Many have expressed concern that Real Salt Lake has seen three relatively key players leave, but have yet to see any incoming players come during the offseason (other than draft picks). Below is a quick perusal of the roster changes that have occurred across the league. By my count there have been 11 international additions to the league. Four of these come courtesy of the expansion Seattle Sounders who have taken an aggressive approach to building a new team. Here is the list: Matt Pickens (Col), Steve Purdy (FCD), Danny Torres (FCD), Roger (DCU), Tally Hall (Hou), Donovan Ricketts (LAG), Mike Videira (NE), Kasey Keller (Sea), Freddie Ljungberg (Sea), Fredy Montero (Sea), Sanna Nyassi (Sea).
Incoming internationals seem to have been a little slower across the league. Is this because of the economy? Is it because of high-profile international busts in the league in 2008 (see DC United)? Has international interest in MLS cooled off?
From RSL's standpoint, you could point to other teams and say that RSL is in a similar situation to other teams: more players outgoing than incoming. You could also say be patient. However, RSL may have the greatest imbalance of quality players lost. Also, the team appears to be looking for 2 potential starters: a left-sided midfielder and a striker to complement Yura Movsisyan. The team appears to be relying on international players to fill these roles, and reportedly has several players in their sights. With the perceived quality of MLS play, and the constraints of the salary cap; going from target to signing a player can be very tenuous. Hopefully the team will manage to land their first choices, and if they don't…hopefully there is a quality (or at least adequate) second choice.
Although there is still time, with training camp opening in about a week in California, if these additions are going to play a key role for this team they need to be brought into the fold relatively soon or the team will open the season in less than an ideal manner. Needless to say – these next two-three weeks will be crucial for the 2009 version of Real Salt Lake.
Chicago Fire | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
None | Tomasz Frankowski (waived) |
Diego Gutierrez (retired) | |
Andy Herron (waived) | |
Stephen King (Expansion Draft) | |
Lider Marmol (unknown team in Paraguay) | |
Chivas USA | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Ante Jazic (trade w/LA) | Francisco Mendoza (Chivas - Mexico) |
Roberto Nurse (Veracruz - Mexico) | |
Alex Zotinca (waived) | |
Columbus Crew | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
None | Kevin Burns (waived) |
Brad Evans (Expansion Draft) | |
Ezra Hendrickson (retired) | |
Ryan Junge (waived) | |
George Josten (waived) | |
Stefani Miglioranzi (trade w/LA) | |
Andrew Peterson (waived) | |
Ricardo Pierre-Louis (waived) | |
Brian Plotkin (waived) | |
Colorado Rapids | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Ty Harden (trade w/LA for his MLS rights) | Bouna Coundoul (???) |
Matt Pickens | Mike Petke (Waiver Draft) |
Tim Ward (waived) | |
Tom McManus | |
FC Dallas | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Steve Purdy (1860 Munich - Germany) | Duilio Davino (contract mutually terminated) |
Danny Torres (Bryne FK - Norway) | Dominic Oduro (trade w/NY) |
Dave van den Bergh (trade w/NY) | Jeff Rowland (waived) |
Bobby Rhine (retired) | |
Victor Sikora (Perth Glory - Australia) | |
Spencer Wadsworth (waived) | |
David Wagenfuhr (retired) | |
DC United | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Roger (Fluminense) | Jeff Carroll (waived) |
Ryan Cordeiro (contract not renewed) | |
Quavas Kirk (contract not renewed) | |
