May 30, 2009 by f4denz.

Well this is going to be a quick match preview as I am in San Jose and there are thing to see and place to go. The big question is can RSL get their first road goal of the season? Without goals on the road there will be no road win, and many of us fans believe this is perhaps the best chance RSL will have for a road win before the All Star break. We are facing a Earthquake team that has been struggling as I have mentioned earlier in the week, and with Chivas going down on Thursday night we could close the gap with a 3 point result. San Jose doesn’t score much a mere 10 goals on the season and the league’s worst defense that has allowed 21 goals to be scored against them, so this is a great chance for us to get scoring on the road.

I fully expect us to play the 4-5-1 like we did against DC United, with the same attacking and controlling effort, the difference will need to be finishing and I could easily see the first road goal coming from either a set piece or a long distance shot from one of our midfielders. I am a bit fearful about our head official for the match it is Kevin Stott and in a league full of poor quality officials, I believe he has been one of the worse, he has been horrible in RSL matches and just bad in a number of other matches I have seen him be in charge of.

Injuries will again play an issue for both sides as Seitz is listed as out, Joy and Horst are questionable, and Beltran is listed as probable with a quad stain for RSL. For San Jose, they will be without Ryan Cochrane who is listed as out, Darren Huckerby is listed as doubtful, with Arturo Alvarez is listed as questionable and I would be surprised to see any of them involved in the match for the Quakes.

The lineups in the match preview look like this:

For me it will be interesting to see if Neb Grabavoy can continue his incredible play for a second match that will probably see him as a starter, a little extra motivation should be easy as San Jose is the team that let him go in the off season, can he make them pay? For SJ their top threat will be former RSL’er Ryan Johnson but I really don’t think he will have much of a chance against Olave and the rest of our backline.

This one will probably see a number of goals and I think RSL will come out on top with a 3-1 win as the road scoreless streak will end, this will also mark the first pre-June road win in the history of RSL.

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May 30, 2009 by f4denz.

So those of us who road tripped it to San Jose arrived in town this afternoon and after checking in at my hotel, which is right across the street from Buck Shaw Stadium where the match will be played on Saturday, we headed into to San Francisco for some fresh seafood and to do a bit of sightseeing.

Here are a couple of pictures from the day:

Leaving Reno

Typical California

Heading into San Fran, AT&T Park

AT&T drive by

Drive by of the Cepeda statue

Bay Bridge

Chris and Chelsey at dinner

Tagging RSL style

The Rock

A big male sea lion

More sea lions

A closer view of the rock.

Those are a few pictures from Day 1 in Cali.

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May 28, 2009 by f4denz.

Well as I watched San Jose play this weekend against Houston and lose 3-1 and as they trail Columbus 2-1 with 20 minutes to go, they look like the team that should be sitting at the bottom of the standings with just 5 points and a 1-6-2 record. They have the worst defense in MLS having allowed 21 goals, and one of the worse offenses having scored just 10 goals (5 of them from RSL castoff Ryan Johnson). Perhaps one of the largest reasons is that Darren Huckerby has under 300 minutes of playing time due to a quadriceps strain, also out almost all season is Ryan Cochrane, but you need to look no further than the fact that they have scored just 7 goals in their 5 home matches, while allowing 8. Like RSL was until last week SJ hasn’t gotten a result on the road, 0-5-0.

Since rejoining MLS last year SJ has faced RSL 4 times, the first match up was an US Open Cup qualifying match which RSL dominated at RES winning 4-0 on two goals by Kyle Beckerman and one each from Yura and Andy. RSL dominated the match taking 17 shots to SJ’s 5 and 11 of RSL’s were on goal to only 4 for SJ. San Jose came back to RES at the end of May for the first MLS matchup of the season between the two teams and once again RSL dominated taking 15 shots with 10 on goal to SJ’s 7 and 2. RSL scored all 3 of their goals in the second half with Findley striking first, followed by Morales and finally a PK put in by Dema Kovalenko, San Jose tried to get back into the match but could only get one goal from John Cunliffe.

San Jose came back to Salt Lake just 3 weeks later for their 2nd MLS matchup of the season, and while RSL dominated the match again by taking 24 shots with 4 on goal to San Jose’s 7 and 1, it was the impressive work of Joe Cannon who kept this match scoreless to the end for both sides. The 0-0 draw was a huge disappointment for RSL but part of a run of great defensive efforts and 6 clean sheets in 10 matches.

