Quakes/RSL Preview (and a new blogger)

By: Sean | May 30th, 2008

Just a little intro post before I preview the RSL game…

My name is Sean Rubio, I have been going to ClashQuakes games since ‘96. I have been a member of both the Casbah and the Ultras, and now attend Portland State University, working towards a degree in Spanish.

Hopefully, along with Melissa, I can keep this blog headed in the right direction.

Enough with the intros, let’s get to breaking down tomorrow’s game.

Overview: In four games on the road, we have been shut out three times. With Kamara and Guerrero off representing their countries, our pedestrian attack becomes even more so. Real Salt Lake has been strong at home this year, without a loss so far. I would be happy to get a point from this game, and would be thrilled to get all three.

The Lineup: I had begun writing in my projected lineup for this game, but looks like CenterLineSoccer got a few words with Coach Yallop and got the answers to the question of who would replace Kamara and Guerrero. Jovan Kirovski will replace Kamara, a simple striker-for-striker switch. The shuffling for Guerrero takes a bit more imagination. Ramiro Corrales will move into a wide role on the left side, while Joe Vide will play the holding midfield position in the center of the park.

Also, Yallop will replace Ronnie O’Brien with rookie Shea Salinas, in an effort to save O’Brien’s legs from the field-turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake.

With those changes, that leaves our lineup looking like this:

Though his playing time has been limited, I don’t see Vide going forward very often, especially on the playing surface in Utah, where the ball gets up and down the field very quickly. We could see something closer to a diamond in the midfield. Something closer to this:

Prediction: RSL 2, Quakes 1

I see the Quakes holding on 0-0 in the first half, but let a goal in within the first 15 minutes of the second half. They start to push forward but get hit on a counter attack to go down 2-0, before grabbing a late consolation goal to salvage at least a moral victory.

I would love to be proven wrong, but I see nothing that would make me think we can score more than one, especially without Kamara and Guerrero, who capped a good performance with a goal last week against Houston. Then again, stranger things have happened…

I haven’t heard anything about viewing parties other than the Ultras, who will be watching the game at Jack’s. If you know of any other places people will be watching, feel free to drop a line. Edit: the official view party will be at The Englander.

Also, I will be doing a running diary of the game right here on this very blog, if you want some generally antipathetic commentary on our beloved team.

Go Quakes!