Much like the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, Real Salt Lake (RSL) has long promoted the team over the individual, adhering to the mantra “The Team is the Star.” While RSL has not won as many championships as the Spurs, it would be difficult to say that their system does not work for them.
When last faced with an expansion draft, RSL chose to protect amongst their allotted eleven, Fabian Espindola, Will Johnson, and Jamison Olave only to trade all three away the following off-season in an attempt to get younger. The result was a trip to the MLS Cup finals where they fell to Sporting Kansas City on penalty kicks.
Now with another expansion draft looming, will RSL remain committed to their mantra?
The other eight players RSL protected are still on their roster but only two are under the age of 30. In the midst of another playoff run, RSL has proven to be competitive still but age is eventually going to catch up with them and this year’s expansion draft has a wrinkle that makes it very dangerous for RSL. New York City Football Club (NYCFC) head coach Jason Kreis has a very intimate knowledge of the RSL roster and it would not be at all surprising if he was watching very closely for the protected list to be released ready to pounce on any gem left unprotected.
So, the question facing RSL is do they protect the future and trust their system or cling to their stars in the present?
The deeper the playoff run they make this year the harder that question becomes? If this team simply makes it back to the MLS Cup, you would expect they would chose the present. Should they falter this weekend however, does it become easier to do the near unthinkable and say leave the 35-year-old Nick Rimando unprotected?
How certain is RSL that Kreis would pass up an unprotected Chris Wingert or Nat Borchers to shore up the defense at NYCFC? Would Orlando City jump at the chance to add a winner like Robbie Findley or a rising star like Sebastian Velasquez should they be available?
It really comes down to how much faith and belief does RSL truly have in their system. Are they ready to let go of their stars and trust their system? Do they believe Devon Sandoval and Luke Mulholland ready to step in and lead the team?
Eleven spots fill up fast with a team as talented as RSL but their depth is still only so deep. I know it may sound like sacrilege to even suggest but RSL may be better off leaving Nick Rimando or DP’s Javier Morales and Alvaro Saborio unprotected so they can ensure the safety of their younger stars. Perhaps, their age would keep Orlando City and NYCFC from snapping any of them up but it would be a gamble and RSL would have to believe they had the right guys in place to fill the void.
Looking at their roster, the defensive depth is the most concerning thing for RSL making Nat Borchers and Tony Beltran practically mandatory for the protected list. In the midfield Luis Gil and Luke Mulholland are the clear future for the team and veteran Kyle Beckerman is the heartbeat of Real Salt Lake. Despite being 32-years-old, Beckerman is in excellent shape and coming off perhaps the best year of his professional career seems to have plenty left in the tank. That’s three more spots filled. Five total.
Olmes Garcia, Devon Sandoval and of course Joao Plata are the expected next wave of forwards for this team. Along with recent DP signing Sebastian Jamie, that leaves only two protected spots left. Let’s say the rumors are true that Javier Morales will retire and those spots go to Alvaro Saborio and Nick Rimando, who does that leave unprotected?
Chris Schuler, Chris Wingert, Sebastian Velasquez, Ned Grabavoy, Abdoulie Mansally and Robbie Findley would be the most appealing and would practically guarantee two players leaving the squad.
Now let’s say Sebastian Velasquez and either Chris Wingert or Chris Schuler take the final two spots. The majority of the defensive core is kept together. The midfield looks sharp and maybe Saborio looks like a better complimentary forward to the rosters of Orlando or New York, thus allowing Findley to return. The biggest question would then be, if RSL were to lose Rimando, is Jeff Attinella ready to take over?
In ten starts this season for RSL, Attinella posted a record of 2-4-4 with 3 shutouts, allowing 14 goals and making 45 saves. Not the best numbers but his salary is only about a quarter of what Rimando’s is giving RSL the flexibility to find another goalkeeper should Attinella prove not to be the answer. It deserves to be pointed out that RSL is a cash conscious team and salary considerations are bound to come up when making the protected list.
Another option and one that I think may be the better, is that RSL uses their depth at forward to their advantage and protects their entire core defensive unit. RSL should be able to absorb the loss of one young forward. And by protecting the defensive core, if Rimando were to be snapped up by another team, the pressure on Attinella is reduced.
The team is the star in Salt Lake and the system in place is dependent on solid defense and an effective possession game from the midfield. If RSL really believes in their system those are the areas they have to protect. Even if it means losing their biggest star and the MLS shutout king.
If I were to make the protected list for RSL, based on their mantra, it would look like this: 1.Nat Borchers (D) 2.Tony Beltran (D) 3.Chris Schuler (D) 4.Chris Wingert (D) 5.Luis Gil (M) 6.Luke Mulholland (M) 7.Ned Grabavoy (M) 8.Kyle Beckerman (M) 9.Sebastian Velasquez (M) 10.Joao Plata (F) 11. Sebastian Jamie (F)
I know it seems illogical to leave someone as talented as Rimando available but age catches up to as all and at 35-years-old does protecting him over a younger player fit with the mantra of team over individual. RSL made a commitment to trust their system and get younger and they should not back away from it now. They let one of the brightest American soccer minds walk away, when Jason Kreis left for NYCFC because they believed in their system.
It would be risky to leave the biggest star unprotected but if they are not willing to trust their system now, what does it say about them going forward? MLS is going to continue to expand, more drafts like this are coming soon and clubs must have a plan in place. RSL has a plan. They have a system. This off-season will test it.
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