With the Summer transfer window opening up, who do you really think RSL should bring in. We were all disappointed with Freddy Adu, but we got a foul every time he was breathed upon. RSL needs a star, for morale, and for the new stadium opening up. We all want Henry or Borgetti, but who can RSL really get? If one looks at the Football Transfer League, you can see some of the players that are up for transfer. Drogba stands out to me, but no way does RSL have a chance, who would you like to see in an RSL uniform, that RSL can somewhat realistically get?
The best possible move would be for a forward who can really attack with the ball at his feet. Morales has shown that he is good enough to push the attack a little bit and find the hole when the defense makes a mistake, but he isn't a good enough playmaker to take RSL where they need to go. But pair him with a forward who can beat his man on the ball in the final third and make the final pass, as well as with Espindola who runs well off the ball with Morales, and RSL could be dangerous. In global terms, this is a player similar in style to Fernando Torres or Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In MLS terms, this would be Jaime Moreno, Angel, Kenny Cooper, or and on some days Jozy Altidore. I don't know where RSL is going to find a player like that, but that's what they could use the money for. On another note, it is time for Chris Seitz to step in. Rimando isn't getting it done, so why not let Seitz get a chance and gain some experience? I know there are issues with the Olympics coming up, but Seitz needs a shot. If nothing else, it could help focus Rimando a little. As I remember, last year after Rimando got benched for a game and Seitz didn't do all that well himself, Riamdo came back and improved. Right now, if you give Seitz a chance at the next opportunity, Rimando knows he will get another chance at the Olympics to gain his spot back, so it's an opportunity for him to get his act together and give Seitz a chance to learn. The last thing we want to happen is for Seitz to go to China as the RSL #2, play well, then get interest from Europe. I think both for his own sake and RSL's, we need to get a few good years out of him and that should start now.
what, precisely, did Rimando do that caused any one of the losses this season? What, precisely, could Rimando have done that would not have been a lower percentage play in order to prevent any of the goals that happened this season. The current state of affairs has zero to do with Rimando. Zero.
Sure... Milan or Salt Lake? The Special One is also rumored to be returning to Chelsea. Like Kobe's wife, all can be forgiven with a 2 million pound plus Ferrari. If that insane sequence of events happens, then Didi will be staying put. Can you imagine what Didi would do with the hacks tackling him in the MLS? He could average a red card every three games. Of coarse he would score 90 goals too.
No one player causes any of the losses usually. It is a team sport. But there is significant room for improvement in goal, and we have a talented young backup who needs experience. But, just off the top of my head: Early in the year against Chivas, Rimando made a terrible mistake to hesitate on a through ball, letting Klejstan get an easy toe poke to score instead of forcing a good finish or possibly beating him to the ball. Both of Beckham's goals were save-able. The first shot ended up in the corner, but the way it bent, it came right across the front of the goal in a way that most keepers would have gotten a touch on it. On the free kick, he was poorly positioned from the beginning. If the kick was from 20 yards, he would have been right to give a lot of room at the near post, but from that distance, he made it very easy on Beckham to just kick it hard at a large empty spot. From that distance there is plenty of room for the ball to come down, but further distance to the far post. So he is better off moving closer to the center so he can get to both posts. If Beckham goes far post, the ball has to travel a lot further and gives him time to make that save. And tonight, he gave up a header from right on top of the six yard box. There is just no excuse for getting beat to a cross that deep and right in the middle. It was in fact the second time in the game he was beaten to such a cross, but the first time he managed to save the header. And these are just the examples I remember clearly, there may be others. RSL's lack of attacking talent is a much bigger problem than goalkeeper, but there is room for improvement and an obvious option. Why not play Seitz? What has Rimando done to make secure his position ahead of Seitz?
Let me start by saying that I really like Nick. But I think I agree that we should see Seitz more and more. We are not going to make the playoffs this year. I just don't see it happening. So let's get Chris in while we have him and get him ready for next year. He needs to be ready to go next year. Why not give him the starts now? We are still lucky that we have Nick. Again, these comments are not based on the way the Nick has been playing. We will need him when Seitz heads for China. But until then, I think we should play Chris.
Borchers had an awful game the other night. Olave was playing great, then got pulled and the two goals came. I would spend that money getting two actual wing midfielders (since it seems from previous Garth conversations that you won't be getting a DP just yet) A midfield of Williams-Beckerman-Dema-Morales has four naturally central players, but nobody to get up and down the line with speed/crossing. Joy is a bust (even at getting forward with speed--supposedly his strong suit) and Deuchar isn't being used to his fullest without good flank play. Terry Cooke is on the bench at Colorado.....
I agree totally! Lets hold everyone accountable. Rimando sat back and got burned on a very long shot that should have been poked out or caught. I really think Seitz with his hieght and ability would have stopped one or both of the Beckham shots. I don't know if he would have stopped the Donovan shot later. That was a pretty great stop by Nick. RSL has nothing to lose by not playing Seitz. Cruz Azul switched goalies from the great Oscar Perez to a younger player Yosgart Guttierez and are now in the finales of Clasura 2008.
