7/14/07 RSL @ Kansas City

I decided with all the (completely reasonable and justified) negativity around RSL, I would start this review on a positive note: I am glad to say that wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected. Having said that, it certainly wasn't that good either.

First off, what on earth was with that starting lineup? I think Jason joined the "That 70s Show" kids in 'the circle' when he came up with that one. Kyle Brown & Lancos (and the new guy, Wingert, who probably has no idea what's going on yet) over Williams and Watson? A midfield of Wingert, Talley, Harris, and Kipre???!? Color me confused.

And the team as well! They came out and often looked completely lost as to where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to be doing. The passing was atrocious (I believe more passes were completed to the Wiz this half than to our own team. The defense was way off. How do you give Eddie Johnson a 15 yard cushion just outside the penalty area??? More than once??!?! The positioning was bad, the pressure wasn't there, and I decided that RSL doesn't actually understand the concept of the offside trap. The idea of the offside trap is to catch the other team in an offside position. However, most of RSL seems to think it means to run up so that the other team is just barely ONSIDE, but so that your momentum takes you the wrong way and the opposing forward can run past you unopposed. And if that's what they were trying for, well done boys! Anyway, the bad defense finally bit RSL as Johnson got free past Torres and put a shot off the post. Torres of course then didn't really bother to cover for a rebound and Johnson put it away, one to nothing, "I'm taking a" Wiz (yes, an old joke, but it's a classic). Another problem that seems to be plaguing RSL is a complete fear of shooting the ball. A prime example came about 23 min. in when Kipre had the ball in the 6 yard box and had his defender beat. Yes, it was a tough angle, and no, it probably wouldn't have gone in, but instead of shooting he tried to force a pass back and RSL never got a shot off, but instead turned it over. I'm sorry, but you can't score if you don't shoot. So once again, RSL players, please, SHOOT THE DAMN BALL!!!! The rest of the half went pretty much the same, with KC dominating possesion and with RSL getting no chances and the defense looking lost. If you watched Rimando this half you couldn't help but feel for him. He was so obviously livid with the back line for leaving the Wiz players so open. I can't recall the last time I saw someone's face so red! And I don't blame him a bit. A couple other thoughts on the 1st half: First, I'm still not convinced that Jewsbury's tackle shouldn't have been a straight red. He went in studs up on Wingert as retaliation for a semi-late (but not too hard of a) tackle earlier in the half. But whatever, it's just when guys get chippy like that, bad things usually happen. Second, RSL actually did a little better in the last 5 min. or so. They certainly didn't have the run of play but they evened things up a bit. Lastly, congrats to Carey Talley for what I think is the best free kick (or any set piece) RSL has hit this year. It didn't amount to anything, but it was hit hard and into a dangerous area in the box. Not one of those floaty pieces of crap that fly over everyone that we get from Mehdi and Freddy. Congrats!
Half grade: D-

The second half was a revelation after the first. First of all, the halftime subs of Williams for Wingert and Watson for Brown were great. That should've been the starting lineup. I guess the high wore off by this point, ha ha. The half started about how the first ended, with both teams about even. The midfield continued to let the team down at first, especially Atiba Harris. His passing was even worse than usual and he continually turned the ball over. When the midfield did link up, they never could get the final pass (another problem that has stuck with RSL all year). The crosses were bad, the through balls were to no one, and no one was making runs off the ball into the box. Plus, still no one would shoot! (See: Williams, 57th min.; Watson & Findley 58th). It continued this way, until around the 65th minute. Williams started to look more comfortable and the passing/possesion improved. Then, it happened. Jamie Watson took a long shot! Thank the heavens! At least he realizes you can't score if you don't shoot! Then Kreis made a brilliant move, replacing Findley with Kenny Cutler (remember him?), going with an extra man in the midfield and putting Atiba up front (where his passing could no longer hurt). Suddenly, RSL was enjoying the run of play. Atiba went from absolutely awful to pretty darn good. Watson was all over. The defense markedly improved. They looked like and honest to God professional soccer team out there (well, maybe not, but much improved over the last couple of weeks at least). On the down side, no they didn't score, and yes, they lost again, but at least RSL looked somewhat dangerous at times. They even looked, gasp, competitive. There was some heart and some hustle. It was nice to see. Definitely the best half since the DCU game. But then, with how atrocious the Columbus and Toronto games were, that's not saying a lot. Final KC 1-RSL 0.
Half grade: B

Pros:
-The last 30 min. or so! Wow! RSL DOES play soccer after all!
-Rimando solid again.
-The back line has Eddie Pope to save them.
-There was some effort!
-It didn't turn out to be the 3 or 4 to 0 debacle I was expecting.
-I saw a guy walking around town in an RSL jersey.

Cons:
-RSL still can't score.
-The defense looked terribly disorganized for large portions of the game.
-The midfield looked terribly disorganized for large portions of the game.
-RSL lost again.
-The video from KSL was awful. Way too many holds on irrelevant things while plays developed on the field.
-The guy I saw was wearing a Danny Torres jersey. Why? :)

Game grade: C

Player grades:
Nick Rimando-7 Justifiably frustrated
Chris Lancos-5 Quiet, but team's defense was bad
Eddie Pope-6 Only thing holding the defense together
Daniel Torres-4 Got beat for the only goal
Ritchie Kotschau-5 See Chris Lancos
Jean-Martial Kipre-5 Good speed, bad crosses
Atiba Harris-in MF 3, at FWD 6 Horrible passing, great energy
Carey Talley-6 Extra point for the free kick
Chris Wingert-6 Decent effort for the first game with RSL
sub(Jamie Watson 46)-7 Great hustle and effort, looked solid (I guess it's time for another JK lecture)
Robbie Findley-4 Did he play? Needs to make more of an impact
sub(Kenny Cutler 69)-6 Team played much better after he came in
Kyle Brown-6 Did a good job getting involved, great hustle
sub(Andy Williams 46)-6 Helped settle the midfield

RSL Man of the Match: Jamie Watson

And by request, assclown of the week goes to Jack Jewsbury for his "revenge tackle" for something that wasn't that bad to begin with. Plus, he's just kind of a creepy looking guy to boot! ha ha ha