December 11, 2006
Michael C. Lewis - Salt Lake Tribune
DC United has traded Freddy Adu and Nick Rimando to Real Salt Lake for a major allocation, the rights to goalkeeper Jay Nolly, and future considerations.
This deal ends the rocky relationship between Adu and DC head coach Peter Nowak. Real Salt Lake head coach John Ellinger has worked with Adu at the US Soccer youth level and hopes to make the young celebrity happier by allowing him to play either as an attacking central midfielder or a withdrawn striker. That wasn't going to happen in DC with Jaime Moreno and 2006 MLS MVP Christian Gomez filling those roles.
It will be interesting to see what DC United does with the allocation that they received from Real Salt Lake. If recent trends continue, United is said to be scouting some players in Brazil and Argentina.
Real Salt Lake finally opens their books
RSL's numbers add up - barely - Salt Lake Tribune
Does RSL have the dough to survive? - Salt Lake Tribune
In an attempt to garner public funding for a new stadium in Sandy, Utah, Real Salt Lake opened their books to local lawmakers to try and persuade them to buy into their grand plan.
However, the projections may be too optimistic for many to buy in to.
For instance, can Real Salt Lake really double paid attendance at MLS game by 2013 while at the same time raising the average price of a ticket by 60%?
I know that the recent trade to acquire Freddy Adu will create a buzz. However, part of the reason that DC United gave up on one of, if not the only, namebrand player in MLS is because many expect him to try and move to a European club as soon as he turns 18 years old in June.
It is highly unlikely that Real Salt Lake will be able to use Freddy Adu to drive that attendance spike that they need to make their plan work out.
Real Salt Lake has had a rocky go of it so far in their attempt to get a new stadium built. And they made a rather bold move in opening their books to try and help make their case.
I just wonder if the politicians and taxpayers in Utah have enough faith to sign up to help built a stadium for a team that doesn't expect to be able to turn a profit until 2010. And that profit is only expected to be $88.
California Victory unveil their coaching staff
2007 USL 1st Division expansion team California Victory have announced that Glenn Van Straatum will be the team's head coach and former US International Hugo Perez will be the team's assistant coach in their inaugural season.
Van Straatum has roots in the San Francisco area as he's previously been the assistant coach at the University of San Francisco and has recently worked with various youth clubs in the bay area.
Perez was a member of the 1990 and 1994 US World Cup squads and his club career saw him play for the LA Aztecs of the NASL, Ajax in Holland, Red Star in France, Orgryte FC in Sweden, Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia, and FAS FC in El Salvador.
Steve Morrow officially named as the new coach of FC Dallas
Questions lie ahead for FCD's Morrow - Steve Hunt MLSNet.com
Old hand sees a new day for FCD - Dallas Morning News
As was reported yesterday, FC Dallas officially removed the interim from Steve Morrow job's description and made him the fourth head coach in the club's history.
With Morrow planning on keeping his coaching staff in tact, my big question is why make the move at all?
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
