If there is one problem that coaches like to have, it’s when players force them to make difficult decisions about playing time.
That’s the case this week for Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jeff Cassar as five players return from international duty and the depth has a chance to be put on display despite losing forward Sebastian Jaime to a bone bruise.
That is due in large part to the play over the first three matches of midfielder Luke Mulholland and multi-purpose standout Jordan Allen.
“It’s a great problem to have for Jeff and the staff,” RSL Technical Director Craig Waibel said in his weekly radio segment on The Bill & OC Show on Thursday.
Allen and Mulholland were the two goalscorers in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Toronto FC. Mulholland did so while stepping in for Luis Gil while the midfielder was away captaining the U.S. U-23 National Team in two friendlies in Europe. Allen subbed on for Jaime after the Argentine suffered his injury in the second half of the match and netted the game-winner in the 89th minute.
Now both are contenders to start as RSL meets the San Jose Earthquakes as the Claret-and-Cobalt makes its first appearance at Avaya Stadium in a nationally televised match on Sunday on ESPN2.
In Mulholland’s case, he found himself as the odd man out when RSL moved to a 4-3-3 formation and Gil assumed the starting midfield role along with Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales. Mulholland knows he will get his share of minutes over the course of the season, though, and contributed in each of RSL’s first three matches as a result – off the bench in the first two draws and then as a starter in the victory last week.
“We’re a little bit spoiled. We have two different players and a lot of times it’s going to come down to tactics,” Waibel said. “The truth is, you’re trying to find ways to get every great player on the field. Fortunately we are in a position where we have to make some really, really tough choices. Long-term vision is that we have everybody playing at their peak level. There are ways to get those guys on the field at the same time and that’s what Jeff and the guys are evaluating this week.”
Meanwhile, Allen has found himself in a substitute’s role in each of RSL’s first three matches. One year after suffering an injury that limited him to just two appearances to start the 2014 season, he has emerged as a rising talent unfazed by that long recovery.
As impressed as Waibel was with his play on the field against Toronto, he may have been more impressed with how the 19-year-old responded to his sudden success.
“One of the things that makes Jordan such a great professional at a young age is, if you heard him after the game, he was giving credit to Ted Eck. He was giving credit to his teammates,” Waibel said. “He’s learning. He has an open mind. He’s not one of these young athletes that came in and thinks he knows all of it. He scored that goal and in his mind and in reality it’s a byproduct of all the work he’s doing with our staff. What a great time for the club for him to open his account.”
In addition to seeing goalkeeper Nick Rimando, Gil and forward Alvaro Saborio, along with defenders Elias Vasquez and Boyd Okwuonu, return from international duty, RSL may also see Demar Phillips back on the field after missing the previous match with a hamstring injury.
“We’ve got guys. This roster is built to be used and we’ve got to continue to use it and evaluate and have guys step up,” Waibel said. “Jordan’s a great example of a guy who did it last week. We’ll see who does it this week.”
Sunday’s match kicks off at 3 p.m. MT.
