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A Few Preseason Interviews

Feb 13

Posted by kirsoccer in Audio, Chris Wingert, Jason Kreis, Ned Grabavoy, Preseason | 1 Comment

Here are a few interviews from the last couple of preseason practices here in the Beehive State.  First on tap, Coach Kreis talks about his short offseason, his early thoughts on the guys reporting to camp, and what he hopes to accomplish in the preseason.  Then Chris Wingert and Ned Grabavoy talk about the shortened preseason, the labor situation, and having 3 of their teammates away with the US National Team.

Jason Kreis

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Ned Grabavoy

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Wingert

Chris Wingert

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Projected Starting Lineup

Mar 24

Posted by kirsoccer in Andy Williams, Ned Grabavoy, Robbie Findley, Robbie Russell, Tony Beltran | 5 Comments

Based on the starting lineup used against the Austin Aztex, I think the beginning of the season Starting XI is pretty clear.  It looks essentially like this…

FW: Movsisyan Findley
ACM: Morales
MF: Johnson Mathis
DM: Beckerman
DF: Wingert Borchers Olave Beltran
GK: Rimando

Ian Joy appears to be out 4-6 weeks due to a hamstring injury that has been bothering him all preseason and was re-aggravated during the match against the Aztex.

Borchers has also been suffering from an injury to his ankle from the bone spur surgery that he underwent in December.  However, he played in the Aztex match and appeared to be moving fine.

Robbie Russell appears back to full health and could be in the mix as well.

I’m okay with this lineup, but I could also see a couple of alterations as the season moves along.

First, although Findley and Movsisyan appear to be clearly the best two forwards at this point, I wouldn’t mind seeing Findley come off the bench in certain matches.  Not only do I like the concept of Findley bringing his pace in against the legs of tired defenders, but I think Escalada provides something that Findley and Movsisyan don’t.  He is a more technical player and can get into the mix of the tight passing game that RSL employs through the midfield.  From my brief observations in Charleston and at practice, Escalada shows signs of being a precise finisher (although we didn’t see that against the Aztex).  Like most people I’m not sold that he can do it in this league, but I’m ready to see him in some real action.

Second, I am torn between Ian Joy at left back or Tony Beltran at right back, with Wingert sliding over to the left.  I like Ian’s grit and experience, and he’s a great professional to have out on the pitch.  However, Ian doesn’t have a lot of pace and seems a little hesitant at times to push forward.  Beltran on the other hand is inclined to push forward at every chance.  This can be good, or bad.  He can get caught out of position, but his pace and recovery ability can make up for his occasional defensive lapses.  We’ll see how Beltran does during the first few matches of the season.

There are some other players that I am also interested to see how they fit into the mix:

  • Ned Grabavoy – it didn’t seem like he was really fitting in yet with the group in Charleston.  I’m curious about what contribution we’ll see out of him this season.
  • Andy Williams – I assume that we will see a similar reserve role out of Andy where he comes in late in matches to either help close out a game with his ability to help the team hold the ball, or in pressing for a goal.
  • Robbie Russell – a talented player, with a lot of good experience.  I think he’ll play a lot this season in fill-in roles, but he doesn’t have a designated position which may keep him from being a regular starter anytime soon.

What are your thoughts?

Preseason Thoughts From Jason Kreis: Tactics and Newcomers

Mar 19

Posted by kirsoccer in Jason Kreis, Jean Alexandre, Ned Grabavoy, Raphael Cox, Real Salt Lake | 6 Comments

I was able to catch up with Coach Kreis and get some of his thoughts during the final stages of preseason. Here are his thoughts on the newcomers to the team, and some discussions related to the style of play that this team employs:

On Luis Escalada: Has a proven record of scoring goals in South America. He is your prototypical goal scorer. He’s a poacher. When he’s around things and get’s opportunities, he finishes them. He needs to continue to work on his fitness. He needs to continue to work on keeping possession for our team. I think those things have clearly been laid out to him, and he’s a guy who’s been working very hard on both of those fronts. It’s always a transition when you bring a foreign player over. It’s always a transition on how we train, what’s going to be expected of them, what the coaching philosophy is, how we play and the style of play. Everything’s different. I think he’s handling it well and he’s working very hard. We’ve seen progress. His weight’s going down. I think he’s a guy that’s getting fitter, and I think he’s a guy that’s transitioning into the way that we want to train and the way that we want to play. By all accounts he seems to want it real badly. So that’s a critical first step.

On Raphael Cox: He’s a left-footed midfielder. He’s a left-footed two-way guy that can play both inside and out. Who is comfortable on the ball. He likes to run at players. He serves a good ball. He, for me, has been a very nice addition this year. One that we weren’t a 100% sure would be with us at this stage, but he’s earned it. He’s worked hard and managed to gain a lot of respect in and amongst the team, as well as the staff. He played the other night with a bunch of starting players and held his own, and scored an assist. I think he and our other rookie this year are going to be contributors.

