Colorado's Connor Casey beat out RSL's Robbie Findley for Player of the Week honors after both players managed a hat-trick during last weeks play. Casey's hat-trick came courtesy of the porous LA Galaxy defense and included a goal just 16 seconds into the match (surprisingly that's the second fastest goal in MLS history).
Findley's hat-trick came against a Crew defense missing one of their best defensive players (Hejduk) and included a gift courtesy of Crew keeper Will Hesmer. The unique thing about Findley's hat-trick was that it included a goal with each foot and a header. Unique, but not all that exciting.
So did Findley get snubbed? Maybe. To be honest, I think you could toss a coin. Both players were dangerous and had numerous chances in the match, but each had goals that were fairly soft. The one thing that may have given Casey the edge is that his match was much closer (3-2) and so there was a sense that his 3rd goal was more meaningful than Findley's, since RSL beat the Crew 4-1. I'm just glad that the honor didn't go to a Sounders player as I thought Keller's award last week was pretty weak.
What are your thoughts?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Casey beats out Findley for POTW
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
RSL Players in the Media
Check out Robbie Findley from the wonderful show 101soccer.com:
ROBBIE FINDLEY
Here you can find RSL's mystery man on Episode #2 of MLSnet's new video series:
ROOKIE LIFE
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Carolina Challenge Cup Championship Goes to Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake defeated Toronto FC 2-1 in tonight’s Carolina Challenge Cup final to take home the hardware. The team scored twice early off of goals by Yura Movsisyan and Clint Mathis while creating numerous opportunities during the first 20 minutes. Movsisyan and Findley seemed to combine particularly well during that stretch.
A few minutes after the 2nd goal was scored, TFC defender Kevin Harmse was sent off with his second yellow card. However, the Reds seemed to play better after his departure as they stifled RSL’s chances and created some of their own. Coach Kreis commented that he felt that RSL was too confident after the send-off. Regardless, TFC managed a goal of their own off with a DeRosario re-direct off of a free kick, and appeared to have equalized off of another late in the match but it was waived off for offside.
Here are some pictures of the match:
Friday, January 30, 2009
BREAKING NEWS
This news coming from media day today:
Escalada
I was able to confirm that Real Salt Lake has filed a discovery on this player, and will own his rights if he comes to MLS. According to Garth Lagerway, the team likes this player, but he cautioned that until a deal is signed anything can happen when dealing in South America. If reports out of Ecuador are to be believed this deal is imminent and Escalada may soon join RSL. We'll keep you updated as this develops.
Espindola
Apparantly RSL still likes Fabian and wanted him back this season. They simply were outbid for his services by the Venezualan side that he is currently playing for. According to Lagerway, he is getting around double what he made last season, so "we weren't even close". However, his contract in Venezuela is only through June, and Lagerway hinted that "we'll keep tabs on him". RSL would retain his MLS rights if he returned to the league.
El Khalifi
This isn't a done deal (his trial) but Garth seemed to think this would happen. It's been reported that he will join the team in California. This is believed to be one of "a dozen or so players" that RSL is targeting. According to Lagerway, the team is trying now to see them all play in person, either with us or on their current teams. The team will then narrow them down and fill "one or more roster spots".
Findley
I started by asking him about his Brondby trial. Without being prompted, he clarified that it wasn't a trial, and that he was there just to train and see what it's like as he feels like in the future he'd like to give Europe a shot. He also wanted to get a jumpstart on the preseason as he wants to earn a starting spot for RSL. He acted perturbed about people calling it a trial. I heard him make the same comments to other reporters. Has he been reading Big Soccer? He also indicated that he received positive feedback from the side from Denmark.
Joy
Ian is back, for now. He indicated that he was looking for the right offer in Europe with the right club but didn't find it. I asked if that was still a possibility, and he said "anything is possible", and that's largely "in Garth and Jason's hands". Is this dependant on him maintaining a starting role? Ian messing with us? Just a generic, harmless statement? Who knows.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Interview with Robbie Findley
Again, courtesy of 90minutter.dk below is an interview with Robbie Findley translated via Google's automated translator. In addition, I received word from 90minutter contributor, Bruun, that "I don't think Brøndby will sign Findley. He is 1,75 and we need a big targetman. We already have three small and fast strikers." I guess we'll all have to wait and see if anything develops.
