Now I have terrible luck with my sports teams usually (see: Chicago Cubs, Syracuse Univ. Football, Southern Utah Univ. anything, RSL until last year), but amazingly, both of the soccer teams that I root for have won the championship! We all know that RSL won the MLS Cup, but over last weekend, Sydney FC went into Melbourne and beat the hated rival Victory on their home turf for the Australian A-League championship. Nice! Oddly, both RSL and SFC needed penalty kicks to decide the championship. My favorite moment of the game? The 40-second or so sequence in the following video that is, in my opinion, one of the great sports sequences of all time:
Melbourne have a goal disallowed for offside and, while complaining, fail to fully get back on defense which allows Sydney to score a quick "counter attack" goal. Making it even better is the reaction of the Melbourne fan in front at about :56 seconds in. Classic. Congrats to my boys in sky blue, Sydney FC, on the championship! And while we are at it, good luck in SLC, Syracuse! Final Four, here we come. And last, but certainly not least, with the MLS season ready to kick off this week (finally, and thankfully, with the strike averted): GO REAL SALT LAKE!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Luis Gil
How funny. I read an article this morning where US U-17 midfielder Luis Gil, recently won by the Wizards in a lottery, had stated he wanted to stay out west with either Seattle or Salt Lake. On my way here to the Review to talk about how I thought that would be a nice pickup for the future, I stopped by Steve Goff's blog on the Washington Post and he says that RSL has already traded for Gil! I really like the move and think Gil could develop well with the help of Javi, Kyle, Andy, WillJ, and coach K (not to mention perhaps some CONCACAF Champions League experience). I'm not sure how I feel about RSL sending ANOTHER of its few international spots to KC (hopefully this one's only for a year, not time and all eternity). More details to come, I'm sure, but for now, nice move by RSL!
Monday, February 1, 2010
2011 RSL
So I've been playing a bit (ok, a TON) of Football Manager 2010 lately, and with the offseason dragging on, I decided to post the 2011 Real Salt Lake roster (at least with manager 'Max Power' at the helm):
GK:
Nick Rimando
Quentin Westberg ($30k transfer from ESTAC-French League-in 2010)
DF:
Nat Borchers
Jamison Olave
Tony Beltran (currently transfer listed by request)
Chris Wingert
David Horst
Drew Moor (claimed from waiver draft 2011)
Bakary Soro (signed on a free transfer 2009)
Jeremy Hall (also MF, trade for Chris Seitz-preseason 2011)
MF:
Kyle Beckerman (captain)
Javier Morales (vice captain)
Will Johnson
Andy Williams
Jean Alexandre
Alex Nimo
Nick LaBrocca (claimed off waivers 2010)
Rhyan Grant ($1.4 million transfer 2010)
DaMarcus Beasley (free transfer, released from club after WC2010)
FW:
Robbie Findley
Edson Buddle (claimed off waivers 2009)
Shane Smeltz ($775k transfer after incentives mid-2011)
oh, and one other guy...
(the oft-injured) Ruud van Nistelrooy (free transfer mid-2010)
All in with almost $1,000 to spare per week under the cap.
As of July 27, 2011, RSL is sitting 4th of 8 in the Western Conference with a 9-8-1 record and 28 points. However, the first stretch of the season was busy with games in the 2010-2011 Champions League, where RSL ultimately came in 2nd after falling to America in the final. RSL is also still alive in the USOC, with an upcoiming semi-final game against the Gals.
GK:
Nick Rimando
Quentin Westberg ($30k transfer from ESTAC-French League-in 2010)
DF:
Nat Borchers
Jamison Olave
Tony Beltran (currently transfer listed by request)
Chris Wingert
David Horst
Drew Moor (claimed from waiver draft 2011)
Bakary Soro (signed on a free transfer 2009)
Jeremy Hall (also MF, trade for Chris Seitz-preseason 2011)
MF:
Kyle Beckerman (captain)
Javier Morales (vice captain)
Will Johnson
Andy Williams
Jean Alexandre
Alex Nimo
Nick LaBrocca (claimed off waivers 2010)
Rhyan Grant ($1.4 million transfer 2010)
DaMarcus Beasley (free transfer, released from club after WC2010)
FW:
Robbie Findley
Edson Buddle (claimed off waivers 2009)
Shane Smeltz ($775k transfer after incentives mid-2011)
oh, and one other guy...
