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In a story that posted here on Hot Time just a few minutes ago, one of the questions I asked was this: Who would back up Sean Johnson in a World Cup year? It seems we have an answer sooner than anyone could have anticipated, as Empire of Soccer is reporting the Fire are finishing up a deal for New York Cosmos starter Kyle Reynish, the winner of the NASL's Golden Glove award in 2013.
Reynish, 30, is a native Californian who has spent most of his professional career on the bench in Salt Lake City, watching Nick Rimando start from 2007 to 2012 - meaning he did spend a couple seasons working with current Fire assistant coach C.J. Brown as a Real Salt Lake player. After leaving RSL, he joined the Cosmos for their (re-)inaugural season, where he helped the new NASL juggernaut win the Fall Championship and the Soccer Bowl.
Head Coach Frank Yallop has made it clear he expects Johnson to get called to the USA's World Cup team this summer, a commitment that means the Men in Red need a starter-quality backup in place before the season begins. The acquisition of Reynish also makes it possible for the club to consider offers for Johnson, should interest in the 25-year-old fringe national-team netminder mushroom, as can happen in the hothouse environment of the Copa Mundial.
