Quick update on Wingert
By: Fitz |
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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 News
Your 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 NewsYour roster breakdown
By: Fitz | 4 Comments
Here is how Real Salt Lake’s roster breaks down as per MLS guidelines:
SENIOR ROSTER (18 maximum)
International (8 maximum)
Matias Cordoba (mid) - Argentina
Kenny Deuchar (fwd) - Scotland
Fabian Espindola (fwd) - Argentina
Matias Mantilla (def) - Argentina
Javier Morales (mid) - Argentina
Jamison Olave (def) - Colombia
Domestic (U.S. citizen, permanent resident or special status)
Kyle Beckerman (mid)
Nat Borchers (def)
Kenny Cutler (mid)
Robbie Findley (fwd)
David Horst (def)
Ian Joy (def)
Dema Kovalenko (mid)
Nick Rimando (keeper)
Nathan Sturgis (mid)
Carey Talley (mid)
Andy Williams (mid)
Chris Wingert (def)
DEVELOPMENTAL ROSTER (10 maximum)
(Can be either domestic or international … must be 25 or younger during the calendar year of competition … not counted against a team’s salary budget)
Tony Beltran (def) - age 20 - Generation adidas
Nik Besagno (def) - age 19 - Generation adidas
Dustin Kirby (def) - age 23
Yura Movsisyan (fwd) - age 20
Alex Nimo (mid) - just turned 18 - Generation adidas
Tino Nunez (fwd) - age 23
Kevin Reiman (mid) - just turned 22
Kyle Reynish (keeper) - age 24
Chris Seitz (keeper) - just turned 21 - Generation adidas
Brennan Tennelle (mid) - age 21
Category: Team NewsThe Mr. McMahon treatment, right back at me
By: Fitz | 3 Comments
So I was told this week that I’m incapable of teaching 3-to-6-year olds how to play soccer. But I wasn’t fired. That’s a distinction my former boss made to me when she called.
No, the distinction made to me was that …
I wasn’t being fired.
They didn’t want me coaching anymore.
They wanted more female coaches, and I’m not a woman.
They reconfigured the coaching roster, and I wasn’t on it.
More women were on it.
But I wasn’t being fired.
So, it’s clear, right? I wasn’t fired. I was simply being told I wasn’t on the coaching roster.
Anyway, I did this when RSL cut four players, so I’m giving it back to me. Because I am now incapable of teaching soccer to preschoolers — and is that ammo for you guys, or what? — here is a message from my former bosses to me:
AND THERE IS A REAL SALT LAKE-RELATED POINT IN HERE SOMEWHERE
My move to L.A. hasn’t been everything I thought it would be. I chose to live in a more expensive area, and my money just pissed away. I spent time making contacts but not enough writing to actually get better in my craft. And finding a job has been a more brutal exercise than I imagined.
And this, finally, brings me to Real Salt Lake. We lost last night, 1-0 to Kansas City. Forgive me for burying the lead, but I’m gonna take this result as seriously as I did the loss to Lynn University, or the tie to the Rapids, or any of the results in Argentina. Which is not much at all.
This team will take time to jell. I’ll drill that point home by mentioning that Deuchar and the three U23s weren’t there last night.
We’ve had three players on U23 duty; visa issues with Olave, Deuchar and Movsisyan; injuries to Beckerman, Talley, Kovalenko and Rimando; and two defenders signed from Europe. We won’t be playing our best soccer right away.
This team will be much better in July than it will be next weekend against the Fire.
And I got to vent against my former boss.
Thanks for humoring me.
Category: Team NewsPre-emptive strike: Saturn Cup comments
By: Fitz | 3 Comments
This is for any who’s watching the game. Oddly enough, here in L.A., the local stations aren’t picking up the contest. So please chime in with your comments before, during and after the game. Or I could just live blog and make stuff up. “Findley has a breakaway … he finishes!”
For what it’s worth (hint: nothing, but I need filler), RSL is 5-1-3 in the preseason. Our Royals (yeah, FM, I’ll pull that out occasionally, like when I’m bored) have tied their only MLS opponent, Colorado.
So RSL has never been to Heaven, but we know where they are this weekend.
