From the Press gods at Real Salt Lake we get this news update:

REAL SALT LAKE DEFENDER JAMISON OLAVE RECEIVES UNITED STATES GREEN CARD

Colombia Native Will No Longer Occupy International Roster Spot on Defending MLS Cup Champ's Roster

SANDY, UTAH (Thursday, July 22, 2010) - Real Salt Lake announced today that DF Jamison Olave has received his U.S. Green Card, granting him permanent resident status in the United States effective immediately.

With Olave's new status as a United States resident, the third-year member of Real Salt Lake will no longer occupy an International Player slot on the defending MLS Cup champion's roster. With Olave's departure from that list, Real Salt Lake now has one of its five International Player roster spots available, with Argentines Fabian Espíndola, Nelson González, andJavier Morales and Costa Rica native Álvaro Saborío currently holding the other four positions.

"We want to congratulate Jamison on this important step towards making Utah his long-term home," said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. "From a club standpoint, this allows us more flexibility to acquire a player we feel fits into our roster as we push for a second straight MLS Cup and begin play in the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League. We would like to extend a special thanks to Donald Mooers of Mooers Immigration, who has been an immense help working on behalf of Jamison and Real Salt Lake during this process."

In his three seasons with Real Salt Lake, the 29-year-old Olave has established himself as one of Major League Soccer's most dominant central defenders, as evidenced by his choice as a "First XI" member of the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Team just last week. Olave's first All-Star nod will be one to remember, as he'll get the chance to join his MLS teammates - including RSL's Javier Morales and Nick Rimando - in taking on legendary English Premiership side Manchester United at Reliant Stadium in Houston next Wednesday, July 28 (6:30 p.m. MT; live on ESPN2 and TeleFutura).

Olave has started all 16 games for RSL this season and has played all but 13 minutes on the campaign, his intimidating presence and gifted physical skills contributing to a defensive effort that resulted in a recently-concluded 566-minute shutout streak for the Claret-and-Cobalt, the third longest such run in MLS history. Olave has also proven to be a handful on the offensive end, his presence in the area on set pieces resulting in three goals this season, all scored in front of his adoring fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. Olave has started 63 of his 64 League appearances since joining RSL prior to the 2008 season, hitting the back of the net on eight occasions while thwarting countless dozens of scoring opportunities for the opposition during his stint on the Wasatch Front.

Prior to the MLS portion of his career, Olave played in his native Colombia, spending time with four clubs in the South American country's First and Second Divisions, most notably with powerhouse Deportivo Cali, for whom he began his career in 2001 and also flourished with from 2005-07. In addition, Olave logged time for First Division sides Atletico Huela (2002) and Chicó FC (2004) and Second Division squad CD Patriotas FC (2003).

This is good news for Olave, and great new for the team as they now have another open international slot.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

I recently asked Denz from RSL Soap Box what he thought about the signing of Thierry Henry. Below is his response. I think he hit the mark on many of his points and he definitely states the same concerns I have when it comes to Thierry Henry entering the league with a massive contract.  He has set a good example so far by staying late at practice to get back into soccer shape, but if he gets frustrated during games and begins to complain, he'll lose the support of his teammates.  

I have huge hopes that he will unlike Beckham focus on playing and making the team better, I think it will be hard for a lot of your players who are making under 100K and busting their butts to improve the team (and boy have they) to now see that they are bringing in players who make more than everyone else on the team combined.  If he can deliver results, then everyone including his teammates will love him, but if he should go the route of FL10 this year of bitching and moaning about everything and making excuses for a lack of results, well then it could be enough to cause some issues.
I think he brings some real talent to MLS and NYRB and I can't wait to see him come out to Rio Tinto Stadium in September.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that this goes well for player, club, and the league.

The New York media has been praising this signing, it was nice to get an opinion from someone who doesn't support the Red Bulls.  If he does play well this will open up more doors for the league, if he doesn't, it could be the biggest failure in MLS history.

