So all the preseason hype was around Kenny Deuchar, you know “Dr. Goals”, who came to us with a very impressive record of being a goal scoring machine in the SPL, and having shown himself to be able to score against the “big boys” of Scottish football, but the transition to MLS has been tough for Kenny. I have to say in recent weeks I have been impressed as he seems to have taken on more of a role of creating chances and working in tandem with Robbie Findley, they have made some nice plays together, and not many players work harder during a match than Kenny. He has shown to be a great asset on set pieces both offensively where he provides a great target player, and defensively he has been able to assist in marking other teams target players and done it well. He works hard getting back to assist the defense and attacks the ball in the midfield more than most forwards do. All of that is great, but the goals simply have not come at the pace that many of us, including Kenny expected. To his credit he came into the Houston match late and with us down 2 goals and got us right back into the match with his 3^rd goal of the 2008 season, but we will need much more from him as make a push for a playoff spot.

Fabian Espindola, barring injuries he could have been the star of the team this year working with Javi Morales to create 2 thirds of the “three amigos”, and hopefully as we have seen Espindola return to the 18 man roster, we will see him get more and more playing time and increase his goal total before the end of the 2008 season. I am still holding out hope for a “Fabi and Kenny” show to challenge the “Javi and Kyle” show.

I don’t think many people expected much first team action to come from Tino Nunez this season, he was picked up in the second round of the 2008 Super Draft, but he has played well on the reserve squad and gotten a little time with the first team, he has only two starts and under 300 minutes of playing time, but he has one goal and has shown that he is a tough as nails player who when unleashed will attack every ball that is anywhere close to him.

Yura has jumped into the starting line up recently and while he only has one goal, his play in the Houston match was very impressive he worked hard and played well with Robbie Findley. He has seemed to struggle at RES, very often it appears that the turf is getting the best of him, his footwork looked horrible in the matches at RES and too often he has lost the ball or stumbled before getting off a shot. I imagine that Yura is one of the guys who is really looking forward to getting to the new stadium and being able to play on a nice grass surface. A healthy Yura is a real boost in the arm either off the bench or in a starting role, and it seems he has had his best matches when playing with Robbie Findley.

For the second straight season it appears that Robbie Findley will be the top scorer on the Real Salt Lake roster, his 5 goals leads the team and his 4 assists are second best on the team. Robbie is one of those players with great speed and a touch that is improving week to week, recently he has played really well with both Kenny Deuchar and Yura Movsisyan, and I am excited to see how he will play with a healthy Espindola. Robbie was a bit slow to get into the scoring groove this season, with just three goals in the first 16 matches of this season, but he has picked up the pace with two in the last five. Robbie probably should have been a part of the US Olympic team, he sure couldn’t have done any worse the Brian McBride, and I know he is a heck of a lot quicker.

One question that has to be dealt with is how will our current crop of forwards gel with their new teammate Will Johnson, and while Will is not the experienced proven goal scoring machine that Garth favored and many fans were hoping for, he is the young, talented, and hungry to prove himself kind of player that Jason was looking for to push not only our current forwards, but everyone on the current team to work harder and play better.

One thing is going to be important is that without at least a couple road wins, RSL will not make the playoffs. With 4 more home matches if RSL wins all 4 of them we get 12 more points and that would give us 39 and this year it will likely take 45 to ensure a spot in the 2008 playoffs, so road results have to happen. I for one believe are capable of doing it, but no unless our players act and play like they want it more than they did last week against Columbus.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

I believe that defense starts in the midfield, if you control the ball, you control the match and that is what been Real Salt Lake’s problem on the road, and even on occasion at home. You simply can not expect the back four and keeper to be the only ones playing defense, in fact if we expect our outside backs to move forward in attack then everyone has to be able to get back when the opposition counters and too often in the last two weeks not only have the outside defenders not been able to get back in time to stop or slow counters, the midfield has been lacking the pace or effort to get back and add their support to the defense.

Robbie Russell has played up to expectations of a new player, who is trying to figure out his role with each different position he is being asked to fill in at. His speed and energy will serve RSL well, and I think he would be perfect at the D-mid slot for RSL. He is a physical guy with size and speed and I believe could handle almost any number 10 in the league. Jamison Olave is a rock in the midfield, a true diamond in the rough that each week shows signs of getting better and is causing offensive players around the league to pay attention to him; I really hope we can secure his services beyond the current loan period. Nat Borchers has found himself left out to hang in recent weeks, by having to cover for rookie Horst in the Houston match, and by Wingert’s failure to get back on defense quickly enough to slow or stop Columbus counter attacks. Chris Wingert is a great player, for the first time all year I have to question his play. I am not sure what happened in Columbus, but it seemed that Chris was slow to move forward and even slower to react and get back into defensive position. Some of that comes from the lack of defensive support from the midfield.

