks are right. But, as of right now, that's what my heart and eyes tell me. No matter what happens, I think we all can agree that its wonderful for the Europe season to be on our doorstep.

FORZA MILAN & RSL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Cautiously Pleased

RSL made a rather bad New York team look simply awful this weekend. While it could potentially be something for this team to rally behind, I'm going to remain cautious and just say it was another game in the bag. Given who they played (on paper) it should be a magnificent result that the guys are fully proud of. However, when you look at how New York has played this year, some of that luster goes away rather quickly. Either way, though, it was nice to see RSL play with some heart and exert itself on the opponent rather than the other way around.From the opening whistle it was apparent which team was looking for a win and which team was just hoping to stay alive. New York's travel caught up to them, as did their extensive injury list, and RSL took full advantage. Even after the early spell where it seemed possession was 70% RSL, New York never settled into the game. RSL was always a threat, New York looked lost once they got the ball past midfield. The first RSL goal came off of hard work and relentless pressure on the New York back-line. Beckerman whipped in a ball that bounced out to Andy Williams on the top of the 18. Instead of taking the route that RSL has far too often this year and make a back pass, Andy tried his luck with a shot to the far post. The New York keeper did well to push it away and out of bounds for another RSL corner. This was key. Had Andy decided to hold up or not test his luck, we likely don't get that subsequent corner; which Borchers put away. Some terrible marking from the US wonder-kid Tim Ream left Borchers wide open on the 6. His downward powerful header hit the back of the net before Rost could even make a move.

The second RSL goal came from a type of play we really haven't seen much this year. Our midfield, with the loss of Morales, has lacked that ability to get in behind players in the middle of the pitch. We typically don't even attempt to probe in the middle part of the field because we don't have the work rate or technical ability that Javi brought. Gil changed that, though, in this game. His quick turn in the middle was beautiful and the strike on goal was to match. While Rost may have been a bit shielded from the shot, it would have been hard for him to keep it out even if he did. The ball found the side netting, putting RSL up 2-0 right before half. Good teams, it is always said, tend to score goals at key moments in the game. Any goal within the last 5 minutes of a half is key.

The second half was not that much different from the first. New York emptied their bench rather quickly because of injuries, sadly, and all but sealed the deal by doing so. They have nothing off the bench, right now at least, that can change the game dramatically. RSL continued to pressure and was awarded a really soft penalty. New York has room to complain, but the goal ultimately was pointless. Sure, it might hurt/help the teams in terms of goal differential come seasons end, but the result was all but determined. Sabo stepped up and calmly put the penalty away and the game was officially out of reach. A good result from the team, and a solid performance that didn't feature a 10 minute spell, like in the previous two matches, where we completely lost focus. The team played the whole game through and should be proud of the way they did.

Man of the Match: Nat BorchersI was really tempted to give this to Luis Gil for his solid effort on the night along with his first ever RSL goal. However, I had to be honest with myself. Borchers not only got the game winning goal, but had the Henry assignment all night. Henry had a rather quiet night, given his standards, and that's largely to do with the way Borchers defended him. Consistent Nat finally got some recognition from me...

Wanker of the Match: The New York Red Bulls
A team with that much talent, even if it is just reserved to the starting XI, should play a whole lot better than they did. Yeah, they travelled and have been experiencing injury problems, but the fact remains that they looked awful. They have been so bad this year, in fact, that as of this moment (by points per game) they are out of the playoffs. Incredible when you consider 10 teams get in this year. A team of that much skill deserves a whole lot better than players like Dax McCarty and Mehdi Bollouchy in the middle. The Dero trade looks more and more awful each day.

The Road Gauntlet Begins:
The true test of where this team is at now begins. The next 3 matches for RSL are all away from home. They are, however, at mediocre teams. The next game is against possibly the worst team in the league, Toronto FC. They managed to tie a game 3-3 against DC over the weekend despite having a man advantage from the 7th minute on. This game, on paper, looks incredibly winnable for RSL. We did it last year in CCL, so we know the team is capable of doing so. The game following that is at Houston, probably the toughest opponent of the next three. Lastly, we travel to Chivas for the last game of August. This game should be one of revenge. I don't care if it was one players stupid actions, he represents Chivas USA. He took Javi away from us for quite some time, we owe it to them to beat the living crap out of them.

