tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36188531734670847282009-04-21T09:09:47.904-06:00The Mind of Scads - A Soccer BlogSoccer, Real Salt Lake, Soccer blog, MLS, RSL, Major League Soccer, US Soccer, USSoccer, Representing Iowa ReAL styleScadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-77915316674292382322009-04-10T10:16:00.004-06:002009-04-10T10:56:33.171-06:00StabilityMany of you have already taken a look at the Don Garber interview that threatens the relocation of DC United. There have been similar articles, though not by nearly as credible of sources, about the possible relocation of the Columbus Crew to Las Vegas in the past few weeks.I view both of these threats as deeply troubling to the league. I believe the Don is likely using the threat as a Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-64558417176604004552009-04-05T07:24:00.002-06:002009-04-05T08:05:43.736-06:00What to think?So did I over react after game one or is there still cause for concern as an RSL fan?Watching my team destroy Columbus was some of the most fun I have had watching RSL on television. It was great to see Findley with the hat-trick and it is rare to feel that comfortable in the last 30 minutes of a RSL game.But, Coach J.K. said something interesting in the postgame interviews that I think bears a Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-59489257554901485752009-03-28T23:33:00.002-06:002009-03-28T23:45:55.952-06:00The Question.There has been one question that all RSL fans having been asking this off season."Why aren't we adding anybody to the roster that can score?"We have been fearing that keeping a team exactly the same that had a good playoff run, but still only managed a 10-10-10 record would bite us in the butt. We bent over...Seattle chomped down.There has been so much talk about "the core" this offseason as an Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-67651182449178488712009-03-24T19:41:00.005-06:002009-03-24T20:57:35.950-06:002009 RSL Wishlist...Before the season starts it is a time of "Preseason rankings" and deciding which final record or playoff run would warrant contentment among fans. As RSL fans we always just wanted a playoff run and now that it has been achieved we are looking to the next step. But the problem is we really can never know how a team will perform season to season. Too many variables factor into the equation; Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-48489504415728006322009-03-22T19:11:00.004-06:002009-03-22T19:51:03.347-06:00Welcome to MoS 2009I was hoping to get this sucker of the ground earlier in the preseason, but it was not happening.There are quite a few plans for MoS2009, but things will likely take off slowly and ease into anticipated plans as the season goes on. There are a series of weekly installments and other ideas that I hope will give the Mind of Scads a unique niche in the MLS blogosphere and be of entertainment value Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-70291077252386923362009-02-25T11:43:00.002-06:002009-03-22T19:06:52.255-06:00MoS 2009Coming soon...Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-88900893941426628792008-07-14T10:43:00.002-06:002008-07-14T11:01:13.496-06:00The ever elusive corner...Things have been very busy at the Scads' household as of late which is why this site has been painfully neglected, but it would be sacrilege not to post after the monumental result vs. Columbus on Saturday night.While I am in the same mindset as Kyle Beckerman who said "It is great that we got there, but the main thing is getting three points tonight. Right now is not the most important time to Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-63808981645710955322008-06-02T10:03:00.002-06:002008-06-02T10:12:29.768-06:00Using San Jose to restore a bit of self-esteemDespite a weakened opponent it was fun to watch RSL play some decent footy on Saturday. I was ready to give up on the team all together after Javi’s botched free kick attempt, mostly because of the play after the miss, but the team really responded in the second half. A few things… I don’t know what to think about the Good Doctor. Yes, he gets his chances, but those chances aren’t Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-90287548759766769562008-05-26T08:53:00.000-06:002008-05-26T08:54:30.130-06:00We suck......that is all.Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-15783875504767525162008-05-18T23:32:00.002-06:002008-05-18T23:48:13.008-06:00Excuse me sir? That's what I ordered.As the season moves on RSL's results are becoming all too familiar. Yes, there is improvement, but not enough to make us a playoff caliber team (unless the league lets us play all remaining games at RES).When I look at the standings there is one surprise that seems to stand out. The Columbus Crew. Is there anybody else that looks at their placement thinking..."Wait a minute", that was supposed toScadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-89718875493781726362008-05-15T21:42:00.003-06:002008-05-15T22:11:30.879-06:00It has never been more clear...For the very first time I had the oppurtunity to watch RSL play in HD Thursday night against Colorado. It has never been more clear that we can't play on the road...or in the final third. While the first half wasn't horrible, it wasn't pretty either. The second half was all Colorado.- Mantilla was absolute garbage. His marking was off, he passing was lazy, and his handball sealed our fate. It'll Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-43944588363214716872008-04-30T20:50:00.003-06:002008-04-30T21:18:00.944-06:00Luck of the IrishGOOOAAAALLLLL! Beckerman!GOOOAAAALLLLL! Beckerman!GOOOAAAALLLLL! Yura!GOOOAAAALLLLL! Andy!Sporting the green 'earth day' kits (see kits here) Wednesday night RSL dismantled San Jose in the MLS 'play-in' game of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Final score was 4-0. RSL also had 10 shots on goal to SJ's 4.A few of the players not getting much time saw significant time on the pitch tonight. Most Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-78045795359156963982008-04-26T19:52:00.002-06:002008-04-26T20:19:34.481-06:00They'll rip your heart out...Salt Lake City is slowly (slowly?) becoming a place in which only the most apathetic of soccer fans can survive. Give your heart to Real Salt Lake and you will be 'Temple of Doomed' quickly.DCU Part 1 gave us all a false sense of hope. I mean after a game 'we should have won' against Chicago we 'played well' against Chivas in a 3-1 loss, but made up for all of it with a 4-0 beat down of United. Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-350504686067664482008-04-22T15:46:00.006-06:002008-04-22T21:33:48.974-06:00Delta? II - The RSLFOYesterday I looked at on-field changes that the team has experienced in 2008, but I don't think it'd be right not to take a closer look at the changes that RSL has made off of the field.Has 'off-field' RSL made improvements in 2008? Absolutely. In two ways. The off-field dealing to put together a real team (much credit to Garth and Jason) and RSL is slowly repairing its public image.The only Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-47506205317855606192008-04-21T21:03:00.003-06:002008-04-21T21:46:26.659-06:00Delta?2005: 1-2-12006: 0-3-12007: 0-2-22008: 1-2-1Looking at the first four games of the season compared to previous years doesn't exactly scream "We've turned a corner", though 2008 has tied our best four game start in franchise history. And a win on Saturday would give us our franchise best first five game record.Looking a little closer at the goal differential is a little nicer. We are actually at Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-84413673374034527652008-04-21T10:11:00.002-06:002008-04-21T10:16:37.156-06:00Beat down in Canuckland.Well after running my mouth (fingers) last week about how the very worst that could happen to RSL would be a tie I am here to fulfill my promise of praising TFC for showing me that RSL still has a long way to go. Yes the second half was controlled by Salt Lake, but after the first half it is still an embarrassing game top to bottom.Why can't we decide how to go at a team on the road? Chivas and Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-73206967131597251002008-04-13T17:29:00.004-06:002008-04-15T16:31:13.513-06:007th Heaven vs. Cloud 9This Saturday's meeting between constant bottom-dwellers will have a feeling fairly unfamiliar to both clubs...they absolutely believe they are the better team. RSL is coming off of a club record 4-0 beating of DC United while TFC was able to sneak by Los Angeles for an ever important road win. Both teams finished at the very bottom of the league last season and have made some off-season changes Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-91677131633872277072008-04-13T15:43:00.003-06:002008-04-16T08:39:15.760-06:00The Salt Lake EliteHey guys, there is a new(ish) group out there and as we know the more organized our fans...the merrier. I think the R - S - L chant against DCU was shining proof of that (SLE didn't start that chant, but I think its a good example of what can happen when fans unite). It sounded great even online.I asked the S.L.E. the same questions I've asked other supporter groups in the past and here are the Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-39571126502564599062008-04-07T20:25:00.002-06:002008-04-07T20:42:20.133-06:00What to do?So what does RSL do to fix its losing woes? It is so painful to see that better play + better players + better end game stats = same old results. I don't even know what to say, but as fans we can only hope that there is still something great to come with these guys...or we can do what a few RSL faithful did to cope and follow a zen like state called EmbraTSU or Embrace The Suckiness.On a happierScadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-83730826003215161032008-04-04T21:01:00.002-06:002008-04-04T21:22:43.199-06:00Change is in the air......or so it would seem for just about any team that isn't based out of Salt Lake City. Despite a new look RSL, and even a better playing RSL, the opener finished with the exact some punch line (the joke isn't funny either).So is a jackass painted like a zebra still just a burro? Well, this match against the goats could be proving grounds for the boys in gold, blue, and red that this is really a Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-26590894341371189762008-03-28T08:00:00.002-06:002008-03-28T08:07:54.438-06:00A quick note...While it would have been ideal to post frequently in the days leading up to the opener the oppurtunity wasn't afforded to me as I'm spending this week in Dallas, TX for some reasons outside of the world of soccer.But I did notice a few things while I'm here and wanted to share them quickly. Despite how frustrating the media can be in Salt Lake about our beloved RSL I have found once again, much Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-54225637022780672932008-03-22T12:11:00.006-06:002008-03-23T15:58:45.574-06:00Major League Soccer 2008 Season Preview & Predictions2007 was a great year for Major League Soccer, the arrival of David Beckham helped bring a legitimacy to a league that struggles for respect on the world's stage. Now with the Becksapalooza having had its big hooray I really hope that 2008 will see this league appealing more to the soccer fan rather than the 'People Magazine' subscriber. Almost every team this season went overseas scouting for Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-87370412290411406872008-03-20T17:16:00.003-06:002008-03-21T00:50:24.904-06:00Scouting the Competition; Chicago FireLast year's results: 4th in the East and 7th overall with 40 points. Lost to New England 1-0 in the Eastern Conference Championship game after getting by favorite DC United in the first round. Head-to-Head - In the first game RSL tied them 0-0 in Chicago. The Fire took the second game 2-0 in Salt Lake City.Notable loses after 2007: Chris Armas (retired), Jeff Curtin (waived), Jim Curtin (trade wScadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-19991102822242687732008-03-18T16:15:00.005-06:002008-03-20T11:35:33.819-06:00Quick TidbitI've been busy and away from Real writing for a few days, but I'm about to get going again. Until then here are a few thoughts.- Aren't you glad you are not a Colorado fan! Okay, I just threw this one in here because I took an idea from an earlier post and made a visual representation. The truth still stands.- The Players. Our roster is probably going to be set in its current form on opening day Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618853173467084728.post-75956086763828231492008-03-10T21:39:00.004-06:002008-03-12T23:29:12.697-06:00Supporter GroupsThis is part one of what will hopefully be an ongoing feature. I recently emailed at least one Supporter's Group from every single team...some teams I emailed a couple of groups. These were the first groups to reply with a few others planning on doing so. I have asked each group seven questions to help get a feel for their goal as team followers. This first installment could be considered an Scadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600950969924974themindofscads@gmail.com6