What do you guys think? Are either of us correct or did we miss the mark?

Hey Fellow RSL Fans,

I'm a Real Salt Lake fan who lives in Wisconsin, and I'll be in Salt Lake for a few days this upcoming week.

I'm wondering if anyone knows when and where the team practices, and if they are open to the public. It's unfortunate that the team doesn't have any home games while I'm going to be in town, since I've never seen them play live, but I will get to visit Rio Tinto for the Paul McCartney concert Tuesday, which will be sweet.

Anyway, just wondering if any one has any information on practices. Thanks in advance!

A cynical and bitter sports fan has some surprisingly mild things to say about the slow start to our season.

Four points in five games is at the forefront of RSL chatter right now. During most championship defending seasons this is where I'd be grabbing my torch and pitchfork. Hell, this is the first year in 5 that I haven't wanted blood from the FO/Head Coach at this point.

More after the jump

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Well I was feeling good after picking not only the team Sounders, but the score 2-0 in the season opener, so good that I forgot to pick the Colorado @ Chivas US match.  However here were my predictions from Saturday Morning:

• FC Dallas 1 - Houston 1
• Toronto FC 1 - Columbus 2
• Chicago Fire 1 - New York 2
• DC United 1 - KC Wizards 0
• New England 1 - LA Galaxy 3

So I got the FC Dallas match dead on, I got the winner right with LA, New York, Columbus, and RSL, the only wrong match of the weekend was the 4-0 upset of DC United by the KC Wizards.  Not too bad for week 1 when anything can and often will happen.  Stat to watch all year, everyone knows of RSL's road struggles in the past, in week one only two road teams won (25% win, 12.5% tie, 62.5% lost)
So what about this weeks action?  Post your predictions in the thread and see if you can beat my 6 of 7 record from this week.
To see this weeks matches, just follow the jump:

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San Jose Earthquakes (0-1-0) vs. Real Salt Lake (1-0-0)
Saturday, March 27, 2010 - Buck Shaw Stadium

Scoring Summary:
RSL - Javier Morales 1 (Fabian Espíndola 1, Robbie Findley 1) 14
RSL - Fabián Espíndola 1 (unassisted) 27
RSL - Javier Morales 2 (unassisted) 54

San Jose Earthquakes - GK-Joe Cannon; DF-Chris Leitch, DF-Jason Hernandez, DF-Ike Opara, DF-Ramiro Corrales (Capt.); MF-Arturo Alvarez, MF-Andre Luiz, MF-Javier Robles (Brandon McDonald 45), MF-Bobby Convey (Joey Gjertsen 45); FW-Cornell Glen (Quincy Amarikwa 83), FW-Ryan Johnson

Substitutes Not Used: Andre Webber, Bobby Burling, Ramon Sanchez, Chris Wondolowski

Real Salt Lake - GK-Nick Rimando; DF-Robbie Russell, DF-Nat Borchers (Rauwshan McKenzie 63), DF-Jamison Olave, DF-Chris Wingert; MF-Ned Grabavoy (Andy Williams 64), MF-Kyle Beckerman (Capt.), MF-Javier Morales, MF-Will Johnson; FW-Robbie Findley, FW-Fabián Espíndola (Álvaro Saborío 72).

Substitutes Not Used: Kyle Reynish, Jean Alexandre, Tony Beltran, Nelson Gonzalez

	Real Salt Lake		San Jose Earthquakes
total shots:	12	(4 tied with 2)	14	(Ryan Johnson 4)
shots on goal:	6	(Morales, Findley 2)	4	(4 tied with 2)
fouls:	15	(Chris Wingert 4)	11
offsides:	2	(Johnson, Morales 1)	0
corner kicks:	4	(Javier Morales 4)	5	(Andre Luiz 3)
saves:	4	(Nick Rimando 4)	2	(Joe Cannon 2)

