October 28, 2008 by f4denz.

Well they moved the practice out to Xango field, so I won’t be able to provide any updates from them but I am out at Rio Tinto and they are still on schedule to have a media luncheon and some questiona and answer time with the players and coaches. I am alo=so going to try and to another photo run through the stadium to give you the most current view of what is going on at Rio.

There is a great crew using a pressure cleaner to get everything ready for Saturday

and I have to admit that the view from the stadium club patio is mighty nice,

I am thinking of getting a ticket for the Rugby match that will let me get access to the club area.

So on my way in I was talking with Trino Martinez and he mentioned that they had a stadium tour on Saturday and the people on the tour were blown away by the quality of the facility, they thought it would be like a fancy high school stadium. I got very similar feedback from a number of OC Tanner people who were at the FC Dallas match as part of presenting Chris Seitz his Olympic ring, and they were blown away by both the facility and by the staff.

So taking a closer look around the club area, it really is as nice as they say it is

So how funny is it that many of the local TV and radio media have joined the print and online media today, amazing how quickly the bandwagon of a new stadium and a playoff berth can bring out the hounds that you would never see at a normal practice. Oh my how lowly RSL has risen in the eyes of the local community and all of it based off a single goal that propelled RSL into a much larger object in the local media eye. I know these people cover the team for their respective companies but, it is amazing how many are showing up today to get their time and exposure, oh the life of the bandwagon jumpers. I just hope that this will be the case with the fans on Saturday, it would be nice to see the stadium full of RSL fans and the rowdier the better if you ask me.

Of course with the trip back up to Rio Tinto from Lehi, everything is running a bit late as expected. Well the players are eating lunch and it looks like Jason is ready to get this started, so here we go.

Bill Manning will be up first, then Jason, Andy and Kyle.

Bill was brief saying credit goes to Jason and the staff for building a great team that is made up not only of good players but good people. Then he introduced Jason

Jason thanked the players, and then showed some appreciation for the reserves and how proud he is of them, despite not getting starting team minutes or spots in the 18 that they worked hard and are developing. Just a note that the reserves ended the season with a 2-1 win Sunday morning over the Rapids and ended the season with a 7-3-2 record I believe (the MLS site isn’t up to date).

Jason says that making the playoffs isn’t enough and that the team is ready to make some noise in the playoffs. He also thanks the fans for making our home pitch an advantage, and then he thanked ially the travelling fans who made a huge impact on the team in Denver.

Jason is thanking Andy and letting everyone know that he set very high standards and expectations for Andy and he met them and is more fit today than anytime in his career in Jason’s opinion. While it was a rough year on and off the pitch for Andy he stepped up the challenges and exceeded expectations.

Andy is saying how nice it is be on the team, how the team has a number of leaders, and while he is one of the senior guys on the team he is soft spoken but when he says something to the team that it is listened to. Nobody thought they would make the playoffs during preseason, they hoped but didn’t expect to make it. He mentions how tough of a year it has been, but how the front office and players have given him and his family so much support. After four years, it is nice to have the ability to make a statement and he expects a good match against Chivas. He is imploring the fans to show up in force, and that he and the team have battled and they now want to make some noise in the playoffs. Next up is Kyle

Kyle jokes that they could have scored anytime, they just wanted to make it exciting for the fans. He is praising that the team isn’t just good players, but good people and that Garth and Jason look for that attribute as much as anything. He is praising the fans and that he feels it is special to be able to give something back to the fans that have supported the team in bad times.

He isn’t sure if the home field advantage is playing at home first or second, but they will be giving it their all to get further in the playoffs.

That was the end of the press conference time and players were available for the media to do one on one interviews, I was lucky enough to get a couple guy to answer a few question for a non-guy like me.