Here is the interview:
The last few days there have been visits to the U.S. Vestegnen and although
it is not Barack Obama can also make it smaller. Robert Findley earn his daily
wages in Real Salt Lake, but has trained with Manchester in the past week.
Since 90minutter.dk met the målfarlige attack, he had just scored two goals
in training fight against Rather. The two beautiful boxes were not enough to
heat American who froze in the cold English winter.
- It's cold, ha ha! I've played four years in college in Oregon, so I
am however used to it. It rained the whole time and it was as cold as
here.
How does the English style of play you? - Where I come from, we
usually play with long balls toward the attackers. I can see that they like to
play the ball a lot more along the ground. The technical aspect is clearly
something I need to improve if I have to do me in Europe.
- I can feel that there is a more technical game than in the U.S.,
and they also have a lot more physics.
What do you expect to stay in Manchester? - Actually not so much, but it
has been a good experience. I came here to get some training in the winter break
and a little sniff of European football. Now I come nose home to Real Salt Lake,
where we next week starts season start.
The target is Europe
Would you consider signing of any contract? - I can probably not answer
right now. Perhaps in the future. Right now I am under contract in the U.S., and
it takes me to. But I have certainly enjoyed my stay here.
What are your ambitions for the future? - At one point I would like to take
hold in Europe. Right now I am thinking only to get back to gutterne in the
U.S., and do it well there.
You are so far mostly been used as a wildcard in Salt Lake City. Are you
satisfied with the role? - Tjaa, let us now see what happens. We have divided us
for a few attackers, so the situation looks a little different now. I will
certainly fight the best I've learned and I hope in a stock room.
You have two cousins who play in the NBA (Mike Bibby, Atlanta Hawks) and
NFL (Shaun McDonald, Detroit Lions). Would not it be nice to be the first who
passed in a proper sport? - Ha ha! I think now that MLS (U.S. fodboldliga, Ed.)
Is a good league, but it is clear that a breakthrough in Europe would be fat,
ending forwarden of.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Robbie Findley Making a Case for Brondby
FINDLEY SCORES 2, ASSISTS ON A 3RD.
Meanwhile Findley, 23, is currently on trial at Brondby in Denmark and made a strong case in today's scrimmage against Frem. He scored a brace and assisted on a 3rd goal. He was expected to come back to Utah after this match. Will Brondby ask him to say? I expect we'll find out within the next couple of days.
Below is a google translation of a match report courtesy of 90minute.dk.
Around 300 spectators were now witnessing Brøndbys 4 to 0 victory over Forward. American Findley scored two goals and delivered a good effort.
Some chose to spend Sunday morning on runway 26 at Manchester, where the cold and clear air made many skuttede themselves. Among the spectators was found among other former Brøndby-coaches Tom Køhlert and Henrik Jensen, but Morten "molle" Rasmussen had taken a trip to the lanes, where he has throughout the course and trained.
Thomas Rasmussen, Michael Krohn-Delhi, Mikkel Bischoff and Morten 'Duncan' Rasmussen was also present as spectators and they could see the following 11 players to start inside:
Michael Tørnes
Daniel Was - Pierre Kanstrup - Jacob Berthelsen - Joseph Elanga
Stefan Gislason
Mike Jensen - Jan Kristiansen
Kasper Lorentzen
Robbie Findley - David Wiliam
Forward coach currently kunststofbaner and træningskamp was the first match on grass for the visitors from Valby. This appeared clearly in the beginning of the battle where Brøndby came to light several chances.
After five minutes of play was David Williams so only through and he put the ball safely back into the chance resolve Forward-keeper for 1-0.
Generally creamy played very well and it was also to many beautiful combinations, one of them resulted in the Williams a few minutes after his føringsmål had the opportunity to double his score, but his attempt past the smoke near post.
Fine performances of Kanstrup and Elanga
Above were only a few times on visits to Broendby defense and it was never the big chances. In defense Elanga delivered an excellent performance on the left Backen, where he was well into the building game. Young Pierre Kanstrup was also excellent and showed fine understanding games while he seemed more calm with the ball than previously seen.
Was Daniel got his breakthrough in 2008 and the attack eager back will certainly exploit Randrups absence to secure a permanent job as højreback. Towards Forward he went well until he was the man behind Robbie Findleys goal after 20 minutes. Beautiful opspil and secure clearance from 175 centimeters high American.
