Sounds like you need to be burped. You're a conspiracy theorist now? (I've had it out for "a select few of us") EDIT - I'm still not sure what got the reaction from you in the first place... apparently my tone came across more than I meant it. I just thought that what you presented as contradiction/mutually exclusive were not. You can say "all of the above" to the JeffC issue. Maybe it's my style of posting. If so, I apologize - I really mean no harm... just arguing a point. On the Ellinger front, I personally think he's on his way out as soon as they have a replacement... so what's the point of going on about it - particularly in another thread about something else (like the amazing fact that despite our crapiness we're not THAT far out)... Seriously, I enjoy your comments/analysis (even if sometimes I don't agree with everything). Sorry, if I pushed your buttons...
Agreed with more or less everything. What gave you the idea that somehow I'm overly pleased with RSL? Some CRapid's fan took a fun poke at the trade and I poked back... Just having some fun with the guy. I think the wider-angled view is exactly - Jeff has weaknesses that keep him from being as good as he can be, but he's also produced quite a few goals this year for us. A mixed bag. I'm still glad he's here and not Mathis... and barring the knowledge of any other option, I'm glad we took this one. All those questions you pose are good questions that I agree with...
I've actually really questioned Ellinger's player selection recently. I think Harris is a waste of money. I'm glad Brown hasn't been playing because I don't think he's very good. I'm not really a fan of Klein either, which I know RSL FM and a few others would disagree with. If nothing else, have some else do the free kicks. Please!!! It would be nice to have a ball played into the right spot. I've been pleasantly suprised by Balouchy and Forko. Well done, gentlemen. Novak too for the most part, except for his mistake at the end of the Chivas game. I think Besagno's going to be a fine player as well. I'm glad he's got some playing time. The sad part is we've got all this youth on the team. We need some leadership and I don't feel like Kreis has been leading by example. Talley's been doing that job and I salute him for his efforts. Still, we've got Watson as well and a few others still wearing diapers, if not pull-ups.
[Nothing to see here... move along] EDIT - Go back and reread the posts. This started because I simply challenge your point that we need to "make up our minds about JeffC" because earlier we were ripping him for missing chances and now we're saying we got the better end of the trade with Colorado... How are these things contrary? Both are true statements.
re: usage of "we" Everyone else that doesn't want to see the two of us air out our differences in public. I appreciate your clarification on the tone of your posts. Thank you. I removed my counterpoint from this thread to remain on point. PS Sort of commonly accepted that PMs and Rep statements aren't pasted into the thread. I'm not afraid to have it here, but strange nonetheless. I've never given someone neg rep before, but you did take a few shots at me on purpose.
I forgot to mention Garlick. Let's just say I'm not a fan. Has anyone been to the reserve games to see Nolley play? How do you think he's going to do. I don't think it's a mystery or a rumor that Garlick is here to mentor him into the starting position before he retires. He's a good person, of course. His performance has just been lackluster.
[In light our (USAFutbol & me) recently negotiated truce (mediated by none other than Rodney "Why can't we all just get along?" King, there is nothing to see here... now move along... Really.]
Cunningham certainly has his many, well-documented flaws. Getting along with others would be high on my list, despite all the reports about what a friendly group this team is. My feeling is that if there were ever a team where a wild-card, chip on his shoulder individual player could be free to roam, it's RSL. Put him on a team like DC or Dallas and he's another selfish player who points the finger at his service when he misses a sitter. Basically, the kind of stuff that put him on the bench for a while, even at RSL. Send him to RSL and he has a lot more freedom to make zig-zagging runs like the one against NE. Not to mention the fact that his chest is big enough (remember the whole big deal when he told reporters his bare chest was broad enough to take the blame for misses-even while he tried to dodge it by blaming it on Klein's service?) to step up and bury two penalties in injury time when John Wilson inexplicably feels the need to restore karmic balance and give RSL a late victory. I guess he's played for a whole heck of a lot of teams and there were few options when trade talks began (especially with his ouster so obvious), but surely the people at Colorado had to consider how much damage Cunningham could do at RSL. Fortunately for them, they're eight points clear of the playoff line, with 13 games left compared to 12 for the rest of the West. Right now it looks like they were fine dumping their problem child star on the cellar dwellers, but if we do manage to make up some ground over the next couple of weeks, people could see this as a bad move for Colorado, even if it was perhaps the only one.
