Real could use 3 impact players

FRISCO, Texas — There was no shortage of sympathy for Jason Kreis in the Pizza Hut Park press box Sunday evening.

Real Salt Lake's new coach spent the first nine years of his playing career in Big D, and during that decade-long stint he built a pretty good rapport with Dallas' soccer media contingent. That camaraderie spilled over in the form of sympathy as Sunday's match unfolded in Texas.

Throughout a first half in which RSL oddly didn't seem interested, the media talked about how badly they felt for Kreis for inheriting such a disjointed team, reiterating repeatedly that it would take at least two years before Kreis could mend this broken team.

In reality, the Dallas media is overly pessimistic, but at the same time the entire Real Salt Lake organization is probably overly optimistic.

Regardless of how the situation is defined, RSL is still winless after seven games and it's obvious the team lacks some of the pieces necessary to be successful.

"I believe in this group, I've said that from the beginning and I still believe it, but we do have three roster spots available so we need to use them," said Kreis. "We definitely need three players who can come in and make an impact."

Shortly after taking over the team on May 3, Kreis commented that he didn't want to rush into a player acquisition or two that he would regret a month later.

However, with Sunday's loss and a few more injuries, Kreis admitted, "I think the timetable just got squeezed up a little."

The biggest injury concern is Carey Talley, who left the game with a right lower leg contusion in the opening 10 minutes. He has a doctor's appointment in Salt Lake City today, and a quick return to form is exactly what Real needs with a U.S. Open Cup match this Wednesday in Denver and then a league match in Chicago on Sunday.

MLS teams can have a maximum of 28 players on their rosters, 18 of which count toward the senior roster — essentially, players with at least three or four years experience. Thanks to Kreis' retirement, Luis Tejada's release and a season-ending injury to Jeff Rowland, RSL only has 25 players on its roster, and only 15 senior roster players.

With an 0-3-4 record, and a potentially long summer ahead of itself, Real could obviously use three impact players right away.

Asked what areas he might be looking to upgrade, Kreis said he didn't want to name names, but with zero wins thus far it's hard to imagine anyone's starting spot on the team being safe.

Simply based on depth, Talley's injury along with Willis Forko's lingering hamstring strain have exposed the need for help in central midfield and another true left back.