Defending MLS champion Real Salt Lake head into 2010 having lost just one key player from its title team in Yura Movsisyan, but took a major step toward replacing him with the acquisition of Costa Rican national team striker Alvaro Saborio.
RSL announced the signing of Saborio on Friday evening. He is currently with RSL in Charleston ahead of the Carolina Challenge Cup.
U.S. national team fans will remember Saborio as the dangerous striker who tormented the United States in Costa's Rica's 3-1 World Cup qualifying win in San Jose last June. Now, he will team up with Robbie Findley to form one of the best forward tandems in MLS.
What do you think of the signing? See it as a major step toward RSL repeating? Still not convinced Jason Kreis' team can do it again?
Share your thoughts below.
Roy Miller, Costa Rican also, signed with NY. He’s gonna be an impact defender.
Well said. I think things were looking shaky up front after losing Movsisyan, but this guy seems like he could be…wait for it…a better player than Yura ever will be. There it is, I’ve put it out on the table. I like the prospects of RSL going all the way, with the crucial factor being whether or not they show up “on the road.” Fix that and they’ll have the supporters shield and the cup in 2010. Great move RSL. Here’s to the league not being as boneheaded at the end of March as they are being now. I fully support the PU for taking a stand for basic rights. It will be good for the league however they arrive at an agreement.
Findley is OK. Findley did not prove he could be one of the top scoreres though he did have a fine season. He is severely lacking in technical ability though.
Saborio reminds me of Andy Herron. And so far he is proven just as much as Herron has.
if this season every actually happens i see a lot of goals across the league. it seems like this offseason a lot more offensive talent has been brought in and defense isn’t really the focus. feel free to correct me but off the top of my head i can’t really think of any impact defenders being brought in.
great signing, but this story is irrelevant unless the league and the players agree to a deal asap. the cheap-skate republicans who run the mls need to fork out the cash already. it’s not as though the players’ demands are outrageous.
Especially without Donovan when he leaves after the WC. hahah funny!
Yeah who cares about the name. People have this idea that cherished old things had more pure or organic roots without any $ presence. Just that no one remembers. I’ve read about a lot of old club names that came about from financial or marketing reasons. Off the top of my head, the Orient in England’s Leyton Orient came from the Orient Shipping Company. Whatever the name is, it will start to be associated with the positive fan experience
RSL can repeat but it’s far from a sure thing. What is sure is that Jason Kries is as gritty a coach as he was a player. He’s molded this team into his own image with a strong midfield, scorers upfront (the Saborio deal makes this offense much more potent) and an improved defense. This team was more balanced than LA last year and that is why they were able to keep things even in mls cup before winning yet another penalty contest behind Nick Romando’s inspired goal keeping.
John is good player and McBride is serviceable but we’re talking two pure goal scorers with speed and youth. Findley proved he can be one of the top scorers in mls last year and Saborio proved he can score anywhere he’s been.
GREAT move for RSL. This is exactly the kind of foreign player MLS needs to go after.
I suppose Saborio will be one more vote against the strike too! Next vote is 383-3.
Please please please let there not be a strike !!
Its a great signing and yes RSL could certainly repeat. I like the move, its a nice signing for MLS. The stadium in Utah is top notch, great venue.
This is a great signing! I think (and yes, this could be interpreted as homer-talk) that they could develop into an amazing partnership up top. With John, the fire are up there too. When the Swiss guy comes in for Seattle (Nkufo?) him and Montero should be deadly as well. What an awesome MLS season! Hopefully they don’t go ruining it by having a work stoppage
I’m not sure anyone is thinking that far ahead at the moment to be completely honest, behind the curtain MLS is in crisis mode at the moment I am certain.
does anyone not?
I think you can make an argument that this RSL forward tandem’s potential greatness in MLS is precisely as likely as McBride/John’s potential, neither of them has played a game. Angel/Kandji really I think shows glimpses of real greatness, though they are not yet there.
It’s kinda like “striker” and “striker light” in a sense, Saborio I think has better skills than Findley.
Why, because of their name? I don’t like it either but RSL is a solid MLS club side and have earned my respect on the field.
Yeah I dunno about best tandem, but on paper they are certainly up there with McBride/John and Angel/Kandji(Henry?!).
think there will be a short stoppage.
Otherwise everyone in MLS with WC aspirations lessens any chance of them going to the World Cup.
IF they take too long many fans will forget about MLS and just focus on the WC.
MLS is equivelant to AA ballclub. And I am an MLS fan.
People!!! There might not be a season! Are we all in denial??
Good news – the more players with better skill the better!
This is an amazing signing for MLS. Good job. At least the league can sell that the season will go off without a hitch.
Regardless, the Galaxy are taking the Cup this year.
If Kreis decides to play a 4-3-3 with Espindola-Sabrio-Findley, that could make for a pretty scary offensive presence in my opinion.
Is that Boise Brian???
RSL just got better. Could be a great South and Central American presence with, Saborio, Morales, Olave, Gonzalez, Espindola, Campos.
Cannot wait for the season to start.
Great pick up. I believe Ruiz now at Twente was just as good against USA.
From everything I have read and heard on local news outlets he will not be a DP.
Great signing. Great.
I still dont understand why players are signing with the league when there is a real possibility of there not being a season (or start to the season). unless the players know there will be no strike…..
Lot’s of good signings in the MLS off-season. Even with the loss of Donovan, Beckham, Holden, Clark, Blanco, etc., the league still adds very talented players.
However, the dark cloud of strike is still lingering over my 2010 MLS party.
I cant take any of this seriously with the possibility of a strike. Fix it already! Gee….this could be really devastating, does anyone see that!
Pretty good tandem only about three or four notches below the mcbride John tandem or macbride Nyarko tandem or the John NYarko tandem
Clearly a Colorado or LA fan…
findley with saborio will be deadly
great signing I’m sure he will be among the top ten scorers
Is that really a good ‘tandem’ — curious how they will work off one another.
by winning the cup???
sarcasm?
Joke of a franchise. They make the whole league look bad
The more skilled players the better.
Is he a DP?
Wow, great signing.
As an RSL fan, I am thrilled with the signing. Now please take care of the CBA players and management!