The final match up would come at the end of September at Buck Shaw Stadium, it was a huge match as it ended a long unbeaten streak for San Jose that had run 9 matches. Again RSL held advantages in shots with 18 to SJ’s 10 and a 11 to 5 edge in shots on goal, it was just the 3rd minute of the match when Yura got his 4th goal of the 2008 season. San Jose answered back with a pair of Huckerby goals in the 23rd and 47th minutes to take a 2-1 lead but Yura answered back with a goal in the 49th minute to draw the sides even again and just before the 60 minute mark Javi scored his 5th of the season to give RSL the 3-2 lead which would last until the final whistle. The match brought RSL back into the playoff hunt and crippled San Jose’s playoff dreams.

So the history of RSL vs. this version of the San Jose Earthquakes is all RSL with 3-0-1 if you included the US open Match, RSL has done well in the scoring category with 4,3,0,3 goals in the matches for a 2.5 goals against average, so this is a perfect team to be facing at this time of the year when you are looking for the first road goals of the season and perhaps the first road win of the season. If RSL win on Saturday it will be the first time in team history that RSL has won a road match before June.

WWID (What Would I Do)

Well I like looking at the upcoming match and trying to figure out what would I do if I were the coach, I made a mistake last week and thought maybe too much like a typical MLS coach in saying I would play for the road draw. While we played a match very similar to what I expected and predicted, I actually hoped I would be wrong. During my match preview on Friday, I thought back to the words I had heard so many times “Fortune Favors the Bold” and despite the many critics and cynics about RSL’s road play probably being upset I began to hope that RSL would attack and go for the win, and to be honest even in the 4-5-1 they did just that for 75 minutes of the match. Only at the end did they really take a more defense mentality and fought to keep the hard earned road point.

So we are heading into a match against a team we play very well against, a team we dominated in almost every match up last season, a team that allows opponents to score more than they do at home, a team with just a single win and a league leading 7 losses. Add those facts to the overall -11 goal differential that San Jose has, they have given up 21 goals the most in all of MLS and scored just 10 goals, third worst in MLS. Then toss in the tough 90 minutes they had against Columbus in Columbus on Wednesday night in a 2-1 loss and the long plane trip home and there will be few better chances for RSL to get a road win.

After seeing the way the 4-5-1 dominated possession and offensive chances against a much better DC United side last week, I would go with the same starting lineup.

Rimando
Russell-Borchers-Olave-Beltran
Grabavoy-Beckerman-Morales-Mathis-Johnson
Findley

If we are fortunate to score in the first half, then I keep the same line up, if not I bring in either Fabi or Yura for Grabavoy and move to a 4-4-2 at the half. We have to get this win, so I am willing to believe that our team can defend against a weak San Jose side. At 60 minutes I bring in Williams for Mathis if we are tied or behind, if we are ahead I bring in Cox to give some fresh legs to the midfield and hopefully continue to control possession. At 80 minutes if we are ahead I spell one of our defenders with Wingert to simply add some fresh legs and protect the lead. If we are tied or behind then I pull Findley and bring in either Fabi or Yura whoever looked better in practice.

We should be looking for 15-20 shots and at least half on goal, we should be aiming to limit San Jose to 10 shots or less, in order to do that we will need to ensure we keep an eye on Ryan Johnson who has 5 of the 10 goals scored by the Quakes, the only other player with more than 1 goals is Arturo Alvarez with 2. I also remind Kyle how important it will be to limit the number of touches that Bobby Convey gets, he hasn’t been dangerous so far this year but he is a quality player and could make life difficult for RSL.

I would ask everyone to give the same effort against United, but to look for even more chances to attack and get shots on goal and look for the win, I remind them that they have 3 road games before the All Star break and that this match and the one on the 13th against LA are our best chances to get the win. I mention that 30-40 fans have travelled over 800 miles to support us and that we owe them our very best.

Well I will try to do my match preview from San Jose on Friday, but it may be until Saturday before I get it posted. I will be taking pictures from the sideline for the first half and more from the stands during the second half, I will do my best to post them Sunday morning before we leave on our way back home.

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May 27, 2009 by f4denz.

Well it is already Wednesday and time again to look at RSL’s numbers, the first number of note is that RSL got their first road point of 2009 with their 0-0 draw against the top team in the Eastern Conference, DC United. It was a match that saw RSL dominate the first half and play fairly even in the second half but without the ability to get our first road goal of 2009 we were limited to the draw. There was no movement in the standing of the Western Conference which still have Chivas USA as the top team in all MLS with 24 points from their 7-1-3 record.

