March 16, 2008 by f4denz.

So I have watched all 3 of the US U-23 matches this week and will attempt to rate the performances based on my simple opinion, I am not an expert by any stretch it appears we have way too many of those in the blogosphere anyhow.

I do have to admit that I have been very disappointed so far, if not for PK’s we would have scored 1 goal in 3 matches and your not going to do much in the Olympics if you can’t score. I do understand the rigors of playing 3 matches in just 5 days, and the fact that Nowak has played almost everyone other than the keepers out of position at some point. It is a testament to the athletic ability of the players that they have been able to adapt fairly well. So the US won group A and will face the 2^nd place team from group B, which at this point could be Mexico, Canada, or Hati, depending on the results of today’s matches at the Home Depot Center. For a team grade I have to give them a B-, they won their group, but looked averaged at best doing it.

Rosters and Reserves

So much hype, and created controversy over what players teams put on the pitch against their opponents, and to be honest it is all a bunch of crap in my opinion, no team can control the players that are put on the pitch to play against them. Did the teams in Columbia play their best players against us, it appears to be no, but at the same time did we play our starting 11 against them, no in fact we did not. Friendlies tend to see players who may not be in the starting 11 for a team get a chance to play, if not start, then at least get significant minutes. This is the reason why 6 or more subs are allowed in these types of matches, does anyone remember who started and was subbed in during the RSL vs. Real Madrid match a couple years ago? Why is it only when we want to stir the pot, do things like this come up? Does it matter that the greatest attacks have been made against Garth and some statements he made about a match that he didn’t even attend? Does it matter that he was several hundred miles away watching other matches, and looking for talent, nope we must take every word, action, or thought of some people and place them under a microscope to attack. I still am not sure why some people feel the need to attack, if you have concerns or doubts ask the questions, get clarification, but how about you take a couple breaths and count to 10 before saying things that simply serve no purpose. I did not hear any crying when a less than normal starting line up for Liverpool, or Chelsea lost to Barnsley in the FA Cup, there were plenty who questioned the starting line ups, but I didn’t see anyone claiming the results shouldn’t count because the lineups were not the normal starting 11.

Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty to question about how RSL operates, and communicates to it’s fans and community, but questioning them about which players are put on the pitch against them seems to be the one thing that is far beyond their control. I think better questions, about the whole seat transfer policy, or lack there of, are fair fodder for attack. Or why RSL allowed MLS to schedule them for only 5 home matches after the all star break (the only other team with 5 is the Golden Balls US leg of their world tour). Do we not have a brand new stadium due to be ready for the last 3 months of the season, why not stack a home field advantage and shot for 7, or 8 like some teams in the league, or why not be real brave and shot for 9 home matches in the last 3 months of the season, like the NKOTB San Jose? Was this a deliberate attempt to not have to deal with seat transfer issues? Why does the FO still deny that they know how many seats will be in each section or row, despite the seats being ordered and virtural 3D images being prepared? Is there the standard “seat license” coming to try and get some cash into the RSL coffers? One could ask why only 2 weeks before the home opener has there been little or no marketing of the team to the community, last year we had almost no stop TV ad’s, billboards, buses and trains were covered with the faces of RSL players, this year, to say that the silence has been deafening would be a understatement. Now I am sure it could be that the team is a bit tight on cash, we have spent a lot on new players, and cash is still going to the stadium project, or could it be that we simply don’t have a team identity yet? Would most people know who Dr. Goal is if they saw him on a billboard? Only time will tell, but as the talent level on the pitch appears to be improving, when will we see the same from those in the FO? We have a lot of very nice, and some very talented people in the FO, but on the pitch people know who is calling the shots, does anyone have a clue who is guiding the course of the RSL ship off the pitch?

OFF MY SOAPBOX

Posted in The soapbox | 1 Comment »