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SBI MLS Team Previews: Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake - JPEG

By TRAVIS CLARK

The defending champions are out to prove that last season was no fluke. Real Salt Lake earned a bit of notoriety by winning the MLS Cup after posting a losing record in the regular season.

After an offseason of minimal change, there's reason to be optimistic about a side that returns almost every starter from a championship winning side. The added rigors of the CONCACAF Champions League will stretch the squad to the limits as six extra games are tacked on to the schedule.

Only a few new faces dot the RSL roster — U.S. youngster Luis Gill will likely be used sparingly in his first professional season, while rookie Collen Warner could play a big role out in the west.

Here's a look at 2010 Real Salt Lake:

2010 REAL SALT LAKE

Players to Watch – Robbie Findley, Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Will Johnson

Key Arrivals – Álvaro Saborío, Collen Warner, Luis Gil

Key Departures – Chris Seitz, Clint Mathis, Yura Movsisyan

Projected Lineup (New starters in bold)

————-Robbie Findley——-Álvaro Saborío————

Will Johnson———-Javier Morales———Andy Williams

————————-Kyle Beckerman————————-

Chris Wingert–Nat Borchers–Jamison Olave–Robbie Russell

————————–Nick Rimando————————–

Big Question – Can Real Salt Lake find some consistency? There's no doubting the talent Jason Kreis has at his disposal, but the club has struggled to put it together on a regular basis — especially on the road.

A dismal away record of 2-11-2 played a huge role in their poor record in 2009, and if Salt Lake can put together some quality performances away from Rio Tinto, they'll be challenging for top spot in the West in October.

X-Factor – The loss of Yura Movsisyan and his eight goals could be a huge blow, though the signing of Costa Rica international Álvaro Saborío could make RSL fans quickly forget the inconsistent Movsisyan. U.S. fans will last remember seeing Saborío torment the men's national team, scoring within two minutes back on June 3, 2009 during a World Cup qualifier.

If the Costa Rican quickly adapts to life in MLS, the striker tandem of Findley-Saborío could soon be one of the most dangerous in the league.

Outlook – Entering this season as the defending champions means that the pressure will be on from opening kick. The quest to become the third club to win back-to-back MLS Cups is no small task, though it's safe to say that with such little turnover and a talented roster, the possibility to repeat is there.

With a formidable midfield led by Beckerman and Morales, a little consistency early on in 2010 would set the tone for Salt Lake's title defense. Whether they can weather the storm of the Champions League and still stand at season's end is another story.

Comments

  1. I think that you’ve got a good breakdown of RSL here Ives. However, I think the loan of Soborio will prove to be a major improvement over Yura. I also disagree with the Robbie Russell as started you have posted. I think Kreis will still use Beltran. I think the lack of movement in the roster is a great sign, and the additions ( for once ) are big improvements in those areas of the pitch. I watched the Carolina Cup Challenge game against TFC, and McKensie looked pretty good in defense also. I think the biggest problem RSL has, is losing Seitz, I just don’t believe Kyle R. is a MLS quality keeper.

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  2. I like this team a lot and I think they’ll be better than last year with the few additions. I credit much of the post season success to Rimando in the shootouts, but that win in Columbus was huge. I don’t expect them to repeat, but I think they can improve on last year’s play. Play up RSL!

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  3. This is my first year doing any fantasy …… Im sorry for not knowing the exact rules of the game but even still its knida stupid to pick him up because it is going to cost you money to transfer for another player…… Its def better to sign Angel
    Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

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  4. I am so excited about this season. As an RSL fan I actually think that this team is more talented and better constructed than last year. They kept all of the key contributors, added a stud international striker, addressed their future through acquisitions and their current youngsters will be more experienced.

    All of the key contributors have been mentioned, but I am most excited about the depth and bench. Guys like Nelson Gonzalez, Jean Alexandre, Luis Gil, Collen Warner, and Chris Schuler are all young and really promising players that I think will contribute this year. It will be fun to see those youngster have the opportunity to get into more games with the Champions League and Open Cup.

    When I look at this roster now, I do not see any players that I think are not MLS worthy. That is the first time I have been able to say that about RSL and maybe any other team in MLS. Everyone on the roster is either a regular contributor or a young prospect. The only exceptions might be the backup keepers.

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  5. I think the key to RSL’s success late in the year, during the playoffs, and again this year will be the effectiveness of a second attacking/creative midfielder who can take pressure off of Morales. Once teams could not concentrate on him because of Andy William’s great play controlling the ball and creating when Morales couldn’t, RSL controlled the midfield in almost all the games they played.

    The question is whether Andy, being another year older, can handle a lot of minutes. If not, is there a suitable alternative? Can Ned Grabavoy show the quality that he showed in the MLS final, and not revert to the journeyman player that his history seems to indicate? Is Collen Warner ready for that role?

    If the answers are yes to these questions I believe RSL will be a force to be reckoned with.

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  6. What Yura brought was pace and decent finishing. Nothing superior to what Findley already has and if Espindola stays healthy (no more back handsprings) and Saborio adapts well with the midfield and the physical play of MLS, then how could we possibly be worse off without Yura? And don’t even get me started on Mathis…besides one wonder goal RSL has two words–good riddance!

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  7. As an RSL fan I am not missing Yura. He was very inconsistent. And Williams should start. Our offense totally jump started when he took Clint’s spot. I am being realistic and I don’t know if we can repeat, but we should be one of the top 4 teams in the league.

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  8. Outsider’s take:

    Good team with good stability should mean good results.

    I have a lot of respect for what Kreis and his boys pulled off last year. They aren’t a great team, but you don’t have to be “great” to win MLS Cup.

    I would be more inspired to call them “great” if they made a run at the Supporters’ Shield this year. We’ll see.

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  9. LOL, when I first built my team I had the same thoughts as BrooklynFC, but then I realized that this system is all about selling players with high fees. I then picked up Donovan and am laughing all who didn’t.

    Well not really laughing at them, but it seems like a good way to score some cash anyways

    Reply
  10. Are you dumb?

    He’s going to earn some big points early on, then when he leaves for USMNT training in May, you transfer him, bring whoever is doing well in the league.

    He’s going to be a big point earner early on in the season.

    I didn’t sign him, but I’m surely not laughing at those who did.

    Reply
  11. this way off topic…. but Ives props on having by far the biggest league on MFLS.com

    To anyone who signed donovan im laughing at you guys….. he is gonna have a monster WC and get purchased

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  12. I have really high expectations for RSL again this year. I hope they can put it together on the road this year. Saborio and a full season from Espindola should more than make up for losing Movsisyan. Our defense has been together for awhile now and is solid. We have good depth all over the field so we should be able to weather multiple competitions. And Rimando Saves…

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