Wasatch Soccer Sentinel
Real Salt Lake might be in a little bit of a bind against Montreal Impact, with their lineup for the last two matches a question mark, but a news drop on a Tuesday afternoon could ease concerns.
I was all ready to start writing about who replaces Jordan Allen in the lineup on Saturday, with RSL taking on Montreal Impact. And I would have done just that, but but then little-old Chris Kamrani (Salt Lake Tribune's RSL beat reporter and a good news source) came along and dropped some knowledge on our noggins.
Cassar said RSL has talked to U-20 coach Tab Ramos regarding Jordan Allen. Sounds like Allen could play at Montreal, before joining U-20s.
— Chris Kamrani (@chriskamrani) May 12, 2015
That sure makes our job easier.
The other best part of this? Kamrani's also told the world that Joao Plata and Sebastian Jaime are inching closer to a return.
Cassar on progress of Plata and Jaime: "I'd venture to say after this game [at Montreal on Saturday], they'll be more involved." #RSL
— Chris Kamrani (@chriskamrani) May 12, 2015
So — picture this. Allen departs after Montreal, then we have not one, but two players — or maybe even three — return to contention. It's a little optimistic, but our May 23 match against New York City FC would be a perfect time for those to come back.
Let's just rejoice a little bit in the good news. What would each player coming back mean?
This is the simplest of the changes, but even that one's going to chance considerations. He's a better pure attacking player, but is that going to work in the formation right now? Hopefully — he's been committed defensively and offensively, and it would probably ease the burden a little bit. He probably won't be back against Montreal, but the process to get him back is underway — the team just has to follow the concussion protocol now. Let's hope it goes well.
Sebastian Jaime
When Jaime returns, he probably won't jump right into a starting spot again. But if he does, where does he play? He's not a midfielder in the way someone like Jordan Allen is, but maybe he could do the job up top rather than as a right winger. Is RSL done with the 4-3-3 for now? That's a big question.
Joao Plata
Take every question we had about Jaime's return and double it with Plata. His return's going to take a little bit longer, obviously, but does he prompt another go-around with the 4-3-3? We should probably talk about this one in more length, but there will be plenty of questions with Plata's return. The big question: How do you keep him out of the lineup once he's fit?