Questions for Yura:

1. So when you came over from KC you had to be hoping for more playing time, early this year it wasn’t there, how did you stay motivated to work so hard to get into the starting 11?
   1. You can’t stop working, just because it isn’t going well doesn’t mean you can stop working, you have to work harder.
2. Did you imagine that with RSL poor play after the 3 week layoff after the ALL Star break that we would have been able to recover and make the playoffs?
   1. We knew if we wanted to make the playoffs things had to change, so the players, coaches, everyone just worked harder and we started playing better
3. Did you ever imagine that you would score a goal in the90th minute of the final regular season match to secure a playoff spot for RSL?
   1. It is a dream, but you don’t expect it. You get lucky and it was special,
4. You mentioned in an interview that you thought you didn’t get the PK call because you didn’t dive and you got the shot off. You work very hard in the box and don’t shy away from physical contact, would you ever dive?
   1. No diving
5. How does it feel to be RSL’s 2008 golden boot winner?
   1. I didn’t expect it, it was one of my personal goals, but the way the start of the year went, but then I scored and got my confidence and everything went up from there.

Questions for Jason:

1. Given the huge boost we have gotten from inserting Andy into the lineup over the past few matches, have you considered moving him to the starting 11 for the Chivas match this weekend, knowing that getting off to a big start will be very important?
   1. Nothing but a big smile
2. What is the status of Fabi? What are the chances he will be available for Saturday?
   1. Fabi is getting better and may be in the 18 for Saturday
3. Is it true that you were smiling after the final whistle blew?
   1. Of course, said with a smile
4. Are you satisfied with making the playoffs?
   1. We all knew that making the playoffs would be the hard part, but now that we are there nobody is satisfied with just making it. I believe we can make some noise in the playoffs.

Questions for Robbie R

1. So like Will and a number of other players you came in midway of the season, what were your expectations upon joining RSL, and what expectations did the staff have of you?
   1. None, he didn’t know much about MLS or the team, but I got a good feeling about the staff and team through interviews and practicing with the team. I came in with an open mind, the team was set, and I was brought in to strengthen and fill in because of my versatility. Staff let me fit in and it has been good.
2. You have been a vital part of the team for the last couple months filling in at a number of positions, what is your favorite position to play?
   1. Midfield, more defensive minded, but I just want to play. Nat Borchers chimes in with a “He really doesn’t like to play defense” and they both laugh.

Questions for Clint

1. So many fans were excited about your return to RSL (myself included), but just as many questioned the move. How do you think your performance has been since your return to RSL?
   1. I have had to go through another preseason after Greece, vacation and training after galaxy, and then Jason brings me out to train, and it was good to clear the air with Jason about 2005 and what expectations would be on me returning to RSL. I have unfinished business from the 2005 season, I wasn’t my best at the start of that season but as the year went on I got better but there were many issues. Now I am not worried about not being pretty but busing my ass to play well.
2. I mentioned that Clint looked very fit, more so than I have seen him in years
   1. He said the only time in recent history he has been this fit was prior to the 2005 season
3. With your son being just over two months old, any advice for new fathers?
   1. Just enjoy and watch how quick they grow. A week later he signed the contract, you just enjoy your kids every day. He loves getting home to see his smile because he is a fan 24 \7.

Questions for Kyle

1. So in last weeks match and the one this week you are playing against a number of former teammates, does that make it harder or easier to prepare and do you get an advantage because you know them so well?
   1. You just play the friendships are off and for 90 minutes it is a battle and you do what you can, you show a little respect but you are not friends on the pitch.
2. How does it feel to lead the team into the playoffs? What are your expectations of the team in the playoffs?
   1. It feels really good, honored to be the captain of the team, very unique environment in MLS with so much focus not only on playing talent but the quality of the players. I try to be the best capt for the team, it is great to be in the playoffs and it is a fresh season and we are going to give it our all, play tough on defense. We have the ability to make noise in the playoffs.

My thoughts on things

Well I have to admit it was nice to see the players willing to spend time with the big media, as well as the little guys doing blogs and such. I have always thought that one of the best things about MLS is that the players remain connected to the fans and the local media, they are approachable at events like this as well as on the street. Several times today and in the past it was mentioned that RSL isn’t just looking for good players but also good people and they have done a great job in finding some really good people that are damm good soccer players as well.

