TDMQWMUMUTPIH 2008

Hello all! It's time for "The Dumbest, Most Quickly Written, Most Unresearched, Most Unnecessary Team Preview In History" (or TDMQWMUMUTPIH, say that one 10 times fast). With just a scant few days left until the 2008 MLS season I thought I'd throw together a quick preview of this year's squad:

GOALKEEPING
I think this will continue to be RSL's strength is 2008. While I don't expect quite the superhuman campaign that Nick Rimando put together in 2007, I do expect another solid year from him. Of course, in the event that Nick falters, RSL is set with star-in-the-making Chris Seitz, fresh off another solid performance with the U-23s. However, Seitz looks to be missing for part of the season as he will be part of the USA Olympic squad this summer in Beijing. That leaves us will Kyle Reynish, who I will admit, I haven't really seen much of, but all reports have him as a very solid #3 keeper, who could certainly do a serviceable job in a pinch.
Major adds/losses: none
Expected grade: A

DEFENSE
This is looking to be RSL's most improved unit in 2008. Unfortunately, it took the loss of Eddie Pope to force RSL's hand into bringing in defensive reinforcements (can you imagine Borchers, Joy, Mantilla, AND Pope?), but nevertheless they are finally here. While many of these players enjoy solid reputations (I'm particularly excited about Ian Joy, the guy sounds like a monster), most of them have not seen time in MLS. Supposed big signing Jamison Olave has only recently joined the team and is still training with the reserves. Will Joy like the certain change in atmosphere coming from European soccer to American soccer? Can Mantilla learn to keep his card count down? Can Tony Beltran be a solid MLS outside back? Why were both Forko and Kipre let go, when their depth could have been used at outside back? There are many questions, but also many solid players. If this unit can gel and stay free of injury, they could be fearsome.
Major adds: Ian Joy, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, Tony Beltran
Major losses: EDDIE POPE, Jean-Martial Kipre, Willis Forko, Ritchie Kotschau
Expected grade: B

MIDFIELD
This should be another area of strength for RSL this year. Having a full year of Beckerman and Morales should help things immensely from the get go. Especially with all the reports of Morales looking VERY good and VERY fit this preseason. The signing of Dema Kovalenko should help shore up the D-mid situation, especially with Carey Talley seemingly on his last legs, but he has been inconsistent so far in the preseason (according to various accounts). Certainly his two goal performance against Lobos PFC, while being against low-level competition, is encouraging. Draft pick Alex Nimo (the one Superdraft pick I liked), who, although he most likely won't see much of the field this year, could be a future star. However, there are questions here too. Will Kovalenko find his niche on this team? Can Nimo provide anything this year if the injury bug bites? Can Kyle Beckerman get some shots on frame this year (last year he took the 2nd most shots on the team and only got a dismal 33% of them on goal)? Can Andy Williams be more than a 45 minute player this year? Will Carey Talley need a walker by the end of the year? How much will Sturgis being gone to the Olympics hurt? And will Matias Cordoba show up this year or is he "Little Luis"? I think the midfield will be solid, but a bit defensive minded, with players like Becks, Sturgis, Kovalenko, and Talley. If the offensive minded players (Williams, Morales, Cordoba) show up and stay healthy, then look out, this is a formidable midfield.
Major adds: Dema Kovalenko, Matias Cordoba, Alex Nimo
Major losses: Atiba Harris
Expected grade: B

FORWARD
This is my big question mark for 2008. RSL's strikers corps is very young and unproven with only Robbie Findley showing me anything last year. Reports are Yura Movsisyan is looking good this year, but he has yet to show anything during a regular season game. Robbie Findley, last year's star, has seemingly lost the ability to finish, at least in the recent U-23 tournament (Although, in his defense, how that header vs. Honduras didn't go in is beyond me. VERY unlucky.). Fabian Espindola showed flashes last year but couldn't put it together consistently. So this year I think it comes down to Kenny Deuchar, who unfortunately looks to be getting into Salt Lake too late to be much of a factor against Chicago. If he can even live up halfway to the hype that has been around him, this will be a godsend for RSL fans. What RSL needed with this group of speedsters was a true target forward that they now have. However, if Deuchar doesn't produce, or goes down injured, this could be yet another anemic RSL offense. This is where I think RSL went wrong in not signing Indra. If RSL were to lose Deuchar, Indra could have stepped in as an experienced leader in attack (plus, he'd have sold an assload of RSL jerseys overseas, but that's neither here nor there). Right now, it looks like there's a lot of young potential in attack, but not a lot of experience. I really think the offense will be made or broken by the performance of Kenny Deuchar. Hopefully, RSL will continue to look for another experienced striker (Archie anyone? ;) ). They've gone for depth everywhere else on the field, so why not up front?
Major adds: Kenny Deuchar
Major losses: Alecko Eskandarian, the Brown-sey twins
Expected grade: C-

Off the top of my head predictions (almost certainly will not jive with my weekly predictions):
10-12-8; 38 points
4th in Western Conference
Rocky Mtn. Cup repeat champs
Ben Cup repeat champs