Ain’t No Thing But A Lil WingThere has been a lot of talk about Robbie Findley’s slump stemming from the U-23’s, to the first 10 matches of RSL’s now not so infant season. His first touch isn’t there, he shouldn’t start, he isn’t scoring, and when does score he’s just a one trick pony, etc.
Lil Wing’s criticism is well warranted. Most glaring of his faults is his first touch. Anyone who witnessed his lethargic national team performance would agree. Peter Novak had him playing out of his natural position, and in doing so, brought to light the most profound weakness in Findley’s game. A good manager will find his player’s strengths, and play towards them. I think Novak knew Findley was almost completely one-dimensional, just as many of us had already perceived, and purposely placed Robbie in an “
uncomfortable” (sorry, had to say it…) position to see what would come of it.
Well, Robbie hasn’t been invited to any national team camps lately. Perhaps this is an indication that the 23’s are looking for a more robust, diverse striker. One who can play with his back to the defense, win balls in the air or shake defenders off the dribble with regularity. The latter mention is something Robbie can do, as displayed by his fantastic penetration and finish from distance last Saturday.
Another angle some find with Robbie is that he is not useful as a starter. I agree with this given the strikers RSL currently maintain. Fabian is a thoroughbred; tiring out defenders with sheer strength on and off the ball. Kenny is a beast (not always a compliment…) demanding the double and sometimes triple-team. Robbie is lightning fast. He moves well without the ball and is a constant pest for any defender.
These individual qualities in the striker stable make Robbie coming off the bench a no brainer. He is best utilized in the last 30 minutes of a match. He ended up playing about 48 minutes versus the ‘Quakes, but that’s because Espindola was asking to be taken out, having given it his all while playing with nagging injuries.
Also, there is much talk about Findley’s inability to score this season. With only two goals in the ’08 campaign, Findley isn’t impressing as quickly as he did when he came to the squad from L.A. in early 2007, knocking in two goals in his debut against DC United. One encouraging aspect of Robbie’s scoring this season is that his goals aren’t so one-trick like they were last season when he would find himself at the end of a long ball, either settling it nicely before striking, or one-timing a shot off a dead run. This season, his two goals have stemmed from a header in garbage time in a win over United, and a shot from distance after breaking the defenders ankles and skipping one in low to the near post from 25 yards out against San Jose. Not so "
one-trick" if you were to ask me.
Lil Wing’s numbers are down slightly from his averages last season. This is most likely due to the fact that RSL has armed itself with an assortment of striking talent featuring different aspects of strength. With Espy’s work rate and versatility, Deuchar’s presence and Findley’s quickness, RSL has plenty of scoring options and shouldn’t have to rely so heavily on their midfielders netting shots, though that never hurts.
Thank God the long ball isn’t the sole option for offense this year. Coach Kreis realizes this and I think that’s one of the reasons why Robbie has been rather quiet thus far.
Robbie is a scorer and should continue to find goals as the season progresses, perhaps even getting 8-10 goals by season’s end. Once he hone’s in on that Midas Touch that we've seen glimpses of in the past, Lil Wing ought to find the back of the net regularly, as well as another look with the National team.
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Boz
Major League Soccer Communications:
RSL forward Findley is Player of Week
NEW YORK -- Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 10 of the 2008 season. Findley was the catalyst for Real Salt Lake's 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes, after he entered the game at halftime and scored the game's first goal and provided the assist on the game winning goal last Saturday.
Post Match Conference with Coach Jason Kreis
Click play to listen Deseret News/James Edward:
Kreis isn't on thin ice, not even closeIn reference to the team, Manning said something very interesting that Jason Kreis detractors probably won't be happy to hear. Manning reiterated that Kreis and general manager Garth Lagerwey have a very detailed plan about how they're going to make RSL a winning franchise, and he supports the plan. It's not going to happen overnight, and Manning said he keeps reminding Kreis and Lagerwey to be patient and stick with their plan.
Deseret News/James Edward:
RSL shakes off blues versus Earthquakes"I thought, quite frankly, we were miserable in the first half. Very, very disappointed, because I thought we were going to see 90 minutes of quality soccer tonight, and our guys just came out really, really flat, and at halftime we challenge them a bit," said Kreis.
Deseret News/James Edward:
Players are 'better spaced,' RSL coach says of defense "To be honest they really didn't bring a whole lot at us," said defender Nat Borchers. "We did a better job in the second half of possessing the ball, and when you keep the ball it limits the time they have the ball, and they didn't have a whole lot of chances because of that."
Deseret News/James Edward:
San Jose at RSL Player GradesJavier Morales (8) -- The only thing that prevented him from a higher grade was missing a third minute penalty kick, and seemingly pouting about it for about a half hour. He was outstanding in the second half though with a goal and an assist.
