So that LAFC was a game. I don't know if RSL will make the playoffs but I would much rather watch them try stuff and flame out with Pablo than watch whatever they were doing with Freddy. With Pablo RSL feels a bit more dangerous on the offense and sadly not as sound on defense. The players look like they lack confidence and a belief in their system and themselves but when they play together, possess and look for opportunities they can create a lot of scoring chances. They look and feel loser as a team which is good for the most part. Maybe too many of the guys are trying to do too much like Besler and Luiz and Ruiz when if they would just stay home and stay true they will find more success. If they can quit giving up so many unforced and comical goals they could really make it hard for teams to beat them as we wind down the end of the season. Here's to a break out game from RSL on Wednesday with Everton doing what he does best. Watching RSL play. This time from the bench. Where he belongs.
I'm curious to see how Pablo handles the 3 games in 7 days situation. Freddy went with the "******** it, play them" approach far too many times and it burned it. Then when he rotated, he REALLY rotated. Does Pablo go to the bench in a limited manner tomorrow? Does he view this game or the Seattle game as more winnable? Who does he view as players that need to be in each of the three games? For me, I think you have to rotate a bit here given just how much energy was put into that LAFC game and so as not to completely set ourselves up for failure against Seattle. What I'd want to see: Rubin Menedez Morgan Kreilach Rusnak Ruiz Herrera Datkovic Silva Glad Ochoa Bench: Putna, Holt, Toia, Besler, Luiz, Meram, Chang, Julio, Iloski It's an aggressive 3-5-2 that morphs more into a 5-1-2-2 when defending or a 3-3-2-2 going forward. It feels narrow to say that and, you know what, it probably is. The width already comes from our outside backs, so why not have them continue that. Bringing Rubin closer to another forward, in this case Menedez, allows us to have a lot of creative players in that center portion of the pitch. I think it will allow Rusnak to have freedom and Kreilach can float through the space. It has some very obvious gaps in it, but I think it presses the opposition in the right spots that we can be competitive.
I kind of agree about the rotation. Question is, which game is more winnable? Does Pablo think he can win against Seattle (coming off the Leagues Cup game), who have been really good on the road? Four points from these two games seems doable. If Glad is doing what he did Sunday night, I'd be surprised if he can do that for 3 straight games. When do you sit Rusnak and Kreilach, or do you start and play them 60-75 minutes? I think I like Silva in the middle of the back 3. Herrera is probably more dangerous in that wingback position and look what he's done while playing in a back 4. So rotate enough to put yourself in position to beat SJ and then keep it close vs SEA and maybe get the revenge factor and win at home? It'll be a similar situation with 3 game from 9/25-10/2. Do we even see the 3-5-2 in either game? That lineup should be more than enough to beat SJ, if we can keep track of Wondo.
These are starting to look like a bunch of must win matches. So many stumbles at home this year are going to cost us.
Taking a step back, what makes them must wins? Is the goal to make that playoff line? If you think so, I'd ask why. Does it actually help this club to make the playoffs this year? I don't mean that to have as much snark as it does. I genuinely don't know. While it would be an accomplishment for this group (talk about a low bar) is it one that we should really want to accomplish? If you play it out in the long run - meaning the assumption that it gets folks to keep their jobs even with a new ownership because they "accomplished" making the playoffs - I think a playoff appearance here runs the risk of us further being in this ho-hum environment since 2015. The 2019 3rd place finish is pointed to by the optimistic crowd, but every other year since 2015 has involved RSL either just at the playoff line or below it. Do we want to continue down this path of a team that has talent but not the right level or consistent enough? Even with the most optimistic of eyes, this roster isn't going to compete with the top third of the league. We've seen this time and time again this year and last. Are we ok with that?
I'm actually only 11 miles from the central time zone. I'm in a job where I basically can't work in Utah and a pretty small pool nationally. The way some things are going, not sure I'd want to move back anyway. And I was born and raised there.
I think that 15's question is a good one. Do we really want RSL to make the playoffs and would making the playoffs actually be detrimental in the long run? On the whole I would probably lean toward RSL making the playoffs only because if they don't then people will point out that Freddy had them above the line when he ran away and now they didn't make the playoffs because he ran away. I don't really like that even though it doesn't matter in the long run. Freddy still sucked. And it's petty. But I don't like Freddy for probably petty reasons so it makes sense. I want to see RSL finish out the season trying to figure things out, like with the 3-5-2 which I like and also giving more players a chance to play. Why do we even have guys on the roster and in the 18 if they never, ever, get time? So on the whole I would like to see the team that showed up to play against LAFC only without the embarrassing and self inflicted mistakes play out the remainder of the season. Giving us some exciting and honest football.
I'm fine with the team having the playoffs be a goal right now. As a fan, I want competitive games, a plan from top to bottom that you can see progress of as the season progresses, and the players to get better. Not sure what else we can ask for this season. With the limited budget, I want the you-suck xAM that the league hands out. Elliot needs all he can get.
Thats a good point - do we get more money for sucking or making the last two playoff spots? Where in the table does the benefits tilt? If the league was more transparent in finances (please stop laughing) we could maybe understand this more. We could know where that 4th place Arsene Wenger spot is
I think we better ask someone(Doyle, Stejskal) closer to the league if they still hand out you-suck money for not making the playoffs. I'm not sure if they help playoff teams, unless maybe the team in CONCACAF Champions League?
So no Herrera still, even on the bench. Rumors out there? I'll just post the folks as I can't tell if this a three-man or a four-man back line. Ochoa Glad, Silva, Toia, Besler, Kreilach Meram, Chang, Rusnak, Menendez, Rubio (I think?) Bench: Putna; Toni, Holt, Morgan; Ruiz, Portillo, Davis; Iloski, Julio
Thanks! That shows us in a 3-5-2 again tonight. Guess Glad is going to run all over the place again tonight.
I get your position but in the end I simply feel every team that takes the field should do so with the goal of winning. And in winning they should be looking forward to extending their season by winning.
so chang is a wing back? I mean, I'm not completely against it. But he is far down the list of guys I would have recommended in a 3-5-2 wing back position.
ESPN shows the normal 4-2-3-1, with Chang on the right. There are 6 outside backs on the roster and we're down to Toia and Chang?! The 3 in the back makes sense. I actually like Toia in that back 3. I'm hopeful it looks better defensively tonight. LFG!
So who's playing opposite of Chang? Who's playing up with Rubio? Anyone with Besler? Everyone will have to defend tonight.
I saw the social media say that too. Just wondering given we're at the roster freeze deadline and movement within the league is a thing.