On Jean Alexandre: He’s a guy that we were happy to get and he’s done nothing to prove us wrong. We think he’s been fantastic this preseason. He’s a physical presence for us. There’s going to be a few attacking minded players in the center of the park who aren’t going to want to get too close to him. He can be physically intimidating and he’s a pretty smart player. He’s got some areas that he needs to improve on: tactically defensive, and some decisions on the ball, and speed of play that all young players can have trouble with. But he seems to be a guy who is very humble, and wants to learn and wants to do extra all the time. I’m pleased with him and think he’ll be a guy that we can plug in there and move right along. Long-term I think he’s a fantastic prospect for us.

On Ned Grabavoy: He’s a guy that’s very experienced in the league. He’s played a lot of first team football in MLS. He’s been a guy that I’ve always had some admiration for. He’s very gifted technically with both his right foot and his left foot. He’s another type of midfielder that can play both inside and out and do a lot of nice things for us. He’s a guy that’s extremely competitive in the training sessions. I think he fits into exactly with the way we’ve built this team. He’s another guy that’s going to compete for a position and make things very difficult all the time and make things very difficult for the coaching staff.

On upgrading crossing ability into the box on a wide pitch: That’s a very interesting comment, because that’s one way to play. If we don’t play with that way – if we aren’t a team that gets down to the byline and serves balls into the box will we not be successful? It’s one way to play. We don’t play with wing midfielders. I hope everybody by now knows that. Maybe there are some people that don’t believe that. But I think if you know what you are watching long enough you are going to realize that we don’t play with wing midfielders. We rely on our backs to get forward and that’s a very difficult prospect for them – that’s a lot of running that they have to do. But I think when they get into those positions we have to focus on how many more times we can get them the ball in those positions so that they can serve. But I don’t think that we necessarily change the way that we play just because we don’t serve the ball into the box a lot.

On the wingback role with this team: I think that we looked back on last year and realized that when they did get forward, we didn’t get them the ball enough. Our central type of players were more inclined to play the ball inside rather than outside. And that’s something that we have talked about on multiple occasions this preseason: to get those guys the ball. When they make those kinds of runs, we need to reward them for that. And I think we’ve got four fantastic players in those positions in Robbie Russell, Ian Joy, Chris Wingert and Tony Beltran. I think we’ve got to continue to reward them when they do get forward and in turn they’ve got to focus on the quality of their service when they do get the chances.

On the central defense and holding midfielders roles: In order to play that way you’ve got to have some real strong central figures – some real strong holding players. I think it’s just the athleticism in a player like Olave and David Horst that allows us to play that way more. Because I don’t feel like those two players in particular are ever going to get beat for pace.

Additional Camp Notes

Mar 3

Posted by kirsoccer in Kyle Reynish, Ned Grabavoy | 1 Comment

A couple of items I forgot to mention:

RSL tried to trade for Grabavoy recently, but were excited that they were able to pick him up free through waivers instead. Part of Grabavoy’s appeal is his versatility. With the limited roster spots, it’s important to have versatility to get the most out of your roster.

No word on the 3rd keeper spot. Right now if we kept all 4 keepers we’d have a completely full roster. Obviously this won’t happen. I’m still guessing we’ll keep Steve Clark in a developmental roster spot which would leave an open senior roster spot (for El Khalifi?). In addition, Clark was practicing today with Rimando and Seitz. Kyle Reynish was on the sideline working with Nunez who is rehabbing his knee. Not sure of the reason for this, but it does add to the speculation that Clark will win the spot.

Camp Updates

Mar 3

Posted by kirsoccer in Ned Grabavoy, Rachid El Khalifi, Raphael Cox | 1 Comment

Quick camp updates:

Midfielder Ned Grabovoy acquired through waiver draft.

Look for Raphael Cox to be signed to a senior roster spot.

Luis Escalada signed to a low $$$ contract. There is an April 15th decision date to either release the player or increase the value of the contract.

El Khalifi was the best trialist in camp. El Khalifi not a dead issue, but he is “more expensive” than other options and “he’s not here right now.”

There will be another trialist in Charleston.

Garth in South America and Jason has been in Costa Rica looking at backup options. Depending on the results of the time in Charleston, we could call on these backup options.

