(7/21) Observations by The Czar

[Czar Jake]

Observations by The Czar

Just looking, thanks.

I had a lot in common with Real Salt Lake last Saturday: we both watched a lot of soccer. There are still no answers for the expansion side, who can’t win on grass, on the road, in a box, with a fox, or on any other surface. Next they get league-leading FC Dallas back in Salt Lake City. What can they do to turn this season around? Maybe they can stop looking and start playing.

The “Just Looking” ploy is one employed by shoppers everywhere when confronted by a salesperson. Somehow, that ploy has infiltrated the mindset of Real Salt Lake, who do more watching than a Rolex. Countless times last week against Kansas City, the defense watched a Wizard dribble or run right past them. Equally frustrating is witnessing the attackers gaze wondrously as a crossed ball sails through the box.

If you never stop “Just Looking,” you never get anything. Real Salt Lake need to get the ball on defense. They need to get forward and help each other on offense. They need to get a win.


GOALLL!!!!!!

The Los Angeles Galaxy hosted Real Madrid on Monday and, despite losing, were good enough even without Donovan to hold their own. This was a nice notch in the belt of MLS progress.

ASSIST

Andy Williams has said he will retire from international soccer. This is good for Real Salt Lake and their fans, but the Reggae Boyz are falling on troubled times.

BAD CALL

This country claims to be patriotic, what with the ribbon-shaped stickers and all, but a USA-Honduras Gold Cup semifinal at Giants stadium drew a crowd of roughly 90% Hondurans. Maybe it’s easier to stick a sticker on your bumper than it is to actually patriotically support your country.

[bigwilly087]

i totally agree with you one the patriotic part, as i arrived at the stadium tonight, i felt like i was in hondorus....buying tickets was a nightmare, i was in a huge mass of people, and i didnt understand a single word ANYONE said...of course when i went to my assigned seat my brother and i were the only ones wearing red. immediately i moved to the one USA section in the stadium IN AMERICA!!! there the fans were increadibly passionate, i just wish we were the majority instead of the minority.

[Deuce]

I guess that means they should be having more WCQ/Gold Cup matches in RES so we can have a home field advantage... 😉

[Rover]

Originally Posted by bigwilly087

i totally agree with you one the patriotic part, as i arrived at the stadium tonight, i felt like i was in hondorus....buying tickets was a nightmare, i was in a huge mass of people, and i didnt understand a single word ANYONE said...of course when i went to my assigned seat my brother and i were the only ones wearing red. immediately i moved to the one USA section in the stadium IN AMERICA!!! there the fans were increadibly passionate, i just wish we were the majority instead of the minority.

It's just a bigger deal to their country. It's not hyperbole to say it's all they have on the international stage.

The USA is so big and multifaceted that there simply is not a connection in people's minds between a soccer game and patriotism. Maybe a championship soccer game, but nothing else. Frankly, it would be the same for just about any sport.

OBTW, it's not uncommon for the Italian national team to play games at home in front of plenty of empty seats. Identification is with region/club more than country.

What I want to know is where were all the American soccer fans in the New York/New Jersey area? They're the ones we should be questioning.

Thanks to the brave ones who attended, but the rest of them . . .