The defining characteristic of Real Salt Lake’s 2016 season may end up being an oxymoron: consistent inconsistency.
Swinging from hot to cold, hot to cold over the course of the season, RSL looks increasingly like it will struggle to turn things around before the playoffs. Although Real managed to shut Supporters Shield favorite FC Dallas on Saturday night, the team has in turn failed to score in its last three matches.
While the energy and effort against Dallas were better than in the previous week’s loss to Houston, the same issues have continued to plague RSL throughout the season: poor first-half performances, pace of play, and transitions. It’s no surprise that the attack sputters when the urgency simply isn’t there until the 65th or 70th minute of nearly every match.
Tactically, things have remained virtually the same as well. Teams are able to come into Rio Tinto Stadium, overload the midfield, pull Real out of its shape, catch them out with quick transition play, and put themselves in positions to walk out with a point. Meanwhile, RSL generally squanders its altitude advantage by passing itself into oblivion for two-thirds of the match, often giving the impression that a penalty kick is the team’s only real chance to score.
If this all seems exceedingly negative, it may well be.
However, Real has the talent to be much better than its current performances, as its start to the season showed. Scoring looked simple, with the likes of Joao Plata, Yura Movsisyan, and Burrito Martinez combining beautifully, and the team racked up several multiple-goal outings early in the season.
In fact, it was defensive composure that was in short supply early on, with little experience at center back to rely on. Aaron Maund and Justen Glad grew into a solid partnership with time, however, and despite injuries and absences in the back, RSL’s defense has clearly improved over the course of the season.
But international breaks — the long Copa America break and the shorter fall window — have killed whatever momentum RSL has managed to build up. Hence the “consistently inconsistent” moniker –this 2016 side has been especially prone to the injuries, international breaks, and other distractions that occur over the course of a season.
Given Real’s talent and experience, it’s somewhat surprising. Without being in the locker room, it’s tough to know what exactly is happening, but it looks to be difficult to get everyone on the same page for a full 90 minutes.
The players clearly need some sort of change — whether it be tactical, psychological, or physical — in order to avoid slipping further down the Western Conference standings. Things certainly won’t be easy going forward, as two of the three opponents in RSL’s final matches will be fighting for playoff positioning. In addition, two of those matches are on the road, where the team has had mixed fortunes this season.
As things currently stand, according to MLS’ official web site, Real would face Sporting KC in the knockout round of the playoffs. While the rivalry aspect of that matchup might be appealing, SKC’s recent form makes it less so than other potential opponents.
Can RSL pull off another grand swing of form of its own and get back to the winning ways that briefly had the team in the Supporters Shield conversation? If not, it will be a disappointing end to what was a promising 2016 season.
Real Salt Lake