Injuries have really hampered the efforts of the defense; Ian Joy was finding his form and really beginning to be a major part of the defensive wall that was shutting down offenses around the league. Ian has also found his way forward and is proving to be good at playing balls into the area; he also has a rocket of a shot that forces other teams to cover him tightly when he moves forward. Tony Beltran was a early season surprise who jumped in when Ian was out a few matches, and Tony showed real character for a rookie in his battle to keep is starting spot. I expect that we will see more of Tony when he is fully fit; he has got great speed to get forward and then recover quickly enough to make people wonder if he really was that far up the pitch on the attack. I questioned picking Tony as high as we did in the draft, he was projected much lower, but Jason and Garth appear to have been right in jumping at the chance to add Tony to our lineup.

Oh what to say about Nick Rimando? He is too short, we should find a better keeper, or play Chris Seitz, all things heard all around the blogosphere and in the stands recently. Wait, Nick Rimando, the clear MVP of last years team, the goal keeper with 7 clean sheets and until the last two matches was a top 3 keeper in the league. Are those people really going to question Nick Rimando? Well he is still in the top half of all keepers when it comes to GAA at 1.29, despite the fact that the team has allowed 7 goals in their last two matches, only two keepers in the league have more clean sheets, and how many keepers in the league can do this?

Nobody else works this hard, and even if he were a foot taller, this ball was going to get by anyone. When you give Nick a fair shot at a ball he has proven over the last two years that he makes not just the normal expected saves, but very often he makes saves that are unbelievable and has kept is many matches. The problem isn’t Nick.

So we have looked at the midfield and defense, so that means that tomorrow will have to be our forwards.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

Depth, or the lack of depth in our midfield, along with a recent string of subpar performances by our midfield players is my biggest concern. Kyle started the season being a major force in the offense with his two goals against DC United, and then adding another against FC Dallas, but in the last 90 days, the last 14 matches, there has been nothing. If Kyle isn’t comfortable in his current position then let’s move him to d-mid where he can again be a monster on the pitch and help shut down other teams. Then we have Javi, who has been a real surprise this season his 8 assists are tied for second best in the league with Beck’s and Jaime Moreno, but there are matches where either he simply doesn’t show up or the other team is so effective at marking him that it is like he isn’t there. He is our highest paid player, and the reality is that if we want to get his services long term that it will cost a lot of money for a transfer fee and possibly even move him into a DP slot. I am not sure based on his road performance if making him the center of our team is the right decision, Blanco, Beck’s, Donovan, GBS, these players play as well on the road as they do at home, in fact some of them are better on the road.

Now I know that injuries have hampered our midfield with Sturgis being out for a huge part of the season with a nagging hamstring injury, we have to allow him time to heal, and perhaps spend some quality time in the gym adding a bit of strength and muscle to his frame, which should make him less injury prone. I still think a RSL source hit it on the head that he has all the talent in the world, but MLS is a hard physical league and you have to adjust, the example they used was Kyle Beckerman who after several years on the bench and injured finally matured into a MLS player and to be honest he is an All Star player in most peoples books. Dema has been hurt the past few weeks with what is being called a calf strain, and this has been the player whose absence I believe has really hurt RSL the most in the last two matches. Dema is a pitbull on the pitch; he fights for everything and is willing to call out anyone on his team who isn’t putting in the same effort. I am hoping that his injury is healed and he gets back to practicing and playing very soon, we simply are not the same team without him.

Kenny Cutler, oh ginger ninja, I am sorry but the speed simply isn’t there, not even close to what we need from a midfielder who is going to try to push forward and then come back on defense. I watched out of position Kenny caused our defense to have to play out of position and the end result has been scoring chances and goals, and watching him simply get run by several times against Columbus was painful. If we have to play Kenny due to injuries, I get it but his role has be very defined, he is a d-mid and he stays at midfield or in the defensive half of the pitch, he simply hasn’t displayed the ability to get back and cover his defensive responsibilities when he tries to be part of the attack.

Andy, listen I love this guy, he is always trying something and the simple reality is that you saw the difference in the first half against Houston when Andy was in the match and part of the midfield vs. the first half against Columbus when he wasn’t. I know very often when players are facing issues in their personal lives that their on field performance improves as they have a small window of time where they can escape the other issues, and with his national team needing him and his not only answering that call but excelling as Jamaica make a push to get a World Cup spot, we will not always be able to count on a full 90 from Andy. I say any Andy we can get is better than not having him.

Clint, nice to have you back, and I mean it. I think Clint, the new Clint, the new team first, I know my role, I understand my role, that Clint Mathis could be exactly what this team needs, and after not playing for several months he will take a little time to get match fit. But as injuries continue we need to make some shake ups in our midfield and I for one would love to see a Andy- Javi- Kyle-Clint lineup against Colorado on Friday night if Dema is unable to go. That lineup should be able to provide the possession and speed to control the match and when needed get back on defense to assist our back line and prevent breakaways.

