Points of Obvious Refinement: Real Salt Lake at FC Dallas

Real Salt Lake managed to squeak another point against another team that isn’t having a great season. While points are points, there are better points.

POINTS OF OBVIOUS REFINEMENT!!!

Accidental title usage

Be Dangerous

If you go 4-on-2 into the attacking third and the best you can do is sky a ball over the bar; you’re not being dangerous.

If you’re playing a team with an obviously injured goalkeeper and your only goals come off one heck of a turn and a deflected cross that managed to land better than the cross would have; you’re not being dangerous.

If you’re playing one of, if not the, worst team in your conference and the best you can manage is a point; you’re not being dangerous.

Going into an international break, at home, and against another team that has a lot of edge for not being very good; you have to be dangerous.

The Loons will be coming to town and trying to make a point. They look to be missing a couple of key players. Freddy Juarez and his squad have to be able to come out and play dangerous. They have to be ready and able to punish mistakes. They have to be ready to pounce on everything that comes their way.

This isn’t a game for direct balls over the top and trying to absorb pressure in your own half.

Keeper Chaos

Well, not really chaos, but if you’ve read this column long enough you know how much I love alliteration. As mentioned, Ochoa is on national duty and leaves room for either Zac MacMath or Andrew Putna. With MacMath starting for the Monarchs last week, it would seem apparent that he’ll have the start.

Neither MacMath nor Putna are the same kind of goalkeeper as Ochoa. Their approach and style of play are completely different. They’re not strong playing out of the back and they don’t have the “je ne sais quio” as Ochoa.

This change will present a lot of shifting of intent in the back. The center backs will not be able to include the keeper in their triangle when there is pressure. While making the structural and procedural changes could open the door for more dangerous play, it could also open some pretty big holes.

All in all, there’s no reason for the team to save anything in the tank. It’s going to be a solid three weeks of international break for everyone to recover. I think the ghost of David Ochoa will have Minnesota United spooked and Real Salt Lake just need to be there to drive home their boogey man.