(the oft-injured) Ruud van Nistelrooy (free transfer mid-2010)
All in with almost $1,000 to spare per week under the cap.
As of July 27, 2011, RSL is sitting 4th of 8 in the Western Conference with a 9-8-1 record and 28 points. However, the first stretch of the season was busy with games in the 2010-2011 Champions League, where RSL ultimately came in 2nd after falling to America in the final. RSL is also still alive in the USOC, with an upcoiming semi-final game against the Gals.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
It'll never happen, but...
Seriously, if anyone in "RSL FO-land" sees this, please take a good long look at Shane Smeltz out of the Australian A-League. I know he'd probably cost a bit more than the team would like to spend, but the man has a $277,234.76 (A$300,000) buy-out clause in his contract. 6' 1" striker, 28 years old, and will get great experience playing in the World Cup this summer (with the Kiwis), and has 19 goals in 21 games this current season. Yes, 19. If RSL upgraded from Yura "Can't Hit The Broad Side Of A Barn" Movsisyan to this man...wow. 10-15 goals a year in MLS, no doubt in my mind, he's that good. Unfortunately, it looks like he's getting some interest from China and possibly Scandinavia, so a move would have to be made sooner rather than later. Would he come? Hard to say. But you don't know until you ask...
Sunday, November 22, 2009
MLS Cup 2009-Live Thoughts
I'm not sure how much I'll actually do (I want to watch the game!) but I'm going to try and throw up some thoughts as the game goes on...
9th minute-Defense looking a bit shaky. Donovan gets the ball in the box but is too slow with it. Play develops into a pretty clear header for Buddle, luckily put wide.
11th-Javi wastes a free kick straight on about 45 yds out, puts it directly over the end line.
12th-Beckham has the worst hairdo ever. Worse than a mullet. Gonna call it "the douchecut" as it is, indeed, quite douchy.
17th-Javi looks hurt after Beckham chops his legs out from under him. Announcer says "I didn't see a foul there." Makes me think that if you're going to commentate a game you should probably actually watch the game.
19th-Sounds like a knee injury for Javi, but he's going to come back on, at least for a while.
20th-Yura beats his man and then finds a new creative way to blow it by falling down. Javi about done, Cleetus going to come on for him.
22nd-Javi crying as he comes off, my wife feels really bad for him (understandably so). She thinks it sucks for him that he has to go out once he makes it all the way to the final.
25th-Findley wide open run, but called offside. Looked very borderline, looks like the AR are calling this (too) conservatively.
28th-Terrible corner call for LA. Looks like they're going to get all the calls, as, sadly, expected.
30th-Neither team showing much in the attack, basically back and forth in the midfield so far.
32nd-Andy with a long shot, misses quite wide, but at least he's going for goal.
34th-RSL losing basically every header, that could become an issue sooner rather than later.
36th-Terrible transition defense by RSL, Magee misses an open shot JUST wide.
37th-RSL has been trying to push forward but looks totally impotent in the final 3rd. Not even getting chances, too many turnovers.
41st-RSL's terrible defending finally kills them. Open Beckham to open Donovan to open Magee, goal.
42nd-RSL looks done. This looks like RSL defense circa 2005.
44th-Salt Lake obviously missing Javi, team looking lost in the final third.
45th +-Borchers gets a head to it but right to Ricketts.
45th +2-Yura forced to rush a shot in the box, puts it 40 feet high. Hate to say it, especially since he's scored some clutch goals in his day, but I will not miss him and his absolutely atrocious finishing.
