After experiencing a tough campaign that saw its manager leave early in the campaign and modest results, Real Salt Lake ended the campaign with no playoffs. Despite staging a near comeback in the end of the campaign and surrendered it to the push of their archrivals the San Jose Quakes. The Claret and Cobalt missed the postseason.
As Mike Petke entering in its second year, after the club then manager Jeff Cassar was let go in March and substituted briefly by interim Daryl Shorer. The arrival of Petke in April suddenly uplifted the club in the plus and finishing with a winning percentage of a 50%.
Finishing with a modest record of 13 wins, 13 losses and 4 draws and coming short of the grand fete of the postseason after a close race against the Quakes favoring the Silicon Valley side in the end.
This time for Mike Petke this campaign will be serious business and among one of his challenges and goals well be to return this club to the top spots and make it as an all-around contender.
As these club directives hard at work, especially it’s General Manager with his aides looking to recruit the best of players to reinforce this club ahead of this campaign, as this 2018 once again promises to be one contested one.
So far, the club has been able to recruit several players, especially to reinforce one of its most vulnerable areas of need the defensive backfield and getting some noted players to upgrade its attacking options.
One of them was to sign Spanish International striker Alfredo Ortuño from this country second division Real Valladolid to reinforce the RSL attack, with two new midfielders of international caliber.
With 19 year old from Argentina and former San Lorenzo of this country top league and Chiles side San Luis and with their newest arrival in 28-year-old Damir Kreilach a midfielder coming from Bundesliga side Union Berlin.
Real Salt Lake has upgraded this area of much need were last campaign lacked depth and consistency and with these three newcomers maybe we can see a boost in this club offensive attack.
Also in their shopping spree in order to improve this club defenses they added Taylor Peay coming from RSL/USL affiliate Real Monarchs, Shawn Barry, Welsh Adam Henley and draftee Aaron Herrera as another Home Grown Player.
The additions of rookie forwards in RSL academy prospect Corey Baird and to become the seventh of HGP in this squad along with University of New Mexico draftee Ricky Lopez- Espin, the competition and mood of this club are very positive.
Still the club is in pursuit and not giving up on players of international caliber in Mexico national Team Javier Dueñas and Chilean international Cristobal Jorquera both midfielders and the club importance and need of reinforcing this area heavily.
Additionally the negotiations with Yura Movsisyan stay with the club if his pas did not made the deadline in Europe’s leagues; we may see Yura suit up in RSL colors.
By the looks of the way this club has been reinforcing ahead of this upcoming campaign with players with European experience in their backgrounds, for Real Salt Lake manager Mike Petke the idea is to front this campaign with their best game.
If the club adds those mentioned players to its roster, lookout league, and for these if they adapt to this league play we may have a squad occupying again the top three spots in the Western Conference table.
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of Real Salt Lake Football Club 2018
Photos Credit and Property of Mathias Renner- City Press, Gene Sweeney and Alex Grimm Fifa/ Getty Images 2018
Photos Credit and Property of © 2018 Major League Soccer
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