Tag Archives: Tyler Rosenlund

Postgame Thoughts: Rochester Outclassed by Orlando Again

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During the first half, it was hard to believe that the Rhinos were the home team.  Orlando easily passed around and through the center of the field as if the Rochester midfielders never showed up to the game.  Depending on how you count the Rhinos’ 4-4-1-1 formation, the team plays five midfielders; on Friday night it looked like they played two in the midfield.

Danny Earls was playing in center midfield alongside Tyler Rosenlund.  Earls has been highly effective for the Rhinos this year, but only when he plays on the left wing.  Head coach Jesse Myers plays Earls inside because the team lacks a playmaking midfielder.  Myers thinks Earls can better help the team with his passing ability inside rather than providing a consistent threat down the outside.

Tyler Rosenlund’s only consistent characteristics this season have been to misplace simple passes and easy traps.  Having the first touch of a rhinoceros doesn’t necessarily mean Rosenlund should start games for the Rochester Rhinos.  Rosenlund can’t pass, trap, tackle or score.  He offers nothing to the team except as a scapegoat for criticism.  It boggles my mind that the coaching staff hasn’t been able to figure out a winning midfield combination.  In the five months since the players first started playing together for the 2012 season, Jesse Myers hasn’t yet realized that he needs a player who can pass and a player who can tackle in his midfield. Continue reading →

Rhinos Were Flat in 2-1 Home Loss to Harrisburg

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Disclaimer: I wrote this piece when I got home from the match Saturday night while I was still angry so it’s pretty critical of a lot of people.

Rochester Rhinos didn’t show up for the first half of Saturday’s game.  Kristian Nicht definitely earned his paycheck by coming up huge when the game opened up in the second half.  Looking at the tactical decisions, it seemed head coach Jesse Myers was managing the game from his armchair at home.  Meanwhile Lucky Mkosana stole the show scoring his second goal against Rochester in as many games and setting up the winner for Drew Yates.

Rhinos lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with a few headscratchers.  Because Drew Cost is still injured, Myers tried to use Earls in that playmaking midfield role.  You may remember Earls dropping deep in the center to receive the ball in the match against Philadelphia.  On paper this made a bit of sense but more importantly it allowed Michael Tanke to operate as a ball winner.  Tanke was constantly closing down opponents and putting his body on the line to make hard tackles.  This midfield tandem also freed up Tyler Rosenlund to push forward.

Because Earls moved into the center of the field, Quavas Kirk pushed up from defense to play right midfield.  Argentine defender Lucas Fernandez stepped into the backline with Tyler Bellamy, Troy Roberts, and Jack Traynor.  J.C. Banks was solid playing on the left side but Traynor’s fragility forced him to defend more than he was used to.  Tam McManus started the game as a lone forward but didn’t get any service and was forced to drop deep to receive the ball in midfield.

Saturday night’s match was very disappointing.  Rhinos were outplayed at home and didn’t do much to deserve anything from the match.  Were it not for a handful of highlight reel saves by Kristian Nicht, Rochester would have suffered a much more embarrassing scoreline.  Driving home with my girlfriend and two buddies, no one said much of anything.  Someone remarked that none of us had seen the Rhinos win a league game this season because we were all still at our respective colleges when the team beat Charlotte in early May.  In case it’s not apparent yet, this is unacceptable given how much talent this team has. Continue reading →

Rhinos Squeak by Dayton to Finish Their Road Trip A Perfect 3-0

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The Rhinos took advantage of a defensive blunder by the Dayton Dutch Lions to steal three points in a drab and dreary USL-Pro match on Saturday night.  Neither team really deserved to win this match, but J.C. Banks was on hand to capitalize on a truly dreadful back pass debacle.

The Rhinos started Kristian Nicht in goal; Quavas Kirk, George Kyriazis, Troy Roberts, and Jack Traynor in the back; Danny Earls on the right, J.C. Banks out left, Drew Cost and Tyler Rosenlund in the middle; with Tam McManus playing behind Graciano Brito.

The Dayton Dutch Lions ran out the same lineup they used in their previous two league matches. Matthew Williams; Gregory Preciado, Nixon Dias, Mettin Copier, and Shane Smith; Joel DeLass, Mikael McNamara, and Kyle Knotek; Gibson Bardsley, Gerrit-Jan Bartels, and Akeem Priestley.

In the first half, the Rhinos seemed to struggle with the advanced wing-play from Dayton’s wide forwards Gibson Bardsley and Akeem Priestley.  Rochester seemed content to sit back, soak up pressure and exploit counter attacks.  However, no counter attacks were forthcoming and the Dutch Lions could not put together a final ball.  In fact, both teams were spraying sloppy passes and slicing shots well wide of the goal in the first 45 minutes.  The referee’s whistle came as a relief for the spectators much more so than for the players of either side. Continue reading →

Rhinos Find a Way Past the L.A. Blues Again

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The Rhinos went into Titan Stadium at Cal State Fullerton hoping to take a point away from the L.A. Blues.  Instead of settling for a draw, the team exploded out of the half time break and notched two quick goals in the first 11 minutes of the second half.  Despite defending heavily, Rochester remained dangerous on counter attacks and continued to press for a third goal when they had possession.  This victory moves the team to 2-0 on the early season, which Jeff DiVeronica revealed on Twitter is the first time the Rhinos have accomplished this feat since 2006.  Not only that, but the Rhinos picked up 6 points on the road from one of the pre-season favorites in USL-Pro.