OK, Time for work, so more to follow, we still have to deal with our defense or lack of defense over the last two weeks, it is clear that it wasn’t just Olave that makes the difference, and then how to create scoring chances (our two shots on goal against the Crew came from a midfielder and a defender) but for now I am.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

Neither side will be at 100% for this matchup, Columbus are missing: Hendrickson and Eleio due to injuries and Ekpo is playing in the gold medal match at the Olympics. RSL is still hampered by injuries with Beltran, Joy, and Sturgis out, and Kovalenko is listed as questionable, both Robbie Findley and Kyle Beckerman are listed as probable. This means that Robbie Russell will likely get his second straight start on the back line, and with Olave back in his normal position the defense should be back to their old stingy ways.

Columbus has been one of the best offensive teams this year in MLS, they are third in scoring with 31 goals, behind only DC United and the Galaxy. Their leading scorer is Alejandro Moreno with 7 goals and 4 assists and he recently was called back into national team action and scored for them in a recent friendly, Robbie Rogers follows him with 5 goals and 1 assist, and the Columbus DP Guillermo Barros Schelotto has added 4 goals and 12 assists to the Crew attack. They also have 6 other players with at least two goals this season, so their offensive power has to be respected, but their defense is a very different case. Only 3 teams have given up more goals than the boys in yellow and black, DC United, and the two teams from LA. Columbus have given up 28 goals so far this year and keeper Will Hesmer has seen his GAA go up to 1.40, compared to 1.20 for Nick Rimando.

RSL has seen a major shift in their ability to score on the road, in their first 8 road matches they scored a total of 4 goals, but last weekend saw them put 3 goals on the scoreboard against a very good Houston team. Robbie Findley leads RSL with 5 goals and 4 assists and Javi Morales is just behind him with 4 goals and 8 assists, last week saw Kenny Deuchar get back into the scoring column with his beautiful 80^th minute goal against Houston, and Yura Movsisyan got his first goal of the 2008 season in that same match. RSL still only has 5 players that have scored more than one goal this season, but recent additions like Clint Mathis and Will Johnson, should provide an offensive spark for the team.

The strength of RSL in 2008 has been the defense, no not just Nick Rimando (who no matter what the cynics say about his height is still one of the top 3-4 keepers in MLS), not just Jamison Olave (his is a big part of it), no not even just the back line, it has been a team effort to stop other teams from scoring, and the results even with last weekends 4-3 loss is that only two teams in MLS have given up fewer goals than Real(24), Chicago with an ungodly 16 goals scored against them, and Houston with 22. The effort of our attacking players to come back and support the defense has been incredible, from Kenny Deuchar pressuring the ball in the midfield, to Yura and Fabian making full field runs to get back and break up plays. With the high power of the Columbus offense, it will take a full team effort to shut them out again like RSL was able to do on July 12^th.

I hate to say it but this one is going to be tough, but RSL rebound and get a point on the road as this one ends in a 1-1 draw.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

RSL ACQUIRES FORWARD Will Johnson

21-Year Old Canadian Striker Acquired From Chicago Fire

SALT LAKE CITY (Friday, August 22, 2008) – Real Salt Lake today acquired 21-year old FW Will Johnson from the Chicago Fire in exchange for conditional SuperDraft picks in 2009 and 2011. Johnson fills Real Salt Lake’s last remaining spot on its 28-man roster as a Senior roster addition.

A Toronto-born son of American parents, Johnson holds dual Canadian and American citizenship. Johnson is the fifth North American native to return from Europe to play for RSL this season, joining current RSL standouts Nat Borchers (Norway), Ian Joy (Scotland), Clint Mathis (Greece) and Robbie Russell (Denmark).

“Johnson is an exciting young player who brings speed, skill and intensity to the field, where he has the potential to be a core member of our team for the long haul,” said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey, noting that as a youth, Johnson played for both Chicago Magic and Chicago Sockers, clubs Lagerwey also called home. “His experience in both Major League Soccer and in Holland gives us further options up top and in the midfield.”

Johnson, 21, moved with his family to England as an infant before moving stateside as a 10-year old to Chicago, where he lived until he was 17. At that time, Johnson returned to England in 2003/04 to participate in the Blackburn Rovers‘ youth program. His pursuit of an English professional career followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Brian Birch, who played for Bolton Wanderers FC.

Johnson’s first professional game came in 2005 with the Chicago Fire, playing in six games and scoring his lone career MLS goal against the Colorado Rapids in his first MLS start. At the conclusion of just one season with the Fire, Johnson again moved to Europe, transferring to SC Heerenveen of the Dutch Eredivisie, where he spent the past two seasons, one of those on loan with another top division Dutch club, De Graafschap. During the 2007/08 seasons in Holland, Johnson scored three goals in 39 appearances, splitting time at forward, central midfield and as a right-sided midfielder.It wa

Throughout his professional career, Johnson has also been a prominent member of the Canadian U-23 National Team, scoring three goals in three matches during the Maple Leafs’ run at the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament held earlier this spring. Johnson’s play in the Canadian youth national system has earned him three “caps” with the country’s full national team. All told, Johnson has scored seven goals in 40 appearances with Canada’s U-20, U-23 and senior national teams.

