This is one in a series of team previews preparing fans for the 2023 MLS season. Check out the full list; teams will be revealed in predicted order of finish from Feb. 10-24.
What Real Salt Lake did last year
Apparently, this is the formula for Real Salt Lake now. They get projected to finish low in the West standings, show maximum xDawg, get enough results to scrap into the No. 7 spot, and then scare the bejeesus out of every other playoff team they face. Though they didn’t have the magical David-Ochoa-as-villain run of two years ago to the Western Conference finals, they did push No. 2 Austin to the absolute limits, only ousted in the first round because Brad Stuver went maximum Stuuuuuu against an exhausted RSL in game-ending PKs.
Key additions
Forward Carlos Andrés Gómez (transfer from Millonarios), forward Ilijah Paul (Generation Adidas SuperDraft pick), defender Brayan Vera (transfer from América de Cali)
Key departures
Midfielder Nick Besler (option declined), forward Sergio Cordova (out of contract), defender Johan Kappelhof (option declined), defender/forward Tate Schmitt (option declined), forward Bobby Wood (option declined)
Making the case for Real Salt Lake
This team still has Damir Kreilach! And he’s not far removed from his 16 goal, nine assist 2021, though he did miss much of ‘22 recovering from back surgery. Assuming he’s something like his former self for a full season, he’ll get to combine with record-signing talent Carlos Andrés Gómez and a cohesive roster that includes designated player Jefferson Savarino, the indefatigable Rubio Rubin and Pablo Ruiz.
Players to watch
Gómez’s ability to adapt to MLS will be key to his success and the success of his new team, but the integration of a second Colombian to the squad might be another key to how far RSL will go. Vera will likely see plenty of minutes on the RSL backline; GM Eliott Fall noted in a press release on his arrival earlier this week, “Brayan is yet another piece that provides depth and competition on our back line, as he is equally adept both on the left side as well as centrally. We believe that Brayan’s path from Colombia to Italy and back to South America during his formative professional years have prepared him to be a key piece for our 2023 roster and beyond."
A nerdy tidbit
As maybe an indicator of xDawg, RSL players were only dispossessed 220 times last season in challenges and tackles, making them fourth-best in the league despite being more toward the league average in a number of other categories.
A fun tidbit
Rancid drummer Branden Steineckert noted on Twitter recently that his “Believe” anthem for the club is 11 years old.
BELIEVE. 11 years ago yesterday I released this video for a song I had written for my hometown club Real Salt Lake! We may forever be underdogs. But we will forever unite behind our club and always Believe in RSL!! @realsaltlake #BelieveRSL #DIY https://t.co/LpKVXDPqQL
— Branden Steineckert (@801PUNX) February 15, 2023
While he’s not the only member of Rancid to write an anthem for an MLS team — witness the Quakes’ “Never Say Die” courtesy of Lars Frederiksen — it’s become a tradition embraced by the club, sounding uncannily like some mid-table Premier League team’s chant.
Projected finish
8th in the West
Collectively we arrived at RSL just missing the playoffs, but until they stop skidding into 7th place a bedraggled mess ready to throw maximum chaos into the playoffs, I’m not picking them to do anything else.