Wow. This half quickly went from “not bad” to great! 2-0 with a goal from Sam Johnson after 2–3 chances during that sequence.
FCC hasn’t been able to get a chance despite controlling most of the game. RSL might get a smash and grab win
That was fun. Even when they were bringing pressure in half one, the defense looked pretty comfortable - certainly never in an under siege sort of mentality. Putna looked shaky several times, but they only managed one shot on goal so his shakiness didn't factor. When Sam Johnson gets hold of a shot, he sure kicks the hell out of the ball.
Maybe we don't suck... As pointed out in the MLS News Continuous Week thread: RSL has lost to teams currently ranked 1, 1, 5, and 2 (average of 2.25), drawn against a team ranked 4th and beaten teams ranked 6, 7, and 9 (average of 7.33)... suggests we may be an OK team.
Had we not looked awful at home against FCD many people, including myself, would have a better opinion of them.
I told myself I would withhold judgment on this team until we strung a few games together without extenuating circumstances (multiple red cards, last-minute goals, unlucky handballs). We’re starting to get there. Then again, some of the underlying numbers I’ve seen (xG) haven’t been great either way. So, it’s still hard to say we’re more than anyone’s said so far: this team isn’t an unmitigated disaster, and it may even be kinda good.
Corey Baird played a hell of a game. He mixed it up with FCC players all over the field, did a great job putting himself between the defender and the ball when he was attacking, controlled well, and created two goals (though he had neither a goal nor an assist). He unbalanced the game in our favor with regularity, even with Toia combining quite poorly up the same wing. Damir really is a defensive liability when he drops back. Several times he was the only RSL player in about a third of the field as the play was stretched out, and even though he started his retreat back towards the defensive third ahead of the ball, he was so slow that FCC players just ran beyond him and left him uselessly trailing the play. I know Damir was our MVP last year, but Baird and Johnson to me are the ones who need to be in there when Everton is back IMO. The formation doesn't favor his inclusion.
Well I’ll be darned. Again. Still have a long way to go for me to see this team as anything other than average.