Hate Week - RMC Style

RSL plays the cRapids this Friday - ESPN's Game of the Week - in what is sure to be a heated match. RSL is in a bit of a slump, the cRapids are back on the rise after a rough stretch. However, in this rivalry game, you can throw everything out the window in terms of the season. History has shown that this game will be incredibly dramatic and played hard til the final whistle. For RSL, it's a chance to right the ship with a big win (or even draw) and all but lock in that third overall spot. For the cRapids, its a chance to move up into the higher wild card seed and come into form at the end of the season. One thing is for sure: this game is going to be wild

History of the Cup: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_Cup

This match is huge. If you ask a supporter of either side they'll tell you the same thing "If my team could only win one/two games this season, it would be this one". There is no love lost between the two sides, not even the players. It is one of those truly heated rivalries that you typically only see in college or high school sports now-a-days. The fans, the players, the organizations, etc. They all hate each other. It's awesome. It's what sports, when it really comes down to it, is truly all about. Us against them.

Because of this heated nature, this game is sure to be a bit chippy. Hopefully the ref is understanding of the fact and calls his game accordingly. He shouldn't be quick to the cards, but he shouldn't just let things go, either. It's a very thin line that he'll have to find a way to walk. The hope, for both sides, is that he doesn't play a significant role in the game itself. There is plenty of hatred out there, we don't need to bring in some extra guys.

3 Keys for an RSL Victory

1. Use the emotions of the match correctly.

The moment that turned this rivalry into what it is today. What will be known forever as the "Pablo Shirt Incident" has turned this game from a somewhat friendly rivalry into a complete hatred rivalry. Fun fact: cRapids haven't won a RMC since this incident. I like to call it the "Curse of Pablow"

  - We've seen what high emotions can do to this team, both good and bad. They can cause this team, when pressed against the wall, to play incredibly great soccer. Hustle, grit, tenacity, and energy can all be derived from the emotions that are sure to be in this one. However, these emotions can have negative consequences as well. We've seen RSL succumb to the cheap shots, dirty play, and ultimately ejections of a high intensity match. These emotions have to be bridled. RSL needs to play with - as Dunseth loves to call it - a controlled anger.

2. Contain the speed of Cummings and Nyassi

The one and only current cRapid player I wouldn't mind switching shirts.

 - Speed. Both these players have loads of it. RSL's defense has been more than shaky the last couple of games. To right the ship in this one is more than necessary, it's vital. Cummings, if given space, will burn the RSL defense. The key is to keep him in front of the back-line. He isn't anywhere near as dangerous once that happens. Nyassi is the same way. Tremendous speed and will burn you in open space. If he is forced to play at a defense instead of behind them, though, he loses a lot of his edge. Still great players, but they can be limited if defended properly.

3. The Javi to Espy Connection

The Argentine connection can be incredibly lethal. Fabian builds off of the play of Javi. Javi builds off the play of Fabian.

 - It's no secret that these tow players really play well with each other. Espy, in particular, seems to really step his game up once Javier is on the pitch. With Javi back from injury and playing beyond what most people expected, I'm hoping we see that good old Argentine flair return on the big stage.

My Starting XI for RSL
GK: Rimando
LB: Wingert
CB: Olave
CB: Borchers
RB: Russell
LM: Williams
CDM: Alvarez
RM: Grabavoy
CAM: Morales
FW: Espindola
FW: Saborio
- The suspension of Beckerman and the loss of Johnson to injury will really suck in this one. Hopefully the rest of the guys can step it up. In particular, Yoradny Alvarez has to play at the top of his game. In fact...

Key Player for RSL: Yordany Alvarez

 - This game is always won in the midfield. Though it comes down to the last minute a lot of times, it's the midfield for each team that does the work for the length of the game to set those last minute heroics up. Without Beckerman, RSL will really need Alvarez to play a huge match. Simple, calm, cool, and collective. If he can do those things and make the big tackles, RSL can win this game.

Prediction: RSL 2 - cRapids 1
 - Goals from Espy and Morales
I see the cRapids getting the first goal of this match and then RSL fighting back. A goal around the 75th minute for RSL will push the cRapids into a high attack mode - allowing RSL some counters. Espy will get the late one to ice it.

FORZA REAL!

Cheers,

15 to 32

ps - YOU BETTER BE MAKING THE TRIP!!!

