Sweeping judgments, ‘Snakes,’ second-guess and satisfaction: Your Game 1 review

By: Fitz | March 30th, 2008

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) …