What's the 4-5-1

I don't fault Jason for implementing a new formation for road games, nothing else was working, but it requires selecting the right tools if it is to be effective. My criticism is based on the following truths about this team's style of play.

1) Our outside backs are encouraged (dare I say expected) to get into the attack at every opportunity
2) Our biggest strength is our midfield
3) Our main offensive weapons are speed (beating players outright) and the through ball from our creative midfielders.
4) We do not have all-star forwards capable of creating scoring threats consistently through their skill alone.

Using the items above accepted as truth, I have observed the following of the 4-5-1 in it's RSL incarnation. This may get technical, so go relieve yourself and grab a beverage, it may take a while.

1) Yura is not the right forward to be the 1.
In the 4-5-1 your forward has 2 options when receives or tracks down the ball: a) try to beat the defender marking you , or b) hold it up and dish to re-enforcements coming to your aid. You should only implement option A if you have one man to beat to be in position to score, yet Yura was taking on defenders by his lonesome all night, ignoring option B. This poor decision making leads too....

2) Wearing out your midfield.
Too often Saturday night, our midfield (and our outside backs) were rushing up the field to support Yura, only to watch him (or someone else) lose the ball foolishly by forcing something (which we tend NOT TO DO AT HOME). Nothing wears out your midfielders faster (and pisses them of as well) than running up and down the field to join the attack, only to have to slam on the breaks and sprint to recover from a turnover in hopes of....

3) Preventing an odd man rush and the resulting scoring opportunity.
With your midfield wearing itself out running up and down the field all night, possession and defending in the midfield becomes less and less effective as the minutes tick by. I'm sorry but Javi, Kyle, and Clint cannot run wind sprints for 90 minutes, but Will can. So I guess we give Will the ball and we hope he can get it to....

3) Robbie Findley
Why not Robbie instead of Yura? He's a lot faster so he could actually turn a ball over the top into a breakaway, and even though his touch isn't great, he's as good as Yura with his first touch usually being backwards.

If we don't beat KC on Saturday, we'll be lamenting more than the 4-5-1 when the boys come home from their extended road trip!

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http://4foosball.blogspot.com/

Killing Pablo

Pablo Mastroeni did his job...period. Skill is not his trade and you
would sooner find Pablo conductor of the NY Philharmonic than winning
the Golden Boot. It's why we love to hate him when we play against the
Crapids, but we cheer for him on the Nats Team. He's on the pitch to
pester the shit out of everyones center midfielder...that's it. When
you don't have finesse, keep throwing body blows and they'll at least
think about coming inside for the rest of the night. In NHL terms,
he's Shawn Avery, and he has a place on his team because of his
ability to get in the head of his opponent, and as we saw on Saturday,
Javi was so pissed at Pablo he was rendered useless. Job well done
Pablo...now Mr. Kreis, who's gonna shadow Pablo in SLC when we play
the Crapids next, because if were relying on the league to tae Pablo,
we'll be waiting for a VERY long time!

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http://4foosball.blogspot.com/

Again with the things, and the stuff....oi!

The talking heads put it elegantly several years ago..."Same as it ever was". The road, as it is to long distance runners, is unkind to the body RSL. We revel in our home victories as one voice proclaiming to the league that we have truly arrived. Jason Kreis....super star, and the second coming of Garth have performed a master stroke in developing a team on the cheap that plays an attractive style of football, with a full complement of international no names destined to be stars of the league....then......wait for it.....wait for it....(close your eyes and hearken back to your childhood and Saturdays filled with Wile E. Coyote)...."THUD" and the cloud of smoke at the bottom of the NYRB ravine. I fall for it every time, pleading with my friends, "this time, we'll definitely beat the Pink Cows, they're really poor this year". Somehow, we just can't get up for the away game, like we can for a Riot match. Is it coaching, or is it simply a psychological phenomenon that rings true for all sports in general? Why do you think Tiger Woods spends time and money on a sports psychologist? "90 percent of the game is half mental", ain't that the truth Yogi. Me, I keep telling myself that our first away game on grass will be completely different since we're not used to the plastic anymore, but who knows, maybe I'm just mental!

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http://4foosball.blogspot.com/