Well, we did it! Another season almost done and dusted. We started the season surprisingly well with a wholly uninspiring HC only to cool off as his lack of ability to make changes, particularly in the second half of games, doomed the team to boringly predictable outcomes. Then, suddenly, surprisingly, gratefully, the assistant to the head coach ran away to the Emerald City with the other munchkins and RSL promoted a wholly inspiring interim HC. Pablo started off rather surprisingly well with a new and exciting formation and confidence in play only to cool off as his lack of ability to make changes, particularly in the second half of games, doomed the team to excitingly predictable outcomes. I really don't know what will happen on Sunday. At all. It would be nice to see RSL come out with some bite defensively and play with grit and determination but so far that has not been the case enough under Pablo. Which is utterly baffling. Oh how I want the remember the 2009 season fetish to continue but I just have a hard time believing that this team wants to win bad enough. We shall see though. I just hope it's worth watching the entire game. go rsl.
It's been 11 years so excuse me for not remembering well: was the 09 team's issues coming into the end of the season more defensively focused or on the attacking end? I ask because there hasn't been an MLS Cup winning side, that I can remember, that wasn't at least good on defense. Nobody wins MLS Cup by going 4-3 or 5-4 in their games. Ironically, I don't see the problems with this team on the attacking end of the field. At least not the most pressing. We're bad at defending and especially bad at defending counters
Actual game focused post: SKC sit in second, a point behind seattle and tied with cRapids (leading on number of wins). This game will matter to them. While there is argument to be made that you don't want to finish 1st possibly, I don't see how that extends to being ok falling to third. At second you get to host the worst playoff team, points wise. You get assurance that only one other team could host the conference finals, too. Long story short: I expect nothing less than a full strength SKC side, especially after the 3-1 defeat they just took in Austin. On our side, I'm at a loss for what should be done. I think Pablo goes with what he's shown to be his preference. That means you can guarantee Rusnak and Kreilach out there. Holt at CB. Ochoa in goal. The CM's are a crap shoot and I don't know if it matters at all, regardless. For me, the telling spot will be LW. Neither Chang or Meram deserve to be out there after their performances Wednesday. A guy like Toia or Morgan should be there, but I doubt it actually happens. For me, you have to play this game as more of a 5-2-1-2. You don't give up 7 ********ing goals and not change how the wings play and who plays there. Drop them back more, pivot smarter, and focus on keeping a clean sheet. Thinking the way to get 3 points in SKC isn't by focusing on defense first will get us ran off the field. How I'd lineup: Menedez Kreilach Rusnak Toia Besler Luiz Brody Glad Holt Herrera Ochoa It won't happen, but I think that lineup gives you the coverage you need and the pieces up front to try and nick a goal. If Meram is on the field I'm turning the game off
I haven't been impressed with Toia this year. Thought he'd be better as a LCB, but the one time they tried it, it didn't turn out so well. Maybe Morgan is a better fit? I'm not sure Powder is an MLS player, but I'll give it another year. I agree with more defense, so I'd put Silva in for Brody and move Herrera up. Brody can be a sub for LWB or RWB and we can even take off a CB. Not sure what is up with Ruiz this year, but I guess you can try your CDM pair, bring Ruiz in at the half if necessary. I'm all for trying Menendez with Kreilach, any way to get him more minutes. You can still bring in Julio and/or Rubin, Wood isn't going to help at this point. Chang, Meram and anyone else are break in case of emergency type players at this point with this roster (actually liked Chang as a regular backup winger). Like you said, have to do something different if you want different results.
I like your idea of putting Herrera on the wing spot and putting Silva in the CB spot In fact, I'd go Brody as the LW and Herrera as the RW. Glad, Holt, Silva in the middle to defend. I'd go Besler and Luiz, personally, but know that Pablo will probably go with Pablo. I have zero faith in Menedez starting in the middle. I have barely non-zero faith he'll start, let alone sub in before the 60th. Also, that should have been mentioned more in the other thread. Pablo only used 4 of his available subs in the Portland game, and they were Meram for Brody (45'), Wood for Rubin (61'), Menedez for Chang (76'), and Julio for Luiz (85'). If you read those you'd have thought the team was down a single goal, at most. Not ********ing 3. How the hell did we not see a triple sub at half with that performance?! Also, the change in shape/tactics didn't really take effect until the 85'?! Wow
During the last 4 or 5 games I have been waiting for the RSL outside players to stay home and defend better but it seems like the opposite kept happening. When caution and patience were needed it all was thrown to the wind and everyone was in the attack. Portland just took them apart in what I saw on Wednesday. And I witnessed all three goals. If this team had played anywhere close to the kind of soccer that they played against Seattle at home recently, they would absolutely be in at least 4th place. That team would have had little trouble with the likes of ATX, Chicago, and SJ. None. Instead they doubled down on the fun and not the work. I just hope they show up because the game starts at 4 which is the same time as The Love Boat which my wife and I enjoy on Sunday. Totally serious. We really watch the show and if I end watching to find out if the Minister actually ends up with the exotic dancer then I will be really pissed. But I'm afraid that it's more likely we end up watching Gopher and Isaac than Pablo and RSL riding off into the playoffs. Screw you pollyanna. That's a different episode of The Love Boat anyway.
Once upon a time, I was with a new missionary in the Azores Islands. He was a bit homesick and the bizarre-ness of the place, and said one afternoon "I'd give fifty bucks to see 'The Love Boat' on television." Which even then had been off the air for a couple of years, and besides, there were only two television channels in the archipelago and those tended not to broadcast American shows. Sure enough, we walk into a home later that day and there on the television was "The Love Boat."
And that’s how I know the Church is true! I’m going to steal that story for my next fast&testimony session. Of course, I’ll have to change it up a bit.
Some changes afoot for this final game: Ochoa Herrera Silva Glad Everton Ruiz Jony Rusnak Brody Rubin Kreilach Bench: MacMath; Holt, Morgan, Toia; Besler, Chang, Meram; Julio, Wood
Hoping to catch the first 20 minutes or so before I have to head to work. Looks like a formation change, 4 at the back. This is essentially a playoff game. The scenario feels like 2009 but the team doesn't.
Yes, it's a 4-4-2. That's an interesting shift after so many games in the 3-5-2. Ochoa Herrera Glad Silva Brody Jony Everton Pablo Rusnak Rubio Kreilach
I heard talk of a formation change. This will be interesting. Also heard SKC has lots of injuries. I hope it's at least entertaining.
Thought we had a better half than SKC, we do not look anywhere near as dangerous with 4 in the back, but we don’t look like we will give up as many counter goals. 45 minutes to go, do we have a chance/
Ugh. I'm on the edge to my seat and now my day's meetings are starting. Hopefully I can sneak out to check the score. I always feel like the most exciting miracles happen when I can't tune in anyway . Good luck!!!
Looks like Pablo's plan to go for broke during the last two home games didn't pay off. If these are even draws instead of losses we are going through with a draw in KC today. .......but wait!!!!! I just saw a score update!!!!!!!!