Real Salt Lake midfielder Luis Gil and forward Olmes Garcia were both named to MLSsoccer.com's fourth-annual 24 under 24 list this week, with Gil clocking in at No. 2 on the rankings and Garcia coming in at No. 19.
While Gil and Garcia are both highly deserving of the honor, there are a few worthy RSL players that didn't make the list. 21-year-old forward Joao Plata and 19-year-old defender Carlos Salcedo have been particularly strong for the Claret-and-Cobalt this season, with Plata notching three goals and eight assists in league play and Salcedo performing admirably as a surprise starter alongside Nat Borchers in the center of RSL's back line.
Plata's exclusion from the 24 under 24 list is particularly curious. The diminuitve Ecuadorian, as mentioned above, has been very strong for RSL this year, but he's also been better than numerous forwards who made teh 24 under 24 list. Plata has better numbers than LA forward Gyasi Zardes (No. 7) and Jose Villarreal (No. 11) as well as Vancouver forward Darren Mattocks (No. 12). Alas, on-field performance isn't the only criterion used in the 24 under 24 voting, with the slightly-vague "Marketability/Personality" category carrying 20 percent of the weight, equal to the other four metrics used in tabulating the rankings.
Plata's plight was significant enough that it was noted this morning by MLSsoccer.com's Matt Doyle in his column highlighting the five biggest 24 under 24 snubs this season.
RSL has a pair of of other youngsters who also merit mention in this discussion, with 22-year-olds Devon Sandoval and Sebastian Velasquez performing nicely for the Claret-and-Cobalt as spot starters this season.