Halftime-Defense, especially the outside backs, looks terrible. Midfield forcing too much and turning it over way too much. LA sitting back and waiting for the counter and RSL can't break it. Kreis being outcoached and the team sorely misses Javi. Both forwards look pretty useless, especially Yura, who has provided nothing positive. This is going to take an even better effort than we saw after going down 2-0 at Columbus. With Javi hurt and WillJ sick, I'm not sure RSL's got it in the tank...
46th-Will-J must be too sick to go on, Grabavoy on for him at half. 1 sub left-yikes!
47th-Findley breaks free, bad touch and unable to get onto it well. Robbie, Ricketts, and Omar Gonzalez collide. Robbie and Ricketts hurt.
52nd-Finally back to action, everyone still in.
54th-Getting chippy. Hope the Findley play wasn't the best look RSL is going to get.
58th-Free kick LA, just outside the box just off center. Douchecut Dave to take it. Hits the wall.
60th-Yura takes too long to shoot, possible PK, somehow a call on RSL. Ref's paycheck obviously written in LA.
62nd-RSL player literally thrown to the ground. No card from referee LA Joe. Apparently armed robbery is the only way the Gals will get a card.
64th-Scramble in the box, ball falls to Robbie Findley, goal RSL. Hell yes! Back in this!
66th-Ricketts' hurt hand comes back to get him, he's subbed out.
69th-Momentum with RSL right now. Need to capitalize while we can.
71st-Beckerman is a man among boys out there. Starts an RSL break, Ned with a beautiful ball to Yura who again blows it, this time with a shot about 20 feet high. Damn...
74th-Russell with a turnover reminiscent of the Columbus game. This time he recovers and shoves Landycakes off the ball.
75th-RSL takes Yura out for the last time, Espi in. I hate to see the last sub already, but Yura was worse than awful tonight.
80th-Former Red Chris Klein in for the Gals.
85th-RSL leaving Douchecut Dave wide open. LA pushing for the game winner.
87th-Game opening up, if there's as much injury time as there should be, we could have a game winner in regulation. Gonzalez hurt now...
90th-7 minutes of injury time. Espi playing terribly, puts a cross into the side netting.
90+7th-Andy Williams slips in the box and a golden chance goes unused.
End of Regulation-RSL a different team in the 2nd half. This one could go either way, but LA having a sub left works in their favor. Unfortunately, recent history suggests LA wins this, having put 2 on Houston in overtime in the Western Conference Final, while RSL could only go 0-0. PKs have to favor any team with Nick Rimando in net, so if we get there I like our chances.
98th-Findley a heartbreaker into the side netting.
101st-Mathis with a free kick just outside the box, again into the side netting. RSL having the better of it, but nothing to show for it. RSL wasting too many attacks with long shots.
Extra Time Halftime-RSL wasting too many chances. Mathis with a nice look a few seconds ago but put it right into the one defender, LA with a counter attack but the defense (barely) holds. RSL needs to put one of these away, even with Rimando in goal, it's not a positive to face the likes of Donovan and Beckham in PKs.
107th-Espi open in the box decides to pass not shoot. SHOOT THE DAMN BALL!
110th-RSL finally gets a call. Foul on Klein trying to win a header over Wingert in the RSL box.
120th-1 minute injury time...
120+1-Clint with a gorgeous ball to Andy wide open in front of goal, but his legs refuse to work and the chance goes begging. Andy collapses on the field in disgust, he's exhausted. And off to PKs we go!
End of play-RSL facing a backup keeper but LA has Donovan, Beckham, Klein, etc. Anyone's game, but you like our chances.
PKs-Beckham limping but totally sends Nick the wrong way. Goal.
Mathis nails it. 1-1.
Berhalter?! Inside side netting. Perfect shot. 2-1.
Findley up, big time pressure. Left upper 90. Gorgeous. 2-2.
