Real Salt Lake defense is getting better but still a work in progress

ORLANDO, Fla. — One of the biggest uncertainties for Real Salt Lake this year involves the defense, and more specifically the defense in a 3-5-2 formation. Excluding the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader, in which the defenders were all rookies, RSL coach John Ellinger said the defense was actually a strength.

The midfield was the trouble area.

"Most of the chances they got in the first half were basically because we gave it away. They maybe created one or two on their own," said Ellinger. "For me, it's trying to get the system and the shape right. It doesn't matter whether you're playing a 4-5-1, a 4-4-2, a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2, if you give the ball away you're going to have problems."

Real beat Central Florida 4-3 but fell 1-0 to GAIS of the Swedish first division.

Ellinger said his players were too risky in the middle third of the field, an area where it should be quick, simple passes. Those giveaways led to several counterattacks, and the backline of Willis Forko, Eddie Pope and Jack Stewart thwarted off every one of them.

Jason Kreis, who started at one of those two holding midfield spots against GAIS, said several of those giveaways were the result of unfamiliarity.

"We have to continue to work on our organization," he said. "It's a new formation, so we're going to have guys in different places and guys will be expected to do different things."

LEARNING CURVE: Tuesday's game against GAIS reiterated how right back Stewart is significantly more comfortable playing in a 3-5-2 formation than left back Forko, as evidenced by the fact it was one of the first things Ellinger talked about after the games.

"Jack is very good at giving us width (when Chris Klein makes a run), so there's an option to play to him. A couple times he kept it alive and that's how you keep possession," said Ellinger. "Willis is so worried about defense that he never gave us width in the back three. He thinks he can't get forward, but you have to get wide, and if Mehdi (Ballouchy) makes that run you have to give us width so you can keep the ball moving."

Costa Rican defender Daniel Torres, the projected opening-day left back starter, will join the team in training camp today after some work-visa delays, and he demonstrated last year that he isn't afraid to push forward if necessary.