Real Salt Lake preps for the Los Angeles Galaxy – Desert Diamond Cup match 2

Well Saturday will see RSL continue their pre-season as they take on the LA Galaxy (who they will face on March 10^th in the MLS season opener for both teams). For RSL it will mark another chance to look at some of their academy kids and as well as maybe a new trialists.

RSL added Maikon Orellana a defender from the RSL Academy and John Owoeri a forward from Nigeria to their roster for the Saturday match, but I don't know if either will see action. It is clear from the comments of RSL GM Garth Lagerwey on ESPN700AM earlier this week that we would see RSL move through this tournament with a progressive approach to their roster as they are still evaluating talent but also need to get the team ready for the opener which is now just two weeks away.

I am not sure of the validity of Jonny Steele's tweet about him signing a deal with RSL, but it wouldn't surprise me given the comments of some of the RSL staff over the last couple weeks. The team likes his physical and mental toughness and with Will Johnson on the injured list for at least a month, he may be a player who is looked at to fill in for Will until his return. If it is true that would mark 22 players with contracts heading into the 2012 season. Also Jonny is not considered an International player as he is married to a US Citizen, at least that is the information I got a couple weeks ago.

more thoughts and the most recent version of the RSL roster after the jump:

I also am hoping that we can see some of our young guys playing with the more experienced guys to see how they might fit in when they are called on as the MLS season unfolds. I think it would be great if we get a chance to see Javier Morales, Luis Gil, Ned Grabavoy, and either Kyle Beckerman or Yordany Alvarez on the pitch together, as that could be a very lethal midfield pairing.

With the knowledge that Nat Borchers won't be ready for the first couple matches as he continues his rehab, I would love to see the tandem of Jamison Olave and Leone Cruz get some time together in one of the upcoming matches. The same is true of Fabian Espindola and Cody Arnoux, or Cody and Paulo Jr., as we now know for sure that Alvaro Saborio is very unlikely to see action in the first few matches of the RSL season.

This is MLS pre-season and things change quickly as teams work on deals with less than 1 week until the March 1^st Roster and Salary Budget Compliance deadline.

Which is of course followed by the March 2^nd Waiver Draft via Conference Call:

All players on previous season rosters included in waiver draft except the following:

a) those who were previously waived

b) those with whom the League is currently in active negotiations

c) those players who refuse to sign with MLS (they will be placed on a Team's right of 1st refusal list), subject to CBA provisions

Here is the current RSL roster as of 2-24-12:

Again the names in bold are the ones that I understand to signed for the 2012 season.

Just a note that if you are going to be out at Rio Tinto picking up your season tickets tomorrow, take a look and if you seem me hunched over my laptop, stop by and say hi.

OFF MY SOAPBOX