Kirovski now. Rimando time? Yes, indeedy! 2-2.
Kyle right to Saunders. Craptastic. Still 2-2.
Landycakes, you know he'll score. OH MY GOD, LANDON OVER THE BAR! HOLY SHITBALLS! 2-2.
Grabbing-boys bottom corner. 3-2 RSL!
Magee HAS to score... And does... 3-3.
Andy Williams FTW. This will be super sweet if he wins it... Poor shot, weakly dribbled to Saunders. 3-3.
Klein scores. 4-3 LA.
Wingert our last chance... Passes into the back of the net. 4-4.
Edson Buddle, can Nick take him? Yes! 4-4.
Now Robbie Russell to win. Knock on wood! YES! RSL IS YOUR MLS CHAMPION!!!
9th minute-Defense looking a bit shaky. Donovan gets the ball in the box but is too slow with it. Play develops into a pretty clear header for Buddle, luckily put wide.
11th-Javi wastes a free kick straight on about 45 yds out, puts it directly over the end line.
12th-Beckham has the worst hairdo ever. Worse than a mullet. Gonna call it "the douchecut" as it is, indeed, quite douchy.
17th-Javi looks hurt after Beckham chops his legs out from under him. Announcer says "I didn't see a foul there." Makes me think that if you're going to commentate a game you should probably actually watch the game.
19th-Sounds like a knee injury for Javi, but he's going to come back on, at least for a while.
20th-Yura beats his man and then finds a new creative way to blow it by falling down. Javi about done, Cleetus going to come on for him.
22nd-Javi crying as he comes off, my wife feels really bad for him (understandably so). She thinks it sucks for him that he has to go out once he makes it all the way to the final.
25th-Findley wide open run, but called offside. Looked very borderline, looks like the AR are calling this (too) conservatively.
28th-Terrible corner call for LA. Looks like they're going to get all the calls, as, sadly, expected.
30th-Neither team showing much in the attack, basically back and forth in the midfield so far.
32nd-Andy with a long shot, misses quite wide, but at least he's going for goal.
34th-RSL losing basically every header, that could become an issue sooner rather than later.
36th-Terrible transition defense by RSL, Magee misses an open shot JUST wide.
37th-RSL has been trying to push forward but looks totally impotent in the final 3rd. Not even getting chances, too many turnovers.
41st-RSL's terrible defending finally kills them. Open Beckham to open Donovan to open Magee, goal.
42nd-RSL looks done. This looks like RSL defense circa 2005.
44th-Salt Lake obviously missing Javi, team looking lost in the final third.
45th +-Borchers gets a head to it but right to Ricketts.
45th +2-Yura forced to rush a shot in the box, puts it 40 feet high. Hate to say it, especially since he's scored some clutch goals in his day, but I will not miss him and his absolutely atrocious finishing.
Halftime-Defense, especially the outside backs, looks terrible. Midfield forcing too much and turning it over way too much. LA sitting back and waiting for the counter and RSL can't break it. Kreis being outcoached and the team sorely misses Javi. Both forwards look pretty useless, especially Yura, who has provided nothing positive. This is going to take an even better effort than we saw after going down 2-0 at Columbus. With Javi hurt and WillJ sick, I'm not sure RSL's got it in the tank...
46th-Will-J must be too sick to go on, Grabavoy on for him at half. 1 sub left-yikes!
47th-Findley breaks free, bad touch and unable to get onto it well. Robbie, Ricketts, and Omar Gonzalez collide. Robbie and Ricketts hurt.
52nd-Finally back to action, everyone still in.
54th-Getting chippy. Hope the Findley play wasn't the best look RSL is going to get.
58th-Free kick LA, just outside the box just off center. Douchecut Dave to take it. Hits the wall.
60th-Yura takes too long to shoot, possible PK, somehow a call on RSL. Ref's paycheck obviously written in LA.
