You know, all that RSL achieved with Borchers on the field was with Cassar as one of his coaches - all seven years. I think it diminishes the kind of relationship they almost certainly have to think of it like this.
The MLS propaganda website is reporting (via the Oregonian) that Freddy Adu didn't get signed by Portland. http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/i...du_no_longer_on_trial.html#incart_river_index Too bad.
Sabo announces his retirement via Twitter. pic.twitter.com/ak7ibcktKm— Álvaro Saborío (@al_saborio) February 9, 2017
One of Sabo's best moments, scoring seconds after returning from a 4 month injury: Only time I can remember seeing him smiling that much. He did a very low key appearance at a Smith's once and my dad went to see him. Literally no one there so my dad got to chat with him a bit. A few months later my dad saw him again in the tunnel at the Riot that leads to the southwest corner of the field. Sabo smiled when he saw my dad, waved and said he remembered him. He wasn't very public and didn't show much emotion, but he was a good guy. Sad that his playing days have come to an end.
That goal was one of my favorite moments in RioT history. It didn't really mean a whole lot for the club in terms of trophies or anything like that, but it was just surreal to watch it happen. The stadium went bonkers. Sabo had a house out in Herriman with his wife and dogs near where I used to coach kids. There was a time where he was out walking his dog, just like any other guy, right after my practice had ended. I don't speak spanish well enough to bridge the language gap, but he was incredibly nice. Another time, my mom was selected as "Mother of the Match" (back when that was a thing) and we got to go down on the pitch for warmups. Sabo was coming off an injury so he couldn't play that game. He and Javier (also hurt) were sitting on the bench in street clothes watching the team warmup. I went over to them, in my old school white RSL kit and asked them to sign it with a marker. Both of them were more than happy to. We also chatted for a bit about when they would each be back. It was cut short once one of the stadium people realized we shouldn't be over there. It was still way fun, though. Oh, and lastly: Am I the only one who catches themselves saying "Sab-o-Rio!" when they do player introductions? He was always last one to be announced in the XI. It just felt so right to yell that to end it...
I'm not done yet!!! Any time the ball was whipped into the box when Sabo was in there, I would yell "TICOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" I thought the guy would win any header. I had reason to, as well. The dude was the best true number 9 to play at RSL and, IMO, probably the league. He was everything a 9 should be. Call him a donkey if you will - that ass put the ball in the net better than anyone else we've ever had.
Great memories. My parents almost always introduce me as their son who flipped off the camera at the end of that game.
On the other hand, NYCFC indicated they wanted to sign Stertzer in part because "the timing of his runs inside the box is really good - he’s always at the right place at the right time." That seems like something he probably honed here with this coaching staff in his three years as a pro, no?
Probably. Left off of your quote right after is He tallied 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 seasons, totaling 48 games and over 1900 minutes. He played a fair amount in 2015 and 2016. Was Stertzer ever utilized by RSL in a role that would ask him to make those runs in the box? (Has RSL asked anyone other than Sabo/Yura to make runs in the box???) To score goals? IIRC, he was a backup for Beckerman and a defensive sub, not someone we utilized to provide offensive spark, no? It seems like Vieira sees something useful in him that RSL either didn't see or saw more value in him playing a role that didn't utilize that skill set. That's fine, and probably developed a part of his game that he or his coaching staff may have put a lower priority on. But this is all hypothetical until he sees playing time with NYCFC and either makes a contribution to their offense or fails to do so.
It's fair to say that it's better for Stertzer to be making runs, or doing anything other than passing the ball or trying to dribble with it.
Stertzer is a prime example of a decent enough player that was stuck in the wrong formation/tactics. He's an 8. He doesn't offer anything super flashy going forward like a 10 or a winger 7. He doesn't have the defensive strength to play the destroyer 6. In the current RSL system, we really don't have room for an 8. The closest is the role that Sunny occupies, and that's a really weird mix of a 6 and 8, honestly. I don't envy the player that has to take on that role. The one goal Stertzer did score for RSL was a hell of a finish to the far post. I only remember it because my nephew was the player mascot that day for John. I wish John well - we have the second coming of him in Omar Holness right now, so maybe in a few years Omar can make the move to NYCFC and get fawned over
#Quakes74 GM Jesse Fiornaelli said that #MLS Re-Entry Draft pick and former @RealSaltLake forward Olmes Garcia has been released.— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) February 25, 2017