Real Salt Lake - All-In-One Thread [R]

So its Tuesday, and NOBODY has started an "official" RSL pre-game thread yet?

What does that tell you about how excited we all are about the upcoming match?

We can't even make cheap Fake Salt Lake jokes with a straight face, because we are not able to be confident the team will back up our words.

And that lousy DeRo has hit us in the gut again, without even being on the field against LAG.

So where will AX start? In center D replacing Tyrone, or on the right side settling in to replace Albright for the long haul this season? Is QK up to more than a few minutes playing? Can Mike Randolph break into the starting rotation on the back line? So many questions.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Center D... We need a defensive LEADER directing the defense, directing the wings, etc. Its obvious now that Cannon cant do that.

Center D is not really Xav's position is it? Its right back? Has he ever played center D?

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

My personal opinion is to start AX out on the right and Veris and Harden in the middle. AX will only have two sessions to train with the guys, and I think it's more important that the central pairing be on the same page, etc. Putting him on the right gives him more individual man-marking duties and less give-and-take with a central partner.

That would allow Sturgis to play on his preferred left side. So that makes the starting lineup look like this:

------------Cannon
Xavier--Harden--Veris--Sturgis
-----------Vagenas
Cobi-------Martino-----Quaranta
-----Findley----Jaqua

You can swap Xavier and Harden (and could move Q up top and make Cobi and Jaqua the wingers). But my guess is those are the starters, with Randolph, QK, Tudela and Roberts on the bench (along with Cronin).
Glinton has been moved to Questionable on the injury report, so we might see him on the bench as well...

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

I don't know where I would play Xavier. If we think Xavier is going to rescue the defense then he should be in the middle. If we think of this as a rebuilding year, then put Harden and Veris in the middle since they are likely to be our CDs of the future.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

I'd be very surprised if he were anywhere other than smack in the middle alongside Marshall. It would be a waste to have him outside when Harden has been so competent.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Spry, we know Marshall is out for one game. Wouldn't be surprised if it is five, based on referee's report and the resulting x-rays.

First page! Cadaver its only Tuesday, game isn't till Sunday. I'm so excited though that I am leaving town. Transfer window is open so we have AX to replace the Jamaican Hatchett huh?

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

I'm going to change my mind on the backline. I was just thinking about the team we are playing -- RSL, where one Mr. Freddy Adu is playing on the left wing. I'd rather have Nate Sturgis over there. They are teammates on the U20's so Sturgis will be very familiar with Adu and I think have a better chance of containing him. That then puts Harden over on the left, pitting him against the bigger, but slower, Chris Klein. I think those matchups are better for us. So against RSL I'd have a backline of

Sturgis--Xavier--Veris--Harden

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

I would play xavier in the middle to be vocal, make some plays , establish himself and he should in theory add much need confidence, in theory. Put Veris next to him, Sturgis on the left, and Hardin has shown he can play the flank, put him on the right. I'd put ( sure some will disagree) Santino at forward just behind Findley in LD usual spot. reason is he is outside of LD good at creating off the dribble, just try it. Move Martino to the right and Cobi to the left. Pete at CDM. I don't want to see Jaqua on the field, he's fired, atleast not until late in the game when were either (please god) up by 2 or down cause by than who gives a f**k. Quavas save him for the second half too. So:

----------------Cannon

Harden -- Xavier -- Veris -- Sturgis

----------------Vagenas

Martino -------------------------Cobi

----------------Santino

----------------Findley

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

This is the attitude I like. No whining about injuries and callups here. We are so confident that we'll play RSL with only 10 guys!

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

LOL props for that, although inserting Jaqua is like playing with 10 men

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Yea I agree.Inserting Nate and Santino is like playing 9 men...lol

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Oops forgot someone, were so bare in the roster the subs bench and I just couldn't see us playing Jaqua. Ok start Quavas at right, move Martino behind the strikers and Santino (played forward in DC) and Findley up top, there. AND STILL NO JAQUA.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Well damn I'm not too excited about this game, but this season so far hasn't screamed good soccer.