Rock Bottom? PLEASE!?

RSL got their butts handed to them by the expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps last night. Sure, the officiating was suspect and RSL was without a few key players, but those are just excuses to cover up the truth of the matter. RSL should be able to, even with that many players missing, handle an expansion side. In fact, Vancouver didn't even use all of their starters so it could be argued that the match was level in that department. So, at the end of the day, RSL got beat by probably the worst team in the league this year. All I can hope is that this is rock bottom. With two games left on the season and the playoffs around the corner, it's time for this team to right things or they will push the Red Sox for worst ending to the season of 2011.

A lot of excuses are being thrown around by RSL fans and media about this one. Missing players. Officiating. Unfair scheduling. Turf. etc. In the end, RSL didn't deserve to win this game. I don't know how anyone could argue they did, or that they even deserved a draw. RSL looked the worse side of the two, which is incredibly telling at this time of the year. It's the end of the season, teams are really starting to come into form around the league. Seattle, LA, New York, Kansas City, etc. These teams are clicking, showing defensive power, and know how to finish when given a chance. RSL, on the other hand, seems to be losing everything. The defense that was billed as the best in the league has given up 12 goals in 4 games. The midfield that was supposed to be the MLS's version of Barcelona suddenly can't string together any passes that have purpose. And the offense? Good lord, its pathetic. RSL is simply in a free-fall right now with teams having zero sympathy upon them.

Man of the Match: Camillo

It's hard to pick a man of the match in this one considering neither side looked incredibly good on the night. Camillo slotted away the two penalties and was a thorn in RSL's side a lot of the night.

Wankers of the Match: RSL's Whole Team

Simply pathetic. Every player, every position, every coach, all of them were bad. Rimando got beat on his near post once again. Wingert is not the same player he was before injury. Borchers and Olave were out of position more times than they weren't. Schuler is so unorthodox it's painful to watch on turf. Russell couldn't defend a person standing still. Grabavoy had possibly his worst RSL game ever. Warner, even before the red, was simply terrible. Andy would have brilliant touches and then pass the ball to nobody afterwards. Gil is not a forward. Paulo Junior's 15 minutes of fame are long done. Arnoux and Agorsor were two of the brighter spots in this game - which just goes to show how bad things are. These 2 probably wouldn't make the roster for half the teams in this league. Terrible: RSL

Looking Forward: Rocky Mountain Cup, Leg 2
 - RSL has 8 days to recover, fix their shit, get players healthy, and get this team back on track. The game at Colorado, in my book, is going to be the tale tale sign of the rest of the season. If they can find some better form, lock things down defensively, and pass with some purpose (attack!) then the playoffs are still a realistic (though very thin) chance of success. If they play anything like they have in the previous 4 games? This season is done for. This team loves to have it's back against the wall. Not sure how much more pressing they need...

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32

Fixing our problems, Starting from the back

RSL heads to Vancouver for a match that was originally scheduled back in the middle of July. Because of some poor weather, a grass pitch laid over a turf one, and mostly Vancouver valuing a friendly over a league game this match will now be on quite possibly the worst date possible for RSL. It's almost funny as it is a sign of just how bad the luck is with Real right now. They will be missing close to an entire lineup (11 players) because of injury, suspension, national team duty, and visa issues. This game should be one that RSL simply dominates as Vancouver is arguably the worst team in the league. What is likely to happen, though, is that RSL will struggle with a reserve filled lineup. One thing I can almost guarantee you, it ain't going to be an attractive match to watch.

RSL is on a 3 game losing streak with 3 games left on the season. You don't want to enter the playoffs in the form that RSL is in right now. Thus, this game, I feel, is the beginning of this teams playoff form. They can either right things on this ship, or set course for some really dangerous and likely short-lived (in terms of games played) waters. For RSL to right the ship, a lot of things need to be worked on. Specifically for this game, these three things must done if RSL wants to get any points:

1. Keep Hassli in check

  - The big man for Vancouver plays a very similar role as Saborio for us. He is the target man that releases pressure from their middle and back line. Having seen a few Whitecap matches, there is a common theme: Hassli initiates the offense. Borchers and the rest of the back line have to make sure to keep Hassli in check, force him into quick touches, and not let him have room inside the 18 when a cross is whipped in. Stop him and you hinder a lot of the offensive abilities of the Whitecaps.

