How to Win in MLS: Be Like Argentina

[Burninator]

I have done my fair share of griping about MLS referees lately, and I have come to the realization that apart from insulting and NOT throwing things at them, there is not a whole lot I can do to help the team in regards to the referees.

I think in any sport, the referee can be a deciding factor, but for certain players and teams, the referee is never a serious problem. They play so well that the referee can never beat them.

Did anyone catch the Olympic Soccer Gold Medal Match between Argentina and Paraguay last summer? Now, I am just as partial to Argentina as I am to the USMNT and my very own RSL, but even so I was truly astounded at how rough the Paraguayos were playing and how much they were getting away with. I remember with particular clarity when Carlos Tevez received an elbow to the face, went down in a heap, and no referee signaled any kind of foul.

It truly appeared as though the referees were on the Paraguayo payroll. Nevertheless, Argentina continued to outplay the Paraguayos. It was only with the referees' help that Paraguay could stay level. Argentina persevered and in the end, the referee had to show two Paraguayos the red. Their own incompetence and impatience forced the referee's hand.

Did Argentina lose the game being two men up? No, sir.

I really appreciate the virtual lack of complaining by RSL players before and after games. They seem to own up to their mistakes and shortcomings pretty well while they are off the field. I don't mind them making their case while on the field, either. Jason Kreis in particular is a real class act. I think that if he could have afforded a yellow card during the KC match, he would have, but at the same time, he realized that more now than ever, with Mathis still out, he needed to keep a cool head. Even when he was cheated out of a game-tying hat trick, in a post-game interview he kept his comments very PC.

Blaming the referee is just fine for the fans, but it does no good for the team, nor any member thereof.

Thank you, Jason. This attitude will help our guys to focus on the things they can change: their skills, their attitudes, their efforts, and their desires. Only through personal and team progress will RSL be able to become a team like Argentina. Only through personal and team responsibility will they accomplish this. Once ReAL reaches this level of performance, it will become the judge, jury, and executioner in each and every game that it wants to.

I think that, as some have commented, Coach Ellinger is trying to build a world-class team over time. Some of his rookie and draft picks have baffled analysts and fans alike, but I think he knows what he is doing. I hope that he can help ReAL Salt Lake raise it's level of play above the (sometimes) low level of officiating. This is truly the only way we will ever win. Fair and impartial officiating would be awesome, just like world peace would be awesome. But, just like world peace, I think this ideal is a little far off.

Even though it would be nice (points are good!), it would sure be bittersweet to win a game like the Kansas City encounter solely because of bad officiating. That's not a ReAL win. Much better would be to overcome bad officiating and win, by having enough skill to neutralize any semi-untalented referee. That way we know our team has truly and undoubtably outclassed our opponent.

--Geoff :dontgetit

[Burninator]

Wow, no one cares...

--Geoff :dontgetit

[SoccerPrime]

Sorry FC Burn, I just saw this.
And you are completely right on many points.

RSL's players are mostly class (Mathis is, off the field anyway 🙂 ).
Its refreshing to see players act like a team and use the age old adage "is it me?" when assigning blame.

And what can we do about refs? Virtually nothing.
Lets hope it starts to improve.

Lets also hope the new RSL players give us the push we need to continue towards the post season.

[Newman]

Great post. I know I'm proud of our team and the way they conduct themselves. Jason has obviously shown everyone that nice guys can finish first. (not that I'm indicating that he's done by any means!!! He'll keep going and going and going.......)
I think, for me, blaming the refs sometimes makes the losses a little easier to swallow. I mean, like we were totally cheated, how could the ref miss that? and on and on.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Newman

I think, for me, blaming the refs sometimes makes the losses a little easier to swallow. I mean, like we were totally cheated, how could the ref miss that? and on and on.

Definitely! Whining about the referee will always allow the fan to get on with his or her life. We don't play, we don't interact directly with the referee, so we have this freedom. However, it is very important that a player take most if not all the responsibility for a game (finding the correct balance of course).

It serves nothing for a player to go around blaming the referee because he will not admit to himself that there is more that he can do to make his game better. It bothered me to read one of Watson's blogs where he complained about the referee because it doesn't help him to become a better player. I really applaud our team for their general attitude in regards to this.

On the field, it is just fine to plead your case and even take a yellow every now and then for dissent. It's important that the referee know how you feel on the field. After that, with the final result being official, whining does a player and a team no good.

--Geoff :dontgetit