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Real Salt Lake re-signs Jamison Olave

Jamison Olave (ISIphotos.com)

                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

Real Salt Lake has re-signed Colombian defender Jamison Olave to a new contract that will keep him with RSL through the 2012 season.

Olave started 23 games for Real Salt Lake after coming over from Deportivo Cali, scoring two goals and providing an imposing presence in the back alongside fellow center back Nat Borchers.

Olave joins Javier Morales among the players to sign new deals with Real Salt Lake.

What do you think of the news? Like the idea of Olave signing long-term? Think he makes too many crucial mistakes? Do you think he is one of the better center backs in MLS?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Olave is an absolute stud and is absolutely one of the best center backs in MLS if not the best. His physical tools are truly unmatched with his size and pace. For those of you that don’t get the chance to see RSL much, he truly is a joy to watch. Yes he has made some mistakes and many of those are communication related with his teammates. I expect those to improve the more he plays with the same guys. I love the combination of Borchers and Olave.

    Just on an RSL note, I would love to see them actually trade Rimando and start the Seitz era in Salt Lake. He could be a valuable trading chip right now and Seitz is more athletic and much bigger. RSL allowed some soft goals this year due to Rimando’s lack of height.

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  2. Olave made more clutch plays, saves and covers than he did bad plays. He was an excellent addition and one of the most intimidating defenders in the league.

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  3. Rimando is protected. According to the Salt Lake Tribune ” It originally said it planned to leave starting goalkeeper Nick Rimando unprotected, as well, but changed its mind – after the announced deadline, and barely 30 minutes before the league planned to release every team’s list – and exposed young midfielder Nathan Sturgis, instead.”

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  4. Olave is definitely one of the better center backs in MLS, and should be an anchor for RSL. Obviously that may not be much of an accomplishment since much of the MLS defending is ghastly.

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  5. Fantastic signing for RSL. Basically guarantees them a solid defense through 2012. Good to see RSL committing to a group of players that they want long term.

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  6. Leaving Rimando unprotected is not very smart for RSL. Seattle could easily pick him up and deal him to LA for extra draft picks or allocation money.

    Didn’t RSL make the mistake of losing all their goalkeepers just two seasons ago?

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  7. Great signing. Sure he’s made a few mistakes, some crucial, but I don’t think there’s been enough of them this season to suggest a troubling pattern. I’m confident he can cut down on the mental mistakes. He made plenty of smart decisions this season as well to keep his team in games. And yeah, he’s one of the better center backs in the league.

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  8. Great signing. Sure he’s made a few mistakes, some crucial, but I don’t think there’s been enough of them this season to suggest a troubling pattern. I’m confident he can cut down on the mental mistakes. He made plenty of smart decisions this season as well to keep his team in games. And yeah, he’s one of the better center backs in the league.

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  9. RSL also left starting goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Andy Williams unprotected and vulnerable to the expansion draft Wednesday that will help stock the new Seattle Sounders franchise that begins play in MLS next season. The team was allowed to protect only 11 players. It can lose no more than one of them to the Sounders.

    With the league having eliminated the reserve division and reduced roster sizes from 28 to 24 players for next season, RSL also released midfielder Kenny Cutler and defender Dustin Kirby. Cutler was one of the few remaining original RSL players, but played only 11 games in his career, while Kirby played only briefly in one game.

    Coach Jason Kreis knew he was going to risk losing a player he liked “very, very much,” and the exposure of Rimando and Williams represents a hope that the Sounders will pass on them – Rimando because the Sounders already have signed veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller, and Williams in deference to his family’s medical situation.

    His wife, Marcia, is battling leukemia and needs a bone-marrow transplant.

    Five others – midfielder Dema Kovalenko, forwards Clint Mathis and Kenny Deuchar, and defenders Ian Joy Dustin Horst – were left unprotected, too, but the big news was the definitive moves.

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  10. I think Olave is the most intimidating centerback in the league. RSL players will never get the credit/recognition they deserve (0 players in this years all star team, Morales being snubbed mvp/best XI)…

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  11. Great re-sign! Do you know any of the particulars of the deal? I heard that his buyout was pretty hefty! Alongside Borchers, Wingert & Russell i think we have the best back line in the league. I think we need to let Rimando go and bring in Seitz.

    RSL 09′ Champions

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  12. Ives, when will we be able to find out teams’ expansion draft protected players list? Does the MLS make it public knowledge or do the teams? Mostly I just care about the RBNY list.

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  13. who cares! is the expansion list out yet?!?!? sorry, excited ssfc fan here. great job as always ives, i think olave is a good signing.

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