Exciting News:While I don't tend to post stuff that relates to individual players or is outside the actual games this team plays, this was too good to not post. According to the RSL twitter account, Javier Morales was jogging, had his boots laced up, and even kicked the ball around a few times this past week. While the road to recovery for him is likely still two months away, it's incredible news nonetheless. If he is back by the 2 month deadline that has been thrown out there, he could see the pitch as early as October 1st at LA or, maybe even, September 28th vs Chicago. One thing looks certain, though, he should be back for the cRapids road game on October 14th. If you needed any more reasoning to make the trip, now you have it.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Big Opponent, Big Game

RSL plays it's only home game of the entire month of August tomorrow evening against possibly the biggest club in MLS. The New York Red Bulls, with Theirry Henry and Rafa Marquez, will come to the RioT for a match that is very significant to both clubs.The two clubs come into this game going, it seems, in opposite directions. It's no secret that RSL is struggling right now. Two losses in a row have made the team look a bit vulnerable and, to be perfectly honest, look like they are about to go into a slump. New York, on the other hand, had struggled in MLS play before heading to London to play in the Emirates Cup. They won the tournament in rather impressive fashion, it must be said. They beat a very talented PSG side and then drew with Arsenal. (Side note, poor Arsenal can't even win their own made up silverware... Spurs fans eat your heart out). Thus, this game is, in my opinion, one that could tip the scales for either side. If RSL wins they could very easily restore some confidence before heading on the 3 game road trip ahead. If New York wins they could easily find themselves playing at the level everyone expects and take the East back under control. A loss for RSL could easily spell disaster. A loss for New York wouldn't be as bad for their club, but it would take a good chunk out of the impressive showing they just had in London.

With this being the 3rd game in 8 days for RSL, finding the right players will be key. This means Kreis has to be honest with the players about their recent play and their energy. The XI I would pick based upon the last two games and who we have to worry about on NY is as follows:

GK: Nick Rimando
- Nicky gave up a rather weak goal against KC. Lets hope he makes up for it in this one. I've noticed it over the years with Rimando, if he has a bad game, you can count on him working his tail off to make up for it in the next one.

LB: Chris Wingert
- Wingert looked really bad against KC, but there aren't any suitable replacements. One option would be to drop Wingert and play Beltran and Russell at outside back. I wouldn't mind this, I just prefer Wingert to start. One bad game doesn't change that the guy is typically solid.

CB: Nat Borchers
- Stone wall Nat has to be solid in the back. Consistency

CB: Chris Schuler
- I'm hesitant to give Schuler the start as he has not been overly impressive in the last two games. Kreis was open about the idea of McKenzie sliding back and replacing him. Don't be surprised if this happens.

RB: Tony Beltran
- We have to have Tony's pace out there to win this game. While Russell's crossing abilities are fantastic, his defending isn't.

LM: Will Johnson
- Will is a very interesting player for this one. I doubt he will admit it, but he has looked a bit mentally fatigued lately. Maybe he needs to take a seat, maybe not. I don't know. I'd prefer him to start, honestly.

CDM: Kyle Beckerman
- After receiving the news that he'll get to play against Mexico next week and be part of Klinnsman's first camp, hopefully KB shows some improved confidence and play. He hasn't been overly stellar lately.

RM: Luis Gil
- With Alvarez at this position on Wednesday we killed the little width we ever tried to create. Luis came on and instantly improved things. I think the kid is more than deserving of a start right now. Probably won't happen, but I can dream.

CAM: Andy Williams
- Andy's best role is as a sub. However, situations have changed this year and I think he is the best option to break down the NY defense. Possession will be key in this game and Collen Warner has not done well lately to keep it.

FW: Fabian Espindola
- Espy has to show up, but at the same time be willing to let others make things happen.

FW: Alvaro Saborio
- He didn't see the ball nearly enough against KC on Wednesday. When we get him the ball around the 18, good things tend to happen. While he is a good forward to cross the ball to in the air, that can't be (as it was in the KC game) the only way we get him the ball.

Key Player for RSL: Fabian EspindolaEspy has looked really frustrated in the last two matches. It is apparent to me that he is trying to do too much and is lacking confidence in some of his teammates (Collen Warner in particular). Espy has to realize that with him dropping so far back at times, it completely kills our attack. If he is getting the ball in the middle, that typically means only Sabo is ahead of him as a target. Espy has to allow the midfielders behind him to get the ball in those positions. Similarly, those players have to be willing to exert the same amount of energy Espy has. The one thing Espy seems to always bring to a match is energy. It would be good if the players around him did so as well.

Key Player for New York: Thierry Henry
New York has talent across the board yet they heavily rely on one player for their attack. Henry is a legend of the game, to say he isn't would just be a disgrace. RSL is going to have their hands full marking him, even if he is up there in age. Henry, Lindpere, and Marquez are the spine of this team. If we can shut down Henry and Lindpere we should be able to win. Let either of them go at us too much, though, and it could get ugly really fast.

