Two matches, two very different RSL teams
September 17, 2007 by f4denz.
OK,
So Wednesday night I watched RSL in what I consider their best performance (a complete 90 minutes) of the year only to lose a tough road match to DC United, one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league. Then on Saturday afternoon, I watched a complete meltdown of RSL. They played on their heels to a much less talented Toronto side, they committed stupid fouls (ending in a red card and two other players picking up suspension causing yellows), and they simply failed to take as many shots in the match as they had in the first half against DC. I am sure someone will mention playing on a very different style of turf (it was mentioned at least 4 times during the match by the commentators), but that was not the real issue.
I am not sure what it was, but I have to admit that I now am baffled by what I saw. I am pissed by what I saw; there simply is no excuse for a team to play that poorly. With the exception of Nick Rimando, not a single RSL player put forth an effort that I consider to be worthwhile. I know can begin to understand the level of frustration felt by many fans, for the most of the year the effort has not been as good as we expected, but in recent weeks many of us thought we had turned a corner.
I remember watching the Houston match just over a week ago, and how RSL showed heart in battling back from 4-1 down (shame is they didn’t battle as hard before they were down 4-1), and thinking if we could just show that much heart for 90 minutes. You follow that up with an honest 90 minute effort against DC, but then the debacle of Toronto. Was it a meltdown of emotions and physical effort after the previous two matches? I am not sure I can explain it any other way; I can not believe that it was just a lapse in judgment or ability that lead to a 0-0 draw against a team we should have owned on the pitch.
Here is hoping that some of the boys have pulled their heads out, and will put forth a worthy effort against two teams we should be able to beat at home. The Galaxy, are still the walking wounded and we should be able to score against the one defense in the league that has looked worse than ours. Then comes Pablo and Medhi on for the 3rd match against the crapids this season, anything less than a win against them will be unacceptable by most fans.
OTHER NEWS AND LINKS
Problems at Home Depot Post Match For those who watched last Thursday’s match with the Galaxy and the Goats, the incident with the flares that delayed the match was only the tip of the iceberg.
It isn’t just Jason who has to rationalize defeat or try to add a positive to a loss or tie.
What went wrong:Week 25
Teams don’t lose without good reason. Coaches articulate their disappointment and rationalize defeat or a failure to score goals.
“On the play, I thought it was a pretty even game, to be honest. The score flatters them but a 3-0 loss is a 3-0 loss and that’s what we’re looking at.” LA coach Frank Yallop is in forgiving mood after losing to Chivas USA.
“We can’t give away goals like we did today. We’re just absolutely so naïve with our fight and our will to do better. Guys just don’t take responsibility. For me, you have to make sure that you feel that something is your fault, and I think our guys don’t. They don’t take responsibility.” Yallop’s less happy after the 3-1 home defeat by Houston.
“Today was….I’m actually speechless. I felt the guys gave a great effort, I really feel bad for them, because whatever they try in front of goal it’s just not going in. It’s ricocheting off someone, it’s going by for corners, and it’s getting cleared off the line. We have clear chances and it’s just a matter of putting one of them away.” Toronto FC coach Mo Johnston doesn’t believe in the old adage ‘You make your own luck.’
“It was very disappointing.” Coach Steve Morrow spares us words and excuses in describing the FC Dallas second-half performance at New England.
“There’s not a whole lot positive I can say about our team’s game tonight except for the fact that we fought very, very hard.” Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis is similarly curt after his team managed just one shot on target at Toronto.
“I have no comment — talk to the referee. The referee is the one who influenced the game tonight. That’s all I have to say.” Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid implies that his team’s 3-2 defeat at the Wizards was out of its hands.”
RSL outshot, outmanned, but not outscored (he forgot outplayed) Deseret News coverage of loss to Toronto
Rimando salvages 0-0 tie SL Trib review of the Toronto Match
10 Man Real extends Toronto’s scoreless streak Review of the match from a Canadian perspective (with their flappy heads and all)