For different stretches of the season, Real Salt Lake has looked somewhat inconsistent. While the attack has had its starts and stops and the defense has found an occasional rhythm, they both have struggled to build those aspects for an extended period of time.
As it turns out, much of that has to do with consistent personnel availability for Head Coach Jeff Cassar.
Dealing just with the attack – which has just one goal in the last four matches – RSL has one of the most dangerous foursomes in the league with Javier Morales pulling the strings behind Juan Manuel Martinez, Yura Movsisyan and Joao Plata. When that foursome plays together, RSL not only finds the net with much more ease, but also has better defensive numbers as well, as Salt Lake is better able to possess the ball. Those numbers become even more pronounced when focusing on the forward trio of Martinez, Movsisyan and Plata.
When you look back at Real Salt Lake’s hot start to the season, going an unbeaten 4-0-2 in the first six matches, one common theme in five of those six matches was the presence of the forward trio. Those matches included three home wins over the Seattle Sounders, Colorado Rapids and Vancouver Whitecaps, with the final two matches ending in 1-0 shutouts for the Claret-and-Cobalt.
When that trio starts together, Real Salt Lake is 9-2-7. In the 1,526 minutes they have logged as a unit, RSL has outscored the opposition 24-14 for an average of 1.41-0.83 goals per 90 minutes. When any member of that trio is not on the field, RSL has been outscored 19-30, trailing the opposition 1.26-1.99 goals per 90 minutes.
That difference is profound and while Cassar tries to find the right formula for success when he has to use his depth, the fact remains that the top group is the top group for a reason and when they are unleashed, RSL is still a veritable force.
