Garth Lagerwey chat …

By: Fitz | February 29th, 2008

… courtesy of AYL Soccer.

The RSL general manager met fans last night at Applebee’s. If you have 1 hour, 8 minutes, 39 seconds to spare, you can click on this and hit the play button.

If you don’t have 1 hour, 8 minutes, 39 seconds to spare, guess who did? That’s right … the guy without a job! You’re welcome.

EXPECTATIONS

Garth is reminding fans that a team with so many new players will need time to jell. He doesn’t like placing a concrete expectation — i.e., make the playoffs — so he just wants the team to be headed in the right direction. If RSL doesn’t make the playoffs but has set itself up well for 2009, that’s OK by him.

KENNY DEUCHAR

At Gretna, most of the balls he received were through the air. Gretna’s offense went directly through him. Garth wants RSL to play a possession-style game, because (a) RSL is used to that crummy turf, so if RSL forces other teams to play that tempo on that turf, it’s to the home team’s advantage, and (b) with the altitude, he hopes other teams will tire out chasing the ball around.

So Kenny’s main adjustment is that he’ll be getting the ball played to feet more often than he did in Scotland.

Also, RSL is looking into getting an official RSL tartan kilt through a company in Scotland. Seriously.

THE ARGENTINA TRIP

The team was scheduled to leave today. Nikolas Besagno (injury) and the three Olympic trainees (Findley, Seitz, Sturgis) will stay in the States. Twenty-five others will go.

Central back Jamison Olave should join the team by Tuesday. (Random thought: If y’all don’t sing his name to the tune of “Volare,” disband your cheering sections now.)

Midfielder Matias Cordoba had better step it up. “If there’s been a disappointment, it’s been Cordoba so far,” Garth said. He added, however, that Cordoba hasn’t had much of a chance to prove himself.

Indra Sahdan Saud’s on the clock as well. RSL’s lone trialist spent the first five days in Florida getting used to sleep patterns, the weather, the food, running, etc. If he’s not better than he was in Florida, he won’t make the team, Garth said. However, Indra did score two goals toward the latter end of the trip. Singapore holds its breath.

RSL might play a second division team in addition to its current schedule:
Thursday, March 6: Scrimmages (first-team and reserves) v. Newell’s Old Boys
Tuesday, March 11: Scrimmage (reserves) v. Rosario Central
Wednesday, March 12: Scrimmage (first-team) v. Rosario Central

SET PIECES

Garth likes the idea of Javi Morales serving them up to Deuchar, Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave. He also likened rookie defender David Horst to “a baby elephant” who doesn’t know how strong he is. When Horst does play — and he ain’t a first-team candidate yet — he’s amazing in the air.

THE MIDFIELD

“Our midfield could be awesome, but it’s got a ways to go right now,” he said. RSL hasn’t had a chance to trot out what the team believes would be its first-team group. Because …

Dema Kovalenko — new
Kyle Beckerman and Carey Talley — hurt; Garth is “optimistic” that Beckerman, who is resting his foot because of a tendon injury, will train by the end of the Argentina trip
Andy Williams and Javi Morales — Garth praised their preseason play
Nathan Sturgis — off to Olympic camp

Plus, Garth said earlier that Cordoba isn’t playing so well right now.

“I have no idea who our starting four midfielders are gonna be right now,” he said.

(An aside from me: Some people have asked if Beckerman or Dema could play on the flank. I believe they can, but that’s not their natural position. I don’t know what Jason Kreis has in mind so I won’t speculate.)

ETC.

The reserves will play home-and-away against each of the Western Conference teams.

There will be a supporters section at the new stadium.

Garth said seven foreign players is a good number to have, based on them generally costing more money and for team building purposes. He praised the Argentines for trying to learn English.

Garth can’t be specific about player contracts, but RSL has room to sign one, maybe two more players if they choose to. (It doesn’t sound like that’s a priority.)

RSL must beat three MLS teams to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup round of 16: San Jose (home), Columbus (away) and Chicago (away).

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That does it. Digest and comment.