Last night's RSL game defined this season for RSL. A complete and utter lack of discipline ruined what should have been an amazing night. This wasn't the first time, nor likely the last, that RSL has shown to lack the mental strength required to win in tight matches. Marco Pappa made RSL pay. Kyle Beckerman lost his temper - again. What separates great teams from good things is execution in the small areas. RSL, this entire season, has shown itself to not have the proper discipline to move to that upper echelon.
There are a lot of things that could be said about the match. I feel it a waste of time to discuss them. Rather, I'll focus on how last nights match epitomized the 2011 RSL season. 3 big areas - and a lot of smaller areas - were not only poorly executed last night, but this season in general. Here are the three:
1. Dead Ball Laziness
- In numerous games this season RSL has shown a complete and utter lack of focus when defending a dead ball situation. Whether this is a goal kick, set piece, or - in the case of last night - a simple throw-in RSL just losses focus for some strange reason. It's hard to say why this is the case or what can be done about it. It's not a secret, Kreis points it out time and time again and harps on the players in training. Off of dead ball situation, especially throw-ins lately, we just seem inept to defend. We're a step behind, far too much reaction rather than pro-action. Pappa's first goal came directly off the laziness of Russell and Beckerman on a throw-in. Those two got beat by one pass and Olave was forced to defend two players on the edge of the 18. Pappa got the ball, and showed why he - just like DeRo days ago - can not be left alone around the 18.
2. Predictable Play
- A lot of blame for RSL's lack of creativity lies on the fact that we have been without Javi so much this year. However, that is a pathetic excuse, in my opinion, for how predictable this team can be. Last night, again, showed just how bad this is. From my seats at the top of section 14 I could tell you where pretty much every single RSL pass was going before it was being made - even a couple of passes before it was being made. While it is nice to have a team that wants to keep the ball and work it around, some risks have to be taken with the ball, especially in the offensive third, in order to break down a team with a decent defense. Losing Gil due to Beckerman's red card (and Beckerman for the same reason) killed RSL in this department last night and this whole season. With how we play, we really need players that will do the unpredictable, will pass up the easy pass for a more dangerous one, and are willing to lose the ball occasionally instead of keeping it with a pointless pass. Javier is possibly the saving grace in this regard, but he isn't going to be 90 minutes fit until the playoffs - likely - so banking on him is a bad route to take.
3. Ejections, Suspensions, and Mental Lapses
- Far too many times this season has this team had to play a man down or make a lineup rotation because of an ejection or suspension. If I was forced to pick one area that has killed RSL this season in regards to winning any silverware, it would be this area. The CCL final had to be played without KB. Why? Lack of discipline in the match at Monterrey. We won't be winning the SS this season. Why? Because we've been too busy serving suspensions and dealing with ejections to get enough points. Beckerman isn't the only player responsible, there have been plenty, but he should carry a large portion of the blame in this department. Not because he has quite a few, but because he wears the captain's armband. More should be expected of him, and he knows it. More should be expected of this team in this department, and Kreis needs to figure a way to get that message across effectively.
Man of the Match: Marco Pappa
- Dude made our defense and midfield look just as bad as DeRo did on Saturday. At the rate we've been going in the last two games, Donovan and Keane should be really looking forward to playing us on Saturday as one of them is in store for a hat-trick.
Wanker of the Match: Kyle Beckerman
- After his ejection the wheels came off. Saborio did have one chance to level things up at 1 a piece, but with how the rest of the game went, it really wouldn't have mattered. Kyle killed us not only because we were playing down a man, but also because we had to sub off Gil - thus losing our lone creative AM - and we lost his services and defensive presence in the middle.
Moment of the Match: Javi's Return
- A new piece I'll be adding to posts: moment of the match. Last night's, despite the 3 goals and ejection, was easily the moment Javi returned to the pitch. If I could have just come for this, I'd have left a happy man. Well done fans, hopefully the players will make amends for their effort in this game through the rest of the season. And hopefully Javi can in fact be our saving grace.
Looking Forward: Things could get Ugly
- RSL has 4 games left on the season, the next 3 of which are all on the road. The game this weekend at LA looks impossible to get points out of. LA is on fire, RSL is self-destructing. Following that, RSL has to travel to make-up that game at Vancouver. This game should be one RSL could get points out of, but if things continue the way they are, they won't. Add to that that many players that are starters won't be playing due to the artificial surface and you will understand why my hopes are bleak for that one as well. Following that is the second leg of the RMC at the cRapids. Both teams could be in a tail-spin unless they figure things out in the games before. I wouldn't hold my breath on a win in that one, but you never know what to expect in a RMC match. Lastly, we finish with Portland at home. If they are at all in the playoff picture on the last day, this game is going to be just like the one last night. A team throwing everything they have at us.
With RSL sitting at 51 points and playing the way they have since the 45th minute at New York, I'd be surprised to see us get over 55 points. I want to be wrong, but this team looks to be losing form really bad at a very key moment.
FORZA REAL
Cheers,
15 to 32
No comments:
Post a Comment