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RSL Tackle Possession Truhlk reports from Xango Field - 4.9.09
While watching Real Salt Lake practice today, one thing in particular stood out to me. With the exception of the Keepers, everyone else was working almost solely on short passes and the possession game that will be oh-so-crucial if RSL wants to play its normal game against DC United.
DCU is known for playing a 3-5-2 formation that tries to control the game through the midfield to allow their potent attack, usually powered by Emilio and Moreno, plenty of chances close to the net. Thus far it has only resulted in 1 victory, but with 2 ties to go along with it, they are looking very good so far this season. RSL will have their hands full against a midfield that not only over-powers you with numbers, but with veteran players like Ben Olsen and Christian Gomez, they’ve got good veteran talent. Fortunately DCU will be without Moreno due to a red card last week against Houston, but with Emilio playing high, and having notched 2 goals on the season already, the midfield battle will be very important.
Most of the training drills today focused on preparing for that battle. They worked in three groups of seven players with Ian Joy doing laps to keep from re-aggravating his strained hamstring. One of the exercises they worked on was passing it through two cones to a teammate who in turned trapped it to the side of the cones and passed it back. Another was small 7 on 7 scrimmages that you scored points not only by scoring a goal but also by completing seven passes as a team. These drills, and others the team worked on, all focused on short passes and controlling the ball with your first touch which should be useful with DCU’s numerical advantage in the midfield. The Keepers also stood apart practicing in their usual way by taking turns shooting at each other from various angles and practicing going high for the ball anytime coach lobbed one up for them to grab.
The only part of practice really worrisome happened near the beginning. For all of about 5 minutes I had a sick feeling in my gut as I watched Javier Morales lying on the side of the practice field looking like he was in considerable pain. The Trainer hovered over him and a few of his teammates stepped over to check on him after he hopped off the pitch during one of the teams full contact training drills. He did get up on his own though, and after some stretching was right back in the mix looking none the worse for wear. The cause looked to be nothing more than cramps, which given the weather should be no surprise. It did cause for some concern though as he will be needed to provide some quality service this week if Real Salt Lake wants to start its first winning streak of the 2009 season.
