RSL vs. Toronto FC at the RioT - March 29, 7:30

I was wowed by the LA boards type intro at first but then I saw they used the ReAL logo.

 

I know TFC is looking better this year, but they've got so much historical suck to embrace it makes Real Salt Lake look like Real Madrid.

Still, since we don't have goal scorers to play this game, I think it ends 1-0 (either team) or 0-0.

 

This has 0-0 written all over it if you ask me.
Bradley will own our midfield if they play like they did for a majority of the game against LA.

We need to see an offensively inspired midfield. In fact, I would say that our midfield might need a little tweaking. I'm calling for Mulholland to start. Not sure if I would put him over Ned, Gil, or Javi at this point (you keep KB). None of those 3, though, earned their starting spot based on last weeks game.

I also wonder if this is a game where you see a formational change. do we go to a 4-5-1? Double holding mids in Grossman and Kyle? Put Mullholland on the pitch with Gil, Grabs, and Javi?

I dunno, nothing really sounds exciting when I think about how we'll approach this game

 

Plata tweeted he's out for 3 weeks and I doubt it will happen but we all know LA is calling for Sabo to be suspended, is Benji Lopez available to play with Olmes?

Toronto aka Defoe has had a good start but other than him and Bradley theres still a lot of holes in Torontos system. hopefully we can find them and exploit them this weekend. I just hope Morales is in the zone and works Bradley.

 

Goff is questioning whether Bradley should be suspended for his incident with Arnaud last weekend. If so, that would significantly improve our chances in this match. Doubt it happens, though.

 

It's never a good idea to guess what the MLS DC is going to do, but I don't think there is enough evidence to suspend Sabo. Maybe there is a difference camera angle that they didn't show us, but for the video I saw it would be hard to judge anything other than a late challenge which he already got a yellow for. I'm not saying he shouldn't be suspended, just saying it is hard to tell from the evidence.

If he plays I'd like to see us try a 4-5-1 with Ned and KB in front of the back line and Gil and Dutch and the wings and Javi the in middle. If Sabo is suspended then forfeit the game... Not really, I'm just super down on Garcia after Saturday. Maybe try Gil up top with Garcia.

One bright spot from Saturday is that the defense (read Schuler) mostly did really well. Obviously they had some mistakes, but I can't remember too many good chances for LA. I huge improvement from the first to weeks where Rimando had to stand on his head to keep us in it. I think we have a good chance of getting a shut out, if we don't make any stupid mistakes. (Defoe obviously makes you pay if you mess up in the back)

 

Schuler being back gives us a chance at a point at least. I know that's not what we want to see at a home game, but no one up front is giving me any confidence we're going to score. I'd rather stick to the 4-4-2 if possible, unless we we were to try an "offensive" 4-5-1 ( don't play grossman with beckerman, way too much confusion)

Beckerman
gravaboy mullholand
Gil Morales

 

4:30 mark. Multiple angles.

 

Multiple angles, but I didn't see any real contact. Sure you could assume that the Galaxy player falling to the ground was touched by Sabo, but you could also watch the video and assume that Sabo really didn't touch him and that the Galaxy player was "simulating". There wasn't a clip in super-duper slow motion showing what actually happened. How loudly The Bruce screams and stomps his little feet will probably determine whether Sabo is suspended or not.

Watching Javi go cleats up on Donovan (if it had been anyone else, would anyone besides the Galaxy really care?) reminds me of a game where Espindola did the exact same thing and got shown a red card. Why Javi didn't is the enigma of what happens in an MLS referee's mind.

Thanks for showing that RSL should watch out for Jackson. He seems to be Toronto's version of Lenhard.

 

Jackson is likely getting suspended for at least one game

 

is it bad that i REALLY hope he doesn't get suspended?

I really want to see him and defoe play against our boys, especially up close.

 

I hadn't seen the video from the other angle when I posted. It looks like he comes in late and a little high and catches the foot. Really well sold by Dela Garza. IMO. I hope he doesn't get suspended for it but who can know.

Javi probably should. That was straight up moronic. The USMNT fan in me was glad Donovan saw him coming in and got out of the way...

 

We actually only allowed one shot on goal. Too bad it went in.

 

The other angles don't give any sense that there is more or less to Sabo's foul than was seen by the ref, therefore, I doubt the DISCO gives more penalty. But, Javi might be in for a suspension. I remember at the time wondering how he got away with that one.

 

Yeah, I think the Javi tackle should be the one LA peeps are bitching about. That was a dumb tackle that really could have messed up Donovan.

If Sabo gets suspended it'll prove just how consistent the DisCo is... in that they aren't.

 

any video of the javi incident?

 

go to 5:30 of the above borg yell video

 

The ref saw the play and made the call so not only would an additional suspension show inconsistency but also it will basically be saying "yeah those 'PRO' refs, that we fought so hard to get back, can't get anything right."

 

FWIW:
Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC
Rio Tinto Stadium (9:30 pm ET)
REFEREE: BALDOMERO TOLEDO
AR1: Mike Rottersman
AR2: Fabio Tovar
4TH: Drew Fischer

 

********

 

I'll probably be able to watch most of the second half. I have a free day in NYC, but with no Red Bulls game until Sunday, I am catching the train to Philadelphia to watch the Impact and Union play. Couple free hours in Philly besides and I am a happy MLS fan. I'll be even happier if I get back to my hotel in New York and things look good for the home team.

 

The word on the twitterphere is that Sabo will not be suspended and Jackson will be.

 

That's good news. Maybe some miracle will happen like a bad back pass and Sabo can get a goal! I think that's our only hope!