The Season that Never Started and Never Ends

Discussion in 'Real Salt Lake' started by 15 to 32, Sep 29, 2020.

  1. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    WhoScored stats commentary
    • The overall rating for LA was a 7. RSL's was a 6.45. That's a pretty large difference in how they do their ratings.
    • The best player on the field was Pavon, even from a statistical perspective, which shouldn't surprise anyone. What should be a bit eye opening is that the first RSL player to show up on the list of individual ratings is Justen Glad at 8th. That's... wow. Our best player was the guy playing out of position and LA had over half of their lineup rated above him. Well done, guys.
    • Silva was the lowest rated player of everyone, even below the subs, at a 5.8. That's a howler on this site.
    • We had more shots than LA, 8-9, but put just one of those on target while LA put 4 on target. 4 of our shots were off target and 4 were blocked. A stat we have to lead the league in.
    • Possession was 65/35 for us. Ruiz had 9.8% of the possession himself. That's insane. It also speaks to how much LA knew we had nothing in terms of creativity. Essentially Dom told his players to sit in and let RSL have the ball because we would do jack shit with it.
    • Unsurprisingly, RSL had 588 passes (507 successful) to LA's 331 (234 successful). However, LA lead the game in 7 key passes to RSL's 5. Jonny Dos Santos and Lletget had 2 key passes a piece. Our leader was Donny ********ing Toia with 2. Rusnak, Meram, and Ruiz each had 1. That's just... wow
    • RSL had 14 dribbles in the game, with 7 being successful. Meram accounted for 5 of those, with 2 being successful.
    • RSL attempted 28 tackles in the game, which wow, but only was successful in 13 of those. That's a really sad stat.
    • Somehow we only committed 13 fouls in this game to LA's 15. The fouling was pretty evenly split across both teams, with 3 players at 3 fouls (Glad, Ruiz, and Gonzalez) and then a bunch at 2. This game felt more chippy than that, for some reason.
    • RSL committed 17 turnovers in the game, with Meram committing 4 of those. This team was just ridiculously careless.
    • Lastly, the heat maps are especially telling of the teams. RSL has a dark red patch in the middle third, but on our defensive side of the field. That's pathetic. It then splits wide because this team has no idea how to maintain possession in the middle of the field
    • Rusnak, in particular, had a heat map that would make sense for a deep lying playmaker. But that isn't the setup. This team actively pulls itself out of the middle part of the pitch in the final third. Kreilach's heat map is pretty evenly split across the middle third, on each side of midfield, with no space really getting a lot of focus. That's... not a target forward.
    • Overall, this is one of the more upsetting stat books for RSL. To be so dominant in certain aspects (possession, touches, passes) and yet be essentially equal on shots and lower in actual chances is inexcusable.
    • Kinnear outcoached Freddy, no way around it. he gave Freddy the ball and said you're not gonna do anything with it.
     
  2. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    plantar fasciitis was the reasoning given. He's done for the year, hopefully his career. What an incredibly awful way to send off a guy that deserves so much more.

    In 2019 we were able to give Nicky a walk off that was a bit much but honestly deserved. KB probably won't be in the lineup against SKC. it's just... done. Which, yeah. So 2020
     
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  3. RSLer

    RSLer Member+

    Sep 24, 2008
    Stansbury Park, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    DLH took over RSL when it annually was a serious Cup contender and respected in the CCL. He treated it like a pretty toy to show off to his friends and for the real estate development opportunities it came with. He lowered expectations from Championship to at least one playoff game. But at least, as everyone says, he kept the team here. And if it comes down to new ownership with a similar lack of commitment who will keep the team whereas it otherwise moves, then I’ll be for keeping it here. But, My God, I REALLY want it to be one that keeps it here and noticeably improves the roster...and hires a new head coach. I like Freddy, but he’s in over his head.
     
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  4. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I know we only will play 22 games this season, but we will also only finish with 5 wins. If we somehow beat SKC on the final day when they have everything to play for and RSL should field every young player... well whatever.

    Anyways, 5 wins in a 22 games season. Even worse, we only beat the following teams:
    cRapids (twice - and still found a way to lose the RMC)
    LAFC (once)
    Gals (once)
    Portland (once)

    Only one of those wins is anything worth mentioning - Portland. And that's because it might be the reason they don't win the West.
     
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  5. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    This to me is absolutely infuriating. Not because we needed Kyle on the pitch at all a ever this season but to show a player that has been so important to the team that he is deserving of our respect and admiration. It should have been a no brainer.

