I didnt say anything!!! jk, i know youre kidding. you are kidding, right? Other than Beckerman's legit dreds, who else has weird hair on RSL? AC Slater with his beach-bum hair? Javi with his half mullet? Johnson, Williams, Wingert, Olave or Rimando with their shaved heads? Its not like we have Felini on our team.
As a season ticket holder to both RSL and Utah football, I was hoping for an earlier start (with the Ute game being at 6 PM) but it could have been worse I guess. Likely will attend the soccer game, then hurry to the TRAX station and head straight to Rice-Eccles and at least get there to see the second half of the Utah-Wyoming battle.
I received confirmation from our front office that the second leg will be on Thursday the 5th at 8pm (EST) on ESPN2(HD)
This game was over, I made it to both with plenty time to spare! What a day. Good thing sunday was a day of rest.
It was definitely due to Xango and the last huge turnout from 'free' Salt Lake County soccer vouchers. Let's not confuse 'big-game support' with the bang up job RSL marketing / promotions has achieved. Saturday's game will be a perfect indication - with people having to pay for their tickets (and at a play-off premium, no less) expect 10,000 people at most. With some promotions, bump it up 2 to 3k. Don't believe me? Look back at where RSL ended up in the Sunday papers - Page D17? And then tune in for all the Columbus-RSL playoff hype that will hit the radio airwaves throughout the week. Having the game on Halloween will not help either. Now that it appears there will not be national tv for this game I'm wondering why they couldn't have scheduled it even earlier in the day. But having said that, the front office has earned a solid "A" this year in getting people out to games after the first month of the season reality check kicked in. So I won't put it past them to do something creative (ie, any kid with costume gets in for $10) to drive attendance for this game.
Seriously--someone needs to make some sort of "Reverse Hair Club for Men" sign for Saturday. ("I'm Frankie Hejduk, and I'm not just a member--I'm the president.")
I do like Frankie for the USMNT. He brings a lot of passion and weird running to them. But this weekend he is the enemy, so thats that. Also, I agree the Lienhart looks like either Art Garfunkle or the guy from Greatest American Hero but he is a hard working player that we could use next year (actually I think Union is going to grab him hahaha). This will be a dangerous game, no doubt. Crew are the defending champs for a reason. But I think NE beating them yesterday might factor into our plans. No one wants to lose heading into the playoffs, I don't care how good you are. I say same linup as the cRapids game. Go Findley, Andy and Fabi!
Is Hesmer going to be in this game? He didn't play against the Revs. yesterday. Also, is Marshall hurt? Because he was out yesterday...
Harkes and JP said they are supposed to be back by next week, not sure if thats actually true though. PS Yes I am home sick today hence why I can post on BS during the day. Lose-win situation.
It isn't as if showing up for games late isn't an honored Utah tradition or something... for a lot of fans, the start times for both will be fine.
Hesmer just had a day off and Marshall is coming off a injury but is expected to be ready for Saturday. Edit: Actually just found out that Hesmer had the flu and I'm not 100% possitive the Marshall will be ready. I just read last week that he started to participate in practice
DW commented watching the game the other night when Grabavoy came on the field, "Why is it so many of RSL's players look like they just came in from a pouring rain and needing a haircut?" LOL!
Can someone please explain how playing the return leg is home field advantage? If you get blown out in the away game, you have to play catchup in the home game. I'd think playing the home game first would be more of an advantage. Anyone know the reasoning behind this?
I think the idea is because any 'extra time' played in case of a tie would be at the higher seed. You could also make the case that the crucial final match is at home of the higher seed. But I agree, the logic doesn't work well - and in my view may give RSL an advantage.
On the return leg the result required to advance is known. The higher-seeded team will know that they have to win by x, draw, lose by no more than x. They can prepare for that kind of a game. If the series requires OT then home field advantage is with the higher-seeded team. That's what I've been told.
the thing that is weird to me is that away goals dont count as 1.5 goals like they do in champions league. If we tied 1-1 here and 2-2 there... we would still go to OT. Oh well. Hopefully JK sticks with the same lineup and says "just do what you did last week for the first 45". CBus, or anybody else in this league for that matter, cant hang with us when we are on. Javi and Andy will dice you. Espy will juke you. Findely will be by you in a blink. Olave and Borchers will shut anything that comes near them down (talking to you schelotto and moreno). AC Slater is good, Wingert is playing his ass off latetly. Johnson is the engergizer bunny. and then our captain, the one eyed pirate, will break your leg... Feeling good about this weekend. We get a 2+ goal lead going back to CBus, its going to be too much for them to handle
I think RSL is going to need a 3 goal lead minimum. With the way we've played on the road, and Columbus having the 2nd best home record, I think 3 goals will be necessary on Saturday. However, Columbus hasn't scored a goal in a long time. That may help RSL out a bit.
I agree that 3 goals would put us in good position for the away leg. We need to see an even better performance from RSL than we saw Saturday night. Let's hope we see the unstoppable force of nature RSL and not the other guys!
It should be noted that this Supporters' Shield winner is not like others in history. Columbus finished with the lowest points per game than any previous winner, except one (since 2000, when the league went to the standard win = 3, draw = 1 point system). Columbus is far from a powerhouse. Anything can happen, and often does in playoffs. Momentum matters and RSL just played possibly its best 90 minutes in history. So, I'm thinking RSL can leave with a 3-1 advantage and hold on in Columbus... because, truth be told, we have a very very good D.