TRANSACTION: REAL SALT LAKE ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO FW WILL JOHNSON FROM THE CHICAGO FIRE FOR CONDITIONAL 2009 AND 2011 MLS SUPERDRAFT PICKS.

Will Johnson
Position: Forward
Height: 5′10″
Weight: 160 lbs.
Birthdate: January 21, 1987 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hometown: Woodridge, Illinois
Last Club: SC Heerenveen (2008) (Dutch Eredivisie)
Acquired: Via trade with Chicago Fire on 8/22/08 in a conditional exchange for Real Salt Lake’s natural 2009 4^th-round and 2011 2^nd-round MLS SuperDraft picks.

RSL set to acquire Will Johnson soccerbyives.net
Real Salt Lake has emerged as the front-runner to land the services of Canadian striker Will Johnson.

RSL is set to strike a deal with the Chicago Fire for the rights to Johnson, who signed with MLS last week and whose rights are held by the Fire, sources told SBI on Friday. Johnson played for Chicago before going to Dutch club Herenveen in 2006. Details of the deal are still unknown.

Will Johnson profile wikipedia.org

Will Johnson profile canadasoccer.com

So the question is will Ives be right this time, he has improved his record lately but he has been involved in a number of other RSL rumors that proved to be false, but this one could make a lot of sense. First Chicago just signed Brian McBride and has some young talent at forward; the trade window for MLS teams is still open despite the “international window” being closed. Will would fit in well with a deep group of very young strikers (he is just 21), and that is what Jason was looking for.

More on this if I get any more details.

• People who have 2008 season tickets and have renewed for 2009 will get the seats that they reserved for 2009 for the two matches in October
• People who have 2008 season tickets but have not renewed for 2009 will get new tickets for the two matches based on best available in similar locations to their current seats
• People who do not have 2008 season tickets, but have reserved tickets for 2009 they will be able to buy tickets to the two matches on August 25^th at the group rate price ($25,20,16,15)

These are really fair prices for big events like a new stadium being opened and matches that will have playoff implications, well done RSL, I expect both to sell out very quickly.

Some other news

Andy pays dividends for Jamaica

Jamaica and Canada played to a 1-1 draw in their first match in group play “As for Jamaica, the 52nd-minute goal from Real Salt Lake’s Andrew Williams, just five minutes after Julian de Guzman gave Canada the lead, clinched a valuable road point for the Reggae Boyz. Jamaica is now 2-0-3 in group stage opening matches since CONCACAF adopted its current qualifying format in 1992. “

Saturday doesn’t seem so bad today

While I am still extremely disappointed by the result on Saturday, but with a roster that was far from our top notch it is almost acceptable. RSL put out a good offensive effort, but I think the layoff, injuries, and weather all played major roles in the 4-3 defeat.

So I watched the first 30 minutes of the match up between Houston and Chivas, in which the Dynamo played very similar to how they did on Saturday with two major exceptions. Chivas is not RSL and could not score on Houston, instead it was Houston getting a early goal from Holden in the 11^th minute, followed by Kamara in the 22^nd, Jaqua in the 28^th, and as I look at the final score Kamara put another one in the back of the net in the 35^th minute. That is a huge difference and should help RSL understand some positives from the Saturday match, but the biggest difference is that Houston played without Ching, DeRo, and Onstad all of whom are on national team duty, and all of them did play against Real Salt Lake. Chivas fielded a very similar line up to the team that drew 2-2 with the Galaxy last week, so there is little excuse for them.

Thank god no Ruiz in Salt Lake City

Well it was announced today that Carlos “diving whore” Ruiz is on his way to TFC to team up with fellow basket case Amado Guevara. I say thank you to Garth, Jason and everyone else who simply said “NO” to bringing Ruiz to RSL, I would have had to turn my season tickets in if that piece of poo was allowed to wear our kit. Rumor is that perhaps people in the FO threatened to quit if Ruiz had been brought into RSL, just a rumor.

