Sounds like RSL will be the real winner in the Luis Gil lottery
by denz on Feb 23, 2010 1:20 PM MST
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PrintSome breaking news from twitter and KC President Robb Heineman about Luis Gill:
It sounds like a good deal for a young prospect a 2nd round pick, and international slot (probably the one open with Rachid heading back to Europe) and some money.
So one has to wonder what the means for the CBA, a 16 year old kid can force a deal from KC but a 35 yr old keeper that holds almost every MLS goalkeeping record can't get a deal?
I think this is a great fit for RSL, often in MLS getting a striker means starting with a younger inexperienced kid (Robbie Findley, Yura Movsisyan, and Fabian Espindola) and helping them develop with the first MLS player to ever hit the 100 goal mark and hopefully holding onto them long enough to get some real return.
It will be interesting to see how he fits in with the rest of the team and what impact he might be able to make over the next couple years.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
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Our track record with young players
“Real Salt Lake provides a prime environment for the development of young players,” RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey said. "The track record that [coach] Jason Kreis and our coaching staff have of nurturing talent is exemplary….
Hmmm…More accurately, we have almost no track record for nurturing young talent…
Nik Besagno, RSL’s first draft pick, after failing to impress at RSL was ultimately loaned to the Timbers, cut, tried out for the Sounders, and ultimately ended up playing for the Tacoma Tide in the PDL, along with the Ogden Outlaws and BYU.
Freddy Adu was too intent on playing the center, where he was muscled off the ball constantly, turned 18 and went to Europe, where he was loaned and transferred repeatedly. In fairness, he has apparently had some recent mild success in Greece.
Alex Nimo, to RSL’s credit, was loaned to the Timbers last season where he had a goal and an assist in 661 minutes.
It is to RSL’s (and Gil’s) advantage that they don’t need to feed Gil to the wolves in midfield at 16, so I’m guessing that the Timbers will once again be thrilled. If Gil is committed to proving something, it could yet be a nice pick-up, but I wonder if he’ll be better off at Portland than at Arsenal.
2 of 3 don't apply
I think you have to be honest and admit that Besagno was a failure but that was on the Ellinger watch, Adu was brought here on the Ellinger watch as well and while I think the selection of Nimo was a stretch of a pick he has talent and will take time to develop, loaning him to Portland where he was able to compete for playing time was a good move. It wouldn’t have happened if he stayed with RSL, he would have gotten no playing minutes.
I would say Garth is much more likely talking about players like Yura, Tony Beltran, even Robbie Findley. The reality is that he came back because Arsenal was no longer interested, and a deal worth anything couldn’t be reached in Europe. If he had signed with Real Madrid or Arsenal, he would have likely spent years in youth ranks and may have never gotten playing time or attention of their top level coaching staffs. I think anytime you are working with a kid under 18 it is a pure crap shoot, you might get a kid who is unwilling to work and expects things to be handed to him, like Besagno, or a kid like Alex Nimo who is willing to work hard for just a shot at getting playing time.
There is a reason why Luis and his parents wanted him to play for either RSL or Seattle, and I have to believe it has to do with the coaching staff and success of the teams. It will be interesting to hear what Luis has to say on the topic.
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