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Archive for category Editorials

Pressure is Off, Game is On

Jun 12

Posted by kirsoccer in Editorials, World Cup | No Comments

After all of the talk and all of the buildup to this one, it’s time to finally play the game.  USA -vs- England to kick off Group C play in the World Cup.  This one has been on the radar screen ever since the group draw took place back in December.  Win, Lose, or Draw for the US this is bound to be an exciting match.

Of course if we are all being honest here, England has more recognized talent on their side.  However, part of that is they receive more recognition simply by being English and playing in the EPL.  But even so, there is a talent differential that is presumably in England’s favor. 

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Quote of the Day: Tuesday June 8th

Jun 8

Posted by kirsoccer in Editorials | 1 Comment

Will Johnson when asked to justify his pick of Argentina as one of his favorites to win the World Cup:

“Because I got my ass kicked by them two weeks ago,”

 referring to Canada’s drubbing at the hands of the Argies in Buenos Aires.

RSL Position Battles – 2010

Mar 23

Posted by truhlk in Editorials | 8 Comments

With Preseason over and Real Salt Lake looking to begin its title defense excitement is in the air (at my house at least). The team enjoyed a shortened preseason and didn’t experience much in the way of turn around, as most of the starters from last season are back again. That doesn’t mean that last years starters should be comfortable with their spots come game time.

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RSL’s Preseason Choice

Mar 16

Posted by kirsoccer in Editorials, Preseason | 4 Comments

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m starting to come around.  I was skeptical at first, but this shortened preseason is growing on me.  I have to admit that I was conditioned to think that a preseason was supposed to be 8 weeks long or more.  But the more I’ve kept my eyes open to the issue, the more I’m thinking that the 6-week camp offered up by RSL isn’t such a bad idea.

The funny part, is that I’ve already heard a couple of complaints about this in the last couple of days as a result of the late game meltdown against DC at the Carolina Challenge Cup.  Some may say that the team has yet to get a favorable result against an MLS-quality opponent.  This is true, but at this point it’s still about reaching your peak at the right time, approximately 12 days from now.

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Real Salt Lake Sitting on Options or Standing Pat?

Feb 5

Posted by kirsoccer in Editorials | 12 Comments

We have all read local articles suggesting that Real Salt Lake is standing pat with their current roster.  Sure there were a few garden variety trialists that showed up to rookie camp yesterday, but no signs of anything serious.  Maybe we should take these articles at face value and assume that the roster we will see on opening day will be largely the roster we have today plus a little tweaking down at the bottom of the roster.

However, I have a hunch – not a terribly informed one, but one built in the context of a number of discussions and observations that I have had over the past couple of months, and even the past couple of years.  This hunch tells me that there are often things percolating beneath the surface that we aren’t always aware of.  This hunch tells me that there may be more to this story.

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Collective Bargaining: Why a deal will get done

Jan 26

Posted by kirsoccer in Collective Bargaining Agreement, Editorials | 1 Comment

As you know the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires about five days from now. Many fans of Major League Soccer are concerned that there will be a lockout, especially since the specter of such was floated by several players, and outside forces trying to put pressure on the league to accept the demands of the players.
We have precious little information about the closed door discussions that have been going on in recent weeks, but late last week there was a sudden about face and a wave of optimism. In general, I would say that this information should be discounted just like the rumored lockout potential, but here is why I believe this optimism is indeed correct:

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Growing the RSL brand?

Jan 25

Posted by truhlk in Editorials, Jamison Olave, Will Johnson | 7 Comments

With a championship season in the rear view mirror and the start of training camp nearly upon us I am starting to wonder what the RSL Marketing crew have in store for us this season. The year after winning a championship most professional teams would see an increase in season ticket sales, increased attendance at games would be the norm, and people walking around town with Championship gear on should be common place. Thus far I have not seen or heard anything that makes me think that any of these things will come to be for this seasons RSL team.

I had hoped to see some RSL commercials advertising season tickets for our beloved team leading up to Christmas. I cant remember seeing any. I also haven’t noticed any additional revenue being spent on billboards or radio spots. While most people may not be ready to buy season tickets after one Championship season, proper advertisements would help generate a buzz that could lead to better ticket sales through out the season. Now is the time to grow the brand.

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Robbie Findley’s Final Season with RSL?

Jan 22

Posted by kirsoccer in Editorials, Robbie Findley | No Comments

It’s no secret that Robbie Findley has considered a jump to Europe.  At the beginning of last year came the surprise announcement that Findley was training with Brondby in Denmark.  Many questions were raised of what that might portend for his future.  However, it’s all coming into focus now.

Findley is currently participating in camp with the US national team.  The team has a match coming up tomorrow night against Honduras.

Although he has plenty of experience with the US youth, he has only seen a single minute of senior team experience and has clearly been on the fringes at best.  However, this World Cup year may prove to be a big one for him, as Allen Ramsey with Goal.com puts it,

Robbie Findley is one of those  right-place, right-time players. He may be the most ready-made replacement for Charlie Davies, from an athletic standpoint at least, and the truth of the matter is that the U.S. relies on speed and the counterattack to break down quality opponents.

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2010 Choices that need to be made (part 3)

Jan 21

Posted by truhlk in Editorials | No Comments

Coming into training camp position battles will be key in determining who stays and who goes. We here at Keepin’ It Real recently did an in depth look at the roster and who we think will stay and who we expect to be shown the door. I will do what I can to summarize that conversation below.

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2010 Choices that need to be made (part 2)

Jan 20

Posted by truhlk in Editorials | 3 Comments

Player acquisitions are the name of the game throughout the MLS off-season. GM’s and Coaches alike spend a good portion of their off-season scouting new talent and trying to find the missing pieces to their “championship puzzle.” Even with a championship winning team last season, Real Salt Lake is no exception to the oft spoken rule “Get better or get left behind!”

Our beloved RSL have already made some noise this off-season by trading away both backup keeper Chris Seitz and starting midfielder Clint Mathis. To go along with the loss of Yura Movsisyan the team appears to have taken a dramatic step backwards in talent and depth.  The loss of Seitz is offset by the stellar play of Nick Rimando over the last three years and somewhat by the surprising development of Kyle Reynish.  Seitz, once deemed the keeper of the future for Real, never was able to take the starting spot from Rimando and the few games he was called upon he struggled to live up to fan expectations. Under the current MLS rule-set a third keeper is a luxury the team shouldn’t need providing the injury bug doesn’t bite but if they do look for a replacement here it will be at the 3rd keeper spot instead of the primary backup and shouldn’t be too hard to fill.

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