Points

For RSL it is a convergence moment, in week 10 of the MLS season the team has 11 points, the same total as 05,06,08. That leaves us with the question of which direction will the team go from here? 2005 and 2007 we went on to horrible seasons, in 2005 we earned just 9 more points to end the season with 20, and in 2007 we ended just 7 above that with 27. However, given the talent and success of last year it is more likely that we will follow closely the 2008 season which saw us end with 40 points and earning a playoff spot on the last day of the season.

The team can step back in front of its past with a win this weekend as getting to 14 points would put them back in front of last season’s pace, it would also mark the first road win of the season and the first time RSL would have a road win before the month of June. In order to get a win RSL will need to get their first road goal of the 2009 season.

Goals Scored

RSL has fallen behind the 2006 and 2008 seasons, our best two seasons for goals scored with 45 and 40 respectively. It been 3 weeks without a goal and for a team with 14 goals in their first 7 matches that is a hard pill to swallow, the drought on the road has reached 450 scoreless minutes.

Goals Against

This is the one area where RSL’s 2009 season is still in front of its past seasons and with the defense playing up to their 2008 form last week at United, this could be the start of a great streak like RSL’s defense had at this time last year. From the 9th week to the 19th week RSL allowed only 4 goals to be scored against them, including 6 clean sheets, if they can repeat that run you will see them jump right back into the top of the Western Conference standing.

As of now Real would miss the playoffs, but it was during that middle portion of the 2008 season that RSL scored 19 points from the 10 matches and it was the most productive portion of the RSL season, can we repeat that type of success? A win at San Jose would be a very good way to get momentum back on our side.

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May 23, 2009 by f4denz.

Well I am at home and know there are a number of people unable to watch the match tonight so I will be blogging the Real Salt Lake match tonight. Here is the RSL lineup, Rimando, Beltran, Borchers, Olave, Russell, Mathis, Grabavoy, Beckerman, Morales, Johnson, and Findley. DC United is going with, Wicks, Burch, Jakovic, Namoff, Fred, Jacobson, Simms, Quaranta, Gomez, Emilio, and Moreno.

0-10 minutes

Well early on each team is looking for their first touches to see how things will fall. RSL’s 4-5-1 vs. DC’s 3-5-2, will mean a very full midfield which could mean a lot of back and forth play vs. lots of possession for anyone. An early mistake on a ball back to the keeper, but RSL dodges the mistake. It is interesting that the two young players that have been huge for DC in the first third of the season, both Pontius and Wallace are left out of the starting 11.

RSL’s first set piece is from 40 yards out, but nothing comes from the opportunity. Rimando has to come out and head the ball away as the RSL defense gives DC a chance to get behind the back line, again a early bulled dodged by RSL. Russell takes a shot from distance, but it is deflected to the keeper.

10-20

So far neither side has looked very sharp early on but Rimando seems like he hasn’t missed a step so far, which is a good thing for RSL. Well United is finding ways to get the ball into the RSL final third but they haven’t been able to take advantage of it yet, but it is a bit worrisome. Not sure why Borchers is firing a shot from 30 yards out, but it goes right to Wicks as RSL has taken two shots and both on goal, that is a good sign early in the match. Wow Javi just got elbowed, but no call is made and he is still down on the pitch, not too much contact but it is kinda typical of Morales this year, going down looking for calls and staying down way too long.

DC gets a free kick from 25 yards out and off to the side, and a lot of pushing in the box. The ball was in and dangerous as it bounced around the area, and eventually the whistle blows and Fred is caught offside. Beckerman is down after some rough contact in the box, but he is back up and walking it off. Kyle is back on the pitch and still neither side is really doing a solid job of possession but RSL is doing better than they have earlier in the match.

20-30

Beltran fires a shot but it goes a couple feet wide of the goal and out for a goal kick. So far tony is doing an OK job, he is getting forward nicely to support the attack. RSL has kept a team from an early goal on the road for just the second time all year, just as I say that, a nice long ball into the box by United, Russell can’t clear but DC can’t convert and it is out for a RSL goal kick. Javi is down again and the free kick looked dangerous but Borchers missed the header and Olave missed the chance to use his feet.