No Big Signing

I am convinced that while many of us would loved to have sees RSL get a strong offensive player, rumors are that there were a number of candidates but the deals fell though, which happens. There is still time left in the MLS trade window, but the chances of getting an international player are slim since the MLS version of the international transfer window has closed. I think our forwards showed what they are capable of last weekend against Houston; Robbie Findley played great balls to both Yura and Kenny, and two of them were turned into goals. I think our midfield can perform much better than they have lately, perhaps having the added depth of Mathis to help provide some offensive power off the bench will help. Also being able to move players around the midfield could really be an advantage as the final third of the season wraps up.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

I expected a slow start by RSL, the weather, the 18 day layoff, and being on the road all things that I thought would affect the first few minutes. Wow, I was wrong as RSL would take control quickly as the first shot would come less than 39 seconds in as Findley played a ball into the box and a open Javi took a shot that deflected of Barrett, but should have been better taken and the goal should have been scored. Just seconds later in the 3^rd minute another ball played in by Findley to Yura, who gets open and puts the ball into the back of the net and RSL is up 1-0.

Houston gets a little possession after the goal but RSL is closing down quickly on the ball, but DeRo gets the ball into the box but it is cleared by Borchers who runs into Rimando, but the ball is cleared out for a goal kick for RSL. Houston is doing a good job of getting the ball into the RSL half of the pitch, RSL is playing very controlled football when they have the ball. Right at the start of the 7^th minute another ball from Findley played into the box and the feet of Yura, but a Dynamo player deflects the ball out for a RSL corner kick. Nothing threatening from the corner, as Houston gets the ball back and goes on the attack, RSL is still doing a good job of closing on the ball quickly making it hard for the Dynamo to get a good look at goal. A long ball from Williams to Findley, and a great tackle gets the ball away from Robbie at the edge of the box, Houston dodges a bullet.

10 minutes in RSL is playing well as they try to control possession but Houston really is showing their talent as they are right on the ball every time RSL touches it, so far that hodge podge defense has stood up to the test. A foul gives RSL a free kick from about 5 yards outside of the box and Javi steps up for the free kick, and Nat heads the ball, but it goes just wide of the left post. Borchers has broken up about 5-6 Houston attacks already in the first 14-15 minutes of the match, but Houston is able to get deep into the RSL end of the pitch.

As the camera pans to Jason, I wonder why he has a security guard right behind him? Houston looks like they are getting their act together and Horst is lucky that the foul is called on Ching and not him, or it would be a PK for Houston, we dodged a bullet that time. A bad give away by Cutler, but no real damage comes from it, but the action is getting a bit rough in the midfield. Houston plays a ball to Mullen, who gets past Rimando and scores, on a play that looks like Houston is offside, but the two offside players are not Mullen, so the passive offside call goes Houston’s way. So 16 minutes in the score is tied at 1-1, as the Dynamo give their home fans something to cheer about. RSL is quick to get back into the attack, Wingert plays a good ball in and a shot by Andy is deflected over the net, or it may have been a goal. RSL gets a corner and this time it is cleared out and no threat from the set piece, you have to imagine that if we had Olave and Deuchar that set pieces could be a bit more productive. RSL play a good ball into a onrushing Findley, but it is just a bit too strong and goes out for a Houston goal kick as we move past the 20 minute mark.

Both teams are playing some long balls into the box and hoping for players to rush into the attack, it is an interesting style of play that may have a lot to do with the heat and humidity, which is impacting play. Houston gets a good ball in from Waibel, to Ching but Horst stands him up and allows Nick to scoop up the ball and restart the RSL attack, but RSL gives the ball away and a horrible shot by Ching goes very wide. RSL is back on the attack, Yura fires a shot that Onstad stops but it deflects out and RSL gets the ball back to the feet of Javi Morales and he finishes it easily and puts it into the back of the net and RSL takes the lead 2-1, as we enter the 26^th minute of play.

Houston gets a free kick from about 35 yards out but it is cleared without a shot being taken, Houston is getting great possession in the RSL end and on a great ball played to Ching by Mullen and Ching puts the ball into the back of the net. Ching beat his man; I couldn’t see who his man was, maybe on the halftime highlights. Well the match is tied at 2-2 as the clock hits 30:00, and Borchers gets a yellow card on a hard foul on Ching. Houston gets another chance as Barrett plays a great ball in, but Ching’s header goes wide and RSL gets a goal kick.

Houston is doing a great job at keeping the ball and playing on the RSL half of the pitch, as RSL continues to give the ball away way too easily. Mullen tires a shot from 25 yards but it is cleared easily, but Davis follows it up with a rocket that Rimando punches out, but Houston keeps the ball and from 35 yards out Clark fires a shot that beats Nick to the far corner of the net, and now Houston is up 3-2. Not sure where the breakdown was on it, but Clark had way too much room. Houston isn’t done as DeRo puts a shot on goal that deflects of the post, but the offside flag was up. Houston has really gotten a boost of energy from the goals, and Jaqua almost makes it 4-2 but RSL dodged a bullet. There is clearly some problems with communication on the RSL defense, as Houston is finding cracks in the RSL defense and taking full advantage of them. As the clock hits 40 minutes, RSL is on their heels and despite taking the lead twice in the first half, Houston is the team that looks like they are on fire, and RSL looks confused, tired and in need of the halftime break.

