So after last week's crushing loss to FC Dallas, RSL goes on the road to visit the New England Revolution. New England is 9th in the East with 10 points and RSL is 10th in the West with 8 points. Which team will win? Which team will loose? Which team will suck worse? I predict that RSL find their inner German Mannshaft to New England's Brazilian Selecao and win 7-1. Goals by a whole lot of RSL players who haven't scored yet this year.
Considering we're now down some of our better players, this game will be rough. At least I'll be home where booze is cheaper than the stadium, and I can easily turn the game off when things aren't going well.
Obviously. Savorino scores 6 in his debut, Lalo plays at outside back due to an injury and scores the 7th.
Seriously what does this lineup look like? VanO Wingert, Maund, Schuler, Phillips Sunny, Mulholland Rusnak Velazco, Movsisyan, Plata Any updates on Beckerman? Rimando, Allen still out by the sounds of it. Bench: everybody else.
That might be the best starting four on defense we've had this year so far. (Please note, I don' think it is a good starting four, just perhaps the best we've trotted out this year.)
I really wonder if Schuler is played on the turf given injury woes and concerns. Heck, same thing for Maund. I bet we see Schmidt on the pitch for one of the two. I also think you see Silva instead of Velazco. Not that I agree, but apparently Luis does something in training to be one of the guys off the bench consistently. It also appears Hernandez has jumped Velazco. Who knows. I'm not watching this nightmare of a game. I have some stuff for my club that, when they asked me to attend, I couldn't have been happier. Whats that? You need me to be there at 530 on a Saturday? (Checks RSL schedule) DONE!
So, can we get a prediction on the score from you, 15? I just want to know the least likely outcome. I'm jumping on the 7-1 win bandwagon, so that one's out, too.
Have we heard what the hell happened to Beltran? It was first reported as back issues but he's completely fallen off the radar.
I thought I saw some info from RSL Soapbox the other day that Rusnak was also hurt. Sounded like the team was down to something around 14 fit players.
The injury/absence list is frightening Acosta, Danilo — international absence Allen, Jordan — short-to-medium-term injury Barrett, Chad — long-term injury Beckerman, Kyle — unknown injury length Beltran, Tony — ‘day-to-day’ Glad, Justen — short-term injury, potential international absence Horst, David — medium-term injury Lennon, Brooks — international absence Rimando, Nick — short-to-medium-term injury Rusnak, Albert — unknown injury length Saucedo, Sebastian — international absence Schmidt, Justin — potential injury, per Trib reporter Chris Kamrani So, I guess we could play this lineup? Colonel VanO Wingert, Schuler, Maund, Phillips Luke, Sunny Silva, Hernandez, Plata Yura
The injury report from the league has it as a back injury still. This is really starting to be something the team can't afford. Tony has missed 7 straight games, this will make 8. Allen has missed 8 straight with this one making 9. Granted, Allen was back and then re-injured himself (SHOCKED I tell ya). Bitch and moan all you want about the preseason, Dunny, this team didn't come in fit and is paying the price. I really don't see how that ALL falls on Cassar - it's very convenient to say that, so I get it - but something else is up here. We have yet to play a game this year where we didn't have a significant injury list.
All you have to do is watch Lennon to know that our fitness and training programs aren't up to snuff when compared to better leagues. They need to fire whoever is doing fitness and adopt a European style training regimen.
PREACH!!! Also to note - how players play/fitness level after coming back from any international duty. I always chalk it up to the level of play being higher - which it certain is at the full national level - but we're seeing that with the kids now, too.
Will we even have enough players to make an 18 man roster? As for fitness, it blows my mind that there aren't STRICT fitness guidelines that must be adhered to at all times, especially the offseason. Hell, we had offseason fitness guidelines to follow for my goddamn high school team and the first week of preseason training was basically basically a test to see if you followed them. If you failed the test you didn't make the team. Professional players being paid what they do should automatically be held to offseason standards that keep them in great physical shape, I'd force that into every contract if I were a GM.
when RSL is usually down 2 or 3 goals and couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. I really don't get anybody who doesn't see this as a sure loss. I'm more wrong than right in game predictions, though, so who knows
I dunno. If you dressed in orange, could you be mistaken for a giant road cone on the pitch? No? Ha, I got you beat! A few more like me and we'll change the name to Real Road Cones with the slogan "Orange is the new Claret and Cobalt".