Prediction: RSL 1 - New York 1
- Goals from Henry and Saborio

- It only seems fitting that I bill this as a huge match for either team if they win and it'll end in a draw. New York has made an art out of drawing MLS matches (like Chicago) and knows how to disrupt our play. The one HUGE benefit for RSL is that Dane Richards is suspended for this match. If he was out there, RSL would be in some big trouble.

I'd love to be wrong and see RSL get a win in this gigantic match. With their current form, though, I have strong doubts that will be the case.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

U-G-L-Y

In not so shocking news, RSL went on the road in a humid and hot place and lost. What was sad, though, was the way it happened. This very easily could have been the worst performance from RSL this entire season.Unlike the game against Columbus, RSL didn't stumble out of the gates on this one. They opened up the game rather well and were playing level with KC. It all fell apart, though, around the 30th minute. The heat and humidity was wearing down on the RSL players, sure, but that is a pretty weak excuse when you consider that KC was having to deal with it as well. RSL simply lost focus for about 10 minutes and once again paid the price.

The first goal was a comedy of errors. Arturo Alvarez recieved the ball just outside the RSL 18. He then played a (shocking) left footed pass when he probably should have used his right. The ball lacked pace and direction and was easily picked off by KC. Roger Espinoza then went at both Collen Warner and Tony Beltran. With two guys defending a single player, RSL should have been able to stop him. Instead they committed a cardinal sin of double teaming and allowed Espinoza to slide in-between them. Espinoza then found himself inside the RSL 18, on his left foot, but lacking a truly killer angle. Borchers did well to cut off the far post, but applied zero pressure to Espinoza. He was thus allowed to set himself up rather well and rip one on frame. For whatever reason, Rimando decided to not fully cover hid near post. Borchers had done well to cut off the back post, which meant all Rimando had to do was cover part of the middle and near post. He covered the middle, but allowed far too much space between himself and the near post. Result: first goal for KC.

From there it only got worse. Sporting, to their credit, recognized that RSL was losing confidence and energy. They pushed further and further down the field, especially on the flanks. It's no secret that this is where RSL is weakest. A deep throw in was earned by KC and they setup for a long throw. Again, a defense comedy of errors occurred. This time it involved Schuler and Wingert. Schuler originally had picked up Kei Kamara for the long throw. The big man was one of the only near post targets for KC so it was obvious he was going to likely be receiving the ball. Right before the throw was delivered, though, Wingert and Schuler did a switch. Or rather, they looked to switch. What happened was Schuler let Kamara go, Wingert didn't pick him up, and Schuler then had to chase back into the scene. Kamara was allowed a rather open header right on goal from the six. Rimando did tremendous to make the first save. I want to be more harsh on him for pushing it back to the middle, but not many keepers would have ever gotten a finger to it. Instead, the blame for the rebound goes to Tony Beltran and Nat Borchers. Both let Teal Bundbury slide between them and be able to smack a full force half volley at Nick. The ball once again ricocheted off Nick and into the net.

That was the first half. The second was slightly better. RSL looked to attack early and was willing to put more pressure on KC. A deserved red card (and hopefully multiple game suspension) was given to Espinoza for a disgusting tackle on Beckerman from behind. This gave RSL a man advantage for 30 minutes. Sadly, nothing came of it. We created a couple chances that looked promising, but nothing ever was truly dangerous. We, once again, became desperate and turned into a crossing team. We simply aren't built in a fashion to play this way. Without Javi, though, we lack the ability to probe teams from the middle. Thus, our only attack came when the outside backs pushed up and the ball was whipped in via a cross. It never worked.

In the end, the better team on the night got the full points. RSL looked lethargic and dispirited until down 2 goals. Even then, they never showed any signs of true attacking life. For two straight games now, RSL has been shut out while losing focus for roughly 10-15 minutes and giving up 2 goals. That's a sign of a weak team. Giving up multiple goals in short time frames is something this team simply can't do. Similarly, this team has to stop going down early in matches. Playing catchup is not our strong suit.

Man of the Match: Kei KamaraKamara, like Robbie Rogers for Columbus, gave RSL fits all night down the wing. His speed and size were simply too much for the RSL defense. He was unlucky to not get a goal and should be credited with an assist. Good match from the big man, even if he irritates me with his style of play.

