So good news all, we're two games into our five game road trip and we have only given up two goals! And with our high-powered offense that bodes well for our fortunes. Things must be going well indeed! Ah, well. Back to Kansas City we go where a pair of struggling teams face off for the second time. We're due, they're due, and that means 0-0. Thanks to @Ryantherusskie for our tagline this week.
I've got super low expectations for this one as well. The last 2 games have really felt like a step backwards in what was a rather bright opening to the season. A point here would stop that, a win would really feel like a change in direction again. XI I want to see: Rimando Tony Glad Olave Phillips* KB Sunny Burrito Allen* Plata Yura Bench: JeffA, Wingert*, Kavita, Stertzer, Javi, Mulholland, Sandoval Yes, I want Javi on the bench. He simply hasn't been good enough lately. Further, when he's come off the bench, he's been incredibly effective. I think this is a perfect time to test Allen at that AM role and tell him to run his ass off. Then we can sub him at 60 and bring in a fresh Javi to change the dynamic of our offense. Not having Phillips last week was killer. In the home Houston game, he was the outlet on the wing. Wingert just doesn't have that same skill. He's not bad, he's just not getting down the wing and putting in crosses. Oh, and if we don't start Sunny, we'll lose. No doubt in my mind.
Huzzah to 15 there - I'm behind the Javi as Andy Williams at 60 idea, though with Jeff it's more likely to be Javi at 78. I'd go further in that I think we need to look at KB5 in a similar light and rotate him too. I don't know how anyone saw him as a standout last game (RSLSoapbox) but people did. His passing was brutal. Allen helps us defend the middle of the pitch more than anyone we've put at CAM. The other option is Burrito centrally (IMO) with Allen out, but - again - I like how Allen contests in that part of the pitch - we had NO consistent pressure on Houston's defense last game, they won most of the 50/50 balls, just like against LA frankly. That made it easy for them to distribute, use the space on the field etc. We match up better with SKC and they tend to fire us up with their antics, so this may not be as dismal as we fear. I'd take a draw right now...but I doubt we get it.
KB hasn't been stellar lately, but I'm not putting a whole lot of stock in the Houston performance because of one thing: John Stertzer. The soapbox pointed out, in their average field position, just how close KB was to Stertzer the whole game. That's because, imo, he was having to cover for him far more than he would someone else (read: Sunny). With Sunny in there, KB usually has been pretty solid this year. With a young, turnover prone Stertzer (not to mention who goes into some of the weirdest looking challenges) he's going to have to do more work than he'd like.
After watching KC put eleventybillion shots on Orlando last weekend I have a feeling this one is going to get ugly. 3-0 for the bad guys, the torches will start getting lit after the game, pitchforks will come after next week.
they also gave up some really quality chances that somehow Orlando found a way to miss. Now, I'm not saying RSL can finish them, either, but KC was far from a defensive stalwart in that game.
We lose again, what is so funny to me is Rslsoapbox predicted we would somehow come out of this road trip with 10 points. This team has some real problems right now. Coach needs to step up and fix them?
This team needs to learn to again play thru the midfield. For some reason we seem to be too direct in our possession. Yes we want a attacking team that punishes other teams on the counter but how many times in the past few matches has this team given up possession by trying to force the ball forward. Time to slow the game down. Take advantage of our older slower midfielders (Morales, Beckerman) and build up the attack by allowing Plata, Burrito and our fullbacks to move forward. As much as this team has tried to move away from the diamond, maybe elements of the diamond are what are needed.
It does still feel like we're in an awkward phase of the transition. It's probably not helping that KB/Morales played the diamond for years. In some ways it feels like they're still trying to play the same way, even though the rest of the team is playing differently.
10 points?! Who the ******** thought we could average 2 points a game on a 5 game road swing? That's ********ing insanse
This is an interesting time for RSL this season. I would agree with those that feel this team is, at the moment, not much of a team in how they play and interact. I mentioned early on that it looked like there was a little friction between Yura and Plata and it looks as though that could still be the case, not only with them, but within the team as well. I really don't know what to expect on Saturday. My guess is it gets worse before it gets better. And it just might not get better. Never the less I'm enjoying this season much more than last season.
well if the Sabo situation is any precedent, I can't wait to pick up some player on the last year of their contract in exchange for Yura.
Looks like this the preferred starting lineup for RSL. Wingert being the only question for that. Let's see what they do.
Hello from Legends in SLC - having a blast watching with fellow forum members and wish you were here.
We are only a bit fortunate to be up. But, up by 2, that's very fortunate. Benefit from a missed offside. Deflections happen when the ball is put in dangerous situations. Good on RSL for that one.