While plenty of MLS fans have already started the count for the Real Salt Lake season (they’re at about two now, I think), and while RSL fans (myself included, mind) are ready for our winning streak that will see us overtake the Galaxy in the standings, it is perhaps the case that expectations should be tempered ahead of the run-in.
Given the plethora of matches we’ll have to play away from the Rio Tinto, where we’ve only played as many games as we’ve won at home. Though our road performances have sometimes left much to be desired, a 2-3-3 record isn’t the end of it all, nor is it properly a prediction of what is to come.
Interestingly, of the games we will play on the road — nine in total — three of those teams are at current ahead of us in points total: Los Angeles, Seattle and Colorado. Three teams we’ll need to pass up for the Supporters’ Shield, if we’re able. I, for one, hope we are.
Other Notes
- Freddy Adu is making a move from Benfica to Philadelphia Union. Benfica’s a fine club, but Adu couldn’t much get a look in, and he spent most of his time on loan to other European clubs. He’s only 22, and he still has his future ahead of him, but he’s the victim of the overhyping of youth players. The MLS, to my mind, acted incredibly irresponsibly by giving him a professional contract at 14 — as good as he may have been at the time, he was not ready to be a professional. And his move to Europe did him no favors — he was nowhere as good as he needed to be to make an impact. Mistakes were made all around, but again, he’s only 22, and there’s still a very good chance he could make a lasting mark in the MLS and for the national team.
- We play Toronto FC tomorrow, a club who’s spent the transfer window snapping up players (much like other clubs, of course.) We’ll be facing a side with renewed confidence, but proper attention should see us through. You know, the proper attention that should be present in every match we play.
- If everything goes according to plan, we could be playing the last one or two games with Javier Morales on the pitch. Supposing other injuries clear up, we could be playing with a true first-choice XI for the first time since May. And then those playoffs would come into play, and that renewed confidence would help our chances. I hope. Oh, the prospect is exciting, isn’t it?
A match preview tomorrow and a match report the day after, and soon I should be debuting the first in a series on youth football and the academy system. Also, I changed the banner up top. Tinker, much?
Up the RSL!
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