Questions and Answers from Preseason
Truhlk ponders questions and provides answers Question: Will RSL find an adequate replacement for Duechar, Espindola, and Kovelenko?
Answer: Up to this point, no one signed in the off season looks like they will offset those key losses. RSL have tried a mixture of trialists at the Striker position and the only one to stick thus far has been Luis Escalada. He has made vast improvements with his conditioning and has scored a number of goals. From what I have seen of him, I would think he is more a replacement for Espindola, and not a very good one at that. They both play a similar style though, and Espy took awhile to blossom in SLC as well.
Replacements for Duechar and Kovelenko could prove to be tougher and may just have to be homegrown. Tino Nunez has looked good holding up the ball ala Duechar and rookie Jean Alexandre seems to have the same bite to his game that Dema had. Both players have a long way to go before they earn consistent minutes in actual games but the potential is there. Because of the number of options up top, Tino will have the hardest time getting those minutes while Alexandre is probably a Beckerman red card away from getting a full 90.
Question: Will Robbie Findley recover his form from 2 years ago?
Answer: Well, the better question is probably this: Will Kries figure out how to use Robbie to his potential? In his rookie year Robbie scored mostly from beating offside traps and getting 1 on 1 with the keeper. He managed this time and again by running straight at older/tired defenders. Since then he has been played more in a withdrawn role almost doubling as a midfielder. He still does make a run or 2 each game but he isn’t able to wear down a defender with his speed like he did that first year. Part of the problem may be Robbie himself. Ever since he played for the U20's, he has had more of a midfield mindset. Even playing with Duechar last year, who is built to play the same possession game that Robbie has been working on, Robbie still dropped back more often than not into a withdrawn forward spot.
If Findley can figure out how to play that role it would be very advantageous to RSL. He already is decent at controlling the long ball with his head and has the speed to get forward into the box quickly.
His biggest shortcoming is something everyone is well aware of at this point; his first touch. But he also lacks the creativity to play the 2 man game with Morales or Yura. Both will need him to provide good service from that spot. If not look for Mathis and maybe even Williams to get some time there. Either of them can provide the creativity needed if RSL continues to play a withdrawn forward like they did all last season. With the depth at attacking midfield and on the right wing, Kries will be looking for a way to get them some minutes.
Question: How deep is the RSL defense?
Answer: Pretty dang deep!!! With 4 players that can play on the wings, 4 players that can play as center backs and 2 solid keepers, the defense looks to be RSL’s greatest strength. Even Horst looks to have improved dramatically from last season. The biggest question mark will be at Defensive Mid. Does Russell figure into the depth chart there as well, or is Alexandre the only option should something happen to Beckerman?
Let’s hope we don’t have to find out.
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