Everybody Sucks - Sometimes

Remember that nine game match of struggle? There weren't any back-to-back losses in it, and there were a smattering of US Open Cup wins, but it wasn't good. It was pointed out that each of the last four Supporters' Shield winners went through similar stretches as the Seattle Sounders, though the Galaxy never lasted as long.

This season one need only look at Real Salt Lake to see another long stretch of suck. Since their Open Cup loss to the Minnesota Stars they have only 2 wins (Portland & Chivas) and 1 tie (2-5-1 including Cup match). They've racked up four losses since. In RSL's last 6 they've earned only 4 points with a negative six goal differential. The Sounders in their 9 match MLS winless stretch had only Open Cup wins (but 1 of those was against San Jose) and in all competitions were 3-4-5. Both sides had poor stretches, but things aren't bad in Utah.

They are not a bad team. Jason Kreis is not in danger of losing his job. This is MLS and the margins are quite tight. Even the worst teams go on winning streaks. The best fail for stretches. Sometimes it is due to injury, others due to travel, others do to fixture congestion, but the fact is even good teams drop points. Right now that team is Salt Lake. At the start of the season it was the LA Galaxy.

Maybe REM said it best - "Everybody hurts"

Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes