Archive for July 2007
A letter from the coach
July 11, 2007 by f4denz.
Today a letter was sent out to the fans of RSL from coach Jason Kreis, you can read the letter on the home page of the RCB (http://www.roguecavaliers.com ). In my opinion it is an honest message and echoes comments that Jason has made in private recently. I am not sure if this will hold a lot of weight with some very upset fans, I told Jason yesterday, that as long as the players are putting forth 100% effort, the fans will support them. Recently almost every fan I know has begun to question that effort, I have watched Jason play for over 10 years both in Salt Lake and in Dallas. Jason is not a person who quits, he simply does not know how to, and now his challenge it to get his players to understand this. I hope his players understand how hard it is for their coach to send a message like this to the fans, it means he has swallowed a lot of ego.
Will it make a difference? I am not sure, the saying is “actions speak louder than words”, and his team minus some of the stars will have a chance in just a couple days to prove that they have the respect for the fans that most fans have shown them. I have defended players from personal attacks, when I think they are giving an honest effort: Freddy, Esky, Eddie, Atiba, Jamie, Lancos and even Chris Brown, in my opinions have poured out their hearts and souls this season. I expect nothing less, while the results have not been what is expected by fans, players, or RSL staff, for those players I do not question their passion for the game. The rest of our roster has yet to earn my respect this season, they have half a season left to do so.
They all need to remember that actions speak louder than words. Give us something to support, give us a reason to cheer, give us an honest effort and we will reward it with our support. If not, then do not expect paying fans to sit back and smile like there is nothing wrong. We demand better as fans, we are the ones who supply the funds that pay your salaries, very few of us have jobs that allow us to enjoy the passions of our lives. You all have that chance, please never forget that you have a chance to live your dreams and you should fight with every ounce of passion and energy in your body to keep that chance.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
Honest Coverage? the search for an honest broker of news
July 10, 2007 by f4denz.
So when can we expect the local media to be an honest broker of facts? When can we expect the local media to report news as news and opinion as opinion? When can we expect the local media to stop their very anti-RSL bias? The answer is simple, never.
So today the SL Tribune has an article labeled “Proposed Sandy soccer academy stirs SLC mayor’s ire” with a header of “Rocky says RSL breaking promises”, the article then goes on to try to tilt Sandy’s consideration of putting in an effort to land the RSL academy. This is viewed by the mayor, who has gotten 7.5 million from RSL for fields that once were planned as part of the RSL academy, but because of changes to the size and scope of the project by the mayor’s team, has lost out on being chosen as the location of academy. Dave Checketts made that clear a couple months ago, but now this is now news again? How funny, that when Dave asked Rocky and his group to sign a contract with terms that they had agreed to about the building of the complex and what went along with it that Rocky went to the press and claimed fouls. After all Dave had nothing in writing, so he was made out as the villain by local media, and the anti-RSL segment of the population started pointing fingers and whispering again. But now, Rocky goes to the local press and says but Dave agreed to this and that and now he isn’t going to deliver. I say, welcome to the grown up world Rocky, your own stupid actions have come back and bit you in the ass. I for one think it is about damm time, and could not be happier that Sandy understands that if you work with someone, you get closer to results than you do by pointing your finger at them and claiming foul.
Rocky, you have the 7.5 million build your sports complex and be happy, but please keep your nose out of RSL affairs. You lost that battle, you burnt that bridge, you screwed up, and anyone who has taken the time to research the actual events (not just take your word at it), knows that you are as much to blame for the total breakdown of everything RSL and downtown. You did not have to authorize your political friends rights to convert unimproved property to improved property, just so they could jack the price up on RSL. You did not have to turn your back on Dave and his wanting to create a partnership with the city on the sports complex and academy, but you did by going to the press with details that you know had been discussed. Please do not cry victim, because Dave and RSL would rather do business with Sandy, who has been an honest broker with them. Sandy has a long list of requests and demands, and RSL is willing to work with them because unlike you, Corroon, and the SLCC, they have been upfront and honest, interested in a solution and not just “what can we get”, as the members of the SLCC are.