Wanker of the Match: Roger EspinozaWhile many RSL players (heck, all) are deserving of this award, Espinoza made sure to remind everyone how big of a dick he is. His tackle on Beckerman was just as bad as the one that broke Javier Morale's ankle earlier this season. Hopefully the disciplinary committee takes a look at this tackle and gives it the suspension it deserves. If you remember, Espinoza is the same player who caused the preseason game between these two sides to end early because of a rumored similar tackle on Morales. The guy is a hack. No doubt he is talented, but truly he is a hack.

Reason to Worry
RSL has simply not looked its dominate self much recently. While injuries, heat, schedule congestion, etc have all been thrown around as excuses, the fact still remains. RSL is losing its swagger and might be finding itself in a very badly timed slump. With 14 games renaming this season, RSL has to go on the road 9 more times. In fact, this coming Saturday's game against New York is the only home fixture for RSL in the entire month of August. It's no secret that RSL still struggles on the road. It may not be as bad as it once was, but things are not looking promising.

I think it's safe to say that unless RSL suddenly finds some incredible road form, they are out of the Supporters Shield race. With LA and Dallas doing well to gain points this season, they are simply too far out of reach. Sure, we have games in hand, but we are to the point that we have to win all of those games in hand to even be level with them on points. Something that simply isn't going to happen. The new objective of this team should be to get into the playoffs and find their form again by October. I think the first is a very reasonable task. It won't be easy, by any means, but its doable. The second, however, is the true test. The one remaining piece of silverware this club could achieve, I think, is the MLS Cup. The MLS Cup is not about being the best team over the entire course of the season. No, that's reserved for the Supporters Shield. The MLS Cup is designed to reward the best in form team come seasons end. Thus, it is any one's game so long as they get themselves a ticket to the show.

It's time for RSL to tone down the talk of being a league big dog or a power house. It's time for RSL to focus not so much on gaining points in games (which is still important) but to find a way to get back into form. This could mean a whole host of things, but I think it's safe to say a bit (or a lot) of change is necessary. The way to beat us is full public knowledge. Many teams are very capable of doing so and have shown it over the course of this season. Kreis, it's time to mix things up again.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Three in One

Because of the amount of travel I have done in the past week and a half, I haven't been able to update the blog. So, in this single post I'll play catchup. Three posts jammed into one.

To start off, lets go all the way back to the RSL v San Jose match on July 23rd.You stay classy, Busch.

In a match that was, if nothing else, full of entertainment RSL destroyed a 10 man San Jose Earthquakes 4-0. Until the 60th minute, though, it looked as though a draw was on the horizon. San Jose has historically played rather well at the RioT and they looked to be continuing the trend that night through some disruptive midfield play and strong defending. All came crashing down, though, in the 60th minute when Saborio went down in the box for RSL. In live action, I thought it was a foul. My seats are very similar to the angle the ref had, so it's obvious to me how he was deceived. Video replay shows, though, that Sabo went down without any contact. This resulted in a penalty, a sending off, and the games first goal.

From there, San Jose lost their cool. Busch showed his grand sportsmanship (both during and after the game) and RSL tapped in 3 more to finish off a very lopsided night 4-0. Had I been on the other side for this game, I would feel a bit robbed. However, giving up 3 goals in 30 minutes, even if you are a man down, is simply inexcusable. While the decisive moment may have lead to a bit of frustration and lack of concentration, it seemed inevitable that RSL would score and open the game up. It wasn't an unfair result by the scoreline, per say, but rather in the means it was achieved.

Man of the Match: Alvaro SaborioScoring 2 goals and having a pretty damn good night gave the Tico the honors. Sadly...

Wanker of the Match: Alvaro SaborioHis antics to get the penalty were poor. This may be the one and only time someone gets both man of the match and wanker of the match for the same game. Impressive? Probably not.


RSL v ColumbusComing into this match RSL was in a bit of a weird place. They had just won 4-0, sure, but at the same time they lost Jamison Olave to a knee injury at the All-Star Game (of all places) and were informed that Alvaro Saborio would not be able to play because the league was suspending him for his dive against San Jose. Thus, RSL came into this match a bit confused; it was apparent. In the first 10 minutes, Columbus exposed this confusion to the fullest. From the opening whistle, it was obvious which team was more focused on the task at hand. By the 5th minute, Columbus had exposed our lack of wing play/defending and Robbie Russell's poor positioning to find the net. Just 5 minutes later, they pretty much did the same thing again.

From the 15th minute on, RSL was the better of the two sides. However, they never looked overly dangerous. Jean Alexandre had a couple chances to find the net (some of them sitters) yet it just didn't seem to be RSL's day. Columbus came in to the RioT, had a wonderful game plan, and executed it to near perfection. Maybe it was a bit of justice for the previous weeks debacle, but it still sucked. RSL looked to have lost all the momentum they were starting to build up in a matter of minutes.

