RSL @ Red Cows

[montgjules]

The playoffs are pretty meaningful to those teams who don't make them... <ahem>

[Loyal1]

Originally Posted by Donk

If you can make the playoffs without even having a winning record, something is wrong.

MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL... you have just been put in your place.

[Donk]

Originally Posted by Loyal1

MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL... you have just been put in your place.

Playoffs in baseball and football are great because truly the best teams make it. I couldn't tell you the last time I remember a team with a losing record actually making it into the playoffs in those sports. The NBA and NHL on the otherhand, the playoffs drag on forever and all but the really worst teams make it. If you are going to have playoffs in MLS, the top 4 teams (no divisions, those are just stupid) should go. A single table, maybe even incorporating something like the SPL with a midseason split between the top and bottom six would be a great system. Honestly, I would love to see MLS abandon all the different bows to American sports ure they have made. Go single table, winner take all.

One more gripe from listening to people complain about suburban stadiums on Big Soccer, let's face it, where is soccer played in the United States? Soccer is a suburban sport, we're the exception to what the rest of the world does. Soccer here is not a sport that the poor play with rag balls in the streets, it's played by suburban kids on nice fields with good equipement. The reeality is, suburban stadiums make sense for MLS for now not just because the land is cheaper, but also because that's where the biggest potential fan base is.

[prk166]

Originally Posted by knowwonnose

First, don't get me wrong. I think the world of Mehdi, but you guys are acting like Ellinger pulled Roldaninho out.

2006 Stats:
Ballouchy 1 G, 1 A
Kreis 6 G, 5 A
Talley 2 G, 7 A
Williams 1 G, 5 A
Klein 5 G, 4 A
Cunningham 14G, 9 A
http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/MLS/rsl/stats/index.jsp?club=rsl

As you can plainly see, ever other non-defender on the field has statistically produced more goals. While Mehdi has done a good job controlling the ball in midfield he's had a hard time figuring out how to turn that into goals. He's young, he'll get it soon. But Ellinger make the best possible decision last night. Give him a break on that at least. Last night's loss was a team loss, from Ellinger to Stewart to the 10 guys that stood around and gave up.

What are you talkign about? Are you one of these people who play FIFA on the PS2 and stick 5 forwards up top thinking that's how you score goals? If no one can hold on to the ball and pass it, the game was lost. And tell me after Medhi who was holding onto the ball? Who was calm and composed? Did you notice that only once inbetween the 1st and 2nd goals did RSL get more than 1 pass in a row? Who the heck cares if Medhi can are can't score goals and assists. The team had others on the pitch who could've taken care of that. That's why I'm saying Ellinger should've taken off Williams or Klein or Kreis and he still would've got guys who are scoring goals. The problem is the team had no one capable of getting the ball up the pitch into a place it mattered. And if the loss was a team loss from players standing around, what does that say about Ellinger? How many times have we seen that before where players just aren't making the runs that need to be made? They're just not in the places they need to be to support the guy with the ball or making a diagnol run. The majority of the players on the pitch were long time vets. Klein, Kreis, Cunningham, Talley, Pope and Williams have been in this league for years. In terms of years in the MLS, it's likely one of the most experienced if not the most expereinced starting line ups in the league. And yet it not only loose when going a guy down - something they've all surely dealt with before - but they get creamed.

And don't worry, I love Ellinger. Then again, I live in Colorado now. 😉

[DadOf6]

Originally Posted by Donk

If you are going to have playoffs in MLS, the top 4 teams (no divisions, those are just stupid) should go. A single table, maybe even incorporating something like the SPL with a midseason split between the top and bottom six would be a great system. Honestly, I would love to see MLS abandon all the different bows to American sports ure they have made. Go single table, winner take all.

I'm not sure I would like a 44-game regular season.

[knowwonnose]

Originally Posted by prk166

What are you talkign about? Are you one of these people who play FIFA on the PS2 and stick 5 forwards up top thinking that's how you score goals?

And don't worry, I love Ellinger. Then again, I live in Colorado now. 😉

PRK I thought you were above personal insults. When I talk about Jr. reaction I thought soccerboy would come back with something from his art class. I didn't think you'd go off on the FIFA crap. When did you become so lame brained. Go back to Colorado. Isn't this the definision of trolling?

[SpiffCoug]

Could someone please confirm for me that Jason Kries is indeed still on the Real Salt Lake squad?

Yeah, I know he supposedly brings leadership and all that good stuff and he plays hard (at least I hear he does). It just seems that he has been completely invisible the last month or so.

And is it just me or has his first touch completely left him?

[Donk]

Originally Posted by DadOf6

I'm not sure I would like a 44-game regular season.

That can be adjusted. We don't have to take the whole example, just the bits and pieces that are good.

[xlyte]

moving the topic of discussion on... i have a question for those of you that watch more than just the RSL games.

After each goal was scored for NY they'd cut to the crowd, of what looked like 1-2k and they'd always be sitting down. Is it always like that at Giants stadium? It's one thing i like about RES, even our games with lower attendance, we don't look half as empty as Giants stadium did on saturday, and atleast when we score pretty much everyone in the stadium jumps up cheering.

[soccerman]

Originally Posted by knowwonnose

When I talk about Jr. reaction I thought soccerboy would come back with something from his art class.

WHOOOAAAAA BABY!!!
You got all your guns a blazin this time.
Now wipe the drool off your chin and head to the rec room because it's 10 minutes till Wapner.