preview of RSL at Dallas
This entry was posted on 5/18/2007 8:18 PM and is filed under pregame.
Dallas is beatable. RSL should have won in the first game of the season, hopefully we don't have yet another last minute let-down and either lose or get a draw. Dallas' midfield seems to be playing better, but still rely too much on The Fish (Ruiz) and Lurch (Cooper). Lurch is having a great year, but I think Pope or Torres can contain him and have showed that already this year. I am interested in seeing what is done on the right side. Much as I like Stewart and his brother, the right back position is not where Stewart should play and it has been killing us all year. I am interested in seeing where Kipre will play and how he works out. I know he's fast, which is good, but not terribly large. I don't think that's such an issue on the outside but worth mentioning.
I would really like to see more emphasis on tactics and RSL to get away from the long ball that they have been trying to play up to Cunningham. That's great every once in a while, it works, but not every time down the field. I really hope to see people making runs into the box. I also hope to see Kreis do what he did with Colorado and put Adu in a position to be effective. He's great at dribbling and sending in a cross. The rest of the team has not been good at getting on the end of those crosses. I can't remember how many sitters he put through the box because nobody was there when they should have been. Think hockey, crash the boards get a rebound, screen the keeper, cause havoc in front of the goal. That has not been happening. Even an 8-year-old AYSO team understands that you put a person on each post on the 6 and someone at the penalty spot. It's not that complicated but good things happen when people are in the box.
I really think RSL needs the win to stay in the race. While after 6 matches this year we have 4 points instead of 1 like last year, we're still way behind and the only team in the league without a win. Even Toronto has won, twice. I think we need to win this and also Wednesday against the cRapids in the LHUSOC. I really want to see RSL take the Open Cup seriously. Either way, this is the time for a win. Kreis has had 10 days to get everyone on the same page, so if they aren't on the same page, then we are right back to the Ellinger problems.
