By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor
Soccer America Magazine

JAY AND DJ: Eyebrows were raised and heads were shaken during the SuperDraft last January when Real Salt Lake traded an allocation to acquire a late second-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"They spent $130,000 for a backup goalkeeper," said a GM who didn't want to be identified, citing a minor allocation's worth of $100,000 plus a minimum salary slot ($28,000 plus a small percentage for licensing fees) to acquire Jay Nolly, who got his first start last weekend in a 2-1 win over the Galaxy with D.J. Countess sidelined with a shoulder injury.

No one knows what was really spent, since MLS allows teams to split up allocations and in this case, a "portion" of the allocation was used.

Real Salt Lake assistant coach Peter Mellor says he persuaded Coach John Ellinger to make the move after seeing Nolly at the MLS Combine.

"When I went to the MLS Combine, and watching everything that went on, I felt that the best goalkeeper was Jay Nolly," said Mellor, who played in goal for Manchester City in the English League and served as a goalkeeper coach for U.S. Soccer. "I also liked Noah Palmer very much, too. I looked at those two guys ahead of Brad Guzan. No disrespect  to Brad, because I think he's a great shot-stopper, I just liked the all-around tactical awareness of Jay in particular."

Guzan was taken as the No. 2 overall pick by CD Chivas USA, and Palmer eventually went to Salt Lake in the supplementary draft.

"Well, we didn't have a third-round draft pick and we knew Jay was still available," said Mellor. "We knew we needed that second goalkeeper. I talked to John and told him to work in some allocation money for that pick, and we got him. That delighted me, because I think definitely he's one for the future, too."

Countess was back in the nets Wednesday and blanked CD Chivas USA, 2-0, as Real gained some payback in the second meeting of 2005 expansion teams after losing the first encounter 1-0 on a disputed penalty kick.

"Clearly D.J. is out No. 1," says Mellor. "But the way things happen nowadays, I think every team has to have a solid backup goalkeeper."

Countess and Clint Mathis barked at each other following the final whistle and had to be separated by teammates. Club officials downplayed the incident. Of course.

RONNIE WAITS: According to a representative for former Quakes midfielder Ronnie Ekelund, there's been no response from the team to inquiries about him returning. The Quakes let his contract lapse last December.

"You'd think with all the injuries they've had, there might be some interest, but there hasn't been any contact," says Carter Wicks. "He's looking at houses and wants to stay in the area, without a doubt."

He also said there's been no official contact from the MetroStars. A source told The Confidential two weeks ago that the Metros had made initial overtures but Wicks said the only contact didn't come from Coach Bob Bradley or his assistants.

According to Wicks, Ekelund should receive his green card soon. "It's very far along, if not imminent," he said. "He's been training every day and is ready to jump right into action."

Ekelund joined the team in 2001 and played the last four seasons. He turns 33 in August.

The Quakes have lost defenders Craig Waibel and Troy Dayak for the season with knee injuries. Midfielder Brian Mullan and forward Brian Ching are projected to be out at least a month.

SITTERS: Grass is being installed at Rice-Eccles Stadium next week for the June 4 USA-Costa Rica World Cup qualifier, and so Real, which is 3-0-1 on Field Turf, will play its next two home league games as well as a friendly against Universidad Catolica on grass. … After beating Colorado 2-1 at the Cotton Bowl Wednesday night, FC Dallas plays its next four on the road. It garnered two points from consecutive road games at Los Angeles (0-2), Kansas City (3-3), and San Jose (0-0) the last three weekends.