Line-up Prediction for Real Salt Lake 2/24/24

Finally, the start of the MLS regular season. I was absolutely excited about CONCACAF don't get me wrong, but true regular season opening day just hits different.

Before we get to deep into my prediction for this next game, I would like it known and appreciated that I was almost dead on with my line up prediction for the Houston game. I got the formation right, I got 10 out of the 11 players right, and the only reason I didn't get a perfect score was Lowen got delayed getting back to pre-season and they didn't want him to a full half. WHICH, it must be noted, I discussed in my Ostrak blog post as a possibility, so I'm taking that as a spirit win so perfect score baby!

I am enormously less confident that I'll get this one right. I have a very inexpert view of match fitness and what constitutes full rest between games, so some calls I make may be wrong just because I don't really know when players need rest. I may get better at that, I may not but HEY, gotta try at least right? So let's get into it.

Let's start with the easy stuff

Still Slam Dunk Starters, because I'm pretty sure the front office wants a win to start the season

Klauss, Lowen, Parker, Burki

I don't believe I need to justify this anymore than I did last week. I know load management will have to take place at some point during the season, but I think winning the first regular season game at home is important enough to the team/Carnell/ownership that they'll run these guys out again.

Will Carnell play two strikers or one

Adeniran, Thorisson, Pompeu

If Carnell rolls with two strikers again like last Tuesday he'll either just run Adeniran back out there, or have Thorisson as a second striker which is where they were using him in preseason. If he runs with one, Adeniran probably sits and is a sub for Klauss and he puts Thorisson or Pompeu on the left wing and puts Aziel under center as the 10.

Which CB do you trust more

Yaro, Nilsson

Yaro didn't play all that great on Tuesday, although he did have good moments, but it's a question of is Nilsson's fitness good enough to start him. If it is, you do, simple as that. Otherwise you really have no other option with the knock Hiebert picked up in practice than to put Yaro back and use Nilsson Tuesday or the Saturday after

Fullbacks and Fitness

Markanich, Dyhr, Totland, Nerwinski

Dyhr I'm relatively sure didn't start on Tuesday because he wasn't up to speed yet. Markanich didn't play bad by any means, but if Dyhr is ready I expect him to get the start. Totland absolutely showed why he should be our first choice right back, and I expect him to start again and Nerwinski to go on Tuesday.

Who partners with Lowen

Blom, Durkin, Ostrak

I put Ostrak here because they've been using him as an 8, even though he's naturally a 10 or a winger. They might even use him as a winger too if Carnell goes one striker up top, not sure. I think it's more likely they go with either Blom or Durkin to start, and it's just a case of load management between the two and how you weight time and skillsets during the match for when they switch out.

ACTION JACKSON

Jackson gets his own category because he doesn't fit in any of the others but you have to play him. We don't have another player that can create something out of nothing like he can unless Ostrak becomes the dude we expected him to be overnight.

Maybe injured, probably should be injured, and Double injured

Hiebert, Vassilev, Alm

The players in this tier are listed in order. Hiebert picked up a knock in practice we found out, and I feel strongly they won't risk him Saturday and save him for Tuesday. Carnell says Vassilev is good to go, and maybe he's just that tough but a fractured wrist still blows and is painful, so I'm curious to see how they use him. 

Alm caught a cold and is missing practice right now Carnell says, delaying his return to fitness and continuing his string of bad luck. 

So you scored the match winner and are still on the bench with your buds

Kijima, Watts, Glover

Glover might not even make the bench but I imagine he'll see minutes with CITY2 for a bit to start the season, with a goal of him making the bench later on. Watts is a perfectly serviceable spot replacement for any of like 4 different positions but there's really no way I see him starting, and while Kijima is the hero we all needed he's still young but I wouldn't be surprised if he comes off the bench and is good again.

Ben Lundt

I don't know what to tell you. This is where this dude lives until Burki needs a break, which I half expect to be Tuesday potentially, but until then here he is.

Gun to my head line-up

If I'm wrong on Carnell going with one or two strikers easily half this lineup could be wrong, but I think they run out a strong starting 11 but maybe try something different with an eye for subs making the difference off the bench and preserving some of your A players at least a bit for Tuesday.

4-2-3-1

Klauss

Thorisson    Jackson    Ostrak

Lowen    Durkin

Dyhr    Nilsson    Parker    Totland

Burki