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When does a misstep become a trend? When does that trend become a way of life?
Real Salt Lake coaches are calling for a refocus of discipline and leadership.
RSL's four-game losing streak has been lowlighted by moments of inconsistent play not seen since 2007 — red cards, own goals, a lack of defensive cohesion."We have been a little undisciplined, whether it has been on set plays or not focusing on the details and again with the red card, with not defending the set play well, silly foul that leads to the set play," RSL assistant coach Jeff Cassar said after Thursday's 3-0 embarrassment at Vancouver. "What we need is a good week of training to prepare for Colorado."Those comments sound a little bit like someone whistling in the dark while walking past a cemetery, hoping the distraction will keep the scary things away. It will take a good deal more than a week's training to refocus what was once thought to be an elite MLS team. Elite teams don't lose 4-of-5 games, win five straight then lose four in a row. The red cards have come in victories as well as losses."It is concerning," Cassar said. "But we feel we have the leadership in the locker room to overcome that."It's time for that leadership to assert itself.