The match is getting a bit chippy, it won’t be long before we see a card in this one. DC attacks again but RSL finally clear it and try to counter but the ball is just a bit wide for Robbie and it goes back to United. A bad loss of the ball in a dangerous position by RSL but Nick is there to clean it up and RSL is back on the attack. Javi has looked good when he stays on his feet and plays. Russell’s cross leaves a lot to be desired and it rolls out and back to DC. RSL get it back deep in the United end, great play by Ned and it goes out for a RSL corner kick, Javi lines up for the corner Borchers heads it over the goal and it goes back over to United.

30-40

RSL is really starting to play better and look like they have recovered from their bad match against KC. It isn’t often that a team controls more of the possession at RFK than United, but so far it is almost even in this match. DC isn’t playing poorly but just don’t look like they are firing on all cylinders tonight so far, perhaps all the roster changes. Emilio makes a good attacking run but Olave is there and pokes it away and out of bounds, the RSL midfield should have done better on that one.

DC are getting their attack going as RSL has pushed further ahead, a nice ball to Emilio but his header goes over the goal. RSL counters but Mathis goes down on the slick surface but keeps the ball in play, and a late tackle by Russell earns him the first yellow card of the night. The following set piece sees Borchers miss the ball and Beltran’s attempted clearance goes the wrong way, but United fail to capitalize and the ball goes over the endline and out for a RSL goal kick. Beckerman tries to put a shot on goal but the ball barely rolls to the keeper, a horrible effort by the RSL captain.

40-halftime

I am impressed by how much possession RSL has had in the first half, DC has had the better chances but RSL has looked solid. A good ball into Findley who is one on one with Wicks but it is poked away and out of danger. A long ball is played just beyond the last man and it goes back to DC for a goal kick, and it is back to RSL but the long ball play is broken up and RSL goes all the way back to Rimando to reorganize the attack. For United so far it has really been good long balls but few real organized attacks, while RSL has been the more organized side. Great play by Johnson to get the ball back, and eventually it ends up in a Mathis shot after what could have been called a foul on Findley in the box, but the shot is caught by Wicks. So far RSL has twice as many shots as United and all the shots on goal (4) as the first half draws to an end. Johnson fires a shot from distance but it goes over the goal as RSL again is the sharper side of the first half, but DC has looked dangerous in spots, but the defense has been up to the task so far. Nick is forced to catch a long ball played in, and since spending 3 matches out with his injured finger RSL has struggled, but tonight Nick looks as sharp as ever.

That is the halftime whistle and it ends 0-0 as RSL has had the better of possession, shots, and shots on goal. Here are the halftime stats:

45-55

A solid first half in which RSL looked like what fans expect from them, controlling possession and pushing the attack, while United has looked like the road team by using over the top and long ball tactics throughout the first half. The numbers look like what RSL put up at home, now all they have to do is finish. Yeah just get that first road goal and the flood gates could open. OK it is time for them to start playing again, United is making a change by bringing in Pontius for Moreno as DC looks to be more attacking.

DC starts out strong and gets a good attack going but Olave is there to stop their attack and the ball goes out for a RSL goal kick. A pass that was just off a foot by Grabavoy almost breaks Robbie for a good chance to attack, but it goes back over to United. Findley is faster than Jakovic but he isn’t nearly as strong. Fred’s attack is broke up but DC is looking much more dangerous than they did in the first half.

RSL is slowing it down a bit and trying to hold possession, but a good shot by Fred and Nick makes his first save of the match. RSL is going to have to figure a way to counter, or score on a set piece. Javi out for another corner kick, it goes into the box but it bounces around and eventually Wicks ends up with it. It is betting a bit more frantic by each team as it is clear that both sides are looking for a way to get on the scoreboard. United gets a set piece it goes long but Rimando skies for it and lands a bit awkward but he is back up.

55-65

Mathis tires to head it to attacking RSL players, but it is just off a bit and United counters but Simms takes a shot that is very wide, but United has looked more dangerous than they did in the first half and it is getting a bit more physical and a free kick to United but Rimando punches it out but DC keeps possession but they play it out of bounds and RSL gets the throw in. RSL is looking a bit more deliberate and have withstood the DC aggressive start to the second half, but it really has been a role reversal from the first half. Morales is getting frustrated and hopefully he will calm down and get back into the attack, because RSL is looking a bit confused on what to do right now. I expect a change to be made soon, perhaps Williams coming on for Grabavoy? RSL earns a free kick from 10 yards out and on the side, the change is made but it is Mathis going off and Yura coming on as RSL looks like they will go to a 4-4-2?

