Pablo and Kurt got new deals https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/real-salt-lake-extend-pablo-mastroeni-kurt-schmid-deals https://www.rsl.com/news/real-salt-...rector-kurt-schmid-head-coach-pablo-mastroeni
We better be "bold" with some new player acquisitions or else we're just gonna be running it back with the same cast and crew after a 9th place -11 GD season. I'll withhold judgement, but we need to keep Luna and Gozo, dump Diogo and get some real DPs. Excelsior!
While the attacking portion of the team clearly needs improvement, the defense appeared to get worse, even with Cabral having an awesome season. I'm very curious to see what they decide to do this Winter.
This is my favorite line in the article: "Kurt and Pablo will help us achieve our goals of pursuing trophies, winning together through development and making our community proud on and off the field." Jason knows we haven't won a trophy since 2009, right? He's paid attention to the product on the field the past couple of years, right? I don't see how you could say that line with a straight face based on the product on the field and Pablo's record. How does finishing in 19th place in the league qualify a coach for an extension?
If this soccer thing doesn’t work for JK he’d make a hell of a corporate exec on the HR or Culture* side of things. This bloated, puffy, pie in the sky nonsense is dumb as hell *we used to call this DEI but that apparently means bad things
It’s also a convenient way of moving the goalposts to measure success as “together through development”. I’m the guy that bangs the drum about playing the kids, but I’m not stupid enough to say that in and of itself is the measure of success. It’s what you do with said playing time (develop or sell) that could be measured as success. wildly disappointing
At the very least it's setting low expectations. The thing is, if you can have one of the best academy to MLS pipelines, you'll have more GAM than you know what to do with. That gives you opportunities to fill the roster with key players to further support winning and developing. I think next year will be a success if they can pick and lane and stay in it.
The FO has missed on six straight attackers: Piol, Manoel, Ajago, Agada, Cruz, and Olatunji (to a lesser extent). Olatunji is the kind of guy I'd expect to be U22 guy - raw with potential, some good goals mixed with inexplicable positioning and lapses in judgement - except he's 26 and will be a DP. Maybe seven if we count Berea as an attacker. I am thinking this as I watch/listen to this presser with Kurt and Pablo: https://www.youtube.com/live/VvcZ9f8-LRA
Im not ready to say Cruz and especially Olatunji are failures yet. They’re markedly better than the rest of the list, as well. Cruz probably isn’t the right fit, but I do appreciate trying something different (loan for DP) vs the moronic routes the club did before
Anyone else watch that Q&A session? Some of my lingering questions: What's the plan for the coaching staff? Does Pablo get to pick the replacement? Are they sticking to the 4-2-3-1? Will it be the version that switches to a 3-4-2-1 in attack? Will there be a backup formation or are they randomly switching formations when the primary option doesn't work? Are they sticking with the 4/2/4 roster model? Who are the tentpost players they keep referring to? What does being a developmental club mean to them? Are we selling the first chance we get like Barajas and Beavers or do they really want to hold on to key players even if the player wants to leave? How can you be a club with a focus on development and still truly compete for trophies? What's the budget for players? Will they commit to spending above league median on salaries and transfer fees? Edit: Who's the GM? What was the result of the worldwide search? What's the FO hierarchy? Who's responsible for what? What departments positions are they want to add/flesh out?
Piol: Should be with the Monarchs; I want to hear Kurt explain why they couldn't do that like Charlotte did with their current starting forward Manoel: club made money on him; not sure that's a failure at the end of the day; process sucked Ajago: Monarchs guy, utter failure by the FO to think he's an MLS starter Agada: didn't live up to expectations; will be interesting to see if he's back, pretty sure RSL will owe SuKC even more GAM if they do Cruz: I don't think I'd bring him back, but the concept of him make sense in a two forward system; DPs have to hit if you're going to have success in this league Olatunji: as a TAM player, solid addition; curious to see his 2026 salary; $625k in 2025 is cheap if that's an indicator for next year.
