Well well well, here we are again, the precipice of the season is upon us. The Cassar era has begun. It's a World Cup year! So it's time to dust off the old season expectations thread and see what everyone has to say about this version of RSL and what they should or should not expect to accomplish. Here's a look back at some of the previous expectations threads: 2013: https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/2013-season-expectations.1983328/ 2012: https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/2012-season-expectations.1898908/ 2011: https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/2011-season-expectations.1642129/ Some thoughts to get this thread going.... What can we expect of RSL under the guidance of Cassar? Obviously this will be an interesting thing to watch, the hope with hiring him was that not much would change. Can RSL continue to be a power in the league while at the same time overcoming some demons and actually winning some hardware? Does last season's results affect your expectations of this team? Looking back at last year's thread it seems the majority of us had reservations about what we expected from the team. Does the fact that we made 2 finals and finished 3 points from the SS change those expectations? Not a whole lot of roster changes and guys who were question marks are more of known quantities. How will international callups, injuries, and suspensions ravage this years team? Much like last year I think it's safe to assume we will have a TON of these again. We're already dealing with injuries and trying to get guys back healthy, Schuler, Findley, Sandoval, etc etc have all been rehabbing and working on getting back on the field. Plus that big WC looms on the horizon and we'll see a few RSL players off to the big international stage. So, hardware, what about it? Rocky Mountain Cup, USOC, SS, MLS Cup. 4 legit shots, do you expect this team to overcome the hurdle and finish better than 2nd in any of them? Let's hear it. Pull those wild, out of your ass predictions up and LET'S GET IT ON! Should be a fun year.
Personally I expect this team to take back the RMC from the slimy cRapids. That team is a mess and need to get back to owning those bitches. This should be the baseline. Our matches are 5/17, 8/2, and 9/19. I expect this team to maintain the same level of success, a drop off under Cassar in terms of points would be disappointing. Somewhere in the 50's in terms of points is what I expect of this team. The west is going to be loaded, again, and looks pretty strong from 1-7 or so. Making the playoffs should be expected of this team. I see an Eastern team winning the SS again, that conference is not as strong and I think the disparity out east allows for a team to catch fire and put enough distance in front of the 2nd place team to win it. The west will cannibalize each other, but will clearly be the stronger conference again. USOC is such a crapshoot, I still can't believe we managed to land every game at home last year. No way that happens again. It'll be interesting to see how seriously Cassar takes the competition, we will see a reserve laden lineup right out of the gates? I think this team will make an effort to get the bad taste of losing last year out of their mouth's and go for it. I don't expect them to win, though, not with how this competition really seems like a coin flip these days. MLS Cup, I think this team has a decent shot at it if they stay healthy. The experience of last year will be key here, not letting a first round loss on the road derail you and taking care of business in the WCF. It'll come down to matchups as usual, but I think we should expect another WCF appearance if not another MLS Cup final appearance.
Portland LA Seattle RSL FCD agree east gets the undeserved SS and the RMC returns RSL reaches the Western Finals again but fall to Clint Dempsy and Seattle wins their first MLS cup against TFC. you can laugh all you want but I just got back from my vacation from the future. sorry if this spoils this season for you.
I expect reaching the playoffs. I don't think its gonna be any easier this year, might actually be tougher. I don't think you can really predict how this team will do based on last year. I also hope for some of the younger players to step up when needed. I think we'll see some of the older veterans start to have a drop in quality this or next year, so it'll be important for them to be ready. I expect the Riot to be packed more often then not. I seriously think this world cup is going to be monumental point in the history of US Soccer. The soccer here is primed to explode in popularity and I think it's going to be a lot more than just a summer bump. [edit: take a drink for every time my sentences in english start with "I"]
It is so hard to predict with this team. I don't think the team will suffer under Cassar, I actually think it might be a shot in the arm for them. Things may have become stagnant under Kreis. The Riot should be rockin' as always. We need to win some hardware though, seriously. [shaking head]I still can't believe we lost the USOC to DC.[/shaking head]
This year will be tougher than last year. The LA and Portland will be stronger and Seattle will be there too but it's hard to say if they will be consistent. I think that RSL will win the RMC back but I don't think they'll win anything else this year. I hope I'm wrong but until our defense is able to get back to 2010 performances we'll have a hard time winning the big games.
/pollyanna, rainbows, unicorns and Barney mode on/ We will win it all!!!! RMC, SS, USOC and the MLS Cup! Yeah! /pollyanna, rainbows, unicorns and Barney mode off/ /cold, hard reality mode on/ I pretty well certain that will take back the RMC due to the turmoil at Colorado and get into the playoffs. As for USOC, SS, MLS Cup and a possible CCL berth, I think that the USOC has probably the best chance of happening.
