Looks like we found our d-mid: Alecko Eskandarian. Kotschau had to be feeling nervous and anxious to make an impact. It wasn't positive, but it was an impact! Nice to hear Kreis giving instructions to field players - Alecko now at midfield. Not sure you can hear that on the other feed. Off the line by Williams! Go Boma!
There is one eternal truth to this sport - you can't score if you don't have the ball. The only time RSL has the ball is when Rimando takes goal kicks.
This year is feeling a lot like the first half of 2005. We get outplayed virtually every game, but find a way to get more than our fair share of draws out of our lackluster performances.
I'd like to know how many times RSL turned the ball over today, and which players where the most prone to doing it (I'm guessing Ballouchy). The passing is just horrible! How painfully obvious is it that RSL doesn't know how to control the ball on natural grass? We suck.
I would've prefered a goal and 1-1 tie, but I'll settle for the scoreless draw. Only one regular season loss so far for Jason. Looking forward to continuing improvement.
The central defense pairing of Eddie Pope and Jack Stewart was very good as well. All of the pressure came from having little from the outside backs or the defensive midfielder. Also, for the second time since Kreis has been coach, Klein has bene pulled to right back and done quite well. Our best right back, even. I still predict 3-1 for RSL! Which, now that I think of it, is no more ridiculous a prediction than holding New England scoreless tonight.
On the bright side, RSL's defense looks a bit more organized. Now if someone can dissuade Jason from putting Besagno in...
Nilz. Rimando was the man in this contest. I've always said he's cat-like. Tonight was no different. Great veteran play by Chris Brown to sub in and put the clamp down on D and do what was necessary to salvage a draw. Chris is one of our better footballers. Take that as you will. Surely my overall message regarding that point is incredibly dim.
Final stats: Real Salt Lake New England Revolution Total Shots: 8 23 Shots on Goal: 2 13 Total Saves: 13 2 Fouls: 14 10 Offsides: 2 7 Corner Kicks: 2 11
Wow. That's an impressive survival on our part. I need to find a non-gross "kissing your sister" pic to use. Heavens knows it'd get posted more than the Kool-Aid Man.
It was nice to see some new faces on the bench for the game. Another tie.....I guess it isn't that bad, atleast we willl accomplish something this season.
Let us not forget Kotschau's first 60 seconds for RSL. I call that tackle of his straight up bull shit. Despicable. A disgrace to the badge. Perhaps being a cast away in his last stand as a player, he felt he needed to show some toughness, cleats up style. No wonder why Toronto dropped him from their roster. His experience in the league can't save him, but his buddy Jason Kreis can, and wants his warmth and comfort to permeate the locker room. Oh such a snuggly teddy bear to have around. Yeah, I give a damn about Jason Kreis and his decisions to bring in his pals.
Keller....the guy who would have made it so we have 2 wins on the season instead of zero...who was also playing for the USMNT tonight...played in some of the top leagues of the world...captained the national team, etc, etc. Wow....another scoreless draw! We have the most exciting team in MLS!
Toronto won today without Cunningham getting a goal or assist. Furthermore, there were 8 total offsides in the match between the two teams. 5 were by Cunningham. Yeah, I remember our opportunities squash similarly.
You hit the nail on the head with your last sentance (even though you didn't mean to). Our goal keeping is not our biggest problem. Keller would be great to have. But for his price tag, we could upgrade at a couple of other positions. Like forward so we can actually score some goals. Keller is not going to help put more balls in the back of the net.
Here's a depressing thougt. What are the chances we get fewer wins this year than we did on '05. We're 1/3 of the way through the season without one, and with our 'shots on goal' total averaging what most other teams score in a game, we'll need Rimando to continue being lights out to manage our draws.