Ibrahim Koroma (loan expired) | |
Gonzalo Peralta (Union de Santa Fe - Argentina) | |
Craig Thompson (contract not renewed) | |
Houston Dynamo | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Tally Hall (Esbjerg fB - Denmark) | Johnny Alcaraz (waived) |
Julius James (trade w/Toronto) | Kyle Brown (waived) |
Tony Caig (option declined) | |
Dwayne DeRosario (trade w/Toronto) | |
Nate Jaqua (Expansion Draft) | |
Guy Kpene (waived) | |
Corbin Waller (waived) | |
Kansas City Wizards | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Adam Cristman (trade w/NE) | Carlos Marinelli (waived) |
Ryan Pore (waived) | |
Ivan Trujillo (waived) | |
Tyson Wahl (Expansion Draft) | |
Kerry Zavagnin (retired) | |
Los Angeles Galaxy | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Leonard Griffin (Portland Timbers - USL1) | Scott Bolkan (retired) |
Jovan Kirovski (trade w/SJ) | Jeremy Barlow (waived) |
Dema Kovalenko (trade w/RSL) | Eduardo Dominguez (waived) |
Mike Magee (trade w/NY) | Joe Franchino (waived) |
Stefani Miglioranzi (trade w/Columbus) | Alvaro Pires (waived) |
Donovan Ricketts (Village United - Jamaica) | Greg Vanney (retired) |
Peter Vagenas (Expansion Draft) | |
New England Revolution | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Mike Videira (Hamliton Academical - Scotland) | Jose Angulo (waived) |
Sam Brill (contract not renewed) | |
Adam Cristman (trade w/KC) | |
Joe Germanese (contract not renewed) | |
Gary Flood (contract not renewed) | |
Brandon Manzonelli (contract not renewed) | |
Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland - Denmark) | |
Khano Smith (Expansion Draft) | |
Brandon Tyler (contract not renewed) | |
Doug Warren (waived) | |
New York Red Bulls | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Dominic Oduro (trade w/DAL) | Gabriel Cichero (waived) |
Mike Petke (Waiver Draft) | John Gilkerson (waived) |
Diego Jiminez (loan expired) | |
Gordan Kljestan (waived) | |
Mike Magee (trade w/LA) | |
Jeff Parke (Expansion Draft) | |
Sainey Touray (waived) | |
Dave van den Bergh (trade w/DAL) | |
Real Salt Lake | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
None | Nik Besagno (waived) |
Kenny Cutler (waived) | |
Kenny Deuchar (Hamilton Academical - Scotland) | |
Fabian Espindola (Deportivo Anzoátegui - Venezuela) | |
Dustin Kirby (waived) | |
Dema Kovalenko (trade w/LA) | |
Nathan Sturgis (Expansion Draft) | |
San Jose Earthquakes | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Peter Byers (Montreal Impact - USL1) | Jovan Kirovski (trade w/LA) |
Francisco Lima (Taranto - Italy) | |
Ronnie O'Brien (???) | |
James Riley (Expansion Draft) | |
Seattle Sounders | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Chris Eylander (Seattle - USL1) | None |
Taylor Graham (Seattle - USL1) | |
Nate Jaqua (Expansion Draft) | |
Kasey Keller (Fulham - England) | |
Stephen King (Expansion Draft) | |
Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle - USL1) | |
Freddie Ljungberg (West Ham United - England) | |
Sanna Nyassi (Ports Authority FC - Gambia) | |
Jeff Parke (Expansion Draft) | |
James Riley (Expansion Draft) | |
Jarrod Smith (Expansion Draft) | |
Khano Smith (Expansion Draft) | |
Nathan Sturgis (Expansion Draft) | |
Peter Vagenas (Expansion Draft) | |
Tyson Wahl (Expansion Draft) | |
Fredy Montero (Deportivo Cali - Colombia) | |
Toronto FC | |
Incoming: | Outgoing: |
Dwayne DeRosario (trade w/Houston) | Killian Elkinson (contract not renewed) |
Hunter Freeman (IK Start - Norway) | |
Derek Gaudet (contract not renewed) | |
Julius James (trade w/Houston) | |
Joey Melo (contract not renewed) | |
Tim Regan (Retired) | |
Carlos Ruiz (waived) | |
Jarrod Smith (Expansion Draft) |