I find it funny that people think that the request of the Sandy local government are fluff and bribes, they really should have heard the crap that each of the local SLCC members didn’t ask for but rather tried to demand for their support. There is nothing in the list that is not part of a good working relationship between the city of Sandy and RSL. How about the coverage of councilman Hatch’s plan to build a new theater in downtown, despite the fact that no one wants it, and no one thinks it would work, unlike his claims that downtown needs this. If it were a viable plan, private investors would fund it, like they have the vast majority of the RSL stadium project. I also love that he claims that RSL is taking funds from the ZAP funding, I suggest that Mr. Hatch do his homework, he knows better. RSL is getting 15% of the TRT tax extension (the extension was passed for this specific reason), so his solution is to divert sales tax funding. Perhaps if HVS, thinks building new theaters and facilities in downtown is such a great idea, they should put some money into the project. Oh wait, I know they want the bid on building a bloated and unwanted project to go to them. I see how this works, it is all about who gets their personal pet projects, no matter the cost to the public.
Of course none of this will be mentioned in the local media, see in my opinion they have been bought and paid for. Here is a clue, when is the last time you saw an article or op-ed piece that was about Larry Miller? When is the last time it was negative?
OFF MY SOAPBOX
What the Hell is our coach thinking
July 6, 2007 by f4denz.
So in today’s Deseret News, our coach was quoted as saying “They added a spark; Jamie got in behind a couple times, Kyle got in behind once and nearly scored,” said Kreis, who reiterated that simply adding a spark isn’t enough.
“To be frank, Jamie comes into the game and seems to get a chance for the past three games — he’s got one chance, he’s got to finish it. Period. The end. It’s an easy finish and he’s got to finish it.” When talking about Kyle Brown and Jamie Watson.
I hate to inform our coach but the reality is that Jamie Watson is a hell of a lot more productive in his very limited minutes than MFP (most favored player) Medhi Ballouchy. Let’s take a minute and look at the numbers from this year:
|
Player
|
Minutes Played
|
Goals
|
Assists
|
Shots-PM
|
SOG-PM
|
|
Medhi
|
1149
|
0
|
0
|
22- .019
|
6-.005
|
|
Jamie
|
47
|
0
|
0
|
4-.085
|
1-.021
|
So Jason, I hate to tell you this but Jamie Watson has more than “earned” his time and then some by a factor of 4. Now would those numbers hold up if Jamie had played 1149 minutes, we don’t know but one thing is for sure he could not be any less productive than Medhi. But let’s do a fairer comparison, let’s look at Jamie’s 1st season with RSL
|
Jamie
|
818
|
2-.0024
|
1-.0012
|
16-.020
|
10-.012
|
Now last years numbers for Medhi- his first season
|
Medhi
|
2162
|
2-.0005
|
2-.0005
|
19-.009
|
5-.002
|
So if I were the coach of a team and I would take a couple minutes to do some research and make sure I wasn’t talking out of my ass, in calling out a kid who has done nothing but give 100% on the pitch. Despite some off field issues, and general growing up that Jamie has needed to do, treating him like the loss is his fault, is simply wrong. I have lost a lot of respect for our coach in the last couple days.
Let’s talk about another player that hasn’t “earned” the right to play a position he was promised he would get a chance to play when he came to RSL. Freddy Adu has proven one thing for sure in the last 10 days, that is that given a chance to be the attacking midfielder and play with others who will actually play with him, that he is as good as the hype. Freddy has been the most critical part to the US U-20 team finishing 1st in their group, beating both Poland and Brazil. If upon his return he is not given a chance to play the attacking midfielder position, I for one will begin to wonder if the move to the bench has not affect Kreis’ ability to think.
