With the MLS season half over, and after making several changes, Real Salt Lake have had the benefit a pair of exhibitions to act as a mini-preseason before they embark on the latter half of their league schedule.
In facing English Premier League side Everton on Saturday, and most recently Argentinean power Boca Juniors on Tuesday, RSL was able to adjust combinations of players who worked well together and also provide an opportunity for players to get time with the first team.
At times, with certain groups playing so well together, head coach Jason Kreis was torn between giving playing time to some reserves and letting a working combination of players show what they can do.
"We're very pleased with the progress that has been made over the past few weeks," said Kreis. "We're very pleased with the way we've played in these last two friendlies. In some ways it would have been nice have left that group on and seen what they could have done through out the 90 minutes. But, we have to be focused on the second half of the season in MLS.
"It's a young group. It's a group that needs more experience, that need more first-team time. It was a good opportunity for them, and a good learning experience."
The first half of the season RSL would rather forget. Going 1-8-6 before the All-Star break has left the players and coaches looking to the future rather than dwelling on the past.
"We're looking forward to our new season starting on Saturday," said RSL defender Chris Lancos.
Boca Juniors were a stern test for Real before launching into their "new" season next week. The Argentinean club most recently won the honor of the best club in South America by winning the Copa Libertadores.
The visitors controlled much of the tempo of the match, especially in the second half. But, it was the home side that were able to score first.
Fresh off his success with the U.S. U-20 national team at the World Cup in Canada, Freddy Adu singlehandedly created his own chance from the penalty spot.
In the 48th minute, Adu received the ball from Kyle Beckerman. The young RSL attacker went at the Boca defense, slipping through three defenders before being brought down. Adu stepped to the spot to take his own penalty and buried his chance.
"I saw three guys in front of me," said Adu, "and I figured, 'Hey, if you don't try it you're never going to know the outcome.' So, I figured that I was just going to go for it and I was able to get by three guys and the last guy knocked me down and we were able to get a PK out of it."
Rather than playing in his customary left-wing role, Adu lined up more toward the center and was very involved in the action whenever Real were charging toward goal. Adu was happy to be in his more natural role in the attack.
"I played pretty much the same position I played with the U-20s," said Adu. "That was great, being a second forward, attacking midfielder-type guy. Going back to receive the ball, get it, turn and go at people. That's always been my natural position.
"But, somewhere along the way when I came into the league I started playing left mid. And I still don't know how that whole thing got started. But, hopefully I'll be able to get more chances at that position because I definitely feel more comfortable there."
Putting Adu in a more comfortable position is only one of the adjustments that Kreis was playing with on the night. His ultimate goal is to get the right group who are comfortable with their roles. Because Kreis knows that he can get the most from his players and his team when they're comfortable.
"You have to judge the group," said Kreis. "To look at your players and asses their strengths and weaknesses and figure out a system that they will feel comfortable in. In the end, players crave comfort. When they're in a role that they feel comfortable in they can play well."
RSL did well to come out of the second-half onslaught with a tie. As Lancos said, Boca brought very high pressure on both sides of the ball.
"We brought some pretty good intensity on defense because we had to, they had the ball most of the second half," said Lancos. "They pretty much brought their aggression. Every time they lost the ball they were much more aggressive on defense. And then when they had the ball they really opened the whole field up. They played touchline to touchline -- played really quickly - -and made it really hard for us to defend. It seemed like we had to cover a lot of ground -- a lot more ground in the second half."
League play resumes on Saturday for Salt Lake as New England make their only visit to Rice-Eccles Stadium this year. After their results against Everton and Boca Juniors, Kreis is optimistic about their chances for the rest of the season.
"We have to take a lot of confidence; we have to take a lot of self-belief out of these games," said Kreis. "We need to really believe that we have a good group of guys and a good team that should be competing. And we feel like maybe the tide is turning for us. We'll see Saturday night."
Scott McAllister is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
