Game Day 14: RSL v Houston, Saturday May 28th, 7:30p MT

I'm getting email blasted that Savarino returns this Saturday. I wonder if he'll get some time-wasting minutes?

 

Wouldn't be the first misleading thing from the club if he didn't.

 

The eye test says Savarino looks good in practice, works hard and is fitting in nicely with the rest of the team so he's in the starting 11 on Saturday.

 

Let's hope that the Altitude and Fresh Legs formula works for us...

 

I'm curious why you think it's risking injury. It's not like he just had an offseason. He should be fine. The last time he was in the game day roster was April 23rd, I wonder if that means he was still training with Atletico or not.

 

This is RSL. We're kings of getting injured.

 

You're right that it's not insignificant that he hasn't been in a game day roster for a month but if he's been training with the team recently I don't see how he shouldn't be fit enough to play 30-45 minutes at least. Sure, he flew in this week but I've certainly traveled long distances and that didn't incapacitate me for days and I'm definitely older and by no means athletic. Also Belo Horizonte sits at roughly 2,500-4000ft in elevation, not vastly different than Salt Lake. And the climate is certainly different. This time of year, Belo Horizonte is usually around 70 degrees with 65% humidity compared to SLC's average of 72 degrees with around 40-50% humidity.

 

I think that this RSL team is starting to settle in and figure out who they are as a team. That, along with Pablo and his seeming ability to Ted Lasso this team, means that I am starting to expect them to play well.

But with the roster that we currently have at RSL it means that if they come up against obviously better teams getting a result becomes much more difficult if the rah rah stuff wears off. I know, DUH.

But it also means that RSL is a team in the truest sense of the word this season and that can make up for a lot of what might be lacking on the roster currently.

I expect RSL to play particularly well on Saturday and I also expect 3 points.

3-1 RSL

 

Houston played many (most?) of their starters, notably the older ones, in their midweek USOC loss to SKC this week. It was on the road at KC - not terrible travel, but travel nonetheless.

 

I think we will see 3 points this week with Bobby Wood getting a brace.

 

Menendez is such an enigma. He definitely has a ton of talent but he plays so damn soft which makes it difficult to be successful in a rather physical league like MLS.

I do think that there is still hope for him with this squad especially if the players around him improve.

If he is on the pitch with a few more dynamic players like Sava, Cordova, and even Meram he could finally find a way to be an actual contributor for this team. Him being out there with zero players as creative as he is makes him an easy target for other teams to bully or just mark out of the game. Because they have zero fear of most of the other players that were out there with Jonny. When he gets out there with more dangerous players perhaps that wont be the case.

I could be wrong and he just falls down all the time like before but I'm definitely curious to see him out there with better players with similar talent levels.

Should be interesting.

 

The guys on Off the Crossbar talked about him and the winger/wide midfielder position on the team.
I don't know what happens at training/practice, but I think Joni should get some run as a starter surrounded by attackers like Sava, Wood, Rubin and Cordova. I don't think defenses could key on any one of them and it makes all of them more dangerous. Then you have some of them off the bench plus, Chang and Meram and Julio. There's no reason not to run and wear teams out the whole game and then you have guys that are great late in the game coming off the bench.

If there is a roster crunch (no idea how there isn't already in terms of spots, not dollars), maybe you look at transferring Joni, especially if he really isn't good enough (I don't think that's the issue). I don't think Meram is a player much longer, Chang is a great depth piece. In fact, even with Chang being a bit older, I'd give him a raise and a new contract for a couple years.

Garcia, Schmitt and Davis probably need a loan. Besler seems like a luxury, even more so if they add a guy like Cuellar this summer. Not sure if he would be traded or transferred or loaned.

RSL does have too many players and those extra guys aren't even making the Monarchs winners. I think that and the USOC game show that maybe the depth isn't good enough.

 

Thank you. You made my point much better than I could. I think the key for Joni is having better players around him to do exactly what you said, keep the defenses from keying on him. Cordova is much the same. The better the players get around him, and the better the current players learn to play with a much better player in Cordova, the sooner we will see some exciting results. In my opinion anyway.

 

Bold maybe, but Wood has been putting himself in dangerous positions and ya gotta think one or two of those many opportunities will go into the net. For me it’s the work ethic and ability to be involved that makes Wood valuable. Two goals tomorrow.

 

Personally, I’m hoping we have a cold, northern Utah rain to take a huge toll on Houston’s motivation tonight.

 

What's the over/under on Savarino getting injured when he's subbed on tonight?

 

I didn't realize Houston picked up Corey Baird from LAFC, it will be interesting to see how the fans are towards him.

 

MacMath

Herrera Glad Silva Brody

Chang Loeffelsend Ruiz Meram

Cordova Wood

Bench: Gomez; Kappelhof, Kablan, Schmitt; Caldwell, Everton, Besler; Savarino, Rubin

 

Is this the first game of the year with 20 in the game day roster?

 

WOOD!!!