Real Salt Lake 3rd Quarter Report Card- Team and Players
by denz on Sep 3, 2010 2:37 PM MDT
0 comments
Well with 22 matches under their belts and that marks the 3/4 way of the MLS season, after 8 matches RSL was 4-3-1 and then after 15 matches RSL were sitting at 9-3-3 and now after 22 matches RSL are 11-4-7. That means they went a mere 2-1-4 in the 3rd quarter, not nearly as impressive as the 2nd quarter but just one loss is still a nice stretch of matches.
So if we look at the team numbers so far this year (after 22 matches) they are simply top knotch for RSL:
Points - 40 - 3rd best in MLS (LA is 1st with 43) - best in team history (previous best was 30 in 2008)
Goals Scored - 36 - Best in MLS (LA is 2nd with 32) - best in team history (previous best was 31 in 2006)
Goals Allowed - 16 - Tied for best in MLS with LA - best in team history (previous best was 27 in 08 and 09)
So here is the curve that I use for grading:
A=Exceeds Expectations
B=Meets Expectations
C=Meets Requirements
D=Below Requirements
F=Failure to meet Minimum Requirements
I=Incomplete
I gave the team a "B+" in the first quarter, with a 5-0-2 2nd quarter I upgraded the team to a straight "A". That being said for the 3rd quarter I would give them a "B" as two wins in 7 matches simply isn't good enough and had it not been for the struggles of LA we would probably be out of the Supporters' Shield race. While many teams made moves in the summer transfer window, RSL didn't make a move and given their position in the league and form it is hard to blame them.
The final quarter of the season should be a great one as there are a couple huge match, starting with hosting Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. We still have both our matches with Colorado on the schedule and we will close out our home regular season by facing the only team to hand RSL a loss in 4 months as FC Dallas will come to town on Oct. 16th.
OK, after the jump you will find the player grades:
Yura Movsisyan gets his first cap for Armenia
by denz on Sep 3, 2010 9:11 AM MDT
4 comments
Just a quick update on another former RSL player and one of my favorite guys to have worn the cobalt and claret. He is in the starting lineup for Armenia today as they face the Republic of Ireland in Euro 2012 qualifying action, if you want to check it out the match is live on ESPN3.com.
Go ahead and watch it, your boss is probably out of the office already for Labor Day.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
Thierry Henry - a couple questions before the New York vs. Real Salt Lake match
by denz on Sep 2, 2010 12:40 PM MDT
0 comments
Real Salt Lake in conjuction with the New York Red Bulls set up a conference call with Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry, I was fortunate enough to be included on the call.
The call started with some general comments by Thierry, he mentioned knowing that playing against the champions is going to be a difficult match, that RSL plays very well at home, and hopes that they can play a good game. I was lucky enough to be first up in the question queue and I asked:
Q: What has the adjustment to MLS from playing in leagues like La Liga and the EPL, how is the quality and nature of the play in MLS?
A: It was difficult to arrive in mid-season, without a pre-season, I arrived from my holiday and had to play straight away, so without having any preparation has been the most difficult to deal with. The league is competitive and it is very hard to play away from home, everytime we play a team they are trying to play football.
The second question was from James Edwards with Deseret News, who asked about playing on a FIFA date with many players from both sides missing. A great question and the answer was that TH14 has never had to deal with this in the past as the other leagues he has played in all take the FIFA dates off.
A couple more questions and answers after the jump, including my second question of the call and the link to the audio recording of the interview:
Biggest RSL game of the year!!!
by Milo S on Sep 2, 2010 9:56 AM MDT
3 comments
Okay, here we go Soapboxers. It seems every game we play from here on out is considered the biggest game of the year. This game can defintiely be considered the biggest game of the year...thus far!
Real Salt Lake is hosting the streaking New York Red Bulls at Rio Tinto Stadium at 7:00 pm MST on Saturday. This will be such a huge game for both clubs.
RSL will be attempting to tie the MLS home unbeaten record at 22, which is held by the Columbus Crew. They have not lost at Rio Tinto since the early days of May 2009! Think about that for a minute. In over a little more than a year, Real Salt Lake has taken their opponents to the woodshed and never looked back. I will admit there have been a few "squeaker" games bunched in there. But, all in all, RSL has been doing what they were supposed to do when this stadium was built in Sandy, Utah. That is...Defend Their Home Field!!!!
I don't ever like talking about streaks because if anyone knows me, I am a very superstitious individual. Even when I was playing sports in high school and college, I had a certain routine everyday in practice and game day. Such as, the order I put my gear on; left sock, left shoe, right sock, right shoe, and so on.
But, I am going out on a limb and staring Mr. Superstition right in the face and saying that we (RSL) are too good to lose this game at home on Saturday evening and this is our destiny to fall into a first place tie with the L.A. Galaxy in the Western Conference Standings (43 pts) and be right on the edge of taking this season's lead for the Supporter's Shield.
