Let's be honest. At times during the off-season, the inevitability of March 17 seemed less so. It was a distant date that couldn't come soon enough, but a distant date all the same.
Never mind that, though. March 17, as you'd expect in a world dictated by rules (rules, man), has come at long last.
And with it? Well, let's see. Something important, I think. Was it a birthday? A friend's wedding? A … Oh, why do I try. It is, of course, the home opener today, and that's a bit exciting, isn't it?
When last season ended, we didn't expect that we'd be unified in singing a new anthem. We didn't expect that we'd be singing the praises of a rookie with a rat tail from junior college. (The rookie, I mean. The rat tail's from his head.) We didn't expect (there's only one) Andy Williams to retire from the beautiful game.
In short, this season's about as unexpected as you can get. Not that it's starting (that was rather inevitable, despite my intimation that I perhaps thought it wasn't) but that it's finally here. After an ending that, let's face it, stung a bit, we've roared back to life. With renewed vigor, we're setting out on a mission to make known our place at the very top of the league.
* * *
A match preview, you say? Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea.
I could talk a bit about New York — did you know they haven't picked up three points against us since before Thierry Henry came to the league? — but I'm afraid it would all look like that. And as much as I love numbers and statistics, things like that do sort of ignore the reality of things at times. If I were more knowledgable about the Red Bulls, I'd perhaps talk about the things that matter: Their tactics, their squad, their recent results.
But as it stands, I'm rather singularly focused on Real Salt Lake — just as the rest of you — and I can't speak entirely much to the enemy. I will leave that to the professionals.
So on to us, eh?
After our excellent match against the Galaxy, I'd imagine we'll continue in that vein. You know: Excellent passing, good awareness, intelligent play. That stuff we're made of.
* * *
Let's just go through the lineup. I'm struggling with anything that requires more than a little bit of attention, as I'm anxious about this match. Not the result, but just that it happens.
At the back, Nick Rimando will make his usual appearance as our goalkeeping leader. Could we ask for a better keeper for our side? He may not be seven feet tall, but he's got a leap to make up for it, his awareness is essential, and his work with his feet is as good as most midfielders.
In front of Nick, we have our first two question marks. Our first-choice lineup is undoubtedly Wingert-BORLAAAAVEEEE-Beltran, but both Beltran and the Bor are in doubt. Wingert on the left is likely a lock, and I reckon Nat Borchers will perhaps be on the bench, but Chris Schuler should get the start there. There's no reason, I will continue to maintain, to take a risk with the fitness of a key player at this early time in the season. Olave's also a lock, and next to him… I'd put money on Tony Beltran recovering just in time. He looked ready to go during training, and while I'm no expert in fitness and training, I'll say that I think he could start.
In the midfield, Kyle Beckerman will continue captaining the side as ably as he ever does. Ahead of him, another question mark: Will Johnson is certainly still out, despite taking strides in his training, and Jonny Steele's still not yet ready as far as I know. As unlikely as it seemed when he signed him, Sebastian Velasquez is in contention for a start. That's right: the junior college kid who seemed more a project than a player for the present is likely to start. And it's not out of emergency, but because he's showed skill, technique and a calm beyond his years. I'd also suspect that Luis Gil will start over Javier Morales while Javier continues his work toward full fitness, and Ned Grabavoy should quite handily start on the right.
Up front, I'm inclined to think that Alvaro Saborio is ready to go, leading him to partner Fabian Espindola in attack. While I like Paulo Jr., I'm not certain he's the one to partner Fabian — our shape drops inward a bit and we're left with less of an outlet during possession.
Let's wrap that up:
Rimando
Beltran - Olave - Schuler - Wingert
Grabavoy - Beckerman - Velasquez
Gil
Espindola - Saborio
So, are you ready? Let's go. Come on you Claret and Cobalt!
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