Houston is really controlling the match, and even when RSL gets a counter going Houston shuts it down quickly. The RSL defense looks very confused as often they are putting two men on a guy and leaving someone open. Houston makes a great play Davis to Ching, who lays it at the feet of Jaqua who finishes it and now Houston is up 4-2 with 2 minutes left in the first half. Way too many RSL players standing and walking for the last 15 minutes, but RSL get the ball deep in the Houston end but Javi’s shot is deflected and then cleared out the side by Onstad. RSL get a free kick from the side of the box, but the ball is cleared out by Houston and DeRo on the counter and he flies by Cutler, but Yura comes all the way back on defense to save the day. Houston gets the ball deep in the RSL end again, but the header by Ching is caught by Rimando. RSL counters, Yura fires a shot from the edge of the box, that is deflected off a Houston player and just wide of the net, but the corner is cleared easily by Houston. Borchers is having to say back on defense, so there is only Yura and Horst for size on set pieces and the rookie looks lost. RSL gets another free kick deep in the Houston side and Javi lines up for the shot, it is played well into the box but the RSL shot goes over the top of the goal as Houston is up 4-2 at the half.

So in looking at the halftime highlights, the entire RSL defense is to blame for the Mullen goal, they all stood around with their hands up as their keeper got beat, the second goal it looks like it was Morales who got beat by Ching, and the fourth goal it was Borchers who got beat by Jaqua.

As the second half starts RSL has pulled Cutler and put in Espindola to try and boost the offense and gain some possession of the ball, Beckerman moves back to the D-mid position and is marking DeRo, a much better matchup than Cutler trying to cover DeRo. Well the second half is starting with both teams playing in the center of the pitch finally RSL gets into the attack, Wingert plays a great ball into the box and Findley gets a head on it and forces Onstad to make the save, but at least RSL looked dangerous for the first time in the second half.

As the clock hits 50 minutes both teams are playing a much more deliberate pace to the match, I am guessing the heat and humidity has drained the energy of everyone one the pitch. Houston moves the ball into the attacking third and RSL is just standing around watching the ball and the shot by Davis goes high and just wide of the goal. I am not sure how RSL expects to get back into the match if they are playing this slowly and failing to close on the ball quicker. Houston plays a long ball into a fresh Kamara, but it is too strong and Rimando cleans it up easily. RSL plays the ball into the Houston half of the pitch a long ball played in goes to Espindola, who plays it in the box, but it is cleared out, but RSL gets it back and again Espindola plays it into the box and again it is cleared by Houston. A lazy shot by Houston is caught easily by Rimando, and RSL counters and Wingert plays another ball into the box and Findley got clear of his guy, but his header goes wide of the goal. A long ball played in to Findley who is fouled, but the official calls it the other way, this official has really made a number of questionable calls (this is only the 3^rd MLS match for Paul Ward), and missed even more calls. Houston counters and DeRo is flagged offside but his shot goes wide anyhow, and just after the 60^th minute RSL brings in Clint Mathis (signed earlier in the week) for Andy Williams (who headed off to national team duty after the match).

OK, I have to admit I find a great amount of humor in Clint naming his son Maximus, listen I like Gladiator, but I wouldn’t name my kid after a character in a movie, and while Max Mathis isn’t bad, I imagine growing up he will hear a good number of MM jokes. I do like that Clint picked his new jersey number 84 to mark Max’s birth on the 4^th of August. Well Houston has done a better job over the last couple minutes of controlling possession of the ball and they get a free kick from about 35 yards out, but DeRo’s shot goes high and wide. I have no clue how but RSL botches the goal kick and almost gives up a goal as they lose the ball to Houston off the kick, deep in the RSL third of the pitch. Wow Ching puts a ball into the box, but it goes just wide of the feet of Kamara and RSL dodges a bullet, it is clear that the RSL defense is out of gas and Houston is like a cat playing with a mouse. A hard foul by Mathis in the 67^th minute and the yellow card is out, at least he got more time in before his first card than last years Richie “red card” Kotchau who only saw two minutes of action before getting sent off.

With all the available defensive subs out due to injury or illness, the back line is going to have to really suck it up for the last 25 minutes as their will be no fresh legs for the RSL defense. I have to say I am confused how a team that has shown such great fitness can be standing around and making very little effort to attack the ball, it really looks like all RSL is doing is staying in their half of the pitch and trying to catch Houston as they attack. Yura and Findley are trying to get the attack moving but Yura looks like he is out of gas, and some strange conflict between Wiabel and Espindola. Yura fires a shot but it goes right to Onstad and Houston counters and DeRo gets fouled just on the edge of the box but the official misses the call, but Houston plays a great ball into the box but it is cleared by Russell. The following corner kick gets bounced around and back out for another Houston corner kick, and after the ball bounces around some more it is cleared to the midfield by RSL. Yura makes another good run and plays a ball to Findley, but there is simply too many Houston defenders, RSL mounts another attack and Findley does a great job and delivers the ball on the penalty spot for Morales, but he blows it and gets nothing on the ball and it is cleaned up by Houston. Damm, it really should be 4-3, there is no excuse for Javi to miss that one, if he wants to live up to the role and the hype he has to finish those shots. We are most likely going to pay a big price to get the rights to Javi this off season and rumor is that his full salary will likely make him our DP, he really has had two great chances tonight that he hasn’t been able to finish, I can’t put too much blame on him, but I expect more.