Salt Lake Tribune/Michael C. Lewis:
RSL Still unbeaten at homeFindley later served up a perfect pass that midfielder Javier Morales turned into an insurance goal in the 60th minute - midfielder Dema Kovalenko added a penalty kick in the 73rd - as RSL improved to 3-5-2 and started their important home-heavy stretch of games in promising fashion in front of 15,977 fans.
Deseret News/Michael Black:
Findley's play the difference for RSL SaturdayReal Salt Lake's Robbie Findley had played in every game of the season coming into Saturday night's match with the San Jose Earthquakes. He had started four of the previous nine games, but mostly, he made his mark coming off the bench.
"Everybody likes to start, but when I come off the bench, I try to focus on giving a little spark to the team, some energy," said Findley.
Mercury News/By Andrew Aragon:
Quakes lack troops, offense in bad loss to Real Salt LakeThe Quakes were lethargic on offense, managing just two shots on goal in a demoralizing 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake in front of 15,977 fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The loss dropped the expansion Quakes to 2-6-1 and robbed them of a chance to crawl out of the basement in the Major League Soccer Western Conference standings.
Boz Match Photos:
RSL RESERVES Shutout San Jose Earthquakes RESERVES 4-0(
Courtesy RSL Communications)
Matias Cordoba and Tino Nuñez Spark RSL Rout in MLS Reserve Division PlayPARK CITY, UT (Sunday, June 1, 2008) – The Real Salt Lake Reserves (2-1-1, 7 pts.) received supreme efforts from MF Matias Cordoba and FW Tino Nuñez in a 4-0 defeat of the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves (1-2-1, 4 pt.) this morning at the Quinn’s Junction sports complex in Park City.
The visiting Earthquakes Reserves had the first good chance of the game in the 24th minute as MF Kelly Gray sent a blistering shot towards the RSL Reserves goal from 25 yards out, only to be denied by RSL ‘keeper Chris Seitz.
The RSL Reserves then opened the scoring only three minutes later when DF Dustin Kirby made a run down the right sideline before cutting the ball back inside and blasting a shot past Earthquakes goalkeeper Dan Benton from 20 yards out. Soon after RSL threatened again as MF Kevin Reiman and Nuñez played a nice give-and-go that ended with Reiman sending in a threatening cross that MF Brennan Tennelle headed just over the bar.
The RSL Reserves continued to pressure the San Jose goal and were rewarded with a second tally from a quick restart after a foul in the 36th minute. FW Alex Nimo was fouled just outside the penalty box, and while the Earthquakes defenders argued the call, Nuñez quickly played a through ball into the area for Cordoba, who deftly slotted home his fourth reserve goal of the season.
It would be more of the same in the second half, with the RSL Reserves keeping up the attacking pressure. After receiving a nifty pass from Nuñez, Cordoba worked his way through a number of San Jose defenders and into the penalty area before being fouled and earning a penalty kick. Cordoba then finished off what he started by firing the penalty into the bottom right corner of the goal in the 53rd minute to lift the score to 3-0.
Just two minutes later Cordoba and Nuñez hooked up once again. This time it was Cordoba sliding a clever pass through the San Jose defense to find a streaking Nunez, the rookie then burying the ball in the back of the Earthquakes net from ten yards out.
The Earthquakes Reserves nearly got one back in the 91st minute when MF Shea Salinas made a nice run down the right sideline before cutting the ball back inside and firing towards the near post, but RSL GK Kyle Reynish was up to the task as he made the save and preserved the shutout for the home side.
MLS Reserve Division
Real Salt Lake Reserves 4 : 0 San Jose Earthquakes Reserves
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Quinn’s Junction – Park City, UT
Scoring Summary:
RSL – Dustin Kirby 1 (unassisted) 27
RSL – Matias Cordoba 4 (Tino Nuñez 2) 36
RSL – Matias Cordoba 5 (penalty kick) 53
RSL – Tino Nuñez 1 (Matias Cordoba 3) 55
Misconduct Summary:
None
Real Salt Lake Reserves Line-up (4-4-2): GK-Chris Seitz (Kyle Reynish 46); DF-Dustin Kirby, DF-Matias Mantilla (Steve McMurdie 76), DF-David Horst (Yomby William 66), DF-Ian Joy (Nik Besagno 46); MF-Brennan Tennelle, MF-Kenny Cutler, MF-Matias Cordoba, MF-Kevin Reiman (Adam Acosta 64); FW-Alex Nimo, FW-Tino Nuñez
San Jose Earthquakes Reserves Line-up (4-4-2): GK-Dan Benton; DF-James Riley (Brian Farber 68), DF-Jamil Roberts, DF-Amir Lowery, DF-Adam Sloustcher (Brandon Owens 46); MF-Adam Smarte, MF-Kelly Gray, MF-Ronnie O’Brien (Greg Curry 12) (Hugo Miguel Sousa 78), MF-Matt Hatzke (Shea Salinas 64); FW-Yuri Morales, FW-John Cunliffe
Attendance: 100
Weather: Sunny & 59 degrees
