They’ve got our goats: Chivas 3, RSL 1 (updated)
By: Fitz |
4 Comments
I haven’t posted player ratings. I explain why below.
FIRST AND FOREMOST …
This game was quite the reminder about how much RSL must improve the reach the upper tier. Are they better? Yes. Did they control the ball for stretches last night? Yep, that too. However, and I don’t know exactly how to quantify this, but the best way to compare the two teams last night is this:
When RSL had the ball, they possessed it.
When Chivas had the ball, they threatened.
Again, I don’t know how you back something like that up with stats. But I was rarely on the edge of my seat saying, “Real’s got a scoring chance brewing here.” I saw them move the ball wide, and I saw them be patient, but I wasn’t feeling like something special was going to happen.
After watching Fabian and Yura create chances last week against Chicago, I just didn’t feel good about much Saturday unless the ball was served to Kenny Deuchar’s head. He was great last night, by the way. Not only did he win balls in the air but he put them in a spot for teammates to do something. And by “something,” I mean Robbie Findley kicking the ball 10 yards ahead of him on the first touch. But back to the Doctor: Once Chivas realized how strong he was in the air, he was receiving quite the attention. He was tackled (American football style, not soccer style) in the area one time. No foul.
So I reiterate what I’ve said in the week leading up to the season and after last week’s tie. RSL are better than last year, and they will get better as everyone gets used to each other. Last night made it obvious there’s still work to be done. And I don’t mean that in a negative way. Just being realistic.
LINEUP CHANGES
Lesson learned. I’m not predicting lineups anymore. They’re going to be wrong.
The Doctor and Findley started up front, and Dema Kovalenko replaced Andy Williams. Findley was unproductive. Yura was lights out when he came in. Which leads me to …
THE UNANSWERED QUESTION
Who starts up front next week? I don’t think Kreis can go wrong with Deuchar-Movsisyan or Deuchar-Espindola.
I LIED ABOUT PLAYER RATINGS
I still haven’t watched the game again, so I won’t post player ratings — at least until/if I watch the game again. For example, I left the game not exactly pleased with Rimando’s timing on the first goal, but after watching highlights I can honestly say he timed coming out as best he could. So for me to post ratings based on what I saw live would be unproductive.
Suffice it to say Carey Talley did not play his best. I liked him in the opener. Against Chivas, obviously, he made too many mistakes. My gut tells me to campaign for Nathan Sturgis to start. I’ll explore that in a separate post later this week (credit Black Prince for raising the issue in comments below).
For more on Talley, including the player’s thoughts, check out the James Edward blog at the Deseret News.
DOES THIS SUCK OR WHAT?
Alecko Eskandarian in 2007 with RSL: 17 games played — 1,448 minutes played — 1 goal
Atiba Harris in 2007 with RSL: 21 games played — 1,259 minutes played — 0 goals
Let’s combine those two, shall we? 2,707 minutes played — 1 goal.
Those two guys for Chivas USA last night: 2 goals.
OTHER THOUGHTS
** The crowd was something else. Passionate and very kid-friendly — a combo you don’t often see. I was very impressed with the paper airplane-throwing skills of some of them.
** Cheerleaders at soccer games? For freakin’ real? At least I learned that “ChivaGirls” is the proper usage in English and Spanish.
** Halftime show involved an 11-a-side game played between two companies. Fan favorite had to be the guy wearing a pro wrestling outfit, complete with cape and mask. On the other team — and what a huge surprise this is — a radio personality had a jersey with the number 69. Oh, hardy har har, I get it. Sixty-nine. Like the sexual position. I haven’t laughed so hard since I saw every college fraternity flag football team hold fights to see who’d emerge with the bragging rights to wear 69. Oh, such rapier wit.
** Aggregate score of RSL-Chivas games played at HDC: Chivas, 18-3. It’s nice to know both teams entered the league in the same year.
Category: Team News
People’s post: RSL-Chivas USA
By: Fitz | 3 Comments
Okay then. I’d offer up some trash talk, but when the cumulative score of RSL-Goats games at the HDC is 13 goals on the downside, it’s hard. “You just wait, Goats. We will not lose 3-0 this time around!” See? Rather hard.
Tell me who you’d like to see start, what fate you’d like to see await Atiba Harris, that sort of thing. Check in after the game to post your pithy yet rather clever thoughts. I’ll post Thorough Analysis by the time you wake up for work Monday morning.