However, NY has been playing great as of late. They have won three (3) of their last four (4) games and Designated Player (DP) Thierry Henry bagged his first goal of what I believe will be many more to come in the game against the 'Quakes last weekend.
Both teams will be playing without some crucial 'ballers this weekend. NYRB's will be playing without their fine midfielders DP Rafa Marquez and Dane Richards, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, and defender Roy Miller; while RSL will be playing without midfielder Will Johnson and Striker Alvaro Sabario. All six (6) have been called up to their respective national teams for the next set of FIFA International friendlies set to take place between Sept. 3-7.
It should be an exciting game this weekend. And if you know me, there is no reward for giving my predicition of the match but I'm going to give it to you anyway. RSL is excited that they are finally back home after a long 2-week road trip that took them all over the upper half of the Western Hemisphere. They will come out strong and tough against a formidable Red Bull side but that will not stop MLS's top goal scoring juggernaut in placing three (3) goals on the scoreboard and another 20,000+ Burger King breakfast sandwiches in the bellies of RSL's faithful.
Real Salt Lake 3, New York Red Bulls 1
What do the Soapboxers think...let me hear your thoughts????
What would you ask Thierry Henry?
by denz on Sep 1, 2010 12:59 PM MDT
4 comments
So in preview of this weekend's huge match between Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls, I have a chance to be part of a conference call with the former Barca, French National Team, and current Red Bull player Thierry Henry. So I know of a couple questions I would ask, but I thought I would open this up to you all and see what you would ask him?
So put your question in the comments section and I will pick one of them to ask during the conference call. Time for you to speak up.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
Major League Soccer - Award Tracker (SB Nation Style)
by denz on Sep 1, 2010 9:22 AM MDT
3 comments
The collective minds of SB Nation are putting their heads together again and looking at the end of season awards, we will be doing a monthly vote to see where everyone stands. Here are the results of the first round of voting:
Most Valuable Player:
1. Fredy Montero, 14
2. David Ferreira, 12
T3. Dwayne De Rosario and Edson Buddle, 5
5. Javier Morales, 3
6. Landon Donovan, 2
Defender of the Year
1. Omar Gonzalez, 15
2. Jamison Olave, 13
3. Osvaldo Alonso, 6
T4. Chad Marshall and Ugo Ihemelu, 2
Goalkeeper of the Year
1. Nick Rimando, 18
2. Donovan Ricketts, 11
3. Kevin Hartman, 6
T4. William Hesmer and Jimmy Nielsen, 3
more selections after the jump:
Peter Vermes- arrested for driving under the influence
I am not sure how to react to this one, everyone should know better than to drink and drive. Peter is just a guy who happens to coach a MLS team, but driving under the influence is just plain wrong.
I don't know if his contract includes a morals or personal responsibility clause, but you would have to believe that MLS will probably need to take some type of action. Is it worthy of a suspension or additional fine if he is found guilty?
Major League Soccer - Power Rankings week 22
by denz on Aug 30, 2010 9:55 PM MDT
in MLS Power Rankings
0 comments
Well it was an entertaining week with every team in action, and TH14 finally got his first MLS goal. Well the two of the bottom teams faced off against each other on Sunday night but it was more impressed by the late match meltdowns of Chicago and New England. Neither was as epic as the RSL meltdown at Cruz Azul on Wednesday but giving up game winning goals in stoppage time is heartbreaking.
16. DC United (-)
Well guess what, after getting a win over Philly last week it was right back to their losing ways as they dropped a 1-0 egg at Chivas USA. It is unlikely that DC will get their 5th win of the season on Saturday when they host Eastern Conference leaders the Columbus Crew, the question is will DC create a new record low for goals scored in a season?
15. New England (-)
It was over a month ago when New England pulled off an upset of LA, that many people thought that the Rev's might have gotten it all figured out. Then they went on a run in SuperLiga, and could win it on Sept 1st, but that isn't MLS and only DC United's 14 losses are more than New England's 12 losses. This weekend they lost not only the season series with Philly but they lost 2-1 at home on a stoppage time goal. Their task this weekend is to play host to red hot Seattle, good thing that DC United is also likely to lose as it will keep New England from dropping any lower.
14. Houston Dynamo (-1)
A untimely early goal, followed by a red card and it was all over but the crying on the bus ride back to the hotel as the Dynamo lost 3-0 at Colorado. By virtue of that loss it is likely that the Dynamo will miss the playoffs, they have 8 matches left and 23 points, and most experts think it will take 42 points to make the playoffs. So they would need 19 of 24 points available, and to be honest that simply isn't going to happen. They do get a chance to face San Jose at Robertson Stadium on Sunday but they need to go 6-1-1 over their last 8 to get to 42, the dream could be over on Sunday.
more after the jump:
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