With 15 minutes left in the match Kenny Deuchar comes on for Yura, who played a great match. RSL is trying to keep possession of the ball, but Houston is taking advantage of RSL trying to attack and they are countering very well, and Kamara got clear of his man and headed the ball wide of the net. RSL dodges another bullet. RSL gets a quick goal from Deuchar on a super ball played to him by Findley and Kenny puts the ball past Onstad and now we are closer to getting some points on the road as the score is now 4-3. There are under 10 minutes left for RSL to try and get another goal to tie up the match, but Houston a fresh Holden counters, but RSL does well to get the ball back. Wow, Kamara just went past 3 RSL defenders (Wingert, Russell, and Borchers) and RSL is getting peppered by Houston shots and attacks, with just a couple minutes left RSL is getting desperate and playing long ball. I am not sure why with 5 minutes plus stoppage left that RSL would go to that style, but with little energy and the fresh legs of Deuchar perhaps it isn’t as unwise as it seems, but with Houston playing 8 men behind the ball I am not sure what RSL will have to do to get more chances.

Again Kamara beats his man (Borchers) and he plays a great ball to Ching, who puts it over the top of the net. Wow that is the 4^th or 5^th bullet that RSL has dodged in the last 10 minutes since Kamara came into the match. RSL is trying to play the ball in but Houston has so many bodies in the box that the RSL attacks are not getting any decent looks, there are 3 minutes of stoppage time and Houston is holding the ball in the RSL third of the pitch and simply playing keep away from RSL. Ching gets upset and gets a yellow card for dissent, but the free kick by Beckerman is nowhere near a RSL player and Houston comes back in attack, but RSL get the ball and again Kyle plays a long ball that is nowhere near any RSL players, what the hell. Espindola makes a huge run back to stop a Houston counter after Horst got beat, and now Horst is down with what appears to be a cramp, that is twice tonight that a striker has run almost the entire pitch to get back and prevent a Houston shot on goal.

Well that is the final whistle and the match ends 4-3 in a very exciting match, it was never going to be easy to get a win on the road against the two time defending champions. That task got harder when Jamison Olave picked up a yellow card against Toronto that make him ineligible for the Houston match, then add in injuries to both Ian Joy and Tony Beltran, and Dema Kovalenko being out due to illness and this really became mission impossible. To beat Houston with only two of our normal defenders available and relying on Robbie Russell who has only been with the team a couple weeks, and David Horst a rookie getting his first action with the first team is not going to be easy. RSL came out attacking and looked like they would be up to the task, but the Houston offense is simply too strong and was able to take advantage of a defense that wasn’t used to playing together, and despite gutsy efforts by almost every RSL player it was simply more than they were up to on this given day. If RSL should have to face off against Houston again this season, they should be able to look back at this match and be very confident that they can play with Houston and if at full strength they have what it takes to beat the defending champs.

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Well Houston made their point, despite giving up an early goal (they almost gave up two in the first 5 minutes), they fought back and tied the match, and then RSL made a statement they scored again to regain the lead just 9 minutes after Houston tied it. But the last 20 minutes of the first half were all Houston, it was as if some magic button was pushed and they went into another gear and RSL were simply unable to step up to that gear. The end result was the Dynamo sitting with a 4-2 lead at the half. Now RSL fans have been to quick to point out that it must have been the absence of Jamison Olave, who was serving a one game suspension for yellow card accumulation, that was the key to this breakdown. I think the problem is much deeper than that, but before I go too deep I want to watch the match one more time, so a more complete match summary and review will be coming tonight. It was clear that missing Ian Joy, Tony Beltran, and Dema Kovalenko in addition to Olave make a significant impact on the RSL defense would perform. Our defense say Robbie Russell make his first start, and rookie David Horst saw his first MLS action and with Kenny Cutler playing d-mid that those three simply were not up to the task on Saturday night.

I was very impressed with the effort of Robbie Findley, who got two assists on the night and put forth a performance worthy of the importance of the match, as did Yura Movsisyan, who scored his first MLS goal this season and looked like the player we expected when he came over from KC. I understand now why Jason had such faith in the four strikers on RSL’s roster, they showed Saturday night what they are capable of. I am very disappointed in the play of our midfield, who for the first 25 minutes controlled the match, but then gave the reins to Houston for the rest of the match. We have to learn how to control possession of the ball for the entire match, if we expect to pick up wins on the road.

