Real Salt Lake has made multiple moves in the off season that will improve 2016 from last year’s lack of consistency. Last season saw the club miss the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs for the first time since 2008. However, their additions will not be enough for RSL to get back into the playoffs in the competitive Western Conference.
In 2015, RSL was going through a period of transition. Many core players had moved on before the season started or during the MLS campaign. Their performance showed as they finished in 9th place with 41 points and a negative 10 goal differential.
For the first time, their deadly offense was dull and predictable. Stop or slow down, Javier Morales and RSL’s offense becomes harmless. In result, Real only produced 38 goals in 34 games.
Right away, RSL management began to replenish the forwards corps. Last year, the forwards of Real combined goal tally were 18. That list of players contains: Sebastian Jaime, Joao Plata, Devon Sandoval, Alvaro Saborio and Olmes Garcia.
The Return of Yura Movsisyan to Rio Tinto
The club answered that problem by bringing back former striker Yura Movsisyan. He played a big role in the 2009, when RSL won the MLS Cup. Since, he departed MLS for European football. In 2010, the Armenian international has continued scoring. In his time in the old continent, he has scored 60 times for three different clubs.
The management of RSL was able to bring back the 28-year-old striker through a loan from Russian club, FC Spartak Moscow. He has resided with the Moscow based club since 2012, during his time with the Russian club, he scored 25 times in 62 appearances. However for now, he returns to MLS as a designated player (DP).
His presence with RSL will automatically help the attack and relieve the pressure of the midfield. Instead of carrying the responsibility to score, they can now go back to creating opportunities mainly.
However, the Armenian international striker was just one of six players that were brought to RSL this off season. That list contains: Danilo Acosta (Homegrown), Omar Holness (SuperDraft), Sunny Obayan (Free), Emery Welshman (United Soccer League) and former RSL defender Chris Wingert (Waives).
The club also did release some players from the roster. Seven players who wore the RSL jersey last season will not be back at Rio Tinto Stadium this year. Some big names have left the club, like: long time defender Chris Schuler (Out of Contract), U.S. youth international Luis Gil (Out of Contract) and DP Sebastian Jaime (both sides mutually agreed to part ways.).
The rest of the players who will not be returning: Elias Vasquez (Option Declined), Pecka (Option Declined), Luis Silva (Out of Contract) and Sebastian Saucedo (Loaned to Veracruz F.C.). It is clear that RSL is still transitioning into a new era, but there seems to be a blue print with these moves. However, their first test will not be the MLS regular season, but the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) quarterfinal series.
Real Salt Lake Face An Uphill Battle in the CCL
Regardless of Real’s troubles in the 2015 MLS regular season, they somehow dominated their group in the CCL. In four games, they never lost and only conceded one goal in the process. They finished with a record of (W-D-L) 3-1-0 and positive three goal differential.
Their solid performance gave RSL a high seed in the rankings, which means they will host the deciding second leg of the quarterfinal series. However, the good news ends there, since RSL opponent is the 2015 Apertura champions, Tigres UANL.
Tigres is loaded with talent and they can quickly drop a few goals on an opponent. In result, the RSL defense and midfield will have to play smartly. The offense in the series will mainly rely on countering, when they can. RSL will put in a fight, but the power and killer instincts of Tigres will prevail.
However, being eliminated from the CCL might be the best news for RSL, because they will be able to focus on the MLS regular season. The task of returning to the playoffs in the West is a tall order for the club to complete since most of the big clubs in the conference have also improved themselves during the offseason. In reality, RSL will just fall short of making the playoffs. This season will be an improvement from last season but they will fall short in the end.
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The only way they make the playoffs is simple. Strikers Movsisyan and Juan Manuel Martinez have to start the season on fire and stay hot. If they begin to cool off, then the pressure returns back to Morales, Kyle Beckerman and the rest of the midfield to carry the offense. If the two or any other of the forwards on the rosters has a consistent 2016 then the rest of the team will function with less stress.
Predictions: MLS: 7th no playoffs, CCL: Eliminated by Tigres 4-3 aggregate.