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Real Salt Lake had plenty of missed chances

Disappointed | 5:41 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

If you'd said before the season that RSL would even end up with 40 pts and more losses than wins (again), everybody would have said that's not acceptable. Yet here they are, struggling to be only slightly worse than last season and get into the playoffs by the luckiest of circumstances. Five years without a winning season must set a record for failure among MLS expansion teams. Why is losing so ingrained in this organization?

Anonymous | 5:43 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Love this team. But they need to start winning (especially on the road). Let's face it, its not all that tough to make the MLS playoffs. And playoff games are important to developing our fan base. Perhaps we need to take a closer look at what Seattle is doing.

Vince Clortho | 6:10 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

As I've mentioned before, RSL is not far off from being a part of the top tier in MLS, they have generally competed well, which is more than I can say for anything previous to last season. What they lack that the top teams have is the ability to get draws on the road and hold on to close games. There are many specifics that one could mention, but the fact is RSL has gotten more shots off this season than any other team, a little better finishing and ohhhhh...so close....@ Toronto is a prime example...placement instead of power probably nets us 3 goals....Oh well, it's been a fun season and I will be @ the RioT for the conclusion!?

Comments continue below

Chaco | 7:45 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

IMHO - none of these games mentioned are as haunting as any of the numerous road losses!

Chadders | 10:11 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

The games that might cost us the playoffs are vs LA, @ Chivas, vs Kansas City, @ DC,@ San Jose, vs Colorado, @Houston, vs San Jose, @ Chicago, vs Houston, vs Chicago, @ Houston and @ Toronto. You can make a pretty decent argument we should could/should have won any of those games. I just hope that as a minimum we can keep Colorado out of the playoffs again. Plus if we win by 3 goals we win the Rocky Mountain Cup again. Who says we haven't won a trophy yet? See eveyone at the RioT (except you todd)

tod to chadders | 11:51 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

I will meet you one day. If i get money or can get there one day I will go. I will watch on tv and think of the loyal REAL fans and wish for good continued health and hope there is lots of happiness we can discuss after SUnday.

Take Care!!!!

Of course we can all meet whoever comes down here for a Chivas or Galaxy games, I good sports establishments el closo I can recommend

Chadders | 12:30 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

todd I doubt I'll be able to come down to LA if we play Chivas or the Galaxy, I'm just a poor kinda newlywed. If RSL makes it and does the bus thing again *maybe* the wife and I could come. I can't believe how far Landycakes has come but I'm glad he won the Honda award. He was kind of a jerk before, but has really grown up this year. I look at the teams we are battling for the last playoff spots and we definetely deserve it more. I think a lot of teams already in (Houston, Colombus, Chivas) would hate to play us.

Might as well... | 2:55 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Well RSL folks,

With things going as bad as they are I think the best thing to do is close-up shop and cut your losses. We'll forgive the stadium debt if you just donate it to a local school district as a high-school football venue. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Re: Might as well... | 3:32 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Given the irreversible demographic change in the US I suspect that most NFL stadiums will be used by MLS teams. There are more males under 21 playing soccer now in the US than American football or baseball. I found exact stats using Google in less than 15 seconds.

The three biggest school districts in California claim more soccer players than American football players at the high school level. Even in Plano Texas the largest high school's homecoming game was a soccer game this year instead of American football. That was the result of a student vote. Texas!! American football used to be THE game there. Times are a changin' my friend.

By the way, look up FOOTBALL on Wikipedia and see which sport comes up.

World's Game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chadders | 3:32 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

The haters kill me. How long did it take for the Jazz to have a proper stadium? How many years were the Jazz here before they could get over 10k fans to a game? How long before they hosted an All-Star game? Did you know that Rio Tinto holds more people than Radium Stadium? We are 5 years in and have over 16k fans a game average. That is pretty dang good. Next years attendance will probably go up, because of lowered ticket prices. Might as well give up the fight and actually come out this Saturday night. You might even *GASP* like soccer!!! Might as well.

todd from santa ana | 3:51 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

The jazz needed a few years to average over 10k a game like 5 i think and it was in the 12 thousand seat Salt Palace

Utah Jazz Attendance | 4:12 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Year Total Avg
2008-09 816,042 19,903
2007-08 816,211 19,907
2006-07 802,294 19,568
2005-06 751,621 18,332
2004-05 769,014 18,756
2003-04 785,570 19,160
2002-03 786,034 19,172
2001-02 766,108 18,686
2000-01 792,196 19,322
1999-00 801,268 19,543
1998-99 493,120 19,725
1997-98 815,889 19,900
1996-97 813,073 19,831
1995-96 813,073 19,831
1994-95 811,159 19,784
1993-94 814,502 19,866
1992-93 815,892 19,900
1991-92 806,653 19,674
1990-91 514,751 12,555
1989-90 517,256 12,616
1988-89 509,501 12,427
1987-88 503,969 12,292
1986-87 491,382 11,985
1985-86 477,842 11,655
1984-85 373,808 9,117
1983-84 407,818 9,947
1982-83 355,819 8,679
1981-82 313,864 7,655
1980-81 307,825 7,508
1979-80 320,649 7,821

RSL Attendance | 4:15 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Year regular season/playoff attendance
2005: 18,037/missed playoffs
2006: 16,366/missed playoffs
2007: 15,960/missed playoffs
2008: 16,179/19,632

agreed | 8:20 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

For me it's the shameful road games that put is in this hole!

Stat Check? | 8:31 a.m. Oct. 23, 2009

I heard a stat the other day which, at first, shocked me...but then I started wondering.

They said that RSL had only won 4 games on the road in their entire history. It still seems low to me, but maybe they're right.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

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Real Salt Lake had plenty of missed chances