Definitely agree that the team needs to do better in the run-up to the playoffs. The big question for me is how do you address the post summer transfer-window drop-off so you can build momentum going into the games that really matter. I wonder if it is a case of the other teams just getting stronger in that window and RSL not? Is it fatigue/injuries due to the high output style the team has to use in-order to compete? Is it not integrating the summer signings quick enough into the team? Not really sure the answer but I do expect this season to buck the trend as I think the post world-cup roster will be better than the team that is starting the season. Worried it won’t be enough though after the first 15 game gauntlet like you pointed out.
All of that probably plays into the dive a bit. Other teams getting better etc. But what does it say when it happens year after year? I personally think that it is a coaching issue over all of the other stuff. In Pablo's first season or two there was constant complaints or consternation that he never subbed. You could count on him riding the guys until the 80th minute or so. That did change over time but anecdotally he seems to overuse his guys. If memory serves he rode Dami to the bitter end. Gozo is another example. He has the good game in Minnesota and then never comes out of the lineup again. He's young and can handle it but at times it looked like they ditched everything they were working on and just said get it to Gozo and pray. With the constant behind the scenes drama seemingly forcing a win every game scenario, it must have been hard to have any kind of perspective beyond the next game. There has never seemed to be any kind of season long plan to stick to in giving some younger players more time early or limiting minutes on older legs with a vision to peak in September/October instead of July. I guess they were doing their best to save Johnny Russells legs for some reason. lol Maybe they have that option this season but I don't think that Pablo can think that way. It's win every game first and foremost at the expense of building to the playoffs by sacrificing a little in the early part of the season.
Get off to a good start. Keep the casual fan interested for at least half the season. Get off to a slow start. The casual fan never gets interested?
That is an interesting thought. This is the land of the front running bandwagon fans for sure. I think that I would still sacrifice the start of the season in hopes of having a nice winning run to finish out the season to generate fan excitement and support with a decent playoff seeding. Watching RSL fade season after season probably does more damage to casual fan interest than starting off the season slow. No matter what part of the season, winning draws fans. That's for sure. Winning a few playoff games are probably worth their weight in gold with casual fans as well.
Seattle is famous for starting slowly. Seattle is arguably the most successful club since their inception.
Seattle is what the club says it wants to be The club then doesn’t do any of the actual Seattle things like a plan, organization, coordination, and willingness to make difficult decisions
Sanabria is now official too. https://www.rsl.com/news/real-salt-...-sanabria-from-liga-mx-club-atletico-san-luis
With all of the defensive personnel moves are we seeing JK’s influence toward molding a renewed reputation for tough D? Get the D in place. Make America First a fortress?
I think about that all the time since JK has returned. That was the philosophy with the club when they had the great run with him. Garth and Bill as well. Get the spine right and then move on from there. Solid in the back, great in the midfield, and dangerous up top. Works for me.
For sure. I was attempting to look at it from a casual fan pov, which I can’t because I’m EMBRATSU. I’m not a Jazz fan so I use that as my template. If they start hot I’ll notice and follow them for a while. If they start slow but get hot later the playoffs will start and I’m like “Wait, the Jazz might win a couple of playoff series? I had no idea.”
We're 10 days away from the start of the season. This offseason has gone by faster than anticipated. RSL teased an announcement yesterday on Instagram. My guess is it will be the jersey that was unveiled by Coach Bolton at the BYU basketball game over the weekend. No indication of the time for today's announcement. On another note, don't forget to login and cancel your MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. I checked mine yesterday and it was set to renew on the 25th. Apple is probably working on an update to cancel the subscriptions, but the $79 charge was already showing as pending on my card.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/real-salt-lake-unveil-the-switchback-kit https://www.rsl.com/news/real-salt-lake-unveils-2026-27-primary-jersey We knew this was coming. I hate the sponsor, but at least the logo fits cleanly on the shirt. Trim on the collar and sleeve is nice. Still not one of the better designs this year. Don't know if it's a good thing that you can barely see the mountain details. Could be much worse, have you seen STL's?
I kind of like it but I think the mountains are a little too subtle, they sort of just look like sweat stains.
Kit thoughts because I am one of those people that obsess over them. So bear with me if you are one of us haha. Tough to follow the best kit in RSL history; But they absolutely got the non-negotiables right: - Claret Kit - Cobalt Sleeves - Cobalt Shorts - Gold accents - Mountains Anytime those are satisfied, the kit will be an A for me. Need to keep reemphasizing the red shirt, blue sleeves as “the look” to build history after some all-red misses in past. They seemed to have desaturated the gold, which is not my favorite on the home, but will fit the away’s slightly better as they don’t have actual blue away shorts. Love that they have switched to Gold numbers instead of white. That helps so much with the branding on the field. (And differentiating from Dallas) What is up with adidas and their necklines lately though? The away’s and the new home’s just have huge neck holes. Tough to look good in as just a normal dude without an Olave neck. Haha