A Real World Review
By Randall Howes (DadOf6 on Big Soccer)
By Randall Howes (DadOf6 on Big Soccer)
It was the worst of teams; it was the best of teams. Hey! That sounds like a good start for a blockbuster novel. Maybe even a classic.
On Wednesday we can't score against the team occupying the cellar of the MLS table and then on Saturday we pick up three points against the residents of the penthouse suite. What's with that? But the worst wasn't as bad as it could have been; our stingy defense kept the 'Quakes out of the net. Conversely, the best wasn't as good as it could have been; that same stingy defense allowed this pathological THING into the net. The stadium went silent—that isn't supposed to happen.
We played three games in eight days and pocketed 7 points. That's not a shabby performance at any level of competition. It's enough to move us into second place in the West. I can't be too upset that the game we absolutely should have won was a draw and the game we probably should have lost was a win, but let's be honest, now and again, every team can be a giant-killer. San Jose has chalked up a few shockers this season. And what was going on in Houston? It took them nine (9!) games to get their first win. But it looks like they are playoff bound.
Speaking of the playoffs-the teams that make it to the playoffs have figured out how to beat the teams on the bottom of the table, beat the mid-table teams at home and tie them on the road. Add to that draws against the top teams at home and a playoff spot is in the future. It won't be a top seed but I'll take it.
So what's my point? We can't be happy with a draw against a last place team. Let's not forget that or it will happen again. I would have been more comfortable with a win against San Jose and a draw against NE. I wouldn't have been as giddy after last night's game but getting the expected results wouldn't have me wondering what will happen in Kansas City on the 28th. Part of me is dreading another draw. And on July 3rd? Can we count on a win at home? We actually have more points than Houston but let's not forget their horrible start. There is a statistical term called "regressing to the mean." Applied to soccer it means that over time things tend to average out. Well Houston is "regressing back" to their usual good form. I can accept a draw (or even a loss, heaven forbid) if we can beat Kansas City. If we keep on beating the best teams and not beating the bottom dwellers I will have to start packing TUMS in my game-day duffle.
Now there's an idea! RSL-branded antacid tablets. The TUMS berry-flavored assortment has red and blue and I'm pretty sure that another assortment has yellow. Make a deal and package them in an RSL container. They can go next to the lip balm, sunscreen and fry sauce. If it takes off I won't ask for a commission in cold, hard cash. A discount on my seats will do just fine, thank you very much.
*****
Now to the nuts and bolts:
I don't pray anymore when the ball is coming at our defense. "Please don't let **** fall done. Please don't let **** foul in the box. Please don't let **** go one-on-one." You know the prayers. More than once this week I saw loose forwards going to goal and I KNEW that Olave would get there. I saw dangerous services into the area and I knew that Borchers or Olave would win the header. Pope is still our best all-time defender but Olave-Borchers is by far the best central defender tandem in RSL history. Despite that thing Borchers and Rimando permitted, I have faith in the back four.
The confidence they have earned is what allows Wingert and Beltran to press up on the attack and serve the ball up. Wingert is solid. Beltran makes rookie mistakes (like getting turned so he ends up marking his man on the wrong side) now and again but with Olave-Borchers at his back they haven't been burning us like they would have in other years.
*****
One of the promising things I noticed this week in our midfield is Kenny Deuchar??? That's right, Kenny Deuchar. Did anyone else notice that we were serving up the ball to him when he was 40 yards from goal? I love it. He has his back to the goal and when the service comes he would use his head or chest to pass to a streaking player on the wing. I am looking forward to seeing more of that. "Looking forward to," is too weak; I'm excited, stoked, pumped, etc.
*****
Our forwards are pretty dinged up but they have plenty of fight. I'm still looking forward to Fabi getting back on the pitch.
*****
Hey, we learned how to protect a win! I hope the lesson stays learned. It looks like the playbook from Saturday was missing the "bunker ball" pages. If coach Kreis finds them I will be happy to run down to the stadium with some lighter fluid and a box of matches.
How frustrating is it to see the team clear the ball to the other team and then sit back to absorb another organized attack? Clear the ball, repeat. Give up the lead. Disappoint the fans.
I loved it when NE put the ball over the top and Rimando chested it to the ground and dribbled around the area until a Rev figured out what was happening and moved to challenge. At the last moment the man in green (RSL version, the NE green was hideously ugly. Not the color so much as the logo) picked up the ball and the Revs ran downfield to the landing zone. Nicky put the ball down and dribbled around for a while until a Rev had to run back to Rimando, knowing full well that the ball would be cleared out before he would have a chance to make any sort of challenge.
Repeat as needed.
We had a lead and we were calm. No panic. Maybe the soccer gods are smiling upon us.
*****
We've never been here before so I can't say we are on the rebound or that we are rebuilding.
Building and bounding sounds good to me.
DadOf6
