2007 Preview - Real Salt Lake

2006 record: 10-13-9 - 39 points (6th in West)
-- Missed playoffs.

Key additions: Freddy Adu (D.C. United), Luis Tejada (Plaza Amador)
Key losses: Scott Garlick (retirement)

Real Salt Lake made the biggest off-season acquisition not involving an Englishman this winter, bringing Freddy Adu in from D.C. United. It gives Freddy a chance to play as an attacking midfielder in the center, a position he has always wanted to play, but wasn't able to in D.C.

In Utah, Adu will be able to link up with another new acquisition, Luis Tejada, who was signed out of Panama. The 25-year-old forward will be partnered up top with Jeff Cunningham, who should’ve been named MVP last year (16 goals, 11 assists). With Adu feeding Cunningham and Tejada all year, RSL looks to have one of the most potent offensive attacks in the league.

Eddie Pope continues to be one of the best center-backs in the league and should help the defense take some of the pressure off of keeper Nick Rimando. The stadium issue is (for now) solved, so the team can focus on playing some quality football. I expect them to be the sleeper pick of the year – Not only will they make the playoffs, they will be the #1 seed in the West. Most of the pieces have fallen into place for this team to make a run and play solid consistently.

TJ's Projected finish: 1st in Western Conference, 3rd overall.

Freddy Out, Fred In

According to everyone's favorite Washington Post sportswriter Steven Goff, the deal is done: Fred will be in a D.C. United uniform this season. The team is waiting for Fred to get international clearance and a work visa before they officially announce the signing, but it could be announced next week, a source close to the negotiations said.

Fred's deal will be for four seasons and he will reportedly earn $150,000 in 2007. United plan to play him as a right-side attacking player. Fred helped the A-League's Melbourne Victory claim the Australian championship last month.

United surprisingly shipped away one of the league's stars in Freddy Adu, but with the lineup they are assembling, people in D.C. will be saying, "Freddy A-Who?"

My take: D.C. United clearly has the global scouting thing down and has come up big this off-season. Without using their DP, they have secured two international playmakers - Fred and Luciano Emilio. Everyone else will be playing catch-up in the Eastern Conference to these guys this season. Good signing for D.C., good signing for MLS.

Freddy Adu Hopes For Spain Move

Real Salt Lake attacking midfielder Freddy Adu would like to play for Real Madrid one day. Adu is currently training with the rest of his team in Spain - they are set to play a friendly against a Madrid Select XI. He hopes to impress Primera Liga scouts enough to be offered a chance to make the move, saying, "My desire to come here still stands... Maybe one day, Real Madrid's going to come knocking."On his move to Real Salt Lake, Adu told RealMadrid.com, "I couldn't be happier. Not a lot of people know this, but it was something I wanted. I'm an attacking midfielder and I knew this team was going to give me an opportunity to play in that position."

Adu recently had a two-week trial with Manchester United, but says he knew immediately that he would refuse a move to the Premiership if offered, because he wouldn't be allowed to play his natural position.

Adu's Brother Signs At George Mason

Better known as the younger brother of Real Salt Lake's Freddy Adu, Fro Adu has just signed a national letter of intent with George Mason University. Fro will be 16 when he graduates from Georgetown Preparatory School in June. He plays on the U.S. U-17 National Team.
"First of all, it's great because I'm going to college. That makes my mom happy because Freddy didn't go to college. He did the soccer thing," Adu told ESPN.

About his brother, Fro says, "I'm just like, 'Yeah, I'm Freddy's brother. It's all positive to me, no negative. I definitely look up to him."

RSL To Stay In Utah?

Earlier this week, it was reported that Real Salt Lake's stadium deal with the city of Sandy, Utah, had fallen through - again. Now it appears that a deal to keep the team in Utah is "very likely" according to one source, with another saying that there will be a press conference on either Monday or Tuesday.

The deal - which has been on-again, off-again, for the past several months, has been given an injection of new life. Literally only days ago, hopes for progress on the issue were crushed by RSL owner Dave Checketts' statement that the deal was "dead" and he would be looking to sell the team by the end of the week. St. Louis has repeatedly been brought forth as a perfect setting for the RSL relocation - but those moving trucks aren't going anywhere, yet.

So, is it to be believed that a deal is finally in place? Who knows? Things could change again over the weekend, but for now, RSL stays in Utah. This is good news not only for the team, but for the MLS, who badly needed to get a deal done - somewhere - to avoid a PR disaster. Focus should now be placed on the upcoming season, which appears bright, especially after landing "superstar" Freddy Adu in the off-season.