Real tweaks lineup

In an effort to bolster Real Salt Lake's chances to win, coach John Ellinger is making a few minor adjustments to his starting line-up for this Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

In addition to moving Jason Kreis up top and dropping Andy Williams into the midfield, Ellinger is also rewarding rookie Ryan Johnson with his first professional start, a move that relegates fellow rookie Mehdi Ballouchy to the bench.

Ellinger says the move has nothing to do with Ballouchy's deficiencies, but rather it's a tactical switch.

"(Johnson) plays more of a traditional left midfield," said Ellinger. "If you watch L.A. play on the tapes, they have a tendency to crowd the center of midfield, and Mehdi will have a tendency to go inside too, so it will be too crowded, which leaves them wide open for Chris (Albright) to come forward."

Fellow midfielder Williams couldn't agree more about the switch.

"He's a nature left footer. Not knocking Mehdi at all, it's just a lot easier for a left-footer to be out on the left-hand side," said Williams.

In addition to his more ideal left foot, Johnson also brings outstanding pace to the left midfield position as well as good size and quality dribbling.

For Johnson, his first start is just another achievement in a whirlwind opening month of his career. Just three months after being picked in the MLS SuperDraft, Johnson has appeared in three of four matches as a second-half substitute, as well as starting for the Jamaican National Team during its friendly against the United States a few weeks ago.

"You just take everything day by day," said Johnson. "So far everything is going well, a lot better than people probably expected from me coming out of college being a third-round pick."

As anxious as he'll be this Saturday, Johnson knows patience is the key. In a 3-5-2, the outside midfielders must not only support the attack, but on the defensive side they must track back throughout the game and serve as a fourth defender.

"I want to get in there and make things happen, but at the same time, we're playing a 3-5-2 and I can't go every time or I'm going to be dead after 90 minutes," said Johnson.