The Official Major League Soccer Thread

nghedman · Post #681 » by **nghedman** » Thu Apr 5, 2012 3:04 pm

Good win for RSL.

I just don't get it sometimes, I guess it's just me but that referee seemed horrible. It was like RSL was playing an away game. And it has been like that the last few games at the RIOT.

That said beside the ref almost taking it from RSL Espindola had some very bad moments too, and Beltran has some horrendous crosses in the defensive backfield. And there were a lot of traps that should have just been one-touches.

Good PK shot, nicely spreading the field and Montreals defense, some good patience by Beckerman, and I don't think Olave let one cross go into the box, that guy knows how to stop the other teams offense like no other. If Beckerman and Olave weren't on the field last night RSL would have lost, those guys carried this team last night.

edfmx86 · Post #682 » by **edfmx86** » Sun Apr 8, 2012 2:59 am

RSL up 2-0 in the Rocky Mountain cup! Good win, dominant. Just bummed that Espindola's handball goal wasnt called, but Rapids played it terribly. This ref was bad

Next weeks RSL @ SKC is going to be a great match, both teams are on fire.

Foye · Post #683 » by **Foye** » Sun Apr 8, 2012 12:01 pm

Henry looked sad when he scored those goals vs. Columbus. No celebration whatever.

Sandlot · Post #684 » by **Sandlot** » Mon Apr 9, 2012 11:51 pm

Good time to be an Earthquakes fan. Wondo is playing great. I'm looking forward to the NY clash this weekend.

jerrod · Post #685 » by **jerrod** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:41 pm

i love that kc is good. just seems right for some reason

nghedman · Post #686 » by **nghedman** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:48 pm

I'm looking forward to the RSL - KC match

Any KC fans out there? So who are their strength/star players, what type of offense do they run, - Do they kick long balls to forwards or move up the field by working it with the midfielders? Do they use possession or speed as first priority? Formation? Much speed on KC?

Just wondering, it gets me more going and excited for the game to come. Would love to get a fans perspective of what to look for.

Post #687 » by **LittleOzzy** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:39 pm

Soccer has really depressed me this season...

nghedman · Post #688 » by **nghedman** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:49 pm

Well, just to post for you other fans that may want to watch the RSL / KC game this week. Here's my preview and assesment of the pregame notes on RSL (don't share with KC

)

RSl, if you haven't figured me out yet, I think has a good holding midfielder in Beckerman. He is very good at helping the offense keep the ball and move it around the field and then supporting the forward team when they get to around the 18.

Defensively, I also think Olave is very fast and thus stops many crosses from the corners that would otherwise get to the box had Olave not been there. Very good defender, very strong and knows how to use his shoulder. (his weakness is his ball handling but never really needs to dribble in a crowd)

RSL from what I've seen likes to push forward and play the "extra guy" on top of the ball when they can, and that is when they seem to play well and get points on the board, but their strength is the possession and playing behind the ball (Watch Beckerman's passes to know what approach they are taking). They do well in pulling defenses and then finding holes to go through and move up the field as a team and only on occasion do they send the long ball to the forward for a run. Will send the forward only to keep the defensive backfield honest with the space in the midfield.

They basically play a 4-4-2 with a diamond middle, sometimes roll it into a 4-3-3

RSL has speed up front with both Espindola and Saborio and at the defensive middle, in Olave and somewhat with the other guy, Borchards or Shuler.

So that is what I would watch for and see how RSL handles the defense thrown at them. Will they push forward and do the occasion long ball or play possession and move up the field more as a team.

Go RSL!

PANDEMONEUM · Post #689 » by **PANDEMONEUM** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:27 pm

ive watched some KC games
the player that i see with the most impact is
F Kei Kamara 27 6' 3" 186 Sierra Leone
hes big and strong, and has nice touch
1st in shots with 30, 1st in shots on goal with 14, 5th in goals scored with 3
u will see him with the ball, alot
i feel that when ive watched he was more of an outside Mid

other players of note Graham Zusi, CJ Sapong
Zusi 1st in assists with 5

also saw this note
Sporting's solid defense makes life easy for Nielsen
Sporting's goalkeeper hasn't faced a shot on goal in MLS-record 245 consecutive minutes

jerrod · Post #690 » by **jerrod** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:55 pm

the kamara/sapong tandem is nice

nghedman · Post #691 » by **nghedman** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:01 pm

Interesting.

RSL is going to end Sportings 245 consecutive minutes.

Wow, that is a very impressive stat for their defense!

Looks like it's going to be fun to watch Olave' vs Kamara. (If Kamara shoots up the field often)

Post #692 » by **LittleOzzy** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:39 pm

I hate MLS soccer right now.

TFC is cursed...

nghedman · Post #693 » by **nghedman** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:18 pm

Very good game to watch. RSL v SKC. Very suppenseful and exciting the whole game in my opinion.

KC won 1 -0 , probably should have been 2-0. But both goals where on corners and is just one of those things that the not better team can convert and win the game with. KC deserved their goal though, they played very well.

Sporting almost kept their consecutive minutes without a shot on goal in place. Until Real finally got one between the frames toward the end of the game.(another cross with a header like SKC) Real had their fair share of shots and got the ball up towards the box. I have to hand it to KC they have a good, tough defense that knows when to put pressure on the ball. Espindola (for RSL) had plenty of opportunities but couldn't get the pass or shot off very well.

KC is a physical team, they make it tough for the ref and this game could have been a lot different with a not-so-good ref.

RSL sent the ball up to the forwards quit a bit. KC was able to apply some good pressure and Real did well with the possession and moving KC back on their heels. But KC adapted quickly to the long(er) balls and stopped RSL attacks.

If KC didn't apply pressure so well and get the ball back, the possession stat would have been more towards Real's favor. I wish we played again, I might just get that wish in the final game of the season.

Post #694 » by **LittleOzzy** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:19 pm

Sporting KC is unstoppable at this point.

Post #695 » by **kdawg32086** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:30 am

AND THE TIMBERS HAVE DONE THE IMPOSSIBLE! THE UNSTOPPABLE HAS BEEN BEATEN.

Timbers Army!

Post #696 » by **LittleOzzy** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:25 pm

Worst start in league history...

If TFC doesn't beat Montreal this week in the Canadian Championship I'll be pretty much done with the team this season.

Relentless88 · Post #697 » by **Relentless88** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:32 pm

What an embarrassing start. 0-7, really?? :nonono:

edfmx86 · Post #698 » by **edfmx86** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:43 pm

Thats probably a tough one to swallow.

For RSL, we got bailed out again by this dude Jonny Steele! Hes looking like another diamond in the rough...two game winners this season already.

Post #699 » by **kdawg32086** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 5:47 pm

Montreal might be the dirtiest team in MLS history. I mean it's one thing if they're not very good but is it really necessary to foul the opposing team every single time they're mounting an attack? I swear every time a Timbers player had the ball in the Montreal half, they got drilled with a horribly mis-timed slide tackle from an Impact player.

Post #700 » by **magik9113** » Wed May 2, 2012 4:48 pm

Marco Di Viao is rumored to be on his way to Montreal...He would be a star there, as he's still shining in the Serie A...unlike the other 3 italian league rejects they collected