2. Team Defense - Win the ball higher

 - Vancouver's defense and midfield are decent, but they tend to be sloppy with the ball when put under any form of pressure. Thus, RSL would do itself a huge favor by implementing a high line of defense and working as a unit. In order to achieve this, the strikers for RSL have to have a high work-rate and force the defense of Vancouver into rushed decisions. PJ is a sure thing to start up top, so his work-rate has to be increased tenfold from what its been since he has returned from injury. We need the old PJ that was willing to work hard and use that burst of speed.

3. Quicker Ball Movement

 - If RSL wants to have any success all at come the end of this season and playoff time, they need to start moving the ball better. This means a lot of things, firstly is that the actual  ball movement needs to be quicker. Instead of taking 3 or 4 touches to get a pass off from the defensive line, players like Borchers and Wingert need to be able to do it in 1 or 2. The quicker we move the ball forward, the more space our midfield and forwards will have to work with. This also means there needs to be better movement by the players off the ball. Borchers and Wingert can't make a 1 or 2 touch pass if the player they are passing to isn't into the space needed by that time. RSL, especially lately, has become very stagnant off the ball. This has to be improved upon if we are going to win games come late October and November.

My Starting XI for RSL
GK: Rimando
LB: Schuler
CB: Borchers
CB: McKenzie
RB: Wingert
LM: Warner
CDM: Grabavoy
RM: Williams
CAM: Gil
FW: Paulo Junior
FW: A. Alvarez

Key Player for RSL: Paulo Junior

 - No Espy (suspension) and no Sabo (Costa Rica) means that PJ has to step into a starting spot at striker for RSL. It also means he is going to have to shoulder the load of offensive threat. His form of late suggests we could be in for a long night in terms of getting a good attack. However, this kid has surprised us before. I'd love for him to do it again. Please?

Prediction: RSL 0 - Vancouver 0
- I simply don't see RSL having any ability to score in this game. With the following players likely missing: Agorsor (injury), Alexandre (Haiti), Y Alvarez (Visa Issues), Beckerman (USA), Beltran (injury), Espindola (suspension), Gonzalez (injury), Johnson (Canada), Morales (turf), Olave (turf), Reynish (injury), Russell (injury/turf) and Saborio (Costa Rica) RSL is going to struggle. That's 13 players that RSL could very easily be missing. Kreis might force some players - Olave, Morales, and Russell -  to play despite them likely needing a rest on the turf, so who knows. If I was Kreis, I wouldn't risk it, not with how late we are in the season. Olave's knees, Morales' ankle, and Russell's whole body are not worth risking on this plastic stuff.

I think our defense is a whole lot better than they've played lately and will be the main focus of this match. These last 3 games will be about building upon one third of the pitch and then moving forward. In Vancouver, it's about fixing the defense. At cRapids it'll be midfield play, and hopefully against Portland we can get the strikers hot again.

FORZA REAL!

Cheers,

15 to 32

Tale of Two Teams

RSL found a way to lose, yet again, down in LA this weekend. Despite having a first half advantage and playing a whole lot better than they have in their past two and a half matches, RSL came out of LA with 0 points. When looking back on this game, something really jumped out at me: who these teams are. RSL started this season wanting to be the best MLS team of all time, winning multiple trophies, and proving its depth. In reality, we're an above average team that can't figure out how to grind out results lately.

Who RSL actually is: Sloppy, slumping team
 -Watching this game, these last few games, hell this whole season has been an emotional roller-coaster. RSL started, as they did in this game, as a team with high hopes. They look to have the talent and skill to accomplish them as well. I mean, Javier Morales and Fabian Espindola, when on, are next to impossible to stop in this league. Those two can simply tear teams apart. Olave and Borchers in the back? Forget about getting any goals there. On paper, this team is as solid as they come. Strong in every position and depth on the bench to back it. Too bad paper isn't where the game is played...

In reality, RSL has shown (and this game really epitomized it) a complete lack of mental strength in tough situations and a lack of discipline overall. The first LA goal was a text book 2011 RSL mess up. Olave has Barrett shielded off, Rimando has a line to the ball, it should be easy pickings. But, for whatever reason, not only does RSL fail to execute, but they allow Barrett to sneak around, chip a ball from feet away, and score what has to go down as one of the ugliest conceded goals of the year. Not to be outdone, only minutes later our defense showed again its lack of discipline late. Poor defending on Beckham's original set piece allowed Dunivant the opportunity to get the ball on the far post. Some terrible luck and poor marking/positioning made it so Borchers scored an own goal via assist from Chris Wingert.