Category: Team NewsPregame hype: RSL at FWCCCUSA
By: Fitz | Add Comments
Here are some notes ahead of Saturday’s meeting between MLS’ two proud members of the 2005 expansion class, Real Salt Lake and Future Western Conference Champion Chivas USA:
PROBABLE RSL LINEUP
One change: The Doctor is fit and ready to go …
- - - - - - -Espindola- - - - -Deuchar- - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -Morales- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -Williams- - - - Talley - - - - Beckerman - - - -
- Joy - - - - Mantilla - - - Borchers - - - - Wingert -
- - - - - - - - - - - -Rimando- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
HISTORY
Chivas USA has won six meetings, RSL two. Three draws. Chivas won all three meetings last season. In games at the HDC, Chivas has won all five meetings, 15-2 aggregate.
Andy Williams has played more games against the Goats than any other RSL player. He’s played in 10, with eight starts, three goals and an assist.
Only two other players on RSL’s current roster have scored against CUSA: Carey Talley and Robbie Findley.
Ante Razov has four goals in six career starts vs. RSL.
MILESTONE ALERT
If Dema Kovalenko plays for RSL, he’ll become the 44th player in MLS history with 200 career appearances.
All notes courtesy of the official pregame release. If you want to read them in all of their splendor, click here.
Category: Team NewsYour RSL salaries (updated to clarify GA guys)
By: Fitz | Add Comments
Fellow Keene High School and American University grad Steven Goff has posted on Soccer Insider the list of all MLS salaries.
I present to you those of Real Salt Lake, in alphabetical order so you can find your favorite player (or least favorite, as the case may be).
Player — Base — Guaranteed $
Beckerman — 143K — 145.5K
Beltran — 55K — 90.5K (Generation adidas)
Besagno — 100K — 136.5K (Generation adidas)
Borchers — 120K — 127.5K
Cordoba — 100K — 100K
Cutler — 33K — 33K
Deuchar — 135K — 145K
Espindola — 75K — 75K
Findley — 47K — 59K
Horst — 33K — 33K
Joy — 120K — 120K
Kirby — 17.7K — 17.7K
Kovalenko — 200K — 207.6K
Mantilla — 153K — 153K
Morales — 240K — 240K
Movsisyan — 47.5K — 57.5K
Nimo — 45K — 78K (Generation adidas)
Nunez — 17.7K — 17.7K
Reiman — 12.9K — 12.9K
Reynish — 17.7K — 17.7K
Rimando — 91.5K — 95.8K
Seitz — 70K — 105.5K (Generation adidas)
Sturgis — 75K — 108K
Talley — 105K — 105K
Tennelle — 12.9K — 12.9K
Williams — 80K — 80K
Wingert — 65K — 65K
So … if we did a starting lineup based on highest guaranteed income, by position, here’s what we would have:
GK — Seitz
wing D — Besagno (!), Joy
central D — Borchers, Mantilla
central M — Sturgis, Beckerman, Kovalenko
attacking M — Morales
F — Deuchar, Espindola
Subs — Talley, Rimando, Cordoba, Beltran, Williams, Nimo, Wingert
Among those left out — Movsisyan, Findley
The Goffster followed up on his post by listing leaguewide bargains and “Hmmmm”s. RSL had no bargains. Kovalenko and Besagno qualified for the latter. Please check out his post — but not until you leave a comment here.
Category: Team NewsSweeping judgments, ‘Snakes,’ second-guess and satisfaction: Your Game 1 review
By: Fitz | 1 Comment
This is, without question, the most thorough review of Real Salt Lake’s 1-1 tie with Chicago that you are reading this second.
FIRST AND FOREMOST …
I feel good. Granted, I’ve been on the Real Salt Lake bandwagon since February. Then again, this recent arrival gives me a perspective that enables me to appreciate a stoppage-time blown victory more than other followers.
I keep hearing about how last year, in the opener, RSL gave up a late tying goal, and it set the tone for the season. It’s a natural parallel to Saturday, when Real allowed a stoppage time goal to ruin an otherwise exemplary season opener.
But I’m not gonna slip into “here we go again” mode, and neither should you. Yeah, it’s a crummy way to lose two points. But to draw a parallel between two season openers is nonsense. Three-fourths of this year’s team wasn’t on the opening-day roster last year. Of the 14 men who played for Team Xango on Saturday, three were there for the 11-game winless streak to start the season. So how last year’s tie to FC Dallas set the tone for two months has nothing to do with how Saturday’s result will set the tone this year.
RSL dominated possession, created more chances, allowed two lousy shots on goal, rendered Blanco useless for 91 minutes and was the better side against a team that a number of Those In The Know believe is a top-four side in MLS.
I like how this team looked, and RSL ain’t gonna go into June winless this time around. They might even win next week at future Western Conference champion Chivas USA. I’m looking forward to that.
Then again, I also looked forward to “Snakes On A Plane.”
