Another ugly game, filled with cards. Toledo seemed to feel his job was to make Pablo happy. Anyway, we were very well organized defensively. This was a gut it out game and I admire the team for finding a way. 3 points, Rocky Mountain Cup and tying career all time record for shutouts for Nicky. Graphically, we are at the bottom of the good years, tied with 2011 at 22 games with 36 points. RSL! RSL! RSL!
What a bizarre ending to that 2011 season, now that I remember it, win 5 games in a row and then get 2 points out of the last 5 games. After next weekend it's going to be a wild finish to the season, no more eastern teams, every single match will be very important for the playoff run. Right now it looks like every single team in the west could beat each other, LA is on a bit of a tear, Seattle is faltering, teams are killing it one week and then losing the next. Very strange stuff, dog days of summer indeed.
What a magnificently played game by RSL. It helped that DC seemed to be sleepwalking through their defensive play. We still had to execute. I can't think of a single player, including subs, that didn't have an A-game night. It helps that GAM is petulant and will certainly garner a game or two of suspension for his outburst. If the team plays at this level for the rest of the season, I see hardware in our future. And, Certifying what we've known for many years: Nicky Rimando is a god! Not that this game was particularly excellent, though he did have a couple of high quality stops. It's that largest number of career MLS shut outs that is so beautiful. Go Nicky Go! Graphics! Solidly in the middle of the good seasons. Every year we have a flat period. Let's hope we've seen it for this season and the rest of the year is the solid progression onward and upward!
Not a scintillating game after the first 30 minutes. The start of the second half was also solid. But, no, basically a lackluster game. It is a key victory, well done lacking important players. 6 point swing against a team who has 2 games in hand. If we win the conference this is the game to look back on as where it was won. Proud of my boys! Graphically, continuing solid placement among the good years. Great run of form going on. RSL! RSL!
Can you imagine where we might be had this not been a World Cup year? That was really the only down part of an otherwise strong season.
Beckerman, in my mind, is clearly the most important player we have. We've played very well without Sabo, without Morales, without Rimando. We always seem to suck when Beckerman isn't in there. It was a tough several weeks. EDIT (after balance's rep): Balance, you're getting really good about updating this thread immediately after the result. Thanks!
Interesting to note that RSL already has accumulated more points for all but 4 years of its existence (including the "cup year").
"Projected Finishes of 2014 Regular Season, base on the Most Recent Meetings", through games on 2014-08-17: RSL to match the club record for the Most Points in a Season (57, set in 2012)... Seattle still going to win the West & Supporters' Shield in 2014!! SKC still going to top the East, & qualify for CCL 2015-16. Dallas to move ahead of Vancouver, into the last Playoffs spot in the West. Toronto to make the Playoffs for the first time in history! Chicago still going to set a new record for the Most Ties (20) in a season, but miss the Playoffs. Montreal still going to capture the Wooden Spoon...
57 is just an extension of our 1.7 points per game. We might do better, given who we're playing (lots of San Jose and Chivas).
Projection of RSL's remaining games by Most Recent Meetings in 2014, 2013 or even 2012 (for opponents from Eastern Conference): http://aragon.ws/soccerdb/team/team.php?teamId=888 2014-08-16 Seattle Sounders FC (H) Most Recent @ RSL: 2013-06-22, 2-0 Win. Actual: 2 - 1 Win. 2014-08-22 FC Dallas (A) - Most Recent @ DAL: 2013-07-13, 3-0 Win. 2014-08-30 San Jose Earthquakes (A) - 3-3 Tie. 2014-09-06 FC Dallas (H) - 0-0 Tie. 2014-09-12 Seattle Sounders FC (A) - 0-4 Loss. 2014-09-19 Colorado Rapids (H) - 2-1 Win. 2014-09-27 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (A) - 1-0 Win. 2014-10-05 CD Chivas USA (A) - 0-1 Loss. 2014-10-11 San Jose Earthquakes (H) - 1-2 Loss. 2014-10-17 Portland Timbers (A) - 3-3 Tie. 2014-10-22 CD Chivas USA (H) - 2-1 Win. That would be a run of 4W-3L-3T for the last 10 games (15 points), adding on top of the current 11W-4L-9T through Aug-17 (42 points), for an eventual record of 15W-7L-12T (57 points).
Have you watched this teams offensively with and without Plata this year? I love KB, and will not argue that he is vitally important. But you win by scoring and without Plata, this team can't
RSL :: Utah Jazz LAG :: Chicago Bulls That LA team was one of the best ever. No shame in admitting it. It just stings that's when the Jason Kreis era hit it's peak
My analysis isn't limited to just this year. The team could still get 0-0 ties without Plata. Without Beckerman, the whole ship is rudderless.
The 11 Ties that season cost them real dear... Otherwise, they were actually better than L.A. in almost every department: GD, GS, GA & Losses. Http://aragon.ws/soccerdb/league/latest.php?stageId=863
Yup, I can think of two games specifically from that season that screwed us, the Chivas home game and the cRapids home game, games where we absolutely bombarded the opponent, but made a couple fatal mistakes and could not finish chances which resulted in 1-1 draws at home.
There is nothing to be said about this game except: "______ mishit that [shot/pass/cross]" said repeatedly throughout the match. It was as if every bit of ball skill the team had was left at the ticket counter at the Salt Lake Airport. That's all I got because I feel pretty disgusted by the gutless play by the team in this game. The game was handed to us on a platter by the ref (we gotta be honest here) and we said, "No thanks, we'll take the loss we expected when we boarded the plane." This was an embarrassment. Forget this one and prepare to finish the season. Graphically, still in the good zone.
I'm sure the most disappointed person at the game last night was the ref. For crying out loud he was just looking for a reason to send off that douche of player Blas Lenhart for all of his antics. I bet he was pissed. "Seriously RSL, I do you and the league a favor by sticking my neck out and sending off the biggest douche in the league this side of EJ and this is how you repay me? You owe me. Big TIME!" Ref
Hard fought and we caught some breaks. At the end, though, Quakes were getting breaks but couldn't convert them. The pitch seemed to be a mess. Evidence of erased football lines on it suggesting it might be beat up by a recent football game. Seemed neither team could really put together consistent passing if they were under any pressure. Given space, the teams could put together passing after settling the ball. At times, human pinball kind of soccer, not pretty, but kept my attention very well. We held tough through to the end and I liked it. Graphically, still holding among the good years. RSL! RSL! RSL!