LA vs. RSL [R] May 14th

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by Deuce

Thanks...
that is doubtful but one can always hope! 🙂

That one of Donovan on his knees on the turf, I thought, was a great pic to describe the game.

[bordelais7]

Great energetic game. Loyalists sounded good.

- I thought there was supposed to be grass on the field one month before the June 4th game. Whatever happened to that?

- Nolly standing in the team line before the game started made the rest of the team look like 4th graders. He's pretty big. He plays a much different style than DJ...not quite as quick, and not quite as good with his hands (although I'm sure he had a few jitters), but he closed out Donovan's angle on the goal nicely on those one-on-ones, and had pretty good positioning all night long.

- Pierce and Akwari both made some pretty scary mistakes, giving the ball away, and were beaten by LA's speed a few times, but they stepped up on the ball very well. In fact, the entire team did. It was like watching a whole new team strategy. Instead of sitting back and waiting for the opponent to run into them, they would make step-up interceptions at crucial moments. Andy Williams did this several times, and of course Clint as well. Good, solid D in the box, for the most part. Pope is so good on defense. He should play for the national team sometime. 😉 I love how he shows almost no emotion, even after he completely burns someone. Metro fans criticized him for this apparent lack of vocal expression and leadership, but I think it's become obvious that the guy is still a great leader for the backline, he just leads by example instead of yelling.

- Energy. Where did it all come from? Obviously the crowd was a huge factor. We need to package some of our support and send it to away games with these guys. Also, I can't help but feel that Tiger's (noticed he's wearing "Fitzpatrick" on his jersey now) energy is contagious. It was like 11 Tigers out there yesterday.

- Chris Brown. Haven't had a lot to say about him so far this season, but I thought this was his best game. He was dangerous on the attack, especially during the first half. Too bad we couldn't reward some of that effort.

- I'm having a tough time deciding whether Kreis alone up front is a great idea. On one hand, he's not exactly tall enough to win a lot of headers in from crosses, especially against the likes of the thug defenders on the Galaxy. But on the other hand, we're starting to control the wings pretty well now, a luxury that comes with an extra midfielder, and we always seem to be in a pretty good position to recoup any clearances that get knocked back outside of the box.

- crossover play w/ Akwari/Tiger, and to a somewhat lesser extent Rusty/Brown was very nice to see. Something that has really only evolved in the last couple of games. Good to see the defenders go forward every once in awhile.

- On the other hand....wish our midfield would get back every once in awhile. Near the end of the game, LA has a 4 on 3 break, with Landon absolutely wide open approaching the top corner of the box, half the crowd covering their eyes, and our midfielders are casually jogging down the field. Fortunately Dunseth was able to sprint over and make a very nice play. C'mon...Landon Donovan...wide open....hello?? We sure had our share of luck during this game.

- Rojas played well defending the wings while he was in.

- Officiating. Can't say that we can complain, given what we have witnessed in other games. The Kreis card may have been the right call, but also may have been a bit harsh. There was plenty of diving going on yesterday night, much of it in the penalty area, so I didn't understand why that instance had to be singled out. And I think the linesmen were just asleep all night. Offsides still exists in MLS, right? However, I was very impressed with the referee's unwillingness to succumb to the shenanigans of purty-boy Donovan. There's nothing more fulfilling than watching Landon sit on his butt, arms raised in the air as he's begging for a call while the official gives a quick shake of the head, and play goes on. That's the difference we get, I think, with a more experienced official.

- MOTM, I'm going with Pope for the 2nd week in a row.

[HibaIssa]

Offsides still exists in MLS, right?

Didn't you hear? They got rid of that last week. Makes it easier on the refs.

[the cup]

Pope was amazing, he had some huge defensive plays that sealed the victory.

We do need more streamers. The ones we had last night did work pretty well but we need alot more to make it more noticeable.

We had alot more people bouncing this game, so that was good. We still need to try though and get every single person in the section bouncing.

The crowd really got into our chants. I swore it sounded like the whole North end was singing the Ole Ole Ole Ole song after we scored our two goals. Even though there we 7,000 more people at the home opener last nights game sounded alot louder.

I got in my car and sat there for awhile since the parking lot I was in was packed and I finally realized my ears were ringing. They stopped ringing by the time I got back to Ogden but still, the place was rocking. I got home and colapsed I was so worn out. Such is the life though of a Loyalists.

Let's keep it up.

[montgjules]

Originally Posted by bordelais7

- Energy. Where did it all come from? Obviously the crowd was a huge factor. We need to package some of our support and send it to away games with these guys.

I tried to suggest this for the first away game via a little video tribute and got shot down not too gently. 😉 I still think it would rock if the Loyalists made a little "away game" video once in a while to send on the road with the team and get them pumped up before the game.

Yes, I know it's a "cute" idea.

[montgjules]

Originally Posted by bordelais7

- Officiating. Can't say that we can complain, given what we have witnessed in other games. The Kreis card may have been the right call, but also may have been a bit harsh. There was plenty of diving going on yesterday night, much of it in the penalty area, so I didn't understand why that instance had to be singled out. And I think the linesmen were just asleep all night. Offsides still exists in MLS, right? However, I was very impressed with the referee's unwillingness to succumb to the shenanigans of purty-boy Donovan. There's nothing more fulfilling than watching Landon sit on his butt, arms raised in the air as he's begging for a call while the official gives a quick shake of the head, and play goes on. That's the difference we get, I think, with a more experienced official.