OK, that is it for now, but I will do a more detailed summary as I rewatch the match this evening.

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Well after a long layoff RSL is finally back in action, and while the match against Houston may not be ‘epic” it is the most important match so far this season for RSL for a number of reasons. Topping the list, it is a battle between the first and second place teams in the Western conference with only a point separating the two teams, add in the fact that RSL has struggled on the road and a victory in Houston would send a clear message to the league that RSL is a team that has to be taken seriously, and finally the matchup is Houston’s chance to rebound after an agonizing defeat in the SuperLiga final. Last week this looked like a #2 vs. #3 in the ESPN power rankings, but both Houston and RSL fell in this weeks rankings (despite not playing MLS action) to #3 and #5 respectively.

Houston for the first time all season, is healthy (no reported injuries), and at full strength with no suspensions or international team call ups. The Dynamo are also out to prove a point, that their slow start is not the real deal, but that they have what it takes to make a run at a third straight MLS Cup title. In their last 8 matches they are 4-1-3 and they are on a 5 game unbeaten streak in which they have only given up 1 goal and scored 5. Their last two matches are both 2-0 victories, over DC United in that match that took forever to finish (rescheduled twice, then delayed for hours because of weather), and then a victory two weeks ago over Columbus.

RSL has not done well playing in Houston, in 3 matches they have no wins or ties and have scored 5 goals while giving up 8. Overall play between Houston and RSL has always been close of the 8 all time meetings Houston is 4-2-4 against RSL and have scored 11 goals in those 8 matches while giving up 10 goals. One fact in RSL’s favor is that Brian Ching the leading score for the Dynamo this year has never scored against RSL, Houston’s top scorer when facing RSL is Nate Jaqua who last year got a hat trick in the Sept. 8^th 4-3 Houston win at Robertson Stadium. In fact no other Houston player has scored more than one goal against RSL, but only 3 current RSL players have ever scored against Houston (Beckerman, Findley, and Espindola) and each of them have only scored once.

RSL will have to see how their defense holds up without Jamison Olave, who is serving a one game suspension for accumulation of yellow cards. Injuries will keep Nathan Sturgis and Tony Beltran from seeing action, but Espindola is expected to be in the 18 but not starting. It is unsure if Clint Mathis will be travelling with the team or not. RSL has been the strongest defensive team in MLS over the last two months, giving up only 3 goals in their last 9 matches (4-1-4) including a 1-1-1 record on the road. RSL has continued to struggle to score goals during that stretch, scoring just 7 goals in those 9 matches and having four 0-0 draws.

This is going to be an interesting match up, and I fear that RSL will give up an early goal simply due to not playing a real match in 18 days. I do hope that with the addition of Robbie Russell filling in for the suspended Jamison Olave that the RSL defense will keep the high standard set over the last couple months. I also believe that RSL will show that same toughness to rebound as they have in the past and not only pull even (normally a road draw would be a good thing), but to go for the win. Jason and his staff understand that this is a “Statement” game and anything short of a victory will leave a lot of questions on RSL’s ability to finish off this season well enough to keep a playoff spot. I am going to go out on a minor limb and predict a 2-1 win for RSL.

Other Takes

MLS Preview: Houston Dynamo v. Real Salt Lake goal.com
The Gist: The perennial contenders Houston Dynamo host upstarts Real Salt Lake with first place on the line. The two-time defending MLS Cup champs have not played since losing to New England in the SuperLiga final eleven days prior to this tilt. However, Houston have not lost in their past four league games.

Real Salt Lake will try to end that streak, but to do so they will need to improve upon their dreadful road record. Perhaps the biggest chink in their armor, a road win against a team many feel is the best in the West would send a message that Salt Lake are for real.

Other News

RSL’s Williams Battles On and Off the field goal.com
Reggae Boyz. Bomma. Long sleeves. World Cup. MLS Cup. Caramel Macchiato.
What do all these things, including the Starbucks addiction, have in common?

Andy Williams.
The well-traveled midfielder for Real Salt Lake has found a place to call home here in Salt Lake City, but finds himself currently in the midst of a couple of important battles.

Soccerunitesutah.com Site dedicated to raising funds to help the Williams family out.

RSL: Is second time a charm for Clint Mathis? Sltrib.com
Three years ago, during Real Salt Lake’s inaugural 2005 season, Clint Mathis arrived with high expectations, both for himself and for his team. When that tenure lasted for 27 games, and didn’t end under the best of circumstances, the thought of Mathis returning to RSL seemed far-fetched at best.
But apparently, it wasn’t as far-fetched as some would’ve thought, as RSL on Thursday acquired Mathis from the Las Angeles Galaxy, the team that held his rights while he played the bulk of this season for Ergotelis FC of the Greek Super League.

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