62nd-RSL player literally thrown to the ground. No card from referee LA Joe. Apparently armed robbery is the only way the Gals will get a card.
64th-Scramble in the box, ball falls to Robbie Findley, goal RSL. Hell yes! Back in this!
66th-Ricketts' hurt hand comes back to get him, he's subbed out.
69th-Momentum with RSL right now. Need to capitalize while we can.
71st-Beckerman is a man among boys out there. Starts an RSL break, Ned with a beautiful ball to Yura who again blows it, this time with a shot about 20 feet high. Damn...
74th-Russell with a turnover reminiscent of the Columbus game. This time he recovers and shoves Landycakes off the ball.
75th-RSL takes Yura out for the last time, Espi in. I hate to see the last sub already, but Yura was worse than awful tonight.
80th-Former Red Chris Klein in for the Gals.
85th-RSL leaving Douchecut Dave wide open. LA pushing for the game winner.
87th-Game opening up, if there's as much injury time as there should be, we could have a game winner in regulation. Gonzalez hurt now...
90th-7 minutes of injury time. Espi playing terribly, puts a cross into the side netting.
90+7th-Andy Williams slips in the box and a golden chance goes unused.
End of Regulation-RSL a different team in the 2nd half. This one could go either way, but LA having a sub left works in their favor. Unfortunately, recent history suggests LA wins this, having put 2 on Houston in overtime in the Western Conference Final, while RSL could only go 0-0. PKs have to favor any team with Nick Rimando in net, so if we get there I like our chances.
98th-Findley a heartbreaker into the side netting.
101st-Mathis with a free kick just outside the box, again into the side netting. RSL having the better of it, but nothing to show for it. RSL wasting too many attacks with long shots.
Extra Time Halftime-RSL wasting too many chances. Mathis with a nice look a few seconds ago but put it right into the one defender, LA with a counter attack but the defense (barely) holds. RSL needs to put one of these away, even with Rimando in goal, it's not a positive to face the likes of Donovan and Beckham in PKs.
107th-Espi open in the box decides to pass not shoot. SHOOT THE DAMN BALL!
110th-RSL finally gets a call. Foul on Klein trying to win a header over Wingert in the RSL box.
120th-1 minute injury time...
120+1-Clint with a gorgeous ball to Andy wide open in front of goal, but his legs refuse to work and the chance goes begging. Andy collapses on the field in disgust, he's exhausted. And off to PKs we go!
End of play-RSL facing a backup keeper but LA has Donovan, Beckham, Klein, etc. Anyone's game, but you like our chances.
PKs-Beckham limping but totally sends Nick the wrong way. Goal.
Mathis nails it. 1-1.
Berhalter?! Inside side netting. Perfect shot. 2-1.
Findley up, big time pressure. Left upper 90. Gorgeous. 2-2.
Kirovski now. Rimando time? Yes, indeedy! 2-2.
Kyle right to Saunders. Craptastic. Still 2-2.
Landycakes, you know he'll score. OH MY GOD, LANDON OVER THE BAR! HOLY SHITBALLS! 2-2.
Grabbing-boys bottom corner. 3-2 RSL!
Magee HAS to score... And does... 3-3.
Andy Williams FTW. This will be super sweet if he wins it... Poor shot, weakly dribbled to Saunders. 3-3.
Klein scores. 4-3 LA.
Wingert our last chance... Passes into the back of the net. 4-4.
Edson Buddle, can Nick take him? Yes! 4-4.
Now Robbie Russell to win. Knock on wood! YES! RSL IS YOUR MLS CHAMPION!!!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Do You Believe In Miracles? YES! Pt. 2
OK, so maybe it's not a bunch of college kids defeating the Soviet wrecking crew in hockey, but it was still a HUGE win, especially for a team that has struggled so mightily on the road. I'm still giddy about the game so not much for commentary, but I do want to mention what a big difference it makes when the midfield shows up (compare this game to game 1 and you'll see what I mean). Anyway, on to the grades!