Misconduct Summary:
RSL - Ned Grabavoy (caution, Reckless Foul) 39

SJ - Chris Leitch (ejection, Denying a Goal Scoring Opportunity) 52

SJ - Brandon McDonald (caution, Reckless Foul) 57

RSL - Jamison Olave (caution, Reckless Tackle) 64

SJ - Ike Opara (caution, Reckless Foul) 90

Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Referee's Assistants: Adam Wienckowski, Anthony Vasoli
4th official: Landis Wiley
time of game: 1:50
attendance: 10,589
weather: Clear-and-73 degrees

The year was 2005 and RSL head coach went out on a limb and drafted Nik Besagno with the first ever RSL draft pick and the overall number one pick in the draft.  Nik was a 16 year old kid, drafted before players like Brad Guzan, Chad Barrett, Michael Parkhurst.  Now every draft pick is a crap shoot but taking a 16 year old as the foundation pick of your new team was almost destined to fail.  

Besagno, saw just 440 minutes of MLS action over 3 seasons in 8 matches with 4 starts and simply never was able to secure a position in the starting 11.  Now Nik was a generation Adidas player but if you want a reason why guaranteed contracts are a bad thing in MLS, in 2007 Nik made $111,500 dollars for 88 minutes of first team action.

It was announced today in the Seattle Times that Nik has signed a deal with PDL's Kitsap Puma's.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

REAL SALT LAKE ACQUIRES COSTA RICAN INTERNATIONAL FORWARD ÁLVARO SABORÍO

Accomplished Striker Joins Defending MLS Cup Champions on Loan from Swiss Side FC Sion

SANDY, Utah (Friday, March 12, 2010) - Real Salt Lake made official today the acquisition of Costa Rican international forward Álvaro Saborío, who will join the defending MLS Cup champions on loan for its 2010 campaign from Swiss Super League (first division) squad FC Sion. Per club policy, financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Saborío has joined Real Salt Lake at its preseason training camp in Charleston, S.C., and will be eligible to suit up for the Claret-and-Cobalt's defense of their Carolina Challenge Cup title beginning tomorrow afternoon against D.C. United (3:00 p.m. MT kickoff). Saborío will officially join Real Salt Lake's roster and be eligible to compete in MLS contests pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and work visa.

"We are energized that our pursuit of a striker has reached a successful conclusion with the addition of Álvaro Saborío," said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. "We still have a few steps to complete in obtaining his player pass and securing a work permit, but if we are able to accomplish those steps we are cautiously optimistic Álvaro could be available to play early in the season."

More info after the jump:

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Here is the official RSL press release on Luis Gil:

RSL Gives Wizards International Player Slot, 2011 Second Round Draft Pick and Future Considerations in Return for Budding Playmaker

            SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, February 23, 2010) - Real Salt Lake made a move with its future in mind via a trade today with the Kansas City Wizards, as the defending MLS Cup Champion acquired U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team midfielder Luis Gil from the Eastern Conference side in return for a second round selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, an International Player roster slot, and 25 percent of any future transfer fee received by RSL for Gil from a club outside MLS. Kansas City acquired the 17-year-old midfielder in a weighted lottery held by the League on Monday.

"Real Salt Lake provides a prime environment for the development of young players," said RSL GM Garth Lagerwey. "The track record that Jason Kreis and our coaching staff have of nurturing talent is exemplary, and the dream of venturing onto the Rio Tinto Stadium turf will surely inspire Luis to work hard every day in training. We have a talented, veteran team and we have no expectation that any young player will easily crack our championship lineup, though our hope is that Luis is eventually able to earn minutes in the years ahead."

More after the jump:

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The 2010 MLS team schedules were released today, as I'm sure anyone checking the MLS blogosphere during the offseason knows. The complete schedule can be seen @MLSnet and Salt Lake's schedule is here @RSLSoapbox. I offer my insights, or more realistically my musings, after the jump.

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