UPDATE
Kenny Deuchar won’t be with the team in Oklahoma. He’s getting his work papers taken care of in Scotland. GM Garth Lagerwey tells the Deseret News the legalities should be taken care of by Tuesday.
Category: Team NewsThe People’s Preview
By: Fitz | 2 Comments
My RSL preview will run any day now. Until then, here’s a chance to whet your appetite for the season. What’s a realistic goal for the season? .500? Playoffs? A playoff run? Or are you taking the Garth Lagerwey approach and saying that as long as there’s progress, and we’re set up for success for years to come, it that OK by you?
You’ll know my take when the preview posts.
Until then, post your take.
OTHER STUFF
Garth Lagerwey to Bill Riley of KALL 700: “I’d argue so far that (Nat) Borchers is our best defender.” Thanks, RSLFM, for posting the audio. … RSL plays Kansas City on Saturday in Norman, Okla., in the final scrimmage of the preseason. RSL has tied its other MLS preseason opponent, Colorado, 2-2. … James Edward of the Deseret News reports that RSL has settled on a 4-4-2 base formation, with the options of morphing into a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 based on the situation.
Category: Team NewsSo, about this midfield …
By: Fitz | 3 Comments
I needed all of this past weekend, and much of St. Patrick’s Day, to figure out what opinion to write on RSL’s midfield.
And the best I can do is this:
_______________________________________________________.
Now, some of you might argue that I’ve just written my best post of 2008. You’re welcome.
Truth be told, I’m stumped. I like the depth at center mid, but not the lack of outside mids. I like Dema Kovalenko and Kyle Beckerman in the middle, but is that worth the cost of putting Javi Morales outside? Should we put Dema outside even though we already know that’s not his best position?
Or should RSL use a 4-3-3? Place Beckerman and Dema in front of the backs, use Morales as an attacking mid and have two players from the Findley/Yura/Espindola triumvirate make runs off services to The Doctor. Yes? No?
I’m just throwing some possibilities out there and asking what you think. This way, I can’t be wrong. No concrete suggestion = can’t be wrong. Brilliant, I say.
Floor’s open.
Category: Team NewsReport: Indra gone, Wingert injured
By: Fitz | 3 Comments
All hail James Edward! The Deseret News’ soccer reporter caught up with Jason Kreis upon the team’s return from Argentina and has the following news on his blog:
No contract offer for Indra.
Defender Chris Wingert has a left MCL sprain and is out about two weeks, meaning he might miss the home opener on March 29.
Dema Kovalenko has a pulled groin (which should explain his absences from a couple of scrimmages) and Nick Rimando has a strained rotator cuff (likewise).
To reiterate, full credit on those updates to Mr. Edward. Now that he’s done the legwork for me, I get to comment.
As for Wingert’s injury, if he misses the opener, Kreis has two likely options. One is to play Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers at center back and move Matias Mantilla to the outside. Or he can play rookie Tony Beltran at outside back.
The other option, is, of course, that Wingert can heal in time.
Regarding Dema, I can’t help but think of a common gut reaction — my gut included — after the trade went down. “Another holding mid?”
And now we know why. Carey Talley’s been banged up, Kyle Beckerman is recovering, Nathan Sturgis could have Olympic duty (then again, he could not), and oh, by the way, injuries happen. So thank goodness for depth.
OTHER STUFF
** Did any of you attend the airport gathering today? What was that like? Please post a comment if you went.
** GM Garth Lagerwey spoke with KALL 700 radio host Bill Riley — as opposed to Bill O’Reilly (”You’re WRONG, Mr. Lagerwey! WRONG! Now buy “Culture Warrior.”) Such interviews (real ones, not that fake one) are normally posted on Riley’s blog in a timely manner, but not today. If you don’t want to wait for me to listen to it, the link is here.
** Rosario Central played their reserves in the 2-2 tie Wednesday against RSL’s first team. (Credit to a Spanish language newspaper report posted on rslfm.com.)
** Check out our home page for a story about several Cubans defecting, leaving their roster at 11 players. Not good news for us Yanks.
** Speaking of the Olympic qualifiers, my plan is to watch tonight’s game, then post later, with a focus on our RSL guys. Plans do change, but that’s my current one.
Floor’s open for comments.
Category: Team News
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