Don't know what to think about this club. They at least stayed in the game against the best team in the league in Vancouver without letting the game get totally out of hand and made it squeaky bum time for a few minutes. All I keep thinking though is "water finds its own level." Cabral Hidalgo, Glad, Junqua, Katranis Eneli, Ojeda Marczuk, Luna, Diogo Agada RSL should be motivated to not lose another game and FCD might be
Stopped by practice and Johnny Russell looked pretty good for an old guy that somehow doesn't bug the crap out of me anymore. Diogo continued to look like a guy that can't figure out how to have an impact on the team.
I know Marczuk is the guy we brought in to run that wing, but I am not sure how you take Gozo out of the lineup after these two performances.
To be fair it was just the one scrimmage but he just doesn't look confident anywhere I watch him in the game or practice. Maybe playing next to/with a guy like Russell might be the thing that unlocks whatever is going on with Diogo. I should note that Pablo talks about Diogo as well so I'm probably not too far off on him. I think he is dangerously close to crossing the Menendez line though.
I still think Menendez was the right player at the wrong time. He would have looked great on last year's team (if you could time travel). Diogo probably has to go. You can have a player like him if he's not a DP (still a probable waste of TAM, but doable). You can't have one of your 2 DP's not making an impact.
The thing with Menendez had little to do with talent. He certainly may have done well on last years roster but for Menendez he was not prepared for or capable, or more accurately perhaps, interested in playing the more physical style in MLS. He was soft and expected calls that just aren't given to non superstar players. I really liked what he brought to the game but he could not adjust.
This is the second of 7 games in May. Only two of those are at home and only one on the weekend. There's a midweek game at home next Wednesday against Portland before the first installment of the RMC next weekend. As an aside, there are only 3 games in June and only one before the 25th. So, to it's too early to worry about rotation, but it's beyond time to stop doing the same thing. RSL is too predictable and not good enough to say 'try and stop us'. Is anyone returning from injury? Will Hidalgo start? What about Agada? How long until the Millers buy out Goncalves?
For those not following too closely, Diogo’s contract is through 2026, with club options for 2027 & 2028.
Just buy him out if you can't move him when the Euro window opens. I'm easily swayed by the concept of cleaning house now or by the end of the year. Conversely, the proof of concept is there (first of the season last year), maybe with proper funding, the FO and coaches can do it again. It's just really hard to see this team doing anything more than a non-competitive first round exit again.
Do we know who's returning from injury/available? Sound like Russell picked up a knock last week, but haven't heard about his week. Marczuk was apparently injured the last couple games, but not sure about him this week. Hidalgo should be back. Vera? Henry?
Vera didn't practice this week, at least not on Tuesday and Trey said he could be back to training next week. Henry was at practice but no practicing, working on fitness on Tuesday. Russell very much in practice with Marczuk on Tuesday
I might catch the last half hour. It's Commencement here at the university, followed by celebrations hither and thither, so I will be home late.
Starting lineup XI guys ready for a rodeo#DALvRSL | @Intermountain pic.twitter.com/ccIiX385Gz— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 10, 2025
What you'd expect up top but Gozo gets the start again. Backline a little weird with Junqua next to Vera in the center and Caliskan at right back