Playoffs Game 2: Seattle at Salt Lake, 8:00 MST, Thu. 8 November 2012

I'm kind of shocked we aren't playing on Wed given the next round is either Sun/Mon. I'm going to assume whoever advances should be playing the next round on Monday. It doesn't make sense to have to play Thur/Sun. Of course if LA advances, I could see the league giving them an advantage by having our groups winner forced to play Sunday on less rest. And great parenting would be to quit choir. She can sing on her own time right?

When I asked, via twitter, RSL why we had such weird dates they said that the first one was for stadium issues. That made sense.
They said we would play on Thursday for TV reasons. Um... this game is on local tv... even worse, it'll be tape delayed in Utah because of CW30's big shows being on Thursday.

Way to go MLS. Way to ********ing go

Via my Comcast listings:

7-9:30 pm on Thursday, there is an "MLS Soccer Playoff" listed on 669 (ES2HD). The info only says "Game 2 of a two-game conference semifinal series." Since we're the only ones playing on Thursday, does this mean it's being broadcast by ESPN2? Or is that listing out of date?

We're in a decent position heading into this game.

We saw in the final minutes of the first leg how frustrated Seattle got.
Rash challenges, Long balls over the top, and diving.
Get an early goal and they'll fall apart.

A thing to worry about: yellow card accumulation. According to the guy who runs the RSL twitter, 2 yellows in the playoffs gets you a 1 game suspension. The exception to this rule is that you can't be suspended for MLS Cup because of yellow card accumulation.

Thus, if you get 2 yellow cards in the first 3 (or 4 if you were a play-in team) games of the playoffs, you'll be suspended a game.

RSL has KB and Javi already on yellow cards. I know it is way too early to be looking forward to that next leg, but please please PLEASE don't get a yellow Javi/KB. Or, if you are going to in the next 2 games, might as well get it here so we can have you rested for the second leg of the conference final

Tell her teacher she will be practicing "if you Believe" during that time period and it cannot be helped

So stoked about this one! If the guys play like that at home, we'll send the rave green, grey strapped, injury booing pussies back un NW!!! Had to get that out of my system...

Just tell your daughter and her teacher that you are using this as a life lesson...competitiveness in adult life is something everyone needs to learn!

Interesting the league website leaves open the possibility of a Sunday / Monday conference final opening - yet I thought RSL had confirmed game 1 would be Sunday, Nov 11th.

Seems pretty unfair for either RSL or Seattle to turn around and play Sunday after Thursday - Feels like 1 extra day could make a pretty big difference after a series deciding 'leave it all on the pitch' playoff game.

If San Jose beats LA and we beat Seattle, we would host the first leg.
There is now way RSL would be able to host on a Sunday.

I think I have made the trip up north for every major 2nd leg match this club has ever faced, and in each case if my memory is correct RSL has failed to get the result. So here's the good news, I cannot make it to Salt Lake for this match. Translation: RSL will win this one

I'm still sticking with the game being Sunday if LA advances since it gives them the advantage. It'll be Monday if SJ wins. Regardless, it's pretty dumb that they even have us playing Thursday to begin with.

Unfortunately television makes the call in the conference finals. And nothing to even think about unless we can somehow figure out how to score some goals again before Thursday.

JK stated last week that 0-0 results means we aren't losing (or something like that), but this match we have to finish....2-1 Espy with both goals! I will this to happen!!!

I hold high hopes that we can put a couple in the back of the net. I think Seattle will be playing for a shootout. I think they'll be very careful pushing anyone forward except on the counter. Here's to another great game from Nicky and some real offense from the team as a whole.

I expect Seattle to attack as well as they did in the first leg.
They're one of those teams that play to win at the Riot.

Look if RSL cannot put one or two into the net this time they do not deserve to move on simple. Sabo and Espindola need to shine, but Javi will get one Thursday.

Thought I'd share what I heard from the San Jose FO - if RSL wins, you will host a game on Sunday against either San Jose or LA. If Seattle wins, the game is likely to be on Monday because the Seahawks are playing on Sunday at home, so the stadium is not available.

As for the "fairness" of having you play Thurs/Sun, they did that last year - two teams played their second leg of the first round on Wed (Col @ SKC, RSL @ Seattle) and two played on Thursday (Philly @houston, NY @ LA). Then both games of the next round were on Sunday (Hou @ KC, RSL @ LA). So there is definitely precedent for a team playing Thurs then Sunday, against a team that had one more day rest (both Houston and LA last year). And that was for a one game final, and Houston had to travel. Meanwhile, if RSL wins you can sit at home while LA or SJ has to travel to Salt Lake, which balances out the extra day rest somewhat. In addition, you could argue that the "unfairness" of RSL or Seattle having less rest is further balanced out by the fact that you have 2 days MORE rest from your previous game (playing Friday while SJ/LA played Sunday). Regardless, it sounds like the plan is to have both first legs of the conf finals on Sunday, but the Seattle stadium situation may cause that to change if they advance.

I seriously doubt that RSL will host a game on a Sunday. One of Checketts' main focus points when he brought the team to Utah was no home games on Sunday. RSL and MLS know they won't sell the game out on a Sunday. Checketts' will do all in his power to move the game to Monday. If RSL hosts, the game will be on a Monday. I'd put money on that bet.

IF WE ADVANCE... We'll host on Sunday. RSL has no say in the matter - it's all TV driven. And the only time that is open, sadly, is Sunday.

This is from the mouth of Bill Manning at the STH Town Hall Meeting Last Night
- I figured it wasn't part of the "overly confidential/doesn't leave this room" variety of news

Lets not get ahead of ourselves, though. We have a massive game on Thursday night to get through first.
Speaking of which, has anybody else noticed how banged up this team is? This extra day of rest before the 2nd leg instead of after might work in our favor of actually getting out of this group. Espy is looking like a game-time decision, same with Olave. I'd count Schuler out just because his knock seems the most severe. Borchers didn't train yesterday, but I'd say he is a 80% likely starter at CB. etc.

I'm really nervous about Thursday night if we are without Espindola. We are struggling to score with him and Sabo on the pitch. Without him? We'll essentially be hoping for pk's from the opening whistle.
XI I hope we see:

Bench: Reynish, Olave, Mansally, Alvarez, Gil, Velasquez, Paulo

Any plans for "Superstorm Sandy" signs in reference to our stadium's location? Or is it too close to the actual storm to be messing with the name?

Too soon, man. Too soon.
Also, it would be much more fitting if we played a team that the storm actually affected... but would also be that much more ********ed up

This doesn't make any sense. The league will shift the game to Monday if Seattle advances due to the Seahawks game, so we can't say the only TV spot available is Sunday. That is, assuming we are talking about a national coverage station. If the league is forced to move the game for Seattle, why would they not entertain moving it for RSL in order to ensure a higher attendance? I'd think they would want a full stadium for the conference final. And yes, I'm aware that not all RSL fans are Mormons and many of the Mormon fans will still attend, but there is still the risk of not selling out the game on a Sunday.