GM Sets Magic Number at 43 Points
The way general manager Garth Lagerwey views it, RSL is going to need 43 points to make the playoffs again.
And that's all he cares about.
“It doesn't matter how anyone else does,” he said. “I don't care what place we're in. I don't care who wins. I don't care who ties. I don't care what happens with teams, at all — in any way, shape or form. I care if we get to 43 points.”
Considering that RSL is sitting on 23 points with a dozen games remaining — half at home — that means the team must get at least two points from its final six road games, starting at Chicago on Saturday night. And that's only if it wins all six remaining home games.
In all likelihood, it will need more than just two points on the road, which isn't the most re-assuring prospect, given that the team is just 1-6-2 for five points away from Rio Tinto Stadium so far. It has never won in Chicago, either, though Lagerwey believes it can change that.
“Clearly, we're going to get more points at home than we're going to get on the road,” he said. “But if you look at this in the way I hope our players do, when you go on the road to Chicago, it's a real opportunity, because the media and the fans don't expect us to get a point. And if we can get a win in Chicago — and I think we're fully capable of getting a win in Chicago — now you're setting yourself up really well for what are going to be two very difficult home games” against Seattle and Houston.
The team has gone 3-1-3 in the league since ending its seven-game winless streak, though, which is a pace that would be just barely good enough to reach 43 for the season. And although the recent exhibition victory over Mexico's Club America doesn't count in the league standings, Lagerwey views it as a further indication that the team is playing well, overall.
“Nobody counts that,” he said, “but we at least put on a quality performance and didn't do anything stupid.”
And that's all he cares about.
“It doesn't matter how anyone else does,” he said. “I don't care what place we're in. I don't care who wins. I don't care who ties. I don't care what happens with teams, at all — in any way, shape or form. I care if we get to 43 points.”
Considering that RSL is sitting on 23 points with a dozen games remaining — half at home — that means the team must get at least two points from its final six road games, starting at Chicago on Saturday night. And that's only if it wins all six remaining home games.
In all likelihood, it will need more than just two points on the road, which isn't the most re-assuring prospect, given that the team is just 1-6-2 for five points away from Rio Tinto Stadium so far. It has never won in Chicago, either, though Lagerwey believes it can change that.
“Clearly, we're going to get more points at home than we're going to get on the road,” he said. “But if you look at this in the way I hope our players do, when you go on the road to Chicago, it's a real opportunity, because the media and the fans don't expect us to get a point. And if we can get a win in Chicago — and I think we're fully capable of getting a win in Chicago — now you're setting yourself up really well for what are going to be two very difficult home games” against Seattle and Houston.
The team has gone 3-1-3 in the league since ending its seven-game winless streak, though, which is a pace that would be just barely good enough to reach 43 for the season. And although the recent exhibition victory over Mexico's Club America doesn't count in the league standings, Lagerwey views it as a further indication that the team is playing well, overall.
“Nobody counts that,” he said, “but we at least put on a quality performance and didn't do anything stupid.”
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 12:10 PM |
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