Real Salt Lake fans bit their fingernails and waited while players like midfielders Ned Grabavoy and Collen Warner were left unprotected in today’s MLS Expansion Draft.
It was all much ado about nothing, really, because by the end of the day RSL lost defender David Horst, protected Warner, then lost Robbie Findley to the Portland Timbers but gained a known commodity in midfielder Arturo Alvarez.
A long day the day before Thanksgiving, but it's one that RSL fans might remember for awhile.
“It is always painful to lose good, young players in whom we, as a staff, have invested tremendous time and energy in, and David and Robbie both fit that bill,” RSL VP of Soccer Operations/GM Garth Lagerwey said.
Alvarez was left unprotected in today’s Expansion Draft by San Jose and Portland selected him in the tenth and final round.
RSL picked up the El Salvador international in exchange for just a second-round pick (22nd pick overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft this January.
Alvarez’ MLS career (goals in parentheses):
2003–2004 San Jose Earthquakes 26 (2)
2005–2008 FC Dallas 84 (11)
2008–2010 San Jose Earthquakes 51 (11)
2011– Real Salt Lake 0 (0)
The addition of Alvarez to an already-loaded squad sparked an outcry on Twitter from national media who know what Alvarez--who had 11 goals in 51 appearances with the Quakes--can do.
“Just stop it, RSL. Picking up Arturo Alvarez for a second-round pick to provide a different look off the bench is just criminal,” tweeted Kyle McCarthy, New England Revolution beat writer for MLS.com.
RSL is obviously happy about the move, which really doesn’t do anything to undo the logjam in its midfield.
“We are excited to add a dynamic, attacking, left-footed player who can play either in midfield or up top for us. We wanted to add another player who can beat opponents off the dribble and create their own chances, and we believe we have acquired him in [Arturo Alvarez],” Lagerwey said.
However, with the league’s move to expand team rosters to 30 players--and tack on a reserve league--there will be plenty of room for everybody.
Adding Alvarez is a brilliant move; it gives RSL staff another option in its diamond midfield. It should also be the first of several that the club makes before the MLS SuperDraft and prior to its late-February CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal match against the Columbus Crew.
Comments