2008 starting line up, predictions for the 2008 season?
March 3, 2008 by f4denz.
So like so many of use looking at a roster of RSL talent and seeing a lot of names of players that we have never seen in uniform I thought I would put together my starting line up for our home opener, now under 4 weeks away. A quick thought on what the 2008 season will hold for RSL and those like me who keep on showing up at the matches, including a look at what is turning out to be a nightmare for the Beckham boys and their trip through the far east.
My Starting Line Up
Rimando
Joy-Borchers-Mantilla-Kotschau (cut) Wingert (Updated on 4/4/08) How did one of Jason’s old league buddies get cut?
Beckerman-Talley-Morales-Sturgis
Deucher-Findley
The real question on everyone’s mind is what can we expect this season? I think RSL will make the playoffs (barely) and be in 4th place in the west behind Houston-Chivas-Dallas, right behind us will be Colorado-Galaxy-San Jose. The reality is Houston is simply the best team in the league still, and will be until someone can take the MLS Cup away from them. Chivas, has not made any major moves this off season, but they also have not lost many pieces from a team that was a couple injuries away from knocking Houston off their pedestal. Dallas always seems to hang around as a quality team, no matter what changes and this year there are a bunch (Ruiz, Gbandi, Goodson, and DP Denilson are all gone). Colorado was a mess at the end of last year, and do not to appear to have done anything to deal with it, San Jose has made some interesting moves, but as Toronto found out last year being a new franchise is not easy.
Then there is the LA Galaxy, wow as bad as RSL has been in the past, I think the Galaxy will have a horrible season. They simply have too many holes, did anyone stay up late and watch them play Gamba Osaka? It may be the worst performance I have ever seen, despite leaving Golden Balls in for the full 90 minutes, they followed it up with a win against a Sydney FC but it sure looked like Sydney was going through the motions and ready for their off season. On the continuation of their Beckham on parade tour of the far east, they lost on PK’s to FC Seoul, I have this matched Tivo’ed but have not watched it yet, next they face Shanghai Hong Kong United on Wednesday. They wrap up their trip with a match against Hong Kong Union on Saturday, I believe this will be a Hong Kong all star team they will be facing. All this being said, I have not seen anything from the LA Galaxy, to make me think that they will be a playoff team this year, but they have not put all their stars on the field at one time yet this year, so far Princess Landon has yet to make an appearance, I am sure he can’t be bothered by the Mr. Golden Balls Dog and Pony tour.
So the playoffs do seem like a solid reality for RSL, despite only having 5 home matches after the all star break. Now what will happen in the US Open Cup, I think we will make it into the tournament, but will bow out very early with a loss to a USL team. I think the Real Madrid match will be a hit, they simply are one of the best organizations in the world. Now for my big bombshell, RSL will sign a DP in August and it will involve a player from Real Madrid coming to RSL on a loan. Finally our lovely new stadium, I believe the stadium will be ready for action in mid-August, but RSL will blow it really bad and fans will only see two matches in the new stadium, the final two in October. Oh I also predict that the transfer from RES to ??? will be a huge mess and result in a lot of loyal fans simply taking their money and spending it somewhere else (this one can totally be prevented, I pray that it will be, but based on the history of the FO I am not holding out hope).
Well that is it for now.
OFF MY SOAPBOX