Man of the Match: Tommy HeinemannThe goofy looking striker gave the RSL defense fits all night and earned the second goal for the Crew. Almost every attack the Crew built went through Tommy. He probably has one of the ugliest mugs I've ever seen, but the guy sure could play up top against us.

Wanker of the Match: Jean Alexandre
There were, sadly, quite a few RSL players in contention for this award. Jean missed two sitters and probably should have found his way onto one or two others and thus takes the ship. However, Robbie Russell, Ned Grabavoy, and Will Johnson were right on his heels for wanker of the match. It was a really ugly night for RSL with quite a few guys having possibly their worst nights in an RSL uniform.

Is there reason to be concerned after this match? Probably. I think we are still perfectly fine in terms of making the playoffs and having a decent team. However, I can't help but feel this might have been a key moment/game in us not being in the Supporters Shield chase come seasons end. While we still have quite a few games in hand, they don't mean much if we can't get points out of them. Especially at the RioT. There are 15 remaining games for the 2011 season, tons of points still available. The problem, though, is that 10 of those 15 are on the road. And its not like we are travelling to bottom feeders the entire time. We have road trips to NY, LA, Seattle, and Colorado in there. If we are going to win the SS, we are sure going to earn it here at the end of the season.


RSL @ Sporting Kansas City: PreviewRSL travels to brand new Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City tomorrow for a match against the re-branded Wizards. KC started the season pretty slow, no thanks to 10 road games right away, but have since found their form; especially in their new stadium. In fact, they have yet to lose in the new place.

Given the small amount of rest, Olave not even traveling, the potential of Espindola being suspended, and the current form of RSL, and most importantly this game being on the road... I'm not to optimistic about this one. I think RSL is very capable of beating this team. You look at it, on paper, and its in RSL's favor. However, we haven't played anywhere near as well as we should be, according to paper, in quite some time.

This is the XI I hope to see for RSL:
GK: Nick Rimando
- Has to be big between the pipes. To get points here, he'll likely have to pull out a few incredible saves.

RB: Tony Beltran
- Russell had a horrible night against Columbus. Time for Tony to be put back in the starting lineup. This time permanently

CB: Nat Borchers
- He was one of a very few players to not have a bad night against the Crew. Nat is probably our most consistent player, so this shouldn't be much of a surprise

CB: Chris Schuler
- Had a pretty bad night, especially in the first 10 minutes, against Columbus but he is our best option. Hopefully that game was just a fluke, not a new norm.

LB: Chris Wingert
- He took responsibility for the goals, but I'm no so sure they were as much his fault as he made it out to be. Still, its nice to see a guy take the accountability.

CDM: Kyle Beckerman
- He has to step up his game. Plain and simple.

LM: Will Johnson
- Same as Beckerman. He tried to do too much against Columbus. Hopefully he can just relax this game and not force himself into the game as much.

RM: Ned Grabavoy
- He also had quite a howler against Columbus. Hopefully consistent Ned will be back for this one.

CAM: Andy Williams
- I wouldn't be surprised to see Collen Warner or Luis Gil slide in for Andy, but I think he is the best option to start.

FW: Fabian Espindola
- If he does receive a suspension (which is probably deserved) then Alvarez takes his spot. For RSL's sake, I hope Fabi is not suspended.

FW: Alvaro Saborio
- Suspension and dive are in the past. Time for the Tico to play some good footy again.

Key Player to Watch for RSL: Kyle BeckermanWith the struggles current and ahead for RSL, its key that the captain stand up and take charge. One of my biggest criticism's of Beckerman is that he does not do this. If we are going to make it through this stretch with a good record, it'll be because KB picked up his game and thus those around him as well. If he plays badly, this could be one ugly month for RSL.

Prediction: RSL 1 - KC 2
- I think it's going to be a tight game that gets rather physical. I think they find the net late to get a win while we try to pack it in for a draw. Fortune Favors the Bold, lets hope Kreis sticks to that motto for this one.

For those of you that forgot or didn't hear, these two sides met in preseason play and had, to put it nicely, a bit of a physical match. Many players from RSL were quoted as saying they were circling the first time we played KC (which this game is) as a bit of a revenge match. Don't be surprised if the RSL players come out angry and playing a bit chippy. Given that history and how things are going lately, this one is a sitting time bomb.

Here is a link to the story from the preseason game: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsrsl/51391872-49/rsl-game-sporting-team.html.csp

It's sure to be an interesting night. I hope I'm wrong with my prediction and RSL uses this game to vent some frustration (both current and past) for the win.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

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