Election season is just around the corner and while we may not be political here at Real Salt Lake, we do encourage everyone to vote when it comes to the MLS All-Star Game (VOTE HERE). Here are the eight candidates from Real Salt Lake, with campaigning by Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel.
Nick Rimando
Goalkeeper
18
“The Wall of the Wasatch” ranks second in the league with six wins despite making 11 starts. Among goalkeepers with at least 11 starts, only three have fewer losses than Rimando.
Craig Waibel’s take - “He’s the best keeper our league has ever had. He deserves every accolade that he gets. Certainly without his performances this year, we’re in a different spot.”
Aaron Maund
Defender
21
Real Salt Lake’s 2015 Defender of the Year, Maund has continued to progress as a reliable and accountable defender. He has made three dramatic goal-line clearances to prevent would-be goals this season.
Craig Waibel’s take - “Aaron has improved so much over the last year. He is the type of player that people need to take a serious look at. Do they want to reward improvement or do they want to reward sheer performance? He’s not the sharpest center back yet, but his improvement over the last year is so promising that it would be a just reward for him to have the acknowledgement from the fanbase.”
Tony Beltran
Defender
2
A two-time MLS All-Star at right back, Beltran is a steady, reliable player in an unsung position in MLS.
Craig Waibel’s take - “Tony has already been an All-Star twice. If people need to know why he’s an All-Star they should just go back and watch All-Star games.”
Kyle Beckerman
Midfielder
5
Real Salt Lake’s captain and member of the U.S. National Team for the 2016 Copa America Centenario.
Craig Waibel’s take - “Kyle is an obvious All-Star. He’s with our national team right now for a reason. He’s played that position of holding mid unlike any other American over the last decade and truthfully still plays it with the type of quality and cerebral positioning that is unmatched in our league.”
Javier Morales
Midfielder
11
“The Maestro” has been among the top playmakers in MLS throughout his 10 years with RSL and ranks among the top 12 all-time with 78 assists.
Craig Waibel’s take - “Javi is a legend. He’s a legend of MLS. He’s a legend of our club. There’s just no way to ever say he shouldn’t be included in the All-Star conversation.”
Juan Manuel Martinez
Forward
7
Burrito’s 3.16 dribbles completed per 90 minutes is the most in MLS among players over 900 minutes played. He also has four goals and two assists in 12 matches this year.
Craig Waibel’s take - “If Burrito is not an All-Star, I can’t wait to see the roster. Juan can do things that truthfully other players in his position in our league can’t do.”
Yura Movsisyan
Forward
14
His four goals matches Martinez’s total for the season and with two in the last three games, he is finding his form in his return to MLS after six years in Europe.
Craig Waibel’s take - “If people watch the difference between the way we played last year and the way we play this year and they look at intangibles and what a player can bring to an organization and to the tactical ability on the field of a group of 11 players, Yura’s common sense on the field and ability to play is more than enough.”
Joao Plata
Forward
10
The Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month for March has five goals and six assists – both leading Real Salt Lake. He ranks 12th in the league in goals and second in assists. In his 10 starts this season, he has scored or assisted in eight of them.
Craig Waibel’s take - “Plata is an All-Star for a number of reasons, but he’s one of the best dancers in our league. His celebrations will be folklore at some point. He was the Player of the Month in March. It’s June now. How a Player of the Month in the entire league in March is not an All-Star would be beyond me to comprehend.”