Wallace is coming on for Fred, so DC has made two changes to get back into the attack. The free kick is good but poked out of the box, but played back in by Johnson and Robbie just misses getting to it before Wicks. But RSL looked dangerous on that play and are back in the attacking third but they give it away but Olave shuts down Emilio cold and RSL counters but Yura tired to go at three men and loses the ball. Beltran does a nice job on Pontius with support from Will, and DC settle for a deep throw in, headed by Olave and cleaned up by Rimando.

65-75

RSL has struggled in the first 20 minutes of the second half getting off just a single shot as DC has come to life and become the more aggressive side, Emillio heads the ball but it is handled by Rimando again. A great shot by Javi but it goes just over the bar after deflected by Wicks, and out for another corner for RSL, Javi takes it again but this one is short and United are quick to counter but RSL gets back quickly to slow down that attack, and United takes a wild shot that is high and wide.

RSL appears to have regained their confidence over the last few minutes, a shot is punched by Wicks but goes up high and Wicks recovers quickly to grab it. DC is making their final change as N’silu coming in for Emilio and they will go with this lineup for the final 20 minutes, RSL still has two subs left that they can make and I expect one soon, hopefully to increase the offensive pressure. Ned has done a good job and gets a ball to Yura who takes a shot which is blocked out for a RSL corner kick. Javi plays this one in it is headed out and United again on the counter but Russell makes a great play that allows Rimando to get to the ball. Impressive defensive effort by RSL as that was a dangerous attack by United.

Beckerman fires a shot from distance that forces Wicks to push it over the bar and yet another RSL corner kick, you have to believe we can convert one of these. Findley heads it but Wicks gets there again and pushes it out of bounds and RSL will set up from the other side as Javi takes the corner again. That one goes off Beckerman’s dreds and out for a DC goal kick.

75-85

Yura fires a shot from the edge of the box but it is just wide of the far post, United is flagged for offsides on the counter. Gomez appears to be cramping up, which could spell trouble for DC United, if he can’t recover. Will Jason make a change to bring in some more offensive power and go for the win, or will he simply try to weather this one out and settle for the 0-0 draw? DC’s offensive chances are being less and less frequent but they still are getting chances. Pontius plays a good ball in, but it is headed out of bounds by Olave but DC is still in the RSL half of the pitch.

RSL is doing their best to keep possession but give it away but it goes back to Rimando who will let RSL push back up and look for an attacking chance. 7 of DC’s 17 goals have come in the final 15 minutes of matches, but RSL attacks and ends up with their 7^th corner kick of the match, but United clears it back into the RSL half. I am a bit worried that RSL is playing for the tie, DC gets a dangerous chance but it is cleared but DC fires it back in again and this time it goes just wide of the goal.

RSL has to get back into the attack, time for some fresh legs, but I don’t see anyone up for RSL. RSL gets some good chances as Javi and Will both have the ball at their feet in the box but can’t get a shot off and United counters again. RSL goal kick, with just 7 minutes left in the 90 but DC is clearly the more aggressive side and DC gets a corner kick, just their second of the night.

85-final

The ball is headed out by United for a RSL goal kick, damm Javi works some magic and Will doesn’t take the shot but crosses it to Robbie who slips and it goes back to DC. Well RSL is playing for the draw as Wingert comes on for Findley, I understand the move but I don’t like it. We have to attack, because if we try to bunker down it could be dangerous as we know United can score late in matches, but we have just two minutes left in the 90 minutes. Jason is getting into it with the official, not sure what is going on. RSL dodges a bullet as Wallace heads a ball that rolls just wide of the goal and if Namoff was a step quicker it would be 1-0 United.

There are going to be 3 minutes of stoppage time, as the match is getting very physical as both teams are looking to earn points, for DC they want 3 and for RSL they will take anything they can get on the road. RSL gets a free kick deep in their own side of the pitch on a Wallace foul, it goes out and RSL has it deep in the United final third but they give it away. Johnson loses the ball at the top of the box, but United plays it all the way out for a RSL goal kick.

Less than 60 seconds left on this one and United is desperately trying to attack, but Rimando is there to make the save with the match on the line as we are past the 3 minutes of stoppage time. Olave is limping and Williams is finally coming in as Javi goes out after one of the best matches he has had this year. RSL gets a throw in the United third but it looks like they will simply play for the point and that is the final whistle as RSL gets their first road point in the 0-0 draw.

Impressive effort on the road as RSL claims the season series with United. Well the 4-5-1 kept the Chivas match close, and in this effort it was the key to earning a draw as the old RSL defense has shown back up shutting down the best scoring offense in all of MLS.

Here are the final stats:

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