I noticed in talking with players, staff and coaches that there was something all of them had in common, it was in their eyes. It was a sense of hunger and passion, folks I am going to say this right here and right now, RSL will beat Chivas on Saturday, they will move on in the playoffs and we should all be cheering for New York, because that match would be at Rio Tinto. I think we have a good shot at winning the Western Conference, and if we do, don’t be surprised if nobody is talking about the Rocky Mountain Cup as being our only silverware. These guy are not just teammates, you can tell they are friends and I imagine they will do whatever it takes to make a real run in the playoffs.

I noticed today as I walked out of the player’s tunnel and onto the pitch that it appears that Jason may have had an influence here as well, but nothing speaks louder about what I think the players, staff and coaches are thinking than this:

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October 28, 2008 by f4denz.

The Mighty Eastern Conference

So all year the commentators were ranting about how good the teams in the East were and they did secure both of the wildcard playoff spots, but Real Salt Lake held their own against the top teams in the East. Only the Wizards and Red Bulls were able to get clear season matchup victories over RSL, and for KC it was the unfortunate own goal by Tony Beltran that gave them their win against us. Should RSL make it to the MLS cup to face off against a foe from the East, no team could be considered a heavy favorite over RSL.

The Messy Western Conference

Coming down to the final match the West featured the biggest guns (goal scorers) but also featured the two worst teams the Galaxy and the Quakes. Real Salt Lake beat the teams they should have San Jose, Dallas, and got robbed by bad calls against LA, but against the top teams in the West RSL struggled. In Houston it was a knock down drag out fight to the finish in the 3-4 loss, but at RES the Dynamo could only come away with a scoreless draw. Chivas benefitted from two matches at the HDC, and RSL pulled out a win on the road against them, but dropped their only home match of the year to Chivas in a 1-0 loss on a bad communication mistake between Nick Rimando and Nat Borchers.

How will all of this impact the playoffs

Well in the first round we have a chance to redeem ourselves against Chivas and I believe playing the first match at home will be an advantage for RSL, they are getting used to the pitch at Rio Tinto, they should have a good crowd to support them and in the last two encounters between these teams RSL was clearly the better team. In the match up at RES despite the 0-1 score Real Salt Lake took more shots 17-8, had just as many shots on goal 4-4, and the only way Chivas scored was a rare communication mistake on RSL’s end. In the 1-0 victory at the Home Depot Center, RSL played well but was outshot 8-4 and had one fewer shot on goal 3-4, but we controlled the pace of the match and held onto the lead for almost 60 minutes without giving up a goal.

RSL is playing well and have not lost a match in their last 5 (2-0-3), and while the offense has been impressive scoring 10 goals, the defense has allowed 7 goals and for RSL to take a big advantage into the second match at LA, they will need to not give up an early goal. The first 20 minutes of this match will be huge as RSL has struggled at the start of their last 3 matches giving up the lead too early and being forced to come back and chase the match. In each of those matches one of the big keys for RSL has been the play of Andy Williams coming in to boost the attack, and I wonder if Jason will simply start Andy and allow us to push forward and attack from the very start of the match?

With just 13 starts this season Yura Movsisyan has claimed the team golden boot with 7 goals, Javier Morales ends the year with 6 goals and a team leading 15 assists. Javi’s 15 assists were the second best in MLS, just 4 behind Guillermo Barros Schelotto of Columbus with 19, GBS is likely to be the league MVP, so not a bad effort from Javi and enough to get him the honor of being my team MVP. So to continue the awards, I think I have to give defender of the year to Chris Wingert, who only missed one match all year, but to be honest this could have gone to Jamison Olave who stepped in and made a huge impact and gets my Newcomer of the year award.

OK, I have to get ready to go watch practice, so that is it for now. I am going to try to post some pictures and info from practice live this afternoon if I can get access to the Rio Tinto wifi network. Until then, go buy your playoff tickets and get your flags, signs, and streamers ready because Saturday is going to be a historic matchup.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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