PLAYER RATINGS
I’m using the BBC scale, which I assume is similar to many scales. But everything’s better if it’s British, especially beer and sitcoms. 10 — pure perfection; 9 — outstanding; 8 — very good; 7 — good; 6 — average; 5 — off color; 4 — poor (hey, that’s a rhyme); 3 — woeful; 2 — embarrassingly bad; 1 — give up the game.
STARTERS
GK Nick Rimando — 5. With one goal on two shots on frame, and little else for him to do, I have no choice. Do I?
LB Ian Joy — 6. Started strongly. Less of a factor on the wings as the game wore on. Beaten around the sideline on the play that led to the tying goal.
CB Matias Mantilla — 7. I hardly noticed him. That would be good news.
CB Nat Borchers — 7. Strong in the air.
RB Chris Wingert — 7. Effective down the right side. His poor clearance was gobbled up by Blanco on the tying goal, although he’s hardly alone in the blame. The cross that he cleared right to Blanco could have been taken care of by three other defenders before it got to him. Plusses outweighed the minus, and he worked his tail off to return from injury, hence a 7 instead of a 6.
CDM Carey Talley — 7. Disruptive. Played the simple balls. Reliable.
CM Kyle Beckerman — 6. Played with his usual passion. Played 15 minutes of first half with tissue up his nostril to stop a bloody nose. Lacked poise late in the game.
CM Andy Williams — 7. The RSL man of the match. Ran all over the place. Attempted a couple of crackers. Vibrant offensively. Worked hard on defense. Good to see his sterling offseason and preseason work carried over to the opener. Who is this Cordoba fellow again?
CM Javi Morales — 5. Paid to create chances. Didn’t.
F Yura Movsisyan — 6. Good news: Created chances. Bad news: Finished none.
F Fabian Espindola — 6. If he finishes his 1-on-1 chance in the 13th minute, he’s an 8. Brilliant cross to Yura in 6th minute. Very active.
SUBSTITUTES
F Robbie Findley — 5. Kudos for his speed. Was the target on Kovalenko’s ball that led to the own goal. Gets the “off color” rating for his silly dive.
CM Dema Kovalenko — 6. His cross led to the own goal.
F Kenny Deuchar — 5. Didn’t hold the ball very well when RSL needed to kill time.
NEWBIE ALERT
Here’s how the touted newcomers did Saturday:
Ian Joy — Played 90 minutes at left back.
Nat Borchers — Played 90 minutes at center back.
Dema Kovalenko — Played 21 minutes. Didn’t get booked.
Kenny Deuchar — Played 17 minutes, looked understandably “meh” considering he rejoined the team Thursday.
Jamison Olave — Unused sub.
Matias Cordoba — Did not dress. And with Williams playing the way he did, might not for a while.
FAN VIDEO
Here’s footage of the own goal, although you don’t actually see it. But you do hear fans heckling Blanco, and it’s a pretty loud reaction. Courtesy “tiquicimo” on YouTube:
SUNDAY NIGHT MANAGER
Kudos to Jason Kreis for putting together this team. He knew he took over a train wreck, and he’s assembled a squad that, save for stoppage time, did itself proud Saturday.
Now, about his in-game strategy …
It’s tied in the 70th minute. He’s got Kenny Deuchar ready to enter as his third and final sub. And then his team takes a 1-0 lead. So he doesn’t really need Deuchar, does he? He needs, say, Nathan Sturgis, a defensive-minded player who’s versatile and coming off a fine Olympic qualifying campaign.
But Deuchar enters the game, giving RSL three not-very-defensive-minded players when Chicago’s in all-out attack mode.
There’s no rule that prevents him from changing his mind about Deuchar, right? Deuchar’s not in the game until he’s on the field, right? So Kreis could have used someone else, like, um, Sturgis, right? If I’m wrong, I apologize for this diatribe, But I think I’m right.
UNANSWERED QUESTION
Speaking of Sturgis, I wonder where he fits in with this team. I know Kreis likes him; Sturgis started for him last year and understands the system that he employs. I like how Talley played Saturday. Beckerman, obviously, has to play. And Williams was wonderful. I’d just hate to see Sturgis underutilized. Time will tell.
IN CLOSING …
A good start for the boys. A bitter pill, watching Blanco do nothing but bitch and moan for 90 minutes only to deliver when it mattered. But all in all, you feel better about this team’s direction than you did 12 months ago, don’t you?
So let’s find ourselves an optimistic song (and you know it’s gettin’ better when you see the drummer twirl the stick) …
Category: Team NewsRSL-Chicago: The people’s post
By: Fitz | 2 Comments
Hi. It’s game day! What the hell are you doing reading this instead of tailgating?
Here’s the plan for the blog this weekend and every weekend we play:
The day of the game, I’ll put up a generic post like this. Here’s where you go to post your thoughts on the game. Pregame thoughts, in-game thoughts, postgame thoughts, they’re all welcome. This is your post.