I'm not sure WHO we should go after...let's be honest, I'm not sure there are that many players (if any) who would want to come to RSL right now. BUT, we need someone! WE = The Fans. To continue to support this team we need to feel as though the FO cares and wants to keep moving forward. Saving money for next year doesn't help us NOW especially when we need to capitalize on the stadium. We have been told by the FO this offseason that there was a new culture...COMMITTED TO THE CORE.....ACCOUNTABILITY...etc. If they don't follow their own mantra we continue to let the mentality of the past creep back in. Now more than ever we need the FO to stand behind their words! What we now already from this season.... 1) Mantilla is nothing compared to Olave 2) Joy has turned out to be a bust as an outside defender. If we can't find another position for him, time to look elsewhere 3) Sturgis is made of glass...time to look elsewhere 4) Cordoba is a bust 5) Findley has nothing but breakaway speed...time to look elsewhere We have improved, but we're still searching for an identity and Kreis has no idea how to establish it.
Luca, Luca, Luca, Luca, Luca, Luca, LUCA TONI!!!!!!!!! Ok, he's not available. Um, David Beckham? Ok, not available also. How 'bout Blanco?
So now we get to throw the players under a bus... BUT, how it is that some of our former players, Atiba and Talley come to mind, go on to other organizations and look just fine? Re the same players you mentioned... I agree that Olave looks to be better than Mantilla, but he also looks to be better than Borchers (are we looking to switch the wrong center D?) Joy hasn't looked great...but he is also being asked to cover for Borchers...Wingert looks better on the right than the left a well. Sturgis has a hamstring problem...which RSL has a history of (the turf doesn't help)...if RSL hasn't made the change to a soccer knowledgable trainer, RSL will continue ot have hamstring problems. The typical traner doesn't understand that, due to extreme use of their quads (kicking mostly) soccer players tend to be unbalanced in their leg muscles, which creates the hamstring issues. It isn't stretching, it is strengthening and flexibililty that is necessary...according to a Euro-trainer with whom I am acquainted, all conditioning work should be at least 1/4 to 1/3 going backward to work the hams. I guarantee you this isn't happening with RSL. We don't know if Cordoba is a bust yet. Perhaps he doesn't fit the Kries "run around like a chicken with your head cut off for 75 minutes and then die" mode. Findley should be getting coached. I'm not sure that he will ever get a top quality first touch (it's hard at his age) but he should be making the most use of his attributes, speed and strength, making non-stop runs to the corners, on diagonals and behind the D. Every team should be petrified of him. Instead he is trying to make checking runs...why? That's what the Dr. is for. Someone send Findley (or his coaches) a Josh Wolff highlights tape that shows his off-the ball running.
good points...all of them...it appears that we're back in the same spot when looking for accountability then...coaching & training!
Earliest possible date for international transfer is June 15th. Trades between MLS teams are valid at any time prior to the roster freeze on Sept 15th I guess we get to suck for a little while longer. from MLS website (B) TRANSFERS AND LOANS An MLS player may be transferred or loaned at any time to a team outside the League. The registration windows - the dates between which MLS may request the transfer certificate of an international player are as follows: January 15 - April 15 (Primary Window) June 15 - August 15 (Secondary Window)
I have been following the season down here in chile and have been really dissaponted. I don t get the full aspect of the game mlslivetv isn´t the greatest way to watch a game but some rumors down her are that Humberto Suazo is not enjoying his time in Mexico and wants out. I have really loved watching him play and think he would be awsome with RSL. Also the Chilean under23 is tearing things apart in France right now and they have some young wing players who are riding the bench at Colo colo and the Univesidad de Chile who can really play. I wonder why we don´t look at some of the players at that tournamnet. Also Mark Gonzalez formerly of Liverpool fame is looking to go somewhere where more of the play will go through him. Just my tidbits from Chile. But we do need something it has become a joke to watch the ways we come up with to lose.
$500,000 thats it??? How the RSL budget has been mis-managed? First of all, RSL should bring a coach in that knows WTF he is suppose to do. After that, some B List Euro players might be able to help the team thru the remainer of the season.
$500,000 of a $2,300,000 salary cap, seems like a good chunk. Especially since $400,000 of a DP contract counts against the cap. That would leave another $100,000 to sign someone else if they wanted. I think that is pretty good. A DP would have to be the only reason to leave that money open.
I agree with you on the first bit. But I don't know if a DP is the only reason to leave that much money. I can think of several positions where we could bring in quality players for $150K or more. A DP would be a good thing. So would wing players and more frightening striker. but I think you are right that this is not a case of mismanaged finances, but a matter of keeping options open.
Will RSL ever use their DP slot? Times a ticking and someone should make an effort to bring someone in to fill the slot.
Or a pair of really scary outside midfielders. You know.....the kind who actually play on the outside of the midfield and will actually defend in the midfield as well. Not until we're in the new stadium - Garth is on record for saying that. And the fans need to prove we're worthy of a DP as well, whatever that means. In my mind, the fact that we're still here supporting this turd of a franchise more than proves our worthiness.
Wouldn't that mess with the gelling process? and as IBIK reminds me, Garth doesn't think we're worthy.
Groan... does this mean that I'm going to have to interview with Garth before I can get my Stadium Recommend card?