Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
With captain Kyle Beckerman out for tonight's decisive game 2 of the CONCACAF Champions League Final, Real Salt Lake has a few line up options to consider. The one they choose depends on what strategy Head Coach Jason Kreis wants to implement.
Option 1
Put Ned Grabavoy into Beckerman's position. Ned is not the biggest player, but he plays big and fights for possession. Grabavoy would be an offensive asset as he loves to push up and hang around the top of the goal box. It can make him dangerous if you leave him alone and he can service the ball in for the forwards. However, his defense isn't quite what Beckerman brings to the table.
Related:
What is this CONCACAF game all about?
It is a very big day for Real Salt Lake and its fans, as they take on the club from Monterrey, Mexico in the final leg of the CONCACAF Champions League. But, do non-soccer fans really know what this game is all about?Option 2
If possession is the game then Andy Williams is the man for the job. The slick Jamaican has been so consistent since he's been at RSL that you know what he will bring night in and night out. He moves the ball around just like Beckerman, and though he doesn't fight for the ball like Grabavoy or Kyle, he can pass the ball as good as anyone. Going with Williams would be a defensive advantage because he tends to hang back on attacks and work the middle of the field.
Option 3
The third option would be to slide the wing players into the middle. Grabavoy and Williams usually trade playing time, but to put Will Johnson on the interior and keep Andy or Ned outside would be a purely offensive move and could put a lot more pressure on the defenders. Morales will be up top as the play maker, but getting the ball to him will be the midfielders duties. If Johnson can push the ball up field then he will be able to shift towards the front. That could be a gamble because Johnson probably covers more ground during the game than any other player on the field, which could wear him out faster.
Option 4
Option 4 is highly unlikely and more of a fantasy option for me. Play Arturo Alvarez in the middle and keep Johnson outside and have Grabavoy start. Alvarez fights for the ball, an offensive move which I think is more important in the first half of this game. He would push the ball and with that lineup you would have a lot of fire power on the field. Even if you decide to use Williams outside instead of Grabavoy, you still have quality people manning the positions. Alvarez has played midfield before )not sure on Holding Midfield which is a very specific position to master). This all depends on if RSL has practiced such a situation, which is why I call it a fantasy option.
What Jason Kreis starts with at the beginning of the game will tell you what strategies he wants to come out with.
It is a guarantee that the players will play with a chip on their shoulders, and I would be shocked if they play defensive coming out of the gates.