The Los Angeles play-by-play analyst Marc Serber (@SoccerSerber) was fantastic throughout the match.  But onto the actual game..

The Rhinos lined up in the same 4-5-1/4-4-1-1 with Tam McManus playing in the hole.  Kristian Nicht started behind a back line of Jack Traynor, Troy Roberts, George Kyriazis, and Quavas Kirk.  J.C. Banks and Danny Earls again started on the wings, while Tyler Rosenlund and Drew Cost combined in the center of midfield.  Graciano Brito was the lone man up top.

Kirk was determined to be fit after coming off with a knock late in the first match, but the 32 old year Greek central defender replaced the injured Tyler Bellamy for his first league start as a Rhino.

Los Angeles started in the same formation they played last week, a 4-5-1 that transitions to a 4-3-3.  Starting from the goalkeeper, the Blues’ starters were: Jose Miranda; Sunyhung Cho, Carlos Borja, Ebrima Jatta, Bryan Burke; Erlys Garcia, Irving Garcia, Ricky Waddell; George Davis IV, Brian Farber, and Matt Fondy. Continue reading →

Rhinos Top Binghamton University 4-0 in Preseason as More Trialists Feature

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Tam McManus, seen here celebrating a goal for Dunfermline Athletic, got on the score sheet for Rochester in the 6th minute

Rochester Rhinos head coach Jesse Myers started a full strength side against the Binghamton University Bearcats on Saturday morning at Sahlen’s Stadium.  Kristian Nicht started between the pipes and did well to maintain his concentration during the shut-out.  The back four looked like the starting contingent going forward.  Jack Traynor started on the left while Quavas Kirk played on the right.  Troy Roberts partnered Tyler Bellamy in the center of defense as he did much of last season.  The midfield showed some very promising attacking potential for 2012.  J.C. Banks started on the left wing, trialist Danny Earls played on the right flank, while Drew Cost and Tyler Rosenlund played centrally.  Having two highly capable wingers proved a plus for Rochester as they were able to attack from either side.  Tam McManus played as a withdrawn forward with Graciano Brito as the point man of the attack.

The formation could have been a traditional 4-4-2, or a 4-2-3-1 with advanced wingers, but the team most likely operated as a 4-4-1-1.  Scottish forward Tam McManus is the self-proclaimed “number 10″ for the Rhinos and likes to pop into spaces and exchange quick passes.The first half was largely the Danny Earls show and I fully expect his effort to be rewarded with a contract.  The Irish trialist had two assists to set up Tam McManus and J.C. Banks in the opening quarter of an hour. Continue reading →

Rochester Rhinos: Preseason Preview

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One week from today, on March 18, the Rochester (formerly Raging) Rhinos officially kick off their preseason when they take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Peters Township High School in Pittsburgh.  The Rhinos then host five games at Sahlen’s Stadium against 4 colleges and the Montreal Impact u21 side.  The team looks solid in 10 positions on the field to me, and the team is only one of two signings away from the most attractive team to play in Rochester in ten or so years.

The goalkeeping situation got a whole lot more convincing with the addition of Kristian Nicht.  Nicht, 29, will likely be the starter for the Rhinos while 22 year old rookie Brandon Miller will deputize and look to excel in the newly formatted U.S. Open Cup.  Only the Los Angeles Blues boast a goalkeeper with close to the same pedigree and international club experience as Nicht, in Mexican veteran Oscar Duatt.

Below is a rundown of the rest of the roster and my confidence in each position. Continue reading →

Rhinos Postseason Update: November 29

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On 11/21/2011 the team announced that it had re-signed Tyler Rosenlund.  With experience in Europe and with Toronto FC in MLS, 25 year old Canadian Rosenlund is a young veteran presence in the Rhinos’ midfield.  2011 team MVP, “Rosie” is the driver of Rochester’s attack and a great addition to the 2012 squad.

“Signing Tyler was an important objective when I took the position because he is the engine in our midfield.” Rhinos Head Coach Jesse Myers said to Democrat and Chronicle’s Jeff DiVeronica.  “Tyler is a very good player with MLS and international experience.” Continue reading →

Rhinos; A Class Above

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On Friday night at Sahlen’s Stadium, Rochester Rhinos had the clear advantage against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.  A meager but vocal 3273 supporters saw their beloved Rhinos completely overrun their opponents in the divisional semifinals of the 2011 USL Pro playoffs.  The first five or six minutes were of the ulcer inducing dreadful kind as Pittsburgh maintained possession and passed in neat triangles against the Rhinos, however that remained their only meaningful action for the whole 90 plus 3 minutes.

The Rhinos lined up in the familiar 4-5-1 formation with Tyler Rosenlund playing the attacking midfield position tucked in behind Issac Kissi.  J.C. Banks was again the man of the match for me.  Playing on the left wing, Banks played in a ball that tall center forward Isaac Kissi nodded down into the path of onrushing Tyler Rosenlund who deftly chipped it over the Pittsburgh goalkeeper in the tenth minute. Continue reading →