I am not sure if John Ellinger is still pulling the strings at Real, but without a GM to offer some assistance to our coach, one thing is clear we are not making the improvements that we should. Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that we would be out of the playoff picture before the MLS All-Star game?
OFF MY SOAPBOX
Earning it?
July 5, 2007 by f4denz.
OK, so you have to ask yourself the same thing I intend on asking Jason Kreis on Tuesday at the coach’s show. When Jason took over, he stated “everyone has to earn their spot”. I love that, he stuck to his guns when asked when Freddy Adu would get his shot at attacking midfielder, and he again said “when he earns it”. So if everyone has to earn their spots, what has Medhi done to earn his? He was proclaimed the “goto guy” at the end of last season and so far this year he has done nothing, zip , nada, to prove that he has even earned a place on the team, let alone on the starting 11. He has shanked almost every shot 10 wide or 10 over. He has had more unforced turnovers than a human being can count. He is under 10% on getting set pieces or corners anywhere near a team mate. Jason, if this kid is your leader on the field, the guy whom everything is supposed to go through, then understand that we may only win 2 more matches all season and you may be unemployed sooner than later. We have 17 matches left and it would take at least 10 wins to even come close to a playoff spot, I have given up hope by the middle of the season that we will even pull out 5 wins. Please make me eat my words, please.
I would rather watch guys who are hungry to play, I love the effort that Esky made against his former team. I knew that expecting another goal from Findley was unrealistic, but I did, at least he gave an honest effort. Talley keeps going for those “goal of the week” type goals, god bless the effort but come on we need real team effort, not a wing and a prayer. Andy, I was not sure he was even in the match, he was so quiet. Atiba, did what he does, give his all. He makes some mistakes but you can not question his effort. Our defense, never mind it would take an hour to vent on our defense. Nick Rimando, “wow” is all I can say, without his effort it would be a lot uglier, and that would be very hard to do. I thought that Kyle Brown gave us 20 decent minutes, from a very shallow bench (offensively). I love and have always loved the energy and effort from Jamie Watson (no it is not a man crush), he runs for every ball, he doesn’t stop even on occasion when he should. He gave us two great shots to score in the last 15 minutes of the match, made some great passes and to be honest deserves the start on Saturday.
I hear that we will be announcing a DP soon, may we only hope that it is someone who can shore up our midfield. There will be a lot less pressure on our defense if we can control the ball better, score first, and have some type of threat that the other team will have to counter. I really hope that the answer to who is RSL’s DP is Claude Mackelele, one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. Perhaps then, we could actually make a run at picking up 4 wins out of our last 17 matches, a long shot with our current starting 11.
In a couple weeks the US U-20 team will most likely finish 2nd or 3rd in the U-20 World Cup and, I hope that some team does not snatch up Freddy “hasn’t earned it” Adu, but a couple more matches like he had this week against Poland and teams from Europe will be calling and I fear that RSL will listen (it is all about the dollars). I understand our coaches not wanting to put Freddy in control of our team on the pitch, hell he will most likely be gone within 12-16 months, but if you want to put some goals in the net and add some wins to our record, use the tools we have. Nate Sturgis, should be able to help us out in either defense or midfield, and we do need some help in both. It will be nice to allow Chris Seitz to get a little playing time, and give Nick a break. I love having two solid keepers on our roster, Nick is still got a number of years left to play and Chris is a great prospect. I expect Chris to be challenging for a spot on the 2010 World Cup roster, yes he is that good.
OK, so I have not missed a single RSL home match since the very beginning, and I have to be honest I have only kept attending this season to hang out with the RCB and other friends. The play on the pitch has been as frustrating to us fans, who were promised a run at the playoffs, as it is to the coach, players, or other staff. WE EXPECT BETTER, WE DESERVE BETTER, AND WE WILL BEGIN TO DEMAND BETTER IF THINGS DO NOT CHANGE SOON.
OFF MY SOAPBOX