Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell So is Russell sporting the bald look or the dreads right now? He could compete with Kyle for the best hair
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell Michael Lewis explains that Russell's identity was kept secret out of fear that league rivals would torpedo its attempts to land him. According to league allocation rules and its low position on the allocation list, RSL needed 12 other teams to pass on Russell before it could claim him. Another team could have claimed Russell first and tried to force RSL to give something up in a trade for him.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell I received clarification on this. Apparantly MLS views him as part of the National Team pool (even though he has never been capped), and so he was subject to allocation rules.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell I'm just glad we're not the RSL of old, pretty damn sure the old FO would fubard it
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell Another example of the value that Garth Lagerwey brings to RSL.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell If another team had shown interest in him and wanted to use an allocation for him, there could have been a lottery. DC wanted to sign Rogers last year, wanted to use an allocation on him, but another team showed interest, so there was a lottery.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell Two questions for us all to ponder: RE The two signings which have been discussed (one contingent on the other). I would think that this meant that we had a first and second pick for the same position. Having obtained our first pick, we don't exercise our option for the second. Alternatively, it meant we want two players, but the second only if we get the first. This second scenario makes no sense though unless they are good buddies who won't play without each other (awww... how sweet) Q1) Would you agree with this? because it affects how you look at the second question Garth said that we can now move forward with other signings now that we have Robbie Russell. I got a panicked feeling when I realized that there was no time frame associated with this statement. Q2) Is there any reason to think that this second signing (possibly an attacker) is necessarily going to be brought on during the present window. Said differently, is there anything to indicate that the search for the other piece of the puzzle has already begun or if they were waiting on this (the RR signing)before chasing all over the globe for the next one? Will we find him in time!? yes i know ... So please, reassure me that we are going to announce some incredible acquisition soon.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell The way I understood it is that RSL needed to shore up its midfield/defense in order to go after a forward. We know that the second offer has already been extended. Garth himself said that it will happen before the end of the transfer window.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell I agree with the first of what you've said about going after a forward once the mid/d was good. I got the same impression. I just wondered if we are confusing what is meant by "the second offer" I thought the initial talk of two offers meant an offer for RR (#1) and a backup in case that fell through(#2). In which case, pursuing a forward would be a third offer (second offer withdrawn). Wow, I'm talking myself in circles. Anyway, I appreciate your attempt to clear up my muddied analysis.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell If certain DH's here had their way, they would expect the FO to telephone them personally to let the know that they were pursuing Russell, and update them on each step in the contract negotiations.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell The way this was handled, completely in secrecy, means that we don't even know of Russell was our first pick or second, in that scenario. And, that is good for Russell, RSL and us fans. Imagine if Russell knew he was the 'backup' or 'safety' choice for the team (if that was the case, which we don't know).
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell Based on Jason's postmatch comments the other night, I don't think this is the case. Despite signing Russell, RSL is still working on signing the other mystery player. That tells me they don't play the same position. I don't have any inside information thanks to the current era of secrecy at RSL, but all the comments (and lack of comments) lead me to believe that the second player is not contingent on the RR signing and he's likely a relatively young, unknown foreign international striker (someone in the mold of Espindola).
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell I don't mind the secrecy. I prefer it. RSL seems to be heading in a direction that demands competency and expects results from the F.O. down to the field. It reminds me of another franchise here in town. Tight lipped and very professional. Maybe a little too conservative compared to other NBA teams, thus never getting the player they need to get them over the top but sometimes having a winning product and being able to at least compete for the title every year is better than winning a title by mortgaging the future. You see it more in Baseball, the Florida Marlins come to mind. 2 titles and the team is dismantled after each title. All that said, what I think we really want is more rumors. We want to be able to talk about some one. Some thing, anything. Maybe someone should start a rumor thread or future G.M. thread and maybe some one could get a job offer out of it. There are plenty of qualified experts here. Not me, I am an idiot. But I did hear that RSL was going to sign a that big Chezch forward that just retired. Kellor?
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell Do you mean the 6' 7 1/2" Jan Koller? Donk would crap bricks! Still, it wouldn't matter if we have nobody that can give him decent service... Wouldn't this belong on the transfer rumors thread with Pele, Maradona, Ronaldinho, etc.?
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell I managed to make it out to practice today. Not alot that I could get out of Russell's first appearance with the time, but I was surprised at his size/strength. With the speed that has been reported, it seems that he has great physical attributes. He also seems well spoken and very interested in being here.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell Thanks for the update. I wonder if we will see him on Monday.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell no pics? (for some reason i feel like a perv asking that)
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell Sorry - I posted them on Keepin' It Real. Its a bit of a pain to post them here, because I have to upload to photobucket first.
Re: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Robbie Russell Yeah, haven't you heard? He's our huge international signing!