I'd like to win back the RMC, make playoffs, and show that we care in the USOC. I'm really hoping last years performance wasn't a fluke, and I'm concerned due to the coaching change, and having the core be another year older. As long as we can play consistently, I think we'll do fine. My big concern is losing a few guys to call ups for the World Cup, especially if it's KB/Rimando. I also worry most about our back line, because we've got Borchers another year older, and Schuler/Kwame coming back from long term injury. If they all manage to get injured around the same time, it'll make for a rough year. If most of the team stays healthy, then I think we can make a good push for silverware.
We will win the quad! RMC (of course), USOC, SS, MLS Cup. Anything less and I'll never support this team again. nah… silly… I will be severely disappointed by not making the playoffs. To characterize the season as a success, we need to contend for all of the three major trophies: SS, MLS Cup, USOC. By contend, any loss that takes us out of the cups must be to a team that is legitimate, no losing to lower level teams. As for the SS, contending means we have at least a 40% chance into the last few weeks of the season. And, we need to be threatening to win one of those by being in the semi-finals or better or not being knocked out of the SS race until the last weekend. I want more, I want better, but, I have a hard time expecting more or better… because, with all my heart I Embratsu!
Wow, expectations are pretty high around here. I'm not sure if we ever had a 40% chance of winning the SS last year, and I'd say we were definitely in the chase. Winning the RMC seems reasonable given the cRapids lack of a coach and general upheaval, but then remember that it's only 3 games, so nothing is certain at all. As always, my only expectation is that we make the playoffs. Everything else is gravy for me. I would be interested to hear people's expectations for particular players. How many goals should each forward score in order to consider it a successful season for them? What do you expect out of Gil and Seba this year? Do you expect Javi to duplicate (or exceed) last year's performance? What about Jordan Allen? Etc. I recognize that putting specific metrics on a player is hard, but I'd be curious to hear people's thoughts.
I honestly have a hard time putting metrics onto people. Sabo I expect to score at the same rate (roughly 1 per every other game), the rest of it I hope to see a continued team effort in scoring. One of our bigger flaws is when the team sends a forward through, then leaves him on an island with no support. The times the midfield gets into the attack are the times we tend to see higher scoring rates. I want to see everyone from the midfield+ getting around the box attacking (plus the occasional outside back contribution). The way we're lining up seems to show that Seba will be more on the bench again, so my hope for him is to have a strong showing off the bench, and hopefully push for a starting spot. As for Gil, the guy has talent, but tends to disappear for long stretches. I want to see him assert himself more, and get more into the game.
Just so it's clear: I defined a failure (not making playoffs) and success (contending for all major trophies). Between those two is the zone of acceptable. I expect us to be in that zone, maybe competing for one of the trophies… maybe.
I'll be interested to see what happens on the back line, especially in the corners. The first game should give us a good indication as to whether or not we can hang with speed. I would dearly love it if we could work someone into the corner and actually get a decent cross in front of their net. This could be a good opportunity for one of the youngsters to step up, if Nat, Chris or Tony stumble.
My expectations are definitely higher than they were last year, but only to the point of making the playoffs. Not getting there would be disappointing. My main hope is getting back into CCL, but if we couldn't do it last year, I'd say it won't happen this year either.
Here's Twellman and Lalas' expectations for this season... good to see Kreis doing a backflip too... http://espnfc.com/video/espnfc/video/_/id/1734589/league/usa.1?cc=5901
Absolutely no expectations. This will be the year they should have had last year but worse and I would have been happy with making the playoffs last year. Who is Jeff Cassar? Tyrone Corbin or Jeff Hornacek? David Moyes or his replacement?
Interesting. Twellman says that Findley will be out until July. The last thing I'd heard from Garth and co. was that he'd be out until April or May. Has anyone heard an update on his status? Also, Lalas predicts that Garth will move to Seattle at the end of the season. Didn't Seattle hold a vote at the end of 2012 and extended Hanauer's contract? Is it up at the end of the season?
Shit shit shit. Lalas has been accurate before (with Kreis). I'm expecting a top 3 finish in the West and am HOPING for a Lagerway extension.
I'm kind of with you on this. I think RSL has average to slightly-above-average talent, and the potential for excellent team chemistry. Given an average number of injuries, I would look for RSL to finish with 51 points. My only expectation as a fan this season is consistent effort. To borrow from Jerry Sloan, no "jackpotting around" allowed. I also expect the forum to question at least 80% of Cassar's substitutions.
GET BACK TO THE GD (Gosh Darn) CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. We thought we had it last year, and then US Soccer ripped it away from RSL.
There's an Atlas Shrugged joke in there, but I just can't quite come up with anything. Must be the post-lunch drowsiness kicking in.
IF RSL loses Lagerway to anybody else in MLS there will be hell to pay with DLH. He simply cannot afford to lose Garth, as a new owner trying to maintain a successful team. He ********ed up the Kreis situation and now he knows he can't go through the same exact thing with Lagerway. It is troubling we haven't heard anything out of that area in a long while, I was hoping to hear about Garth getting a contract extension months ago.
Don't you think NYCFC would have found a way to get Kreis regardless of whether or not he was a "free agent." I'm tired of hearing stuff like this.