Embarassing

Real Salt Lake went into DC this weekend with a chance to make up ground on LA and the Supporters Shield. Instead of taking the challenge head on, though, Jason Kreis put out a reserve filled lineup that got thoroughly worked. In a bit of a "taste of your own medicine" opening half, DC United found the back of the net not once, not twice, not even three times. No, in the opening half hour DC United found the net a whopping 4 times against RSL. It wasn't just a bad showing, it was really embarrassing.

A lot of the blame for this rather pathetic showing can be put on the manager. Kreis took a huge risk with his starting 11. 8 players were, in fact, making either first time debuts, returning from injury, or were guys that typically are fighting just for a spot in the 18. Up top he put in Jean Alexandre and Paulo Junior. Alexandre was incredibly out of position, Paulo still has yet to come back to the form we have come to expect. Those injuries have damaged more than just his leg muscles, they seem to have hit his confidence quite severely too. In the middle of the pitch, where the game was being lost from pretty much the opening whistle, Kreis put in Collen Warner, Ned Grabavoy, Arturo Alvarez, and Kyle Beckerman. This midfield has potential, but simply didn't get the job done. Grabavoy, like Paulo Junior, is still in recovery mode. Warner continued his year of disappointment. Beckerman had far too much to handle in this one as everyone in front of him was having a bad game. And lastly, Arturo Alvarez proved just how bad of a signing he has proven to be. The most glaring deficiencies for RSL, though, were in the defense. Blake Wagner made his first MLS start for RSL, one he'll want to forget. Rashawn McKenzie was paired with Borchers in the middle and he simply isn't at the level of Olave or even Schuler. Chris Wingert returned from a long injury and it showed in some of his decision making. Overall, the lineup was a recipe for disaster.

I understand that Kreis wanted to give some guys rest and was showing his faith in the bench with this one. However, looking back on it, this game pretty much officially eliminated us from Supporters Shield contention. The team was on a tear, 5 straight wins, and making up ground on LA. This one loss, though, slowed it all down in a horrific crashing fashion. It was a tall order to win the SS no matter the result, but I'd rather us make the right moves at the end and push LA than pretty much mail it in. No matter what though, it seems the SS is out of reach and RSL is destined to finish either 2nd or 3rd - both overall and in the West.

Man of the Match: Dwayne De Rosario

While it could very easily be argued DeRo shouldn't have been playing in this match but should have been serving a suspension, the guy punished RSL with ease. Maybe Kreis was assuming the disciplinary committee was going to suspend him or something because his team had absolutely no answer for the Canadian. Regardless, the guy had a tremendous night. Gotta give credit where it is due. I'm more and more convinced this guy should be league MVP. If DC can get into the playoffs, it'll be almost all in part because of DeRosario.

Wankers of the Match: Blake Wagner, Arturo Alvarez, and Jason Kreis

Blake got his first start in an RSL shirt... I wouldn't be too surprised if its his last as well. Horrible night. Exposed early and often for his lack of positioning and speed.

When we signed Alvarez in the off season almost every single RSL fan was ecstatic. The guy had burned us so many times for San Jose he just had to be a great player. Well, there was a reason San Jose was fine with him leaving. I don't think the guy even knows how to spell the word "right" because everything with him is left. It is utterly shocking to me that a guy can play at this level yet not even use his weak foot to make routine passes. Alvarez has been possibly the biggest bust in RSL's short history.

Kreis took a huge gamble and paid severely for it. Lesson learned, hopefully. He doesn't belong in this category all the often, but I have to be honest. A lot of the blame for this loss belongs with the manager. Not his better night at all. Maybe he had a deal with DC United? Because we helped them a ton these past two weeks.

Looking Forward: Securing a top 3 spot
RSL's new task for the rest of the season is simple: get healthy and get into form. We have yet to win a single piece of hardware this year - one in which we started with discussions of pulling off the "quad". RSL almost has to win the MLS Cup, in my mind, to not label this season as a bit of a disaster. To do that, we  have to find form. The playoffs are all about who is in the best current form, not who is the best team over the whole season. We've shown we can get hot and win a handful of games in a row both home and away. That's exactly what is in store with the playoffs.

Not only would it be beneficial for RSL to secure a top 3 spot (preferably 2nd) in terms of playoffs, but for next seasons CCL as well. LA is pretty much a lock for the Supporters Shield, thus they will have a ticket punched for next season's CCL edition. Seattle looks to have the USOC locked up as well as its on their home field against the Fire. That means that if we get into the playoffs on the Western side all we'd need to do to make the playoffs is have LA win their first round  match up against the wild card. This is because if they advance, one of RSL, LA, and Seattle will be in the MLS Cup. Both the Cup winner and runner up go to the CCL. If a team holds two spots (as Seattle and LA would if they made it to the final) the second spot would be passed to the next best team on the overall table - which in this case would be Real Salt Lake. I'd much rather  have RSL qualify through earning a spot (making it to the final) but I'd also rather be in next year's CCL no matter how its earned. Thus, despite what many may think, finishing in the top 3 and thus in the Western Conference for the playoffs has huge advantages.

The bottom line is this, though: RSL needs to get into form and play some good soccer here in October and November. They do that, and they'll surely be in next year's CCL. Something we all know we want after having the final on our pitch and then not even get into the group stages of the current edition.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

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