RSL always seems to have a deer in the headlights look about them on the road.  I don't know why this is and have suspicions that its because they are content to play for the draw.  Really both teams didn't play that well.  As some have described the nasty rivalry that is the Rocky Mountain Cup, it was a cripple fight to make South Park proud.

I don't understand why Culter is taking so much blame, he played well, especially since Christian Gomez, one of the three best attacking midfielders in the league, really didn't do much to distinguish himself.  On the other hand Beltran had a howler.  Colin Clark exposed him and made him look absolutely like a rookie who din't understand positioning oand didn't have enough speed to compensate.  It was a good thing Colorado played so poorly and were not making runs for most of the match, because Clark sent in about 4 crosses right on the 6 yard box that went untouched by anyone.  Finally, they did make the run to it and scored, it was just inevitable that it would finally happen.   The worst part was,  at about minute 60, I was screaming at my TV for Kreis to sub him, yet who comes in, Findley for Culter of all people.  That was an almost Ellingeresque substitution.  While Cutler was in, Gomez had no clear looks at goal.  For a defensive midfielder, that means he's doing his job. 

Morales was missed, without him, we cannot seem to maintain possession in the attacking third.  RSL would have a great buildup to the attacking third and then just waste it by turning the ball over.  This was done by about everyone too, not just a single player repeatedly.  Also, while it's great to get the wing backs into the attack, if they are going to do so, they need to send it quality service to Deuchar.  What good does it have to have a target forward if nobody ever crosses the ball to him?  He can play in the air, I've seen him do it at Gretna, but he needs that service into the box.  Also, a huge weakness that gets exposed when the wing backs get into the offense like that is a vulnerability to quick counter-attacks.  RSL has been killed this year on taht because the wingers get caught too far forward and that opens a clear lane down the sideline.  Again, Beltran was exposed this way.  He could not get back fast enough to deal with Clark and when he did, he was so far out of position, it didn't matter that he caught up with him.  The good news is, he's a rookie and has time to develop.  The bad news is, if we are that thin on the wings, we have a serious depth issue at that position.  So far the only one to distinguish themselves at that position is Wingert, who I think thus far has been one of our best players.  Central defense was pretty solid, other than the handball for a PK by Mantilla.  It was obvious that he didn't really mean to handle the ball, but at the same time, it was unmistakable that it happened and it was in the box.  While he may not have really meant to handle the all, he certainly did gain an advantage from it, and from there the call was an easy one to make.  I was just scared Abbey would do something like book him for it.  You never know with Abbey in the center.  Borchers is  nicely filling the void left when Pope retired which are some pretty big shoes to fill. 

The midfield looked at times good, at times suspect.  I still would really like to see Dema at d-mid.  I think that's more of his natural position.  I would also like to see a possible 4-5-1 formation, I think Deuchar can play the lone forward, Beckerman, Morales and Williams in midfield, with Cutler and Dema at d-mid and Joy (for lack of a better person), Olave, Borchers and Wingert in the back.  I also like a 4-4-2 with Espindola and Duechar up front, and Beckerman, Kovalenko, Morales, and Williams in the midfield. 

More than anything, I want to see RSL come out with the same intensity they have at home when they get on the road.  Don't keep playing for a draw, play for a win.

        

 

What did you think of this article?

Liked
Disliked
No Opinion