Luis Gil

How funny. I read an article this morning where US U-17 midfielder Luis Gil, recently won by the Wizards in a lottery, had stated he wanted to stay out west with either Seattle or Salt Lake. On my way here to the Review to talk about how I thought that would be a nice pickup for the future, I stopped by Steve Goff's blog on the Washington Post and he says that RSL has already traded for Gil! I really like the move and think Gil could develop well with the help of Javi, Kyle, Andy, WillJ, and coach K (not to mention perhaps some CONCACAF Champions League experience). I'm not sure how I feel about RSL sending ANOTHER of its few international spots to KC (hopefully this one's only for a year, not time and all eternity). More details to come, I'm sure, but for now, nice move by RSL!

2011 RSL

So I've been playing a bit (ok, a TON) of Football Manager 2010 lately, and with the offseason dragging on, I decided to post the 2011 Real Salt Lake roster (at least with manager 'Max Power' at the helm):

GK:
Nick Rimando
Quentin Westberg ($30k transfer from ESTAC-French League-in 2010)

DF:
Nat Borchers
Jamison Olave
Tony Beltran (currently transfer listed by request)
Chris Wingert
David Horst
Drew Moor (claimed from waiver draft 2011)
Bakary Soro (signed on a free transfer 2009)
Jeremy Hall (also MF, trade for Chris Seitz-preseason 2011)

MF:
Kyle Beckerman (captain)
Javier Morales (vice captain)
Will Johnson
Andy Williams
Jean Alexandre
Alex Nimo
Nick LaBrocca (claimed off waivers 2010)
Rhyan Grant ($1.4 million transfer 2010)
DaMarcus Beasley (free transfer, released from club after WC2010)

FW:
Robbie Findley
Edson Buddle (claimed off waivers 2009)
Shane Smeltz ($775k transfer after incentives mid-2011)
oh, and one other guy...
(the oft-injured) Ruud van Nistelrooy (free transfer mid-2010)

All in with almost $1,000 to spare per week under the cap.

As of July 27, 2011, RSL is sitting 4th of 8 in the Western Conference with a 9-8-1 record and 28 points. However, the first stretch of the season was busy with games in the 2010-2011 Champions League, where RSL ultimately came in 2nd after falling to America in the final. RSL is also still alive in the USOC, with an upcoiming semi-final game against the Gals.