I agree with this post 100%. And with the post regarding Garlick. Klein is too slow and doesn't bring enough to the team. I would rather see Cutler playing where Talley plays, and Talley moving up to Klein's position.
It's interesting that when some players are on the field, they are the weak link that needs to be replaced before we can go anywhere. Yet when they have been off the field for a little while, they are the savior that needs to be starting again to save the team. I guarantee that in a few months of Cutler playing with Klein on the bench, people would be clamoring for Klein to replace Cutler too.
I think Klein and Cutler are two different types of players. Cutler takes a much more defensive posture, whereas Klein is more offensive (largely based on positioning). Anyway, I like RSL being more offensive (aggressive), so I would probably put Klein if I had to chose between the two. BUT, we've got a host of other players that could fit in nicely. In fact, I really like the power lineup when they take out one of the defenders and bring in Watson as an additional forward, like they did in the DCU game. I would like to see more of that.
The only good thing about watching Cutler play is hearing the guy a few rows behind me at Rice-Eccles make pirate noises and yell, "Arr, Cutler!" every time he touches the ball.
Strange how that works, isn't it? What's that they say, the grass is always greener? Good observation.
Daytona Beach News-Journal/Andrew Mikula: Gil back in soccer, signs deal with Salt Lake pro squad Gil's connections in college worked in his favor. Real Salt Lake coach John Ellinger found out about Gil through Jonathan Hackworth, who was the USF coach just before Gil arrived in Tampa and was supposed to be Gil's coach with the Bulls. "He talked with Ellinger about me and I got a week-long (tryout) in Bradenton when Real Salt Lake was doing pre-season there," Gil said. "I've been on an extended trial with them and I've been in Utah about two months, but I only recently signed." ... With the Real Salt Lake developmental team, though, Gil said he will play center midfield in a dual role with another player. "You do just the opposite of what the other guy does, so I have to go back or stay forward. I used to be an attacking mid at Flagler Palm Coast and a defensive mid at USF. (The dual role center mid) is a good set up for me," Gil said.
Hey RSL FM, I'm impressed. You know more about RSL than anybody on this board. Your research is phenomenal. (Thinking outloud: Now if she would only remove that pic so I can concentrate -jk!). Excellent commentaries. Thanks!
Ok the thing about Cutler being in over Klein is that it allows Talley to move forward, Talley is pretty smart on the ball and is much more athletic on the pitch. Anybody can play the position that Talley is currently playing so why not have Cutler in? I have always thought that Cutler is a solid player, doesn't bring too much, but doesn't take away either. When it comes to it, I would rather have Cutler in for his hustle and the effort he brought to every game. I just don't see that from Klein.
The sad part is half of RSL's team shouldn't be allowed to set foot on an MLS pitch. Can you say Cutler, Harris, Sequeira, Brown, et al. Even Garlick and Klein are dead weight in my opinion. A few of the other guys need to wake up and smell the coffee. Yes, that means you, Jason Kreis. And RonNation does have a point, at least Cutler hustled whereas Klein likes to walk and pick his nose (with 20,000 people watching).
Does Cutler have an assist or goal in his time with RSL? I think he's below average at best. He looks okay against a team without a decent offensive midfielder. But watch him against Donovan. Cutler is always hustling because he is trying to catch up. He looked terrible against Morelia. The guy needs to learn to foul in the midfield and break up the other team's breaks. He brings nothing to the table offensively. He needs to become more of a fouler like Ben Olsen and some other the other defensive midfielders in the league. He shouldn't play over any of our midfielders right now. I think Besagno should be ahead of him on the depth chart for midfield when Pope and Torres are back.
Who else on the bench would you put out there? We dont have any one better than Klien. Personally I dont think he is that bad, better than some others that we have. Cutler is a waste and cant do crap, and Sequeira is even worse than that. I think the best four midfielders we have are Williams, Ballouchy, Klien, and Talley.