A View From the Other Side: RSL versus SJ

Jun 16

Posted by kirsoccer in Ned Grabavoy, San Jose Earthquake | 1 Comment

Real Salt Lake versus San Jose Earthquakes
Courtesy of TyffaneeSue (pictured below at Rice Eccles last June)
(TyffaneeSue is a soccer mom x 4, AYSO referee, and effervescent Quakes fan.)
Following the example of this summer’s action movies, our fave expansion side should be able to pop right back up after last Saturday’s 3-punch knockout and easily cruise to victory on Wednesday.

We only wish, but such are the fantasies that stoke the flickering hopes of beleaguered Earthquakes fans, still in the throes of posttraumatic angst. Current predictions on the Quakes board for the upcoming game range from a nil-all tie (we do have a few optimists among the diehards) to a 0-7 humiliation. Translation: we lack confidence in our team’s ability to score.

Not that we are whining without cause. Our guys have had a tough schedule, with no home games between mid-May and mid-July (last Saturday’s debacle was arguably not a home game) Five starters have been missing due to international call-ups and injuries.

All that said, if our next game has to be on the road, I am glad that we are playing in Salt Lake. Apart from the green concrete pitch and the fact that there’s no alcohol available on site to ease the pain, you folks can probably remember what it’s like to be a first-year expansion team, so I am counting on your kindness and empathy.

Too, we do have some strong individual players, even if that team thing hasn’t quite gelled. We will still be missing forward Kei Kamara (en route to Pretoria to play for Sierra Leone) and incredible defender Nick Garcia, who’s been hobbling around with a sprained knee. Since Kei has scored 2 (of our 9) goals this year and Nick has prevented at least two from getting to the back of the net, their absence presents yet another challenge. But Frank Yallop believes in our team, and in Frank I trust. (If his picture were on the dollar bill, we might all sleep better at night.) Count on Frank and the coaching staff to make the most of the talent on hand.

Most likely to start on top will be Ryan Johnson (2 goals this season) and John Cunliffe (he scored a goal to save us from utter humiliation the last time we visited you), both of whom should play at least 150% better than they did on Saturday. Back in midfield will be Ivan Guerrero (absent with Honduras for the last few games; he rocketed us to a solid victory over the Dynamo with a blistering goal, and boy, did that feel good) and long-timer Ramiro Corrales. Expect to see Ned Grabavoy at attacking mid, as he’s showed up, at least physically, for every game and keep an eye out for adorable Kelly Gray, the midfielder who stepped up last Saturday and blasted four slightly off-center shots, gotta love the guy for trying.

Defenders Ryan Cochrane, Jason Hernandez, and Eric Denton are likely to hold down the backline, along with recent U.C. Santa Cruz grad Adam Smarte, who looked pretty good during his first start last Saturday. And of course, our hero, The Joe, who won’t be giving up those goals so easily this Wednesday.

Players you may or may not see: forward Gavin Glinton (dealing with a hernia, no goals or assists this season but great hair), the newly acquired Jovan Kirovski (probably out with an ankle sprain), Shea Salinas, the speedy, energizer bunny who is likely to be our first man in off the bench and Jamil Roberts, who celebrated his first few minutes of play as a sub last Saturday. Midfielder Joe Vide may make an appearance, and James Riley, coming off a red card, could be invited to shore up the backline or might start over Smarte. Stalwart Ronnie O’Brien skipped the last RSL game to protect a leg that hasn’t been the same since it was injured by one of your more exuberant players, and may well choose to do so again. The match won’t be the same without his laser-focus passing and well-honed sense of strategy, but we need him healthy.

My pessimist’s prediction: 2-0; the team with the XanGo brand prevails. But no one gets hurt. And the lineup on our side:

————Cannon—————–

Hernandez–Cochrane–Smarte–Denton
Gray–Corrales—Grabavoy—Guerrero
———Johnson—-Cunliffe———
Since this will be our third visit to your home in six weeks, our team probably seems like family by now. And after they bid farewell to Salt Lake, our boys will be heading east for a Sunday romp with D.C. United. So please, go easy on them.

A View From the Other Side: RSL -vs- SJ

May 29

Posted by kirsoccer in Ned Grabavoy, San Jose Earthquake | No Comments

Real Salt Lake -vs- San Jose Earthquakes
from the perspective of Big Soccer poster Lurking
_______________________________________________________

When San Jose takes the field vs. Real Salt Lake on Saturday, it will be a matchup of two teams two wins, five losses, and plenty of question marks to keep their respective fan bases buying Pepto Bismol by the case.

