RSL Snags DF Rauwshan McKenzie off Waivers
The evolution of Real Salt Lake’s preseason roster continued this morning when the Utah side picked up former Kansas City Wizards defender Rauwshan McKenzie off the waiver wire. The 6’1″ center back made five starts last season in his second MLS campaign for the Wizards, this after only appearing in U.S. Open Cup play during his rookie campaign in 2008. McKenzie was a four-year starter for the burgeoning Michigan State Spartans program from 2004-07, earning All-Big Ten First-Team honors his senior season.
Assuming his flight from Chicago arrives as scheduled (which is about a 30/70 proposition at best these days), young Mr. McKenzie will arrive in Utah this evening and join his new teammates for training up at Newpark Recreation Center in Park City tomorrow afternoon.
So whaddaya think about RSL’s newest addition? Glad to see some more competition on the backline? Glad to see we’ve now got the most famous guy named Rauwshan on the roster (we checked … it’s not even a contest!)? Let us know what you think in the comments section. And for those looking for a complete preseason roster, it’ll be released in conjunction with the first full-sided training session of 2010 tomorrow.
10 Feb 2010 10:38 am RSL HQ 8 comments
Ultimately it probably means little, if anything…he didn’t impress with KC. More bodies and the possibility of a diamond in the rough is never a bad thing though, so welcome to the defending champs, Rauwshan!
Quick question, why do we keep signing defenders and never forwards. Just wondering…
I think we have plenty up top, RF, FE, PC, AT… Looks ok.
One thing we need to remember is that if the other team does not score, they cannot win. We have a ton more games this year and we need more defenders so that our backline is fresh and ready for every game. Besides, I’d like to see some other option to Horst and RR as centerbacks.
I just hope that the new CBA allows teams to sign more than 24 players. We need about 28 for the full slate of competition.
I thought we were seeking a forward and/or outside midfielder?
Can Rauwshan play outside mid as well?
i’ve said it a million times, I’ll play forward and/or outside mid
Hopefully we are not looking for tall center defenders because we are getting offers for Olave…..
i agree..Olave has been given offers from other clubs..he is much too valuable to lose so soon. We do need center backs as well…Horst is awful and we cant expect Borchers and Olave to never get hurt. This is a good idea and hopefully he will adapt quickly.
I’m excited to see what the chicago native has to offer.. he looks like a strong athletic dude. It looks like he played behind KC captain Jimmy Conrad with the Wiz. After reading some articles.. I see that McKenzie stepped up last season when Conrad reported to the US national team. Conrad are some big shoes to fill. Hopefully he’ll get some minutes on the pitch this season. Good Luck bro!