We continue our journey to find Real Salt Lake’s All-Time Best XI and today we get some advice from an old friend. Former RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey weighed in with his selections, opting for a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield.
Forwards
Alvaro Saborio and Fabian Espindola
Midfielders
Kyle Beckerman, Will Johnson, Andy Williams and Javier Morales
Defenders
Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave and Chris Wingert
Goalkeeper
Nick Rimando
He went on to write, “Some really tough calls here. Espindola edges Movsisyan because he did more while at RSL. Johnson by a nose over Grabavoy in midfield. Ned better value, better technically, Will a slightly better leader and worker and this is Best XI not best contract for the team. Beltran gets the nod over Russell for longevity, but Russell scored the PK for the only title so he will always be special. I think Sabo, Morales, Kyle, Nick, Nat and Olave won’t get much debate, although I suppose someone could take Pope over Borchers, mistakenly. Andy Williams is the original and a legend. Could do things no one else could and played thru the title year in 2009 while his then wife hovered near death periodically. Can’t imagine what that was like to overcome.”
See how your picks compare with the Seattle Sounders General Manager and President of Soccer by picking your Best XI here.
Also check out picks by RSL GM Craig Waibel, play-by-play man Bill Riley and radio analyst Jeremy Horton.