Player Grades:
Nick Rimando-7 Possibly could have had the 1st goal, although not totally his fault. Otherwise stellar.
Robbie Russell-3 Only real weak link on the night. Really bad, 2nd goal is on him.
Chris Wingert-6 OK game for Chris. Still not on 2008 season form, but not bad.
Nat Borchers-7 Steady game for Nat.
Jamison Olave-7 Was it a penalty or no? Wasn't given so he stays at 7.
Andy Williams-8 Was an absolute animal in the first half. Really nice to see Andy score to lock it up after the year he's had!
(Jean Alexandre 91+)- Not on the field long enough to get a rating
Kyle Beckerman-7 Solid most of the night and, most importantly, didn't get a 2nd yellow so he's available for the conf. final.
Javier Morales-8 Finally looked like '08 Javi.
(Clint Mathis 82)-6 Not much of a chance to do a lot as the Crew were in desperation mode when he came on.
Will Johnson-7 As always, extremely active.
Robbie Findley-7 Was a little worried the pressure would get to him on the PK but he calmly put it away.
Fabian Espindola-7 Earned the PK that put RSL on top for good.
(Yura Movsisyan 65)-6 Solid, but like Mathis, got caught up in the Crew's desperate attacks.
Coach grade (Kreis)-7 Not sure how much was him and how much was the team just doing it themselves, but the squad kept motivated after going down 2-0, which is a complete unknown for an RSL team on the road.
Ref grade (Toledo)-4 As usual, a terrible game for Toledo. Missed some big calls for the Crew and called way too many fouls on RSL that he didn't call the other way.
RSL Man of the Match-Andy Williams
What can I say? The guy looked like a world beater for much of this one. The goal was just icing on the cake.
Assclown of the Match-Frankie Hejduk
Normally I'm a Hejduk guy, but his incessant whining brings his AOTM, just beating out teammate Alejandro Moreno who put on the biggest show of flopping this side of Blanco.
Player Grades:
Nick Rimando-7 Possibly could have had the 1st goal, although not totally his fault. Otherwise stellar.
Robbie Russell-3 Only real weak link on the night. Really bad, 2nd goal is on him.
Chris Wingert-6 OK game for Chris. Still not on 2008 season form, but not bad.
Nat Borchers-7 Steady game for Nat.
Jamison Olave-7 Was it a penalty or no? Wasn't given so he stays at 7.
Andy Williams-8 Was an absolute animal in the first half. Really nice to see Andy score to lock it up after the year he's had!
(Jean Alexandre 91+)- Not on the field long enough to get a rating
Kyle Beckerman-7 Solid most of the night and, most importantly, didn't get a 2nd yellow so he's available for the conf. final.
Javier Morales-8 Finally looked like '08 Javi.
(Clint Mathis 82)-6 Not much of a chance to do a lot as the Crew were in desperation mode when he came on.
Will Johnson-7 As always, extremely active.
Robbie Findley-7 Was a little worried the pressure would get to him on the PK but he calmly put it away.
Fabian Espindola-7 Earned the PK that put RSL on top for good.
(Yura Movsisyan 65)-6 Solid, but like Mathis, got caught up in the Crew's desperate attacks.
Coach grade (Kreis)-7 Not sure how much was him and how much was the team just doing it themselves, but the squad kept motivated after going down 2-0, which is a complete unknown for an RSL team on the road.
Ref grade (Toledo)-4 As usual, a terrible game for Toledo. Missed some big calls for the Crew and called way too many fouls on RSL that he didn't call the other way.
RSL Man of the Match-Andy Williams
What can I say? The guy looked like a world beater for much of this one. The goal was just icing on the cake.
Assclown of the Match-Frankie Hejduk
Normally I'm a Hejduk guy, but his incessant whining brings his AOTM, just beating out teammate Alejandro Moreno who put on the biggest show of flopping this side of Blanco.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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