Stuff like this hasn't been happening all year, but RSL has really struggled this season to put it all together. The offense, the defense, set piece defending, midfield movement, etc. Something is always failing and usually destroys this team in the 90 minutes. RSL, in actuality, is a team that lacks composure and mental endurance. Kreis is still figuring the job out - its going to take quite awhile - and his team is proof of where he needs to improve. It's a collective deficiency in this team. Everyone is partly to blame for why we have zero trophies, are not in the Supporters Shield race, and will be praying to god we somehow can make a run in November. The hopes for this team were rightly high, the execution has been below par.


Who RSL wants to be: LA Galaxy

 -  What made this game much more painful was watching LA execute what RSL set out to do this season. The Gals have proven themselves to be a really really good team - especially at home. They don't drop points when they are in a position to get them, and they make a team fight like hell to even get one point off of them. Their team, even with a substantial amount of money invested in few players, has shown itself to have great depth. They are very much in CCL still and look to probably be able to advance to the knockout phases. They've all but locked up the Supporters Shield and look to be the team to beat going into MLS Cup.
When the season started, this was the team everyone thought RSL was going to be. Hard to beat at home. Hard to even get a point off of. Solid defense that doesn't make bad mistakes. Enough discipline to not get suspensions and ejections. Depth to deal with international duty and injuries. Etc. etc. LA has shown itself to be what we wanted to be. Their win in this game essentially sealed the deal for the Supporters Shield. So, RSL, you got to see first hand what it takes to close out on something you set your sights on.

Man of the Match: David Beckham

- I really don't like the guy and his whinny antics, but he was largely responsible for the two goals LA scored on RSL. His set pieces and ability to place a ball in a dangerous position were too much for our defense to handle in the second half. Again, I hate the guys play, but have to give credit where it is due.

Wanker of the Match: Jason Kreis

 - I struggled with which RSL player/coach to put here. Rimando deserves a lot of blame for his complete lack of effort on the first LA goal. Borchers scored a game winning OG, that's never good. Wingert had the game winning assist - pretty rare. Chris Brown is in charge of the defense as a whole, which doesn't look too great right now. etc etc. In the end, though, it falls on the manager - it's part of having the job. Kreis team has gone from super club to faltering foe at the exact wrong time. While he struggles to figure out this team, he needs to really take a long hard look in the mirror. RSL has given up 10 goals in its last 4 games. For a coach who harps on defense as a team, something isn't going right. Oh, and his subbing patterns in the last few games? horrific.

Moment of the Match: Taking off Espy

 - With a yellow card already to his name and his history of getting chippy in tight situations, it somewhat made sense for Kreis to take off Espindola. What didn't add up, however, was that Espindola was already suspended for the next match with that yellow - something Kreis better have known - and was pretty much our only form of attack in the final third. Once Espy went off, we had nothing up top. Paulo Junior continued his run of losing form after injury. In fact, I think Paulo spent more time in our middle and defense third chasing balls he lost rather than being the outlet he is supposed to be. It sucks to say this, but Espy is this teams attack. Without him out there, we're not dangerous at all against a team that has even a somewhat decent defense.

Looking Forward: Vancouver Makeup with Scrubs
 - This Thursday RSL will travel up to Vancouver for the makeup game from earlier this year. It couldn't come at a worse time for RSL. Multiple players will be missing this one for international duty, suspensions, and injuries. In fact, I'm not 100% positive RSL will be able to have 18 players to put on the game day roster. Missing will be: Alexandre (Haiti), A Alvarez (El Salvador), Beckerman (USA), Beltran (injury), Espindola (suspension), Gonzalez (injury), Johnson (Canada), Reynish (injury), Saborio (Costa Rica) and maybe a few others that I'm missing. The starting XI and bench is going to be really interesting for this one. I highly doubt Kreis even travels Olave and Morales given it will be on turf. This could be really ugly - at least Vancouver will probably get their first win in beautiful BC Place.

FORZA REAL

Cheers,

15 to 32