San Jose will almost certainly stay in Frank Yallop’s version of the 4-4-2, but the side will be forced to make a couple of changes from the lineup they fielded in their home win over the Houston Dynamo. Out will be Kei Kamara and Ivan Guerrerro, both away on international duty for Sierra Leone and Honduras respectively. Recent acquisition and familiar RSL advesary Jovan Kirovski will likely take Kamara’s spot up top. Guerrerro’s stand in is a little less certain, with the likely additions being Joe Vide or Shea Salinas. Vide would slot into the center of the park, with either Grabavoy or Corrales moving to left midfield while Salinas would likely play on the left directly. Yallop seems to like Salinas, using him consistently as a sub in the 2nd half, so the less disruptive outside midfielder for outside midfielder move seems more likely.

Offensively:
San Jose likes to transition quickly into the attack, driven by their outside midfielders and forwards. They will move forward in numbers, but this tends to be more a product of players waiting for more help, then out of an attempt to build slowly from the back. They have been hit and miss this season with this approach, scoring 2 goals 3 times, but being held scoreless 5 times. Their road form in particular has been noteworthy, as they created excellent chances in their 2-0 win against Colorado, but looked hapless in their other 3 road games. Which team shows up is the question most fans in San Jose will be asking themselves going into this one.
Defensively:
San Jose has been remarkably solid for an expansion team, tied for 6th in the league giving up 1.375 goals per game. They tend to play a little lower pressure then San Jose teams of old, but are well organized defensively and do not give up many good looks at goal for their opponent. Their weakness defensively has largely been a product of weakness in midfield, where players have been caught in possession, leading to transition opportunities.
A look at the likely starting lineup:
Ryan Johnson – FW – Last week his insertion into the starting lineup at forward created lots of havoc on Houston’s back line. He is big, physical, and has good speed. While a bit raw at times, he really threw himself around on the field with a lot of energy. If he can pressure the Real back line as effectively as he did against Houston, San Jose should be able to create some chances.
Jovan Kirovski – FW – This will likely be his first start for the Earthquakes, so it will be interesting to see how well he integrates into the team. A known quantity in MLS, hes not going to blow anyone away. San Jose will be hoping that he can link up with Johnson, make good off the ball runs to open space for teamates, and to take any chances that might come his way.
Ronnie O’Brien – RM – Hes played fairly deep on the right side for San Jose, perhaps not getting as far forward as Earthquake fans might like. Hes a smart player, whose put in some good work on the ball. Dont expect him to try to take his man 1v1, hes going to look to combine with teamates, and might send in some early crosses from the right.
Shea Salinas – LM – He has lots of pace, and the technical ability to apply it to good effect, but the rookie doesnt quite seem to have the tactical acumen to apply those tools for maximum effect. He also tends to be overly aggressive, so Salt lake may have a chance to exploit Denton behind him. Young players like Shea can be inconsistant, so hes a bit of an X-facotr in this one.
Ramiro Corales – CM – Not a dedicated ballwinner, but he is the more defensive of the two center midfielders. His job is going to be take good defensive positions, link up with teamates. He has been victimized in losing possession in dangerous areas, so if San Jose is not moving well off the ball, pressuring him can create a goal scoring oppotunity in transition.
Ned Grabavoy – CM – His role in the offense isnt entirely clear at this stage. Like Corrales, he will have signifigant defensive responsibilities, but he will be the more forward of the two. However, wether that role is primarily a distributor, or more as a link player is uncertain. While he can be dangerous at times, he seems mostly to fall into the distributer category for San Jose.
Eric Denton – LB – Seemingly out of the league, hes back, and playing pretty well. Hes shown a good left foot, and while he wont wow anyone with his defenisve play, it has been solid.
Nick Garcia – LCB – A tough veteran presence, he will make quite a few right place and right time defenisve plays. Hes not big, or physically dominating, he does play with veteran savvy.
Ryan Cochrane – RCB – Like Garcia, he is not a physically imposing back, relying more on savvy. He can be mistake prone, so RSL might get a chance or two from a breakdown.
Jason Hernandez – RB – Somewhat limted going forward, he has godo speed, and plays well defensively. A solid right back.
Joe Cannon – GK – An excellent shot stopper, he has had communication issues at times with his back line. His distribution is somewhat lacking from free and goal kicks.
These teams have already met once in the open cup in Salt Lake, with the home side taking an easy 4-0 victory. However, before fans of either team start penciling in another RSL victory, it should be noted that the game featured a brutal collision between San Jose’s centerbacks Jay Ayres and Ryan Cochrane, knocking both players out of the game. Cochrane would miss the next two games with a concussion, while Ayres is still out with a facial fracture that required surgery. As the home team, RSL has to be the favorite in this one, but expect a more competitive game this time around.
Prediction:
1-0 to RSL.
Real has shown good home form, and based on their previous road games, the safe bet seems to be against San Jose from having a strong performance. That said, the Earthquakes cant be counted out, as they have shown good form at times this season. Particularly on the road against Colorado, a result that probably brought a smile or two from Real Salt Lake fans.