Sucks to only draw at home, but they kept a clean sheet against a better team. Not a bad result. Hopefully there's a few guys coming off injury for Saturday because Pablo has rode some guys lately.
I thought the game was decent enough, but lacked obvious quality in the final third and lacked anyone truly special. Luna was off and got worse. That he played the full 90 was ridiculous
We were lucky not to concede on a couple of those Portland chances. The Cabral double save and then Junqua off the line stands out, as well as the wide open shot just inside the 18 they didn’t even put near on frame. We had a couple of good looks too, especially the one Barea somehow whiffed. I’m impressed that the team kept Portland at bay as well as they did. But Luna really needed some rest. I missed it, but I heard that Diogo had his Jersey off almost before he got off the pitch, didn’t acknowledge anyone much at all, and went straight back to the locker room. I didn’t pay much attention. He and Piol did not get much applause on their way off.
On the Goncalves front, anyone else keep hearing about RSL staff saying he thinks 1-2 steps before everyone else on the team and that's why he doesn't have the numbers? That's pretty ballsy to come out to say to a (I think) fairly knowledgeable fan base. Did RSL use one of their buyouts on Brody or do they still have both?
I think him sucking has more to do with RSL sucking and putting a guy who needs some development in a pretty tough do-or-die situation.
I listen to KALL 700. I hear it from the guys that Spence has on his show. Pretty sure I've heard it 2-3 times in the past week or so.
Fine dude is smart at soccer. Can he seriously not figure out how to contribute meaningfully to the team with all those smarts and ability? Thierry Henry, Lampard, David Villa, Hany Mukhtar, countless others have figured out how to “play down to the level of their peers.” They might have even helped others play better. Messi seems to have figured out how to play in this league. It is just such a stupid excuse. Diogo’s “problem” is that he is too passive and not a leader, and we need him to be both, and that just simply has not worked out.
Yep, but I'm sure he could have been a fine 2nd/3rd player behind Luna and/or Chicho/equivalent #9. Lesson learned, you can't use your DP spots on guys that aren't going to be your 2 best players, even if you have some outstanding U22 players. The fans would feel much different about him if he was being paid like Crooks or Glad. I actually think this is a big reason they wouldn't go up on the fee for Bozenik. You have to make sure that guy can be bought down from their DP slot.
There was a single play last night by Diogo that summed up his RSL time so well. I think it was in the first half. He won the ball on the west sideline, juked out a defender or two on a nice touch, and started driving the ball down the field. Then he got bodied by a PDX defender and just… let him have the ball. No real fight, no attempt to win the ball back even by grabbing the guy. He just let the dude have it. Not even a dive to try to win a foul. He then just casually jogged back it was everything wrong with the guy after seeing what he has at his disposal. He also looks extremely unhappy in terms of body language. That Pablo keeps starting him baffles me. He needs to be dropped
I don't know if you know this but Diogo Goncalves is a Designated Player. I try to remind everyong of that fact because he isn't doing it. Amirite?
You are so spot on with this. I saw the same and thought the same. He is miserable and you can see it. Cabral is the exact opposite. The guy looks like he has waited his entire career to be here. What a find for RSL. I was very surprised at how complacent Portland seemed to be but I get it, midweek, altitude, keep RSL in front of you, they can't score, pressure in the second half and get the game winner. Almost worked but made for a relatively flat game. But a point is a point for this club. Russell must have been sitting around for six months because I thought he might get a few minutes but Pablo is leaning on how much of defensive liability he might be without more fitness. Diego looked gassed and you have all of those young kids in there, let Johnny sit up top as an outlet or pressure release while the kids work the defense and Diego gets a breather? Some day. My favorite part of the game was late in the first half Neville kicked the ball out to his team for a free kick and tweaked his knee and had to sit down. Made me chuckle. Getting old sucks.
I remember the play and was talking about that exact play last night with my friend as a microcosm of all things Diogo. Interesting that we both saw the same play the same way.
Did anyone else think that Gozo in 20 minutes at striker influenced the game from that position WAY MORE than Piol, Agada, and Barea have all season? Gozos speed popped more. He won more aerial balls. He won a foul that Piol wasnt getting (in part because he goes down too easy imho). He was fluent running downhill at players and making intricate touches that turned defenders. His final touch was lacking just enough that he didn't get off shots but everything. If Gozo can shift to Striker I think that would be good. Heaven knows we have enough wingers. Gozo, Marczuk, Brook, Russell, Wolf, Luna, Hidalgo, Diogo, and probably someone else have all llayed the spot this season. There are only 2 spots, yo.
Also, Luna is more effective underneath the strikers than playing as a second striker like he did last night. He gets gassed chasing down balls to initiate pressure where Gozo never stops. Gozo to striker gets my vote. Maybe next to Agada like last night with Luna underneath the two.
I'm game, but I still think Agada is more than capable of getting 10+ goals with RSL this season if he gets starting minutes. Agada and Gozo getting nearly all the minutes up top is fine by me. But I also think Marczuk needs to be starting and that Russell, Brook and Wolff will bring more than Goncalves.
Marczuk is coming off the bench behind Gozo. He isn't getting minutes. I would like to see a lineup of Gozo and Agada up top, Marczuk on one wing, Brooks (Diogo off the Bench) on the other wing, Luna beneath them as the CAM.