RSL has a game on Thursday with FCD. We have a constant circus.

I think Jaqua sits and Cronin starts as the target, couldn't do any worse.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

This is probably the first time that I haven't been confident going into a game against RSL.

This is literally the clash between the two teams at the bottom of the league, and it's vital to come out with 3 points. The fact that we're at home doesn't really make much of a difference to us these days, we really have to ensure that we dont let them win, not only would that be embarrassing, but it would cast us adrift at the bottom of the table, unthinkable for this franchise, but extremely possible.

------------------Cannon-------------------

-Xavier------Harden-----Veris------Randolph-

---------The Sturg--------Vagenas----------

-----Martino--------------------Quaranta----

-------------Findley------Jaqua--------------


I think that if Xavier is going to be used primarily as a right-back this season, then why play him in the center for this game? Let him get used to playing at this position right from the go, that's where he's needed. I also think that this is the ideal game to try out Randolph again at left-back, it's an experimental move, but if he starts screwing up then we can move Veris over to left-back and bring in Roberts.

Cobi has to be the super-sub for this one. His burst of energy for the final ten minutes or so could be the key to unlocking RSL if we need him, which we probably will. Martino goes back into his right midfield spot, where I thought he was beginning to play well before he got the red against the Rapids.


This isn't going to be easy, but it's RSL, even these bunch of players should be able to beat RSL, right

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Put Cronin in the last 10 minutes and see what he can do.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Edson Buddle has now arrived...

I say we get REALLY experimental. Play some real attacking football. 3 men in the back with Xavier directing traffic. 4 in the midfield. and 3 up top. If we cant get these 3 guys to score 1 or 2 goals, forgetaboutit!


------------------Cannon--------------------

---Harden---------Xavier-----------Sturgis---

---------Martino----------Vagenas-----------

---------Cobi----------------Quaranta-------

-------Findley-----Buddle-----Jaqua----------

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

coaches in mls are not this aggresive.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Looks good to me. We have only scored 8 goals in 8 games, obviously we need to try somnething different. And for my selfish reasons, i am going to my first game of the season on sunday, and i do not want to see a nil-nil draw.
So is AX officially playing on sunday? And what about Adu? I heard that he might be out with U-20 training, but i am not sure.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread

You say that every week, it begins to lose its meaning.

Then again eventually he has to prove you right... right?

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Let's do it. For some reason I have this ridiculous feeling we're going to come out on fire and win this game! Perhaps because maybe the players are freaking scared they're gonna get traded if they don't do something. Perhaps because Frank Yallop has laid into them all week during practice. Whatever it is, I have hopes for this game.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread????

Great point trick hog this should be the starting backline against RSL

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread

Look this starting 11 I think we can field that can potentially win this game, hahaha, oh god help us!



------------------Cannon-------------------
I think he'll do fine with a decent D in front

Harden------Xavier-----Veris------Sturgis
Have Xavier at central so he can command the line, plus he hasn't played to much so you wouldn't want to burn him out running so much down the wing, Hardin I think can do a solid job on the right

----------------Vagenas-------------------

-----Cobi--------------------Quaranta----

----------------Martino-------------------
In the Mid have Pete play defensive mid cause ehe's useless on the attack
and roll the dice with Martino feeding Buddle and Findley

---------Findley------Buddle--------------
Findley I think can have a good game with a decent Passer like Martino
and Buddle , well we shall see but right now I'd play a walk on before I'd play Jaqua. Anyways save Jaqua for Cobi's eventual 2nd half substition.

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread

Why does it feel like we are an expansion team trying to get our first and second wins?

Re: Real Salt Lake - pre-game thread

Cause so far this year we've been playing like an expansion team. With the current state of our roster any lineup combination with alot of luck might get us a win, I said might.