I don't have much to question in any of the VAR decisions but the way that all played out adds a whole extra level of sting to the Rapids' continued struggles.
When you're trying to kill off a game, more possession-minded midfielders is much better than more defenders, IMO.
3 points are 3 points, but what we learned was that Saucedo needs to be on the pitch. My pick for Man of the match!.
Agree with you that Saucedo has earned a starting spot, by my MOTM is VAR. My judgements on the VAR decisions: 1. Bofo was definitely fouled in the box. VAR got it right. 2. Based on MLS calls the last 3 seasons, Glad’s red card should have stood. Studs were out and they impacted the other player’s foot. VAR got it wrong. 3. MLS officials for years have consistently called the ball hitting an arm extended from the body to be a hand ball. Besler’s arm was extended. VAR got it wrong. 4. The AR on the off-sides was correct and VAR got it right. But an interesting thought: had the AR not called off-sides, I believe the goal would have stood. I don’t think the VAR would have had enough to say the player was offsides.
Also, Plata was bad. I mean, he had the strong shot that hit the post, but his other touches mostly resulted in turnovers.
1. Yes, I agree. 2. Meh, I dunno. Given how VAR has changed how refs call the game, you could say that it has "evolved" on the whole "studs up" tackle since it seems to me that whenever a player is tackling the ball, he is showing his studs. Because of this, I could never figure out when a tackle was good or bad. 3. Meh, I dunno again. If they are calling a handball whenever a ball hits an arm extended from the body as a hand ball, what about if the player had his back turned to the play and didn't see the ball or react to it? Is that also a handball just because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time? 4. I don't think that VAR was used on the off-sides since the AR raised his flag and the goal did not stand. I don't think that off-sides calls are reviewable by VAR. However, if the AR had not have raised his flag, VAR would have probably waived the call off since the player was off-sides. As was pointed out by @KendaReal in an earlier post, I also think we have used all our VAR karma for this season in one game. Stand by to get screwed by VAR in upcoming games.
To #3, the answer is YES based on how MLS officials have made the call historically. I’m not saying it’s right. Just saying that is how they consistently call it. I remember once when Borchers slipped on the grass and hit the ball with his arm. It was called a handball although it was nowhere near the goal, the ball was not moving when he hit it and it didn’t move after the hit, he had no intent to direct the ball, and there were no opponents within 5 yards of him.
Whenever I see instant replay and they talk about handball calls I always think of that call. Probably one of the worst calls I've seen
On number 2, however, compared to how a similar play by a Rapids player was a yellow card, may be it was best to revise to a yellow card on Glad for within-game consistency.
One offside call on Johnson. Since April 6 match against Seattle between 3 and 4 offside calls against him each match... his 'form' for offside calls has been since then through Saturday against Rapids: 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1. Maybe they included him in practice this past week.
From Matt Doyle's Armchair Analyst column summing up the weekend's action: "Our Pass of the Week goes to Nick Besler, who played this perfect pass over the top for an even more perfect touch and freaking trivela from Corey Baird in RSL's 3-2 Rocky Mountain Cup win at Colorado. Baird did that this week. Last week his assist on Sam Johnson's goal was the same damn thing David Silva did for Sergio Aguero in Manchester City's title-clinching win on Sunday morning. He is better and more dynamic on the wing, where he's playing this year, than up top, where he spent most of last season en route to winning the Rookie of the Year award. And that works out well for RSL, who in Johnson (who scored again) finally have a true center forward who fits Mike Petke's style. Johnson now has four goals in his last five games."
And so you can have your belief confirmed that MLS only cares about teams from NY, LA, Atlanta and Seattle, Cory Baird's goal isn't part of the MLS Goal of the Week competition. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/05/12/vote-att-goal-week-week-11 Three of the five are from one of the aforementioned teams but none of them are anything special IMHO. If Matt Doyle is going to single out Nick Besler, RSL's local whipping boy, and Baird's goal for special recognition, would think it would have been considered for GOTW.
He shouldn’t be a starting left back in the MLS. But RSL, like most of the league, has issues at left back.
people aren't going to complain from certain outlets because he's "a natural defender" playing defense, so it's fine. I'm really wondering what the hell Lennon did though to be completely dropped from the XI.
What a weird game. RSL stole a point if not two if you ask me. They turned a great opportunity to put their foot down and make it an easy 3 but as they are want to do they let any chance fade away as they tuned out and turned off. The Red Card on Glad getting overturned was fortunate, not getting the handball called in stoppage time was definitely fortunate along with Putna saving a pretty week PK was very fortunate. I think that RSL will definitely finish above the CRapids but I think at this point that's about it. Without some changes I can't see RSL staying ahead of anyone else in the west. Changes like adding some defensive mettle and a little offensive punch. Consistent offensive punch. Make a trade. Plata is just sitting there waiting to be traded. I will be there for every game I can but I currently have zero enthusiasm for this team as constituted.
I didn't watch it but got a report from people I trust to make the point tracker. Sorry, no list of 15 this week.