By the end of the weekend — and yeah, that could mean 1 a.m. Monday morning — I will have watched the game, avoided knee-jerk reactions, and will post a review that I hope will be unique to other sites.
So please, post away. One down, 29 (and playoffs) to go …
Category: Team NewsQuick update on Wingert
By: Fitz | Add Comments
The official injury report, as listed in the preview on MLS’ official site, lists outside back Chris Wingert as probable for tomorrow’s opener against Chicago. He has an MCL sprain in his left knee.
Did you know Fabian Espindola had a hyperextended left knee? Neither did I. He’s probable, too.
For more pregame hype please read (and comment on) my previous post.
Category: Team NewsYour Season Opener hype edition
By: Fitz | 4 Comments
There’s no real theme to this post, just a mishmash of stuff as Real Salt Lake preps for Saturday’s opener against the Chicago Fire.
THE LINEUP. SORT OF.
This is an educated guess. I’d rather stick with what I know, but given that this is a blog, I’ve developed a bit of speculationitis:
——–Yura—-Fabian———-
———–Morales————–
—–Beckerman—-Williams——
————Talley—————
-Joy–Mantilla/Borchers–Wingert-
———–Rimando————–
I chose the forwards I did because they’ve been together for most of the Argentina camp and throughout camp since. Can’t say that about Robbie Findley or Kenny Deuchar. … Dema Kovalenko played with the reserves on Monday vs. Lobos, so I think Talley is a safer pick, no? … I am giving Wingert, who’s been hurt, the benefit of the doubt; if not him, then it’s rookie Tony Beltran. … Andy Williams has had a better preseason than Matias Cordoba, so he deserves the start.
A special note about the midfield: I do not know how they’ll specifically line up. I have not seen these guys play. I know, based on what I’ve read, that Jason Kreis asks his outside backs to supply width, thus giving RSL three center mids. So don’t take that diamond literally. I need to see these guys play a few games before I fully understand the mids’ roles. Anyone who is more familiar is welcome to enlighten me/us in the Comments.
I’m looking forward to seeing this team in person when they face future Western Conference champion Chivas USA a week from Saturday.
What lineup would you like to see?
THREE KEYS, ACCORDING TO …
… AYL soccer, which has posted said keys here. (NOTE: AYL stands for “All Your Local” as opposed to what I said earlier. Thanks to the correction in the comments below.)
NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH FAMILIARITY
Andy Williams scores some points for doing exactly what the coaches tell him, at least according to this post from James Edward of the Deseret News. If you’re going to mimic a player, you might as well go all the way.
IVES GALARCEP SAYS …
… that RSL is No. 12 in his opening power rankings. He reasons: “I’m sure folks in Salt Lake will argue that RSL made a ton of acquisitions and is ready to take the leap. I’m not convinced. If and when I am convinced, I will let it be known and adjust the rankings accordingly.” Fair enough, don’t you think? Click here for his complete rankings. I think RSL will be better than the Galaxy and Colorado, but time will tell.
Category: Team NewsDoctor in the house Saturday …
By: Fitz | 5 Comments
… but should he start?
Kenny Deuchar is all set, paper-wise, to leave the UK and work here in the United States. The official blog of Real Salt Lake says he’ll head to Salt Lake on Thursday, two days before the scheduled season opener against the Chicago Fire.
Deuchar hasn’t been with the team since they broke camp in Argentina.
So what should coach Jason Kreis do Saturday?
(1) Start him? It’s not like he’s forgotten how to play.
(2) Bring him off the bench? Surely he has 20 minutes of good football in him.
(3) Rest him? He’s been away from the team too long.
(4) Why the hell are you asking this? You think Kreis is too stupid to make up his own mind? Well, without debate we wouldn’t have a blog.
What do you think? What’s your starting tandem up front? And why haven’t I placed a retro video on here in so long?
That last question was outstanding. Thanks for asking. Here’s fellow Scot Edwyn Collins with a live version of “A Girl Like You.” Note two elements missing from music today: an actual guitar solo, and music played on MTV.
Category: Team News… and the Great Pumpkin will score all their goals
By: Fitz | 2 Comments
Just visited the MLS site, where they have a poll asking which team will improve the most in 2008. I did my Homeristic duty in selecting Real Salt Lake.
The results, as of 11:30 Pacific …
Columbus, 7 percent
Real Salt Lake, 10 percent
Other FC, 11 percent
Toronto FC, 25 percent
L.A. Galaxy, 47 percent
As you can guess from my headline, I just don’t see how a team with 98.72 percent of its payroll invested in three players will make the playoffs, much less improve more than any other team in MLS. Then again, I’m not capable of coaching soccer to preschoolers, so what the hell do I know?
Thoughts?
Category: Team News
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