Findley was not done to show up and just four minutes after he sent the ball back in the box. This time was a post from the edge beautifully cut in goal.
Dampen smoke of boilers
The second half was not nearly as Target and pace smoke out of the fight because of the many changes involved in these træningskampe.
That meant the dual goal Findley was allowed to go into recess for Mustafa Hassan. Stephan Andersen replaced Michael Tørnes in the cage from the second half started. Besides it was an energetic Jan Kristiansen replaced by Tobias Mikkelsen.
Tobias Mikkelsen who delivered a fine performance and seemed sharp in his driblinger and delivery.
Brøndby came not as many chances as was the case in the battle starts. But there was more good shot attempts and Mustafa Hassan was among the second close to goal but saw his attempt smoking close by post.
Agger on the board
Daniel Was had slipped on the attack and had a nice breakthrough at the edge awarded a penalty when the promotion defense had to resort to illegal methods to stop Brøndbys young højreback.
Indskiftede Nicolaj Agger was allowed to execute and he lived up to the trust by putting it safely into the right of the goalkeeper.
A steady performance by Brøndby in a match which was actually settled in the first half hour. The next task for Brøndby is a trip across the Sound of Helsingborg accepting the fight on Saturday.
Support 90min.dk
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Offseason News & Notes
Here are some things I was able to find out related to the draft and offseason in general:
- Robbie Findley reportedly NOT on trial, but simply training with Brøndby in Denmark. Of course, a big word of caution here as Clint Mathis was reportedly only training with RSL last season before joining the club. Findley is training with the clun with RSL's full blessing.
- RSL still looking for attacking players: striker and left-sided midfielder.
- "6 or 7 players" that Real has serious interest in. We are quite far along with this players: determining their interest, scouting, understanding their market value, etc. Now trying to determine best fit and negotiate.
- Looking primarily in S. America and Europe.
- Signings could come between now and the end of the month, but also AFTER transfer window closes, as there may be a drop in market value in certain cases.
- Team would like to avoid having a player come in just before the season "ala Kenny Deuchar" from last season.
- Beckerman likely RSL's starting holding midfielder for 2009.
- Robbie Russell will be out "through March" after having rotator cuff surgery in the offseason.
- The Dema deal had been in the works for a couple of months, but the draft put some pressure on this. Lagerway was afraid that Chivas and LA were going to take Lahoud and Alexandre ahead of RSL. Trading Dema to LA lessened the pressure for LA to take a holding midfielder and allowed Alexandre to fall to #12. It worked!
Robbie Findley on Trial in Denmark
Another striker headed out? Reports from Denmark indicate that Robbie Findley is on trial with the club Brøndby. This could be devastating to a quickly thinning forward roster. Hopefully we don't start the season with a forward crop reminiscent of Houston's at the start of last season.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Today's Updates: Thursday Jul 31, 2008
Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando was voted MLS Player of the Month for July after posting three shutouts in four matches as RSL went undefeated in July.
MLS: Rocky road ahead for RSL -> The Salt Lake Tribune/ Michael C. Lewis
Although RSL still doesn't play for another two weeks, it knows that once it returns to the field, it will have a challenging path to the first playoff appearance in franchise history - no matter where it's sitting in the standings. Six of its next eight games are on the road, meaning that the team probably is going to have to shed its historical reputation as an awful road team to avoid being overtaken during the stretch run.
Weekly Update: First-place RSL get break -> Real Salt Lake Media Relations
Findley provided the dramatic finish for Real Salt Lake three minutes later, as his sliding finish from 14 yards out allowed RSL to climb above .500 for the first time in club history and head into an 18-day break with a four-point lead in the Western Conference standings over second-place sharers Houston and Los Angeles.
Is Real Salt Lake’s Game for Real? -> bleacher report/David Wilson
Toronto FC watched an opportunity for a precious away point dissolve with Robbie Findley’s late strike during Major League Soccer’s recent edition of Monday Night Football.
The 'Duke of Soccer' makes appearance in North Augusta -> aikenstandard/Mac
Banks
Hashimoto is currently rehabbing a left knee injury and is training in hopes to get back to the professional level. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee in June 2007 and reinjured it in September of that same year.
Russell sees perfect fit in U.S. return -> MLSnet/John Coon
"I really feel like this is a place where the management and coaches have a specific goal in mind," Russell said. "In my experience with clubs in Europe, that's usually the teams that do the best -- teams that have plans."
