A few tidbits......

rabble-rabble · 08-17-2006, 12:11 PM

Random observations about the team’s performance this year:

Things sure turned around against the East………………

In 2005, RSL got owned by the Eastern Conference teams. We were swept by five of the six eastern teams and drew twice against the Metrostars. (You could argue that we lost that series too based on road goals.) Keep in mind the first draw against Metrostars was scoreless and was played in weather that seemed like a washing machine. Overall a 0-10-2 record.

In 2006, RSL has a sparkling 5-2-2 record against the East. We’ve won the season series (based on total points, then goal differential) against New England and Chicago, and had more road goals in the Columbus series. (We lost 0-1 at home, and won 2-1 on the road last night). We still have road games against the Red Bulls (1-1 draw in SL), the Wizards (RSL won 2-1 at home) and DCU (also a 2-1 RSL win in SL). Conceivably we could win all 6 series (DCU will obviously be a strong challenge.)

Home and away records……………….

One the road we have 4 wins, 7 losses, and NO draws. Only DCU (with 5) and LA (with 4) have as many road wins (although a few teams have more points by having a lot of pts from draws). At home we have 3 wins, 3 losses and 5 draws. Only the Crew (with only 1) and LA (with 2) have fewer home wins.

Late thrillers……………………………………

Has anyone else noticed how so many recent games have had late goals? The last 5 regular season games (not including Open Cup and exhibitions) have seen the following events:

Jul 22: Dallas scores in the last minute of stoppage time to win 1-0.
(What happened?! Crowd is absolutely stunned.)
Jul 26: Chivas stuns RSL with a stoppage time goal to steal a 3-3 draw.
(Lots of words that would get me a mouth full of soap when I was a child come to mind. I’m too discouraged to even stay around to watch the post game fireworks show.)
Jul 29: Playing host to DC United, RSL earns a PK in the 90th minute and scores to level the score at 1-1, then earns another PK in stoppage time which is converted for a 2-1 win.
(We beat the best team in the league we beat the best team in the league…….)
Aug 9: Brown scores in stoppage time in Denver as RSL stomps the Crapids 4-1.
(One of our finest performances. Sadly isn’t televised at all and is not seen by anyone not at the stadium.)
Aug 16: In Columbus in the 90th minute, Jeff Cunningham delivers a great cross to Talley who buries it to give RSL a 2-1 win.
(Bedlam erupts at Fiddler’s Elbow, other drinking/eating establishments, and in the living rooms of RSL fans everywhere.)

In 5 straight regular season games, at least one goal has been scored in or after the 90th minute, in 4 of these games, this decided the result of the match.
Whoever said that soccer is a boring sport just doesn’t get it at all.

Best trade (should I say steal) of the off-season……………

Cunningham for Mathis. Jeff has 13 goals (leads the league) and 7 assists (5th in the league). Cletus has 2 goals and one assist (not counting the nifty assist on the backheel pass in the cup game in SL a few weeks ago) and has only played in 9 games.

Attendance figures……..

In 11 regular season home matches, RSL averages 16,273 fans. (The Real Madrid is not included in this average.) This puts us 5th behind Chivas, Houston, LA, and DC United. Looking at the 4 teams ahead of RSL, the Chivas average of 22.943 leads the league but includes the 90K or so that attended a double-header played in the LA Coliseum that featured a Barcelona-Chivas (from Guadalajara) matchup and Chivas (USA) - New England match, Houston (19,248) is playing their first year, Galaxy (19,729) led the league last season, and DCU (16,806) is having a rather successful year.

Troubles against Texas......

There are exactly 2 teams we haven't earned any points from this year. Houston and Dallas.

Jose Luis Luviano · 08-17-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabble-rabble

There are exactly 2 teams we haven't earned any points from this year. Houston and Dallas.

Cue Sargeant Hartman from "Full Metal Jacket".

"Two things come out of Texas........"

Jose Luis Luviano · 08-17-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabble-rabble

Random observations about the team’s performance this year:
Houston (19,248) is playing their first year, .

Does that figure for Houston count their doubleheader with Barcelona - Amierdica?

rabble-rabble · 08-17-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jose Luis Luviano

Does that figure for Houston count their doubleheader with Barcelona - Amierdica?

Just checked from Houston home page. They show 70000 attending the LA game that was played the same night so looks like they also have inflated attendance due to Barcelona's visits.

SpiffCoug · 08-17-2006, 01:30 PM

Real Madrid kind of counts. Many tickets that were bought were purchased along with at least one other RSL home game.

Merrill · 08-17-2006, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabble-rabble

Jul 22: Dallas scores in the last minute of stoppage time to win 1-0.
(What happened?! Crowd is absolutely stunned.)
Jul 26: Chivas stuns RSL with a stoppage time goal to steal a 3-3 draw.
(Lots of words that would get me a mouth full of soap when I was a child come to mind. I’m too discouraged to even stay around to watch the post game fireworks show.)

For the record, the fireworks were after the Dallas game on Sat. Jul 22, on Wednesday Jul 26 they didn't have a reason for them. (Especially not the last minute points loss).

rabble-rabble · 08-17-2006, 03:16 PM

I overlooked the tickets sales for RM which included other matches. You could of course consider that some of those extra tickets are for future games and aren’t included yet in the averages, but that did of course give our figures a bump. Our team also does of course get a few extra sales on fireworks nights and we had two of them again this year. I noticed that Denver had about 40,000 attend their July 4th match this year. There seems to be a tradition to pack the stands on combined sports/fireworks in the Mile High City. I remember being out in the Denver area on the 4th of July sometime in the 80s before the Rockies were there and reading in the newspaper that they got something like 50,000 people in old Mile High Stadium for the AAA baseball game that night.

You're right, the fireworks were on the 22nd and not the 26th. I left that game discouraged too. (Much happier games the last few matches!)