Another game played on a Holiday. Could this be a Mother's Day Massacre? This is the second game in the new Nashville Geodis Stadium. The should already have their nerves about playing there taken care of after the hard fought draw with Philly so I expect them to come out ready to go and fighting for the firs victory in their new stunningly beautiful stadium I certainly don't expect this to be a 6-0 drubbing for either side but these are two pretty sound defensive sides that aren't necessarily the most prolific on offense so I expect another game similar to the LAG game where a goal might come when you least expect. 3-2 RSL if I'm Keeping It Real. See what I did there?
I'll be shocked if we come away with a point in this one. Nashville is good. The new stadium jitters are gone, as you said, and now they'll look to establish the place as a "fortress" like their previous stadium. I see this as a 2 or 3 goal loss and one that shouldn't be judged on the score line. What I'm most curious to watch is how Pablo sets the team up with more and more players returning from injury / international duty. Especially with the addition of Julio and Savarino, what is this team's identity? Sitting in a low block and hitting on a counter is... well not the most exciting at times, and not what I'd say this team is built to do. My long intro paragraph is to say I want to see the 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 return. Watching Aaron Herrera and Andrew Brody be pinned back in a 4 man backline the last week or two has been depressing. That's not the type of soccer I thought this team was going to go about playing and really doesn't highlight/showcase those two players abilities to be influential on the attack. I'm concerned that Pablo has reverted back to the 4-2-3-1 that essentially is 7 behind the ball with 4 pushing forward to hopefully get a goal. That doesn't spell success unless you have someone up top who can score on a few chances and a defense that plays lights out. Assuming health, I'd want this to roll out: Rubin Wood Cordova Brody Ruiz Luiz Herrera Glad Silva Orozco MacMath It won't happen, though. My guess is we'll see this: Wood Meram Cordova Chang Ruiz Luiz Brody Silva Glad Herrera MacMath
I'd very much like to see that 3-4-3. Only thing is that Cordova doesn't usually make the right decision. How much creative decision making would be put on him? I'm biased, but he's got a long way to go before I'm ready to purchase him. Oh, and Luiz can easily be replaced with Caldwell. In my mind, I'd rather have Besler taking up a roster spot at his salary than Everton at his. Neither should really play but you're paying one (likely) like a starter. I'm so done with the 4-2-3-1. They could put Julio and Savarino on the wings and I still don't want to see it. The philosophy of that lineup with this club is just wrong.
Everton has shown better in his last few games, but he's certainly not performing as a top paid player on the club (as he was before). The curious thing there - and how better to assess him - will be what his new contract number is.
Is Dami Kreilach going to fade out of the picture like Jordan Allen did? The back injury has made him "questionable" for months now, no?
Hope not, this team could use a couple more good years from Damir. But if he can not make it happen? The club needs to keep him in Utah. Future manager?
I can vision Damir being a manager here or in Germany. He was/still is beloved in the Union Berlin organization and by their fans.
A agree with the skepticism. There's a lot of love for RSL in the press lately: the shiny article in the Trib about Pablo's "Tao of Soccer" (my words), and the MLS Soccer piece endorsing the new management team...hype is often a bad omen. Further, Nashville has to be pissed about the result here. This game has probably been circled by them. They probably see RSL the way Ukrainians see Chechens. ANYTHING - a single point - would be great. That said, I've been working all weekend, it's a beautiful day, and I'm looking forward to a bit of a break. If you're going to tease me RSL, don't tease me until the 80th, fade early so I can do something else. But I'll watch and hope.
What is this? 4-4-2 I think. MacMath Herrera Glad Silva Brody Chang Ruiz Everton Meram Rubio Wood Bench: Gomez; Kablan, Orozco, Schmitt; Caldwell, Loeffelsend, Besler; Julio, Garcia
Easy giveaway city to start the game. That's a game's worth of bad passes and touches in the first five minutes.
This 442 is weird. It’s more of a 4231 that has wood and Rubin pivot between the AM spot but neither has the technical ability or creativity to be that player I hate what this setup does to Herrera and Brody. They are pinned back far too much
Gold looks like he’ll need a sub We can’t have nice things wait It’s meram So…. My thoughts on meram are known.
Pablo Ruiz never misses an opportunity to yell at a ref Even on the most blatant fouls like that one by Everton that shit annoys me also The way Ruiz does the guy behind the ball thing is so weird. With the right strike he could easily get megged
That's an incredibly dumb foul from Everton. I mean, I'd also want to foul Leal for having that ridiculous neck tattoo, but I'd do it in a better position.
Wow did we get lucky Sapong laid that ball of rather than turn to goal as our whole defense was on the ground.
Yeah, let's hope we only give up 0 or 1 by half and settle down and shift. Tactically we're getting eviscerated. This is gappy bend that will break.