RSL v. SJ Match Questions

Aerick · 04-30-2005, 10:04 PM

Due to the fact that I couldn't make it to the game tonight, and could only listen to segments of it on 1280, I'd love to have the answers to these questions:

1. Was the officiating really as horrible as it sounded? I mean, I was infuriated by what sounded like bad call after bad call against RSL.

2. What was the attendance like? The crowd sounded large on the radio, but I never heard the final count.

3. Lastly, what seemed to work well, and what were the problems (namely, why did we have two goals against us? Missed Pope?)

Thanks! And by the way, I'M SO JEALOUS OF ALL OF YOU THAT GOT TO GO TO THE GAME!!!!!!

Hiddnfox · 04-30-2005, 10:09 PM

1. the ref was crap. hope he has a heart attack on his way home.

2. crowd was big and loud. I also missed the attendance count cause i was too busy screaming obsenities at Craig Waibel

3. no pope, no defense. we were really lacking on defense this game, although Rusty Pierce is the man, he really made a difference out there.

also Craig Waibel got nailed by a cigarette lighter in the last few minutes of the game. Wasn't me who threw it, but I wish i did.

edaw33 · 04-30-2005, 10:44 PM

they said the attendance was 16600 or so on mlsnet.com

Remus · 04-30-2005, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsl fan up north

they said the attendance was 16600 or so on mlsnet.com

As I was leaving I tuned into 1280 and they said 1) It was 16,285 or 16,825 (I'm claiming dyslexia) "RSL Loyalist Fans" and 2) Wayne from Carsmart was in the both all night. I don't know if he was calling the game at all?
Nice Car-b-que by the way.

Rover · 04-30-2005, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerick

Due to the fact that I couldn't make it to the game tonight, and could only listen to segments of it on 1280, I'd love to have the answers to these questions:

1. Was the officiating really as horrible as it sounded? I mean, I was infuriated by what sounded like bad call after bad call against RSL.

2. What was the attendance like? The crowd sounded large on the radio, but I never heard the final count.

3. Lastly, what seemed to work well, and what were the problems (namely, why did we have two goals against us? Missed Pope?)

Thanks! And by the way, I'M SO JEALOUS OF ALL OF YOU THAT GOT TO GO TO THE GAME!!!!!!

Watched the game on DirectKick, and listened to 1280 off and on. My take on your questions:

1. Yes, the ref was weak. He was a rookie--this was his first MLS game, and it showed. He blew calls for both teams, but RSL took the worst of it since the Quakes were playing thugball and getting away with it. I always say poor officiating happens and it's just part of the game. But two weeks in a row is looking like a trend.

2. Official crowd was 16,254. The San Jose announcers were impressed with the size, loudness, and intelligence of the crowd. I could clearly hear the Loyalist chants, as well as the drums. I thought we'd get 17K, so we're doing fine. Weather kept some away, but the crowd looked and sounded great on TV. Good on everyone in Salt Lake who attended.

3. RSL performance. Once we settled in, RSL was the better team. We gave up two goals on headers (from crosses) because we lost our marks in the box at the absolute worst moment. Overall, we held the ball better than I've seen so far and both Behncke and Akwari had decent games. If we still have a major problem it's in properly reading teammates on runs and movement off the ball. In other words, team chemistry still needs work.

dasoccerplayafosho · 04-30-2005, 11:13 PM

i don't think weather kept any away...

in my opinion, pope would have been there for the first goal. The reffing was terrible.

Rover · 04-30-2005, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasoccerplayafosho

i don't think weather kept any away...

in my opinion, pope would have been there for the first goal. The reffing was terrible.

I'll leave the weather call to you folks in Utah. It was 70 degrees and sunny here in SoCal. 😉

I don't think either buildup to goals by the Quakes would have made it past Eddie Pope. Both were off headers, and Pope rules the air.

Aerick · 05-01-2005, 02:09 AM

Thanks for the info guys!

Stucki · 05-01-2005, 02:18 AM

So how is the soccer hater Hatch doing on the call?

Jim Umber · 05-01-2005, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

3. RSL performance...
Overall, we held the ball better than I've seen so far and both Behncke and Akwari had decent games. If we still have a major problem it's in properly reading teammates on runs and movement off the ball. In other words, team chemistry still needs work.

I concur. With the exceptions that you noted, I don't fault the defense. DJ Countess had some amazing saves. For most of the game, RSL was obviously the better team.

At the end, though, when it seemed we had the victory in our hands, it all fell apart. I don't know if they ran out of steam, or if they just got into the defensive mode (I think it was probably both), but all of a sudden SJ was controlling the ball and attacking OUR goal, instead of the other way around. In my experience that is always the death knell for a team, and so it was last night. The problem is that the other team is always attacking your goal. If you let them do that long enough, it's going to go in! Then, once it does, you can't get out of the defensive mode and back to the offensive mode to get the lead back.

Bottom line: RSL could have won that game. RSL should have won that game. RSL didn't win that game. Oh pooh! 😕