We can't really complain about the officiating. How about Clint's effort to stop the ball with his arm? That was pretty blatant... and hilarious, since it didn't get carded. :D

[clarette]

Originally Posted by fuegote

Who knew the brazilian drum band was there?

Me! And the rest of the Undesirables Section too! This one dude was so into it that he started banging stuff on the bleachers, and randomly joined the band at halftime...

The Undesirables Section was awesome on Saturday! :D One guy yelled really loudly at Donovan in Spanish calling him, errr, rather effeminate (I can't exactly repeat what he said or people will freak) and everyone started laughing hysterically.

The game itself was way fun... Pope Eddie the 23rd's goal is the highlight of the season for me so far. Chris Brown really stepped it up -- he made some great runs -- and I loved seeing Rusty Pierce get forward a few times.

[HibaIssa]

Originally Posted by montgjules

I tried to suggest this for the first away game via a little video tribute and got shot down not too gently. 😉 I still think it would rock if the Loyalists made a little "away game" video once in a while to send on the road with the team and get them pumped up before the game.

Yes, I know it's a "cute" idea.

I bet they would get a kick out of that. I would get a kick out of that too.

Maybe it’s a girl thing, huh montgjules? 😉

[the Bardguy]

Originally Posted by clarette

Me! And the rest of the Undesirables Section too! This one dude was so into it that he started banging stuff on the bleachers, and randomly joined the band at halftime...

The Undesirables Section was awesome on Saturday! :D One guy yelled really loudly at Donovan in Spanish calling him, errr, rather effeminate (I can't exactly repeat what he said or people will freak) and everyone started laughing hysterically.

The game itself was way fun... Pope Eddie the 23rd's goal is the highlight of the season for me so far. Chris Brown really stepped it up -- he made some great runs -- and I loved seeing Rusty Pierce get forward a few times.

Where is the Undesirables Section?

[Rover]

Originally Posted by bordelais7

Great energetic game. Loyalists sounded good.

- I thought there was supposed to be grass on the field one month before the June 4th game. Whatever happened to that?

- Nolly standing in the team line before the game started made the rest of the team look like 4th graders. He's pretty big. He plays a much different style than DJ...not quite as quick, and not quite as good with his hands (although I'm sure he had a few jitters), but he closed out Donovan's angle on the goal nicely on those one-on-ones, and had pretty good positioning all night long.

- Pierce and Akwari both made some pretty scary mistakes, giving the ball away, and were beaten by LA's speed a few times, but they stepped up on the ball very well. In fact, the entire team did. It was like watching a whole new team strategy. Instead of sitting back and waiting for the opponent to run into them, they would make step-up interceptions at crucial moments. Andy Williams did this several times, and of course Clint as well. Good, solid D in the box, for the most part. Pope is so good on defense. He should play for the national team sometime. 😉 I love how he shows almost no emotion, even after he completely burns someone. Metro fans criticized him for this apparent lack of vocal expression and leadership, but I think it's become obvious that the guy is still a great leader for the backline, he just leads by example instead of yelling.

- Energy. Where did it all come from? Obviously the crowd was a huge factor. We need to package some of our support and send it to away games with these guys. Also, I can't help but feel that Tiger's (noticed he's wearing "Fitzpatrick" on his jersey now) energy is contagious. It was like 11 Tigers out there yesterday.

- Chris Brown. Haven't had a lot to say about him so far this season, but I thought this was his best game. He was dangerous on the attack, especially during the first half. Too bad we couldn't reward some of that effort.

- I'm having a tough time deciding whether Kreis alone up front is a great idea. On one hand, he's not exactly tall enough to win a lot of headers in from crosses, especially against the likes of the thug defenders on the Galaxy. But on the other hand, we're starting to control the wings pretty well now, a luxury that comes with an extra midfielder, and we always seem to be in a pretty good position to recoup any clearances that get knocked back outside of the box.

- crossover play w/ Akwari/Tiger, and to a somewhat lesser extent Rusty/Brown was very nice to see. Something that has really only evolved in the last couple of games. Good to see the defenders go forward every once in awhile.

- On the other hand....wish our midfield would get back every once in awhile. Near the end of the game, LA has a 4 on 3 break, with Landon absolutely wide open approaching the top corner of the box, half the crowd covering their eyes, and our midfielders are casually jogging down the field. Fortunately Dunseth was able to sprint over and make a very nice play. C'mon...Landon Donovan...wide open....hello?? We sure had our share of luck during this game.

- Rojas played well defending the wings while he was in.

- Officiating. Can't say that we can complain, given what we have witnessed in other games. The Kreis card may have been the right call, but also may have been a bit harsh. There was plenty of diving going on yesterday night, much of it in the penalty area, so I didn't understand why that instance had to be singled out. And I think the linesmen were just asleep all night. Offsides still exists in MLS, right? However, I was very impressed with the referee's unwillingness to succumb to the shenanigans of purty-boy Donovan. There's nothing more fulfilling than watching Landon sit on his butt, arms raised in the air as he's begging for a call while the official gives a quick shake of the head, and play goes on. That's the difference we get, I think, with a more experienced official.

- MOTM, I'm going with Pope for the 2nd week in a row.

Excellent analysis. Nothing to add.