Also, can Andy Williams finally come back? Edit: What is the role of Blitzer and being part of Global Football Holdings? How can they leverage that? I'm all for trying to be the Ajax of MLS, but you have to dive into that head-first and be committed from top down.
I did try to get Pablo and Kurt to share their thoughts on the DP situation as well as changes that are needed next season in the roster and tactics. Cruz will be back. His loan was for 12 months with a possible 6 month extension. Trey was saying you can't get an 18 month loan so that why it's 12 and then 6. All of the contract info will come out this afternoon after we find out Luna will be with the NT this window. Probably playing against Ojeda and Paraguay. They also didn't say there would be many surprises but we shall see. Also, Kurt did say there will be changes more than tinkering around the edges and less than a total rebuild.
Interesting on Cruz. I thought there was an option to end the loan this December. Especially given the way he didn't play and then made himself the target of some very atypical Pablo comments. Kurt's answer to your question was the obvious answer. RSL doesn't need a rebuild and they need more than tweaking around the edges. I'm curious what he thinks they actually need. I'll be surprised if they retain Agada. I like him, but he didn't prove worth the extra GAM it'll take to keep him. My guesses on contract option players: Farnsworth: decline; find an Academy kid at this point Ajago: decline; you have to move on Bell: Keep; assuming you think he's going to be healthy Barea: Keep Silva: Keep; should be getting RSL minutes, I think Zambrano: Keep; don't know if he's ready for MLS minutes Caliskan: Keep; does he get a senior roster deal? Henry: Keep? Do they have to buy to keep him? Quinton: They pick up his option but move him Wellings: Keep; is he ready for MLS minutes yet? Stajduhar: Decline; expensive backup at a position of depth Lambert: Decline; one of Kurt's early misses MacMath: will not be offered a new contract by RSL; wish him luck Junqua: RSL will offer him a contract, but he explores FA Brown: Gone Russell: Gone, good luck finding a new team Katranis: Keep Agada: I think they let him go; no new contract offered Vera: Keep; something has to change on the backline; he brings something unique, good and bad Ojeda: Keep; probably sold this summer though That's 9 senior roster spot decisions. I think RSL will have 5 spots to work with. It feels like they need more than that, especially as they aren't getting much production form the 6 key roster designations, outside of 1 U22 spot. Two unique situations: Palacio and Marczuk: both are U22 players with guaranteed deals for 2026. Does either come back to RSL? Palacio is on loan through June, Marczuk through the end of the playoffs.
Man, the opening question from DJ took no prisoners. It’s also obvious, if you know the local sports scene, that his question goes beyond RSL
It was also the beginning of not really getting answers. They had 17 losses, 2nd most all time and only the 3rd time they've lost half or more of their league games. That's not a good year! Own it!
Pablo saying he was thinking of going and observing Diego Simeone and Athletico Madrid was one of the most eye roll inducing segments. Oh, so you don’t want ANY of this to be fun to watch? Noted. The club posts a horrific goal scoring record and Pablo’s response is “how could we defend even more!” ******** that go watch a team like PSG, or Bayern, or be realistic about comparable and watch a Brentford or Sunderland. Find ways to be a fun team. I found that nugget so insightful as to just how unattractive of soccer Pablo wants to play
https://www.rsl.com/news/real-salt-lake-announces-2026-roster-decisions Here it is. Looks like I was happily wrong about Philip Quinton.
Jude Wellings' progress must have stalled dramatically. He was amazing at 15. The full roster should read 6 DF since Yedlin isn't listed there. What this doesn't show, of course, is whether we'll be selling this offseason. We have to, else there isn't room for much of anything.
Nelson Palacio has averaged 84 minutes in his 12 regular season games for FC Zurich. Two full games in the Swiss Cup too, so hopefully they decide they like him prior to the 30 June end of loan. Dom Marczuk's loan to Cincinnati is only through the end of this calendar year, so we'll know about him and his U22 slot sooner. Guaranteed contract for 2026, but probably easy enough to move back to Poland or elsewhere.