    Freddy should be done. Just for this and a million things more. Either the guy is not getting to call the shots and pull the strings etc. etc. and just dong what he is told OR he is just a ********ing moron.

    I'll go with moron.

    Kyle should have been at 500 weeks ago. It should have been the number one check list for the team. Get Kyle to 500 and then he can sit and enjoy the season and come in every game or two to create havoc. Nope. We only had 5 ********ING SUBS A GAME TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. Only a moron couldn't figure that out. Oh hey, makes sense.

    In defense of Freddy, I'm sure he's not really a moron and is a great guy but he should in no way be the head coach of RSL one minute longer.

    I don't think for a minute that this is an MLS Cup winning side with the talent that is on this team. I would argue that this is also not a playoff missing side either. There is talent, ok "talent" on this team that an average MLS quality HC could have easily had this team in the playoffs with. Without exaggeration.

    I think of the 03-04 Jazz season, or there about, where Jerry took that terrible team almost to the playoffs after everyone thinking they would be lucky to win 9 games with that roster. Yes they missed the playoffs but damn Jerry should have won coach of the year for that performance.

    This team needs everything. Starting with a new owner. Upgraded FO. Upgraded roster with an upgraded HC and technical staff with actual vision.
     
  6. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Dom Kinnear showed last night that if you do the basic things as a coach, with talented players on the field, you can actually accomplish some stuff. I'm not claiming Dom is going to turn LA into anything worthwhile, but his basics approach was exactly what LA needed and exactly what RSL needs.

    Also, having a DP play like a DP must be nice
     
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  7. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    I think of it like Dunny describing a fire, smelling a fire, seeing a fire, and then watching a guy with a gas can, matches, newspaper, kindling, and no eyebrows, stroll out of a burning house and Dunny say, huh, maybe that house needed fire sprinklers or something. I wonder what caused that fire? I don't think we will ever know.

    Something like that.
     
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  8. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    Thanks for this. I always look forward to your 15 to see if I saw what you did and to be able to put into words what I think I saw.

    Learned a lot. Thank you again.

    Only one more game to go. Mercifully.
     
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  9. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    I did call and asked the ticket rep to pass on my thoughts that Freddy needs to go. A lot of good it will do but hey, the ticket guy can't figure out how Freddy can't use 5 subs either.
     
  10. 2nd Mouse

    2nd Mouse Member+

    Apr 11, 2012
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This pretty much sums up most of the season, and certainly all of last night: "Essentially Dom told his players to sit in and let RSL have the ball because we would do jack shit with it."

    I had high hopes for Albert, that he might be able to provide what Javi used to do for us. Not that Javi was necessarily the fastest or quickest or best player on the pitch, but the things he did, with and without the ball, were pretty inspiring and just a lot of fun to watch. Can't we find someone like that again? Somebody who will just take to ball to the other team, for ********'s sake?

     
  11. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My in-laws were visiting for the day and my father-in-law - who watches soccer when around me to bond and so is no tactical genius - went bananas watching us dribble into double coverage in the LAG box time and again, or go backwards. It wasn't hard to see what was transpiring, and it was maddening.
     
  12. RSLer

    RSLer Member+

    Sep 24, 2008
    Stansbury Park, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    South American leagues are full of Javi level AM and probably Sabo Striker level talent who would be affordable. By affordable, I mean more expensive than what we now have, but not over the board expensive.
     
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  13. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    again and again this team has asked Albert to be attacking mid, and again and again Albert has deferred to a supportive role. Albert would probably be a really good player NEXT TO an attacking mid like Javi, but he does nothing to shoulder that work load.

    I've made my case known that I think a large reason why is the addition of Kreilach and the overall tactics. However, its become more and more obvious that Rusnak doesn't want to be that guy. He seems content. For all his posturing this year on needing to be better and having more fight, he doesn't do either of those things. There were multiple times in the game last night where he could be seen standing on the top of the box with 2 defenders around him. He doesn't want the ball. he doesn't want the responsibility. Again, probably a great additional player, not THE guy
     
  14. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not saying the way I watch the game is right or wrong, just what I see.

    One thing that did hit me pretty hard yesterday was watching Milan in the morning and then RSL in the evening. There are a lot of similar ideas between the two teams. The differences are what make Milan one of the top teams in Europe right now and RSL one of the worst teams in MLS.

    They are, in no particular order
    • A coach with a consistent vision how is able to inspire his players over and over again
    • A forward that does forward things (Zlatan is especially good)
    • A midfield that doesn't always look to defer. Especially in the middle, Milan has some deceptively good players that pull opposing teams out of their shells
    • A GK worth a damn
    • Outside backs that actually can contribute to the attack in a meaningful way beyond the one or two decent crosses out of the 10 they attempt.

    Yes, the level of play at Milan/Italy is going to be higher, but I truly believe that Freddy wants to play like that team, at an MLS level. The problem is he refuses to insist on players doing the things needed AND doesn't have the players to pull it off.
     
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  15. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If Freddy had any juevos he'd give these kids on the roster a shot against SKC Sunday. I bet we see the same tired lineup, but I would really really love it if he went with this:

    Arriaga - Iloski - Chang
    Besler - Ruiz - Portillo
    Schmitt - Glad - Holt - Herrera
    Ochoa

    Bench: Putna, Jones, Onuhoa, Silva, Rusnak, Kreilach, Vazquez
     
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  16. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    I was just curious if someone had the ability to perhaps host a "zoom" watch for the last RSL game of 2020 and if anyone would be interested in watching together.

    If there is enough interest and no one has a platform we could use I will make sure we can watch the game.

    The game is at 4:30pm against some bastards from Kansas City with a wholly undeserved MLS title from 2013. I heard and people are saying that they intentionally froze their field to give them an advantage. Just kidding, they can't control the weather...or can they?

    Any way, I would be game to watch the game if others are up to watch the game.
     
  17. DrownedElf

    DrownedElf Member+

    Jul 5, 2010
    Ogden
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I had no idea he was still playing. Pretty impressive at 39. I saw he's played in 4 matches and has 7 goals. Crazy how he can still put it away. Must be nice to have a player like that on your team.

    As for Rusnak, I'm fine if he doesn't want to be the guy. That just means we need to sign someone that will be. I agree he would probably play pretty good off of a player like that.

    As far as KB goes, it's just laughable. We're in somewhat of a throwaway season for all teams, we get two extra subs, and still can't get him to 500 appearances. Why Freddy seemed to wait until the last few games to finally give him sub appearances shows just how out of touch he is as a coach. This could've been handled months ago.
     
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  18. evilradar

    evilradar Member

    Real Salt Lake
    United States
    Apr 4, 2019
    Are you fine paying Rusnak 2mil to "not be that guy"? He's not going to want to take a pay cut because although he certainly doesn't play like it on the field, I think, he very much so think's he is "the guy".
     
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  19. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    This would be fun but I would bet that Freddy does exactly the same thing as he has all season and throws out the obvious line up on Sunday.

    I will be watching.

    Or more accurately rubber necking. This season has been like seeing a car accident on I-15 just outside of Sandy and we've all just been slowly driving by wondering what the hell happened.
     
  20. DrownedElf

    DrownedElf Member+

    Jul 5, 2010
    Ogden
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I guess it's hard to say really. If he played up to his potential off that guy, then he'd be worth it. Right now, probably not.
     
  21. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It is so unfair that the league is doing PPG for standings. If it were just points, RSL would be in (*does math*)... ah shit. We suck
     
  22. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    I was just thinking the same thing looking at the final playoffs spots being filled in the west.

    RSL isn't even close to making the playoffs. I know Dunny was saying that you just wait, when Colorado starts playing their points per game will go down so don't you worry your pretty little heads.

    Wrong. Very wrong.

    Colorado is a better team with a better coach that if they played 5 or 6 more games would be still be ahead of RSL if they lost, checks standings and points, EVERY ********ING ONE OF THOSE MISSED GAMES.

    RSL with 22 points in 21 games and the CRapids, excuse me, Rocky Mountain Cup winning CRapids have 25 points in 17 games. So...we should demand a recount? Too soon?

    Putting all of the 2020 BS aside Freddy is still a terrible, terrible, head coach and I doubt even without the added distractions of DLH and his shenanigans much would be different with this team and season. In fact it might even be worse. Without the DLH debacle maybe this team comes apart sooner. Who knows? This team sucks no matter how you look at the 2020 season.

    I'm glad we get one last laugh on Sunday.
     
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  23. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    Buehler, ... Buehler, ... Buehler?

    I'll take that as a no.
     
  24. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    RSL was ahead and then all of the sudden all of these points started coming in. It makes no sense....
     
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  25. rslfanboy

    rslfanboy Member+

    Jul 24, 2007
    Section 26
    The ppg thing is ONLY affecting 2 teams right now: Colorado and Vancouver. It is messing a bit with the seeding in the West.

    If Vancouver wins @ home vs LAG and Colorado fails to win @ Houston, then that kinda sucks for Vancouver. But honestly teams 9&10 in the East and 7&8 in the West don't have much business being in the playoffs anyway.
     
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