MLS GAME DAY 13: RSL hosts HOUSTON Wednesday, May 13th 7:30pm

15 to 32 · May 14, 2026

Ismitje said: ↑

By the way, sitting in the South End was the right choice last night - all Houston's action in the first half and all of ours in the second all happened at that goal. Bummer night sitting on the other end.
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Wait, were you in the south end?!

Ismitje · May 14, 2026

No, I even sat on the north end of my couch. Just observing it would have been a better experience there.

RSLer · May 15, 2026

15 to 32 said: ↑

It’s interesting how folks can watch the same game but have different reactions and takes. I’m not saying you’re wrong or I’m right (just implying it) but some counter points:

1. I thought the first half was boring. You call it patient. That may actually say more about me than anything… but I can’t stand long drawn out passing sequences that don’t lead to shots. Rsl didn’t register a shot on goal in the first half. At home. You can call that patient, I call that toothless.

2. Guilavogi isn’t that player. Maybe he can grow into it - I have doubts - but he feels much closer to a complimentary star than a standalone one. The dude has incredible vision and touch, he’s just not the guy to go out there and completely take over a game himself. In the past that was a no go for a DP. I think in current mls structure you can actually pull that off if you surround him with the right talent. Rsl has in a lot of places. Needs better in others. Expecting Guilavogi to be who he isn’t is a big big ask

3. I thought this was one of Marczuk best performances. By no means a high bar, but he did allow for Gozo to have the freedom he did and was influential. He was poor in crossing decisions, but got himself into spots he struggled to find for at least a year now. I view that as improvement. I also think he deserves some recognition for the first and second goal. He forced the throw in, with Luna, on the wicked own goal. And he pulled Houston’s left back wide to allow yedlin to make the run he did. I’m not going to pretend those are elite level things, but they’re also not bad.

4. I was calling for Olatunji to play more. I won’t anymore. You can say it’s because the club doesn’t know how to play to him. I do think there is some truth to that. But I also think he lacks some pretty fundamental abilities that kill the teams flow constantly. His touch is rough. His runs are poorly timed to when and where his teammates get the ball. And he’s kind of a bull in a china shop, at best. There is a place for that in the team, I guess, it’s just not what you rsl needs from its second striker

5. If Gozo and Luna stay through the year I don’t think it’ll be a bad thing. I think having them past the sprint season next year, though, would be a sign of failure by either the club, the players, or both. If they are here post World Cup then the team needs to chase to win now. We’re not massively far off, but this roster won’t win a trophy as is, either.

6. Luna and solans changed the game. Caliskan did not. He came in at the 75’ with it already 3-0. Not saying he was bad, but it’s harsh to Spierings to call out Caliskan, imo. Spierings was on fire in his distribution. He was a big part of the 3-0 romp. Caliskan just saw it out. Valuable, but not game changing.

7. Quinton is the lowest paid CB that’s getting time. Dude is overachieving massively for the club and def deserves recognition
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I like almost all of these points. A couple of comments:
1. Marczuk does just about everything right until he gets rid of the ball. I think his decisions are bad at that point. Maybe it’s a vision thing?
2. Caliskan coming in and seeing it off is exactly what Pablo wanted imo. Before he subbed in I said “They are trying to score rather than simply finishing it off. That’s what Pablo has been complaining about recently.” So from this pov, Kudos to Caliskan.