In MLS play, RSL is 4-2-5 in their last 11, good for 14 points or 1.27 ppg. They are on 1.68 ppg for the season. The wins are against SKC, HOU, ATL and NE with only the SKC win being on the road. The draws are on the road vs MTL and LAFC. Something is really off with this team. Last year, it was blamed on Savarino but the assistant coaches were changed, too. RSL is one game into 6 games in 22 days. There's not a lot of time left to figure it out and they are only 3 points ahead of HOU who are in 7th. Up next is DAL who are coming off a weekend bye and had a draw in VAN the prior weekend.
We're 2nd in the West, five points behind the Gals and one point ahead of LAFC. This is a very weird year.
And it’s a tight race. We have a game in hand over LAG and LAFC has a game in hand over us. It very well could be determined on the final game night.
This convo with the talking heads is shocking. I don't buy that we've corrected anything, but picking up 3 points with our second choice lineup is something. Kreis has a point that if DP's don't step up, others will have their spots. Julio, Crooks (I eat my prior words), Brook and Marczuk deserve to start this weekend's game IMO. https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/who...nce#who-will-win-wide-open-western-conference
Brook has been good, but I don't know if he gets 3 starts in a week. Luna hasn't been bad. I see either starting on the left Saturday. It's all about what Marczuk brings like Gomez did.
My 2 cents on Brook. He is a Wil Johnson type player. High energy, runs a lot, high effort, lots of xdawg... but at the end of the day doesn't bring a ton of quality. He is young enough that maybe he develops into a quality player but for now I see him as a guy you point to as an example of effort and as a sub that might make an impact. I hope he pushes the guys ahead of him, but I don't see him as the answer.
There isn’t anything inherently wrong with that type of player. And more importantly, they are vital to a successful mls team. If you don’t have a couple guys out there willing to bust their ass, the high end guys don’t work. See LAG this year vs years past
So, now what? It's seems obvious our "B" attack is more potent and stable than the superstars. Have Julio and Crooks proven themselves as starters?
It's also just a bit more than goals though. The B team looks more comfortable out there together. Waiting for the A team to get back to being the A team.
I think Luna and Marczuk are the A team, Crooks and Julio the B team. That unit had two goals on the weekend, then one for Luna and Marczuk plus Chicho and Diogo.
My thinking is that the B team (Julio and Crooks) seem to care a little bit more about pressuring the ball and helping defensively. As soon as Chicho and Diogo entered, we started to bleed goals. I'm not saying it's entirely their fault, but it has a Messi effect that everyone else has to give a greater defensive effort when our superstars enter the game.
I still think there's one system (there is no plan B) and it's designed to work with a speedy right winger. Couple that with many new "A" players trying to fit in, the "B" guys that are more familiar with the system, the "B" guys will mostly look better, especially if they play hard.
Pablo said something like that in his post game interview Saturday, paraphrased: “The pressure up top wasn’t as intense with the subs. I tell the guys, pressure up top